Exam question practise Flashcards
Describe and explain how the lungs are adapted to allow rapid exchange of oxygen between air in the alveoli and blood in the capillaries around them. (5)
1 Many alveoli / alveoli walls folded provide a large surface area;
2 Many capillaries provide a large surface area;
3 (So) fast diffusion;
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4 Alveoli or capillary walls / epithelium / lining are thin / short distance between alveoli and blood;
5 Flattened / squamous epithelium;
6 (So) short diffusion distance / pathway;
7 (So) fast diffusion;
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8 Ventilation / circulation;
9 Maintains a diffusion / concentration gradient;
10 (So) fast diffusion;
Describe the mass flow hypothesis for the mechanism of translocation in plants. (4)
- In the leaf sugars are actively transported into phloem;
- By companion cells;
- Lowers water potential of sieve tubes and water enters by osmosis;
- Increase in pressure causes mass movement (towards roots);
- Sugars used (converted) in root for respiration/for storage;
Explain how amino acid molecules may be linked to form a polypeptide chain which is folded into a specific tertiary shape. (6)
- Condensation;
- removal of water molecule;
- from amine and carboxyl groups;
- forming peptide bonds;
- same amino acids in same sequence;
- bonds form between R-groups/side chains;
- e.g. sulphur-containing amino acids / ionic bonds / hydrogen bonds;
- bonds form in same place;
Describe how molecular shape is important in explaining the way in which enzymes may be affected by inhibitors. (6)
1 Active site (of enzyme) has particular shape;
2 (Into which) substrate molecule fits / binds;
3 Appropriate reference linking induced fit and shape;
4 (Competitive inhibitor) has similar shape to substrate;
5 Also fits active sites;
6 Prevents substrate access;
7 (Non-competitive inhibitor) fits at site other than active site;
8 Distorting shape of active site / enzyme;
6 Prevents substrate access; (award once only)
9 Two types identified as competitive and non-competitive;
Explain how oxygen is loaded, transported and unloaded in the blood (6)
- Haemoglobin carries oxygen / has a high affinity for oxygen / oxyhaemoglobin;
- In red blood cells;
- Loading / uptake/association in lungs;
at high p.O2; - Unloads / dissociates / releases to respiring cells / tissues;
- at low p.O2;
- Unloading linked to higher carbon dioxide (concentration);
What is atheroma and how may it cause myocardial infarction? (5)
- Cholesterol/ plaque / lipoprotein / LDL / fatty material / cells;
- In artery wall / under lining / endothelium of artery / blood vessel;
- Atheroma linked with blood clotting / thrombosis;
- (Blocks) coronary artery / artery supporting heart muscle / tissue / cells;
- Reduces oxygen / glucose supply (to heart muscle / tissues / cells);
- (Heart muscle / tissue / cells) unable to respire / dies;
Describe how the structures of starch and cellulose molecules are related to their functions. (5)
Starch (max 3)
1. Helical/ spiral shape so compact;
2. Large (molecule)/insoluble so osmotically inactive;
3. Branched so glucose is (easily) released for respiration;
4. Large (molecule) so cannot leave cell/cross cell-surface membrane;
Cellulose (max 3)
5. Long, straight/unbranched chains of β glucose;
6. Joined by hydrogen bonding;
7. To form (micro/macro)fibrils;
8. Provides rigidity/strength;
Describe the processes involved in the transport of sugars in plant stems. (5)
- (At source) sucrose is actively (transported) into the phloem/sieve element/tube;
- By companion/transfer cells;
- Lowers water potential in phloem/sieve element/tube and water enters by osmosis;
- (Produces) high (hydrostatic) pressure;
- Mass flow/transport towards sink/roots/storage tissue;
- At sink/roots sugars are removed/unloaded;
Blood leaving the kidney eventually returns to the kidney.
Describe the pattern of blood circulation in a mammal that causes blood to return to the kidney. (6)
- (blood flows from kidney along) renal vein to vena cava;
- (along) vena cava to right atrium/side of heart;
- (along) pulmonary artery to lungs;
- (along) capillaries to pulmonary vein;
- (along) pulmonary vein to left atrium/side of heart;
- (along) aorta to renal artery (to kidney);
- Blood may pass through several complete circuits before returning to kidney;
Describe the role of the enzymes of the digestive system in the complete breakdown of starch. (5)
Amylase; (Starch) to maltose: Maltase; Maltose to glucose; Hydrolysis; (Of) glycosidic bond;
Scientists have investigated the effects of competitive and non-competitive inhibitors of the enzyme maltase.
Describe competitive and non-competitive inhibition of an enzyme. (5)
- Inhibitors reduce binding of enzyme to substrate / prevent formation of ES complex;
(Competitive inhibition), - Inhibitor similar shape (idea) to substrate;
- (binds) in to active site (of enzyme);
- (Inhibition) can be overcome by more substrate;
(Non-competitive inhibition), - Inhibitor binds to site on enzyme other than active site;
- Prevents formation of active site / changes (shape of) active site;
- Cannot be overcome by adding more substrate;
Scientists believe that it may be possible to develop vaccines that make use of microfold cells (lines 9 -10). Explain how this sort of vaccine would lead to a person developing immunity to a pathogen. (5)
- (Vaccine contains) antigen/attenuated/dead pathogen;
- Microfold cells take up/bind and present/transport antigen (to immune system/lymphocytes/T- cells);
- T-cells activate B-cells;
- B-cells divide/form clone/undergo mitosis;
- B-cells produce antibodies;
- Memory cells produced;
- More antibodies/antibodies produced faster in secondary response/on reinfection;
The events that take place during interphase and mitosis lead to the production of two genetically identical cells. Explain how. (4)
- DNA replicated;
- (Involving)
specific/accurate/complementary
base-pairing; - (Ref to) two identical/sister
chromatids; - Each chromatid/ moves/is separated
to(opposite) poles/ends of cell;
Explain how the structure of DNA is related to its functions. (6)
- Sugar-phosphate (backbone)/double
stranded/helix so provides strength/stability
/protects bases/protects hydrogen bonds; - Long/large molecule so can store lots of
information; - Helix/coiled so compact;
- Base sequence allows information to be
stored/ base sequence codes for amino
acids/protein; - Double stranded so replication can occur
semi-conservatively/ strands can act as
templates; - Complementary base pairing / A-T and G-C
so accurate replication/identical copies can
be made; - (Weak) hydrogen bonds for replication/
unzipping/strand separation; - Many hydrogen bonds so stable/strong;
Describe how DNA is replicated. (6)
- Strands separate / H-bonds break;
- DNA helicase (involved);
- Both strands/each strand act(s) as (a) template(s);
- (Free) nucleotides attach;
- Complementary/specific base pairing / AT and GC;
- DNA polymerase joins nucleotides (on new strand);
- H-bonds reform;
- Semi-conservative replication / new DNA molecules contain one old strand and one new strand;
Describe how tissue fluid is formed and how it is returned to the circulatory system. (6)
Formation 1. High blood / hydrostatic pressure / pressure filtration; 2. Forces water / fluid out; 3. Large proteins remain in capillary; Return 4. Low water potential in capillary / blood; 5. Due to (plasma) proteins; 6. Water enters capillary / blood; 7. (By) osmosis; 8. Correct reference to lymph;
Many different substances enter and leave a cell by crossing its cell surface membrane. Describe how substances can cross a cell surface membrane. (5)
1 (Simple / facilitated) diffusion from high to low
concentration / down concentration gradient;
2 Small / non-polar / lipid-soluble molecules pass via phospholipids / bilayer;
OR
Large / polar / water-soluble molecules go through proteins;
3 Water moves by osmosis / from high water potential to low water potential / from less to more negative water potential;
4 Active transport is movement from low to high
concentration / against concentration gradient;
5 Active transport / facilitated diffusion involves proteins/carriers;
6 Active transport requires energy / ATP;
7 Ref. to Na+ / glucose co-transport;
Scientists believe that it may be possible to develop vaccines that make use of microfold cells. Explain how this sort of vaccine would lead to a person developing immunity to the pathogen (5)
- Vaccine contains antigen/ dead pathogen
- Microfold cells take up/bind and present/transport antigen (to immune system)
- T-cells activate B-cells
- B cells divide / undergo mitosis
- B cells produce antibodies
- Memory cells produced
- More antibodies produced faster in secondary response
Explain the role of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes in the defence of the body against a virus infection. (6)
- B lymphocytes produce antibodies/involved in humoral response;
- T lymphocytes involved in cell mediated immunity;
- Macrophages present antigens;
- (specific) B lymphocytes recognise/bind to antigen;
- increase in numbers by mitosis;
- produce plasma cells (which make antibodies);
- antibodies bind to and clump/ agglutinate virus;
- memory cells produced by 1st exposure/cloned on 2nd exposure;
- T lymphocytes(helpers) produce 10.lymphokines/chemicals;
- which aid B lymphocyte cloning;
- encourages phagocytes to engulf clumped virus;
- killer T cells kill virus infected cells;
Explain how water enters a plant root from the soil and travels through to the endodermis. (5)
- Water enters root hair cells;
- By osmosis;
- Because active uptake of mineral ions has crated a water potential gradient;
- Water moves through cortex;
- Down water potential gradient;
- Through cell vacuoles and cytoplasms (symplastic pathway);
- And through apoplastic pathway (cell walls);
Root pressure is a force that is partly responsible for the movement of water through xylem in stems. Explain how the active transport of mineral ions into the xylem vessels in the roots results in water entering these vessels and then being moved up the xylem tissue. (5)
- Entry of ions leads to a reduced water potential;
- Water potential established between xylem and surrounding cells;
- Plasma membranes of surroudning cells are partially permeable;
- Water enters xylem by osmosis;
- Volume of water in xylem increases;
- Cannot move back due to gradient;
- Pressure in xylem increases and forces water upwards.
Describe two features you would expect in the leaves of a tree adapted to a dry environment. Explain how each feature helps the tree’s survival.
1) Sunken stomata;
water evaporation into pit creates local humidity;
increased humidity reduces gradient for water evaporation;
2) close arrangement of stomata;
diffusion shells of individual stomata overlap;
interferes with water diffusion and slows evaporation;
3) restriction of stomata to lower side of leaf;
rate of air movement below leaf less/ heating effect of sun less;
gradient for water evaporation reduced/ water molecules have less
kinetic energy;
4) thick cuticle/wax/suberin (on upper surface);
(wax/suberin )waterproof;
water unable to diffuse onto surface to evaporate,
presence of trichomes/ hairs;
surface traps water close to leaf surface;
increased humidity reduces gradient for water evaporation;
5) reduced leaves/spines/small surface area to volume;
less surface area for evaporation;
more distance across leaf for water to diffuse;
rolled leaves;
6) stomata enclosed in localised humidity;
increased humidity reduces gradient for water evaporation;
Xylem transports water through a plant. Describe and explain how the cells of xylem are adapted for this function. (5)
Thick cell walls;
Withstand tension / negative pressure;
Lignin in cell walls;
Walls waterproof / withstand tension / negative pressure;
Xylem cells have no end walls / tubular (not hollow);
So a continuous column of water;
Xylem vessels are stacked on top of each other;
So a continuous column of water;
Have no cytoplasm / hollow;
Reduces resistance to flow of water / so a continuous column of water;
Xylem cells have pores / pits (in side walls);
Enable sideways flow / by-pass blockages / allows entry or exit of water;
Narrow tubes;
Allows capillarity / increased surface area for adhesion;
(Molecules in) cell walls;
Allows adhesion
Describe the structure of a cell membrane. (5)
- Double layer of phospholipid molecules;
- Detail of arrangement of phospholipids;
- Intrinsic proteins/protein molecules passing right through;
- Some with channels/pores;
- Extrinsic proteins/proteins only in one layer/on surface;
- Molecules can move in membrane/dynamic/membrane contains cholesterol;
- Glycocalyx/carbohydrates attached to lipids/proteins;