5 Answers to end-of-chapter questions

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Structured questions
10 a Purines: adenine and guanine
Pyrimidines: thymine and cytosine
b

5'
3

[1]
[1]

33'
S
P

G or C

C or G

T or A

A or T

3'

5'

6 labels [3]
45 labels [2]
23 labels [1]

Note that A pairs with T and C with G

ii

Hydrogen bonds

[1]

iii

Shown on diagram

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Biology for CAPE

Refers to the direction of the two strands

One end of the DNA molecule is a phosphate labelled 5' (5 prime)
At the other end is a hydroxyl group labelled 3'.
This DNA strand runs in the 5' 3' direction
It is the polar hydroxyl group that relates to the term polarity
The 2nd strand runs in the 3' 5' direction
The strands are said to be antiparallel
Well described [2]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

ii

Shown on diagram above

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The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases

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Chromosomes: when cell division begins, DNA coils around the proteins
forming visible structures called chromosomes. A pair of chromatids joined
by a centromere form the chromosome. It therefore consists of a pair of
sister chromatids
Chromatin: is a mass of uncoiled DNA and associated proteins called histones.
Chromatin appears to be loosely coiled, long thin threads spread throughout the
nucleus.

[2]

11 a

Replication: molecule can be copied perfectly over and over again so it can be
passed down from cell to cell and generation to generation
Expression: production of proteins from coded information in the DNA

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[2]

Well drawn diagram which shows correct

base pairing [3]
[note: 2 rows dots between a and T; 3 rows between C and G]
c

ii

To have a complete set of the genetic information / all nuclei are

genetically identical / same genetic information
So that the proteins coded for by the DNA remain the same from
generation to generation / the functioning of cell would remain the
same
No changes to genetic information / mutation
If there are changes, proteins would change / cells would not
function effectively
Each point 1 mark [max 2]
Yes:
Their hypothesis suggested that the resulting DNA molecules
would be made up of one old strand and one new strand
After one generation / the 2nd generation, one intermediate
band (14N/15N) would be seen
This is because the new DNA strands would be made up of an
old strand (15N) and a new strand (14N) / two isotopes in one
molecule
In the 3rd generation, 2 bands would be seen; an intermediate
band and a light band
This is because the parent strands from the 2nd generation
both have a strand with 15N and light band, 14N. These
strands would separate to act as a template, giving rise to two
bands

Well explained
using three pieces
of evidence [3]

Semi-conservative

Biology for CAPE

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Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

iii

[2]
e
DNA
sample
Strand 1
Strand 2

Cytosine
24
26

Percentage of base present

Adenine
Guanine
38
12

Thymine

26
24

12
38

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Essay questions
12 a
mRNA
essentially linear
number of nucleotides varies / length
of a gene
carries the code for proteins in form
of codons, in form of 3 adjacent
nucleotides coding for an amino acid
no place of attachment for amino
acid
b

Biology for CAPE

tRNA
folds into a clover-leaf
shape
about 80 nucleotides long
consists of a single
anticodon
attaches to an amino acid
and carries it to ribosome

Used in transcription the production of an mRNA molecule

that has a complementary base sequence to one strand of a
length of DNA
The RNA polymerase proceeds to read one strand / reference /
coding strand of the DNA
As the RNA polymerase travels along the DNA strand, it
assembles ribonucleotides into a strand of RNA
It catalyses the condensation reactions that take place to form
phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent nucleotides
Each ribonucleotide is inserted into the growing RNA strand
following the rules of base pairing
Thus for each C encountered on the DNA strand, a G is inserted
in the RNA; for each G, a C; for each T, an A and for A, a U

Any 2 points [2]

67 points [3]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

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The enzyme also checks that the bases have been correctly
paired up
Used in translation of mRNA the process by which the code
for making a protein, now carried by the mRNA molecule, is
used to line up amino acids in a particular sequence and link
them together to form a polypeptide
It has an anticodon complementary to the codon on mRNA
It works as an adaptor that matches the amino acids to their
codons
Each amino acid has its own tRNA
Specific enzymes / tRNA transferases for each amino acid load
the specific amino acid on the tRNA
The tRNAamino acid complex then moves to the ribosomes
It binds to the complementary codon
Allows for correct sequence of amino acids along the growing
polypeptide

45 points [2]
23 points [1]

34 points [2]
2 points [1]

Used in translation in protein synthesis

Composed of large and small subunits
Function is to hold in position mRNA, tRNA and enzymes
controlling the process
Holds in the small subunit in a cleft six nucleotides or two
codons at a time / provides a structural site for mRNA
In large subunit, two tRNAamino acid complexes are held
When the peptide linkage is formed between the amino acids,
the ribosome moves down one codon

34 points [2]
2 points [1]

Two strands present held by hydrogen bonds

Therefore, bonds can break to separate strands and allow each
strand to act as a template
Semiconservative method of replication
Free nucleotides pair with each strand
Complementary base paring / purine to pyrimidine / AT; CG
Results in two DNA molecules that are identical to each other
Each consists of one strand from parent and one new strand

67 points [3]
45 points [2]
23 points [1]

Inhibit synthesis of new DNA strands so cells would not replicate.

If DNA replicated, more cells would be produced to form a tumour
Inhibit the production of one of the nucleotides so that
complementary basepairing in replication does not occur
Disrupt production of DNA and RNA so that replication,
transcription and translation do not occur

1 point each[max 3]

13 a

DNA
made up of two strands
sugar is deoxyribose
base thymine present
molecule is large

RNA
made up of one strand
sugar is ribose
base uracil present
molecule is shorter

Any 2 points [2]

[max 4]

Transcription
DNA helicase breaks hydrogen bonds between DNA strands
DNA strands separate / DNA unzips

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Exposing required gene / sequence of nucleotides

One strand / sense / coding / reference strand is used as template
Complementary base pairing: CG; GC; TA; AU
RNA polymerase catalyses the condensation reactions that take place to form
phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent nucleotides, forming mRNA
The enzyme also checks that the bases have been correctly paired up
78 points [4]
RNA polymerase continues moving along the sense strand of DNA
56 points [3]
until it reaches the end of the gene
34 points [2]
mRNA then passes through the nuclear pore to the ribosomes
12 points [1]

Translation
Occurs in the ribosome
Codon carried on the transcribed mRNA
mRNA held in the small subunit / in a cleft 6 nucleotides or two codons
at a time / provides a structural site for mRNA
Codon binds with complementary anticodon
The specific tRNA for the complementary codon attaches the specific
amino acid, catalysed by a tRNA transferase
In large subunit, two tRNAamino acid complexes are held
Process is made up of initiation, elongation and termination
Initiation involves the tRNA with an anticodon that is complementary
to the first codon, AUG
The tRNA with the appropriate amino acid, methionine, binds to the
codon by hydrogen bonding

The next tRNA with the specific amino acid dictated by the codon
arrives in the large subunit
It binds with the complementary codon
A peptide bond is formed between the two amino acids in the ribosomes
resulting in elongation of the strand
The ribosome moves one codon and another specific amino acid is
added
This continues until a stop signal is encountered / termination
The polypeptide is released
The ribosome subunits separate

78 points [4]
56 points [3]
34 points [2]
12 points [1]

c
Transcription
synthesis of mRNA from
DNA
occurs in nucleus

14 a

linking of nucleotides
phosphodiester bonds formed
involves producing codons
catalysed by RNA
polymerase

Translation
synthesis of proteins from
mRNA
occurs in cytoplasm /
ribosomes
linking of amino acids
peptide bonds formed
involves joining of codons
and anticodons
catalysed by various
enzymes in ribosomes

Unwinds DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds

ii

Biology for CAPE

Any 3 points
[max 3]

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Proceeds along template strand / the single stranded 5' 3'

direction

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

 Obtaining complementary nucleotides/ AT; CG)

Catalyses the condensation between two nucleotides to form a
phosphodiester bond
1 point 1 mark [max 3]

iii

Joins pieces of replicated DNA / lagging strands

With a phosphodiester bond

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So that the resulting DNA molecules would be identical to parent

DNA
To carry the exact genetic information / allow for exact replication

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DNA is double-stranded and antiparallel / one strand runs in a

5' 3' direction, the other in a 3' 5' direction
Replication is catalysed by DNA polymerase
DNA polymerase synthesises the new DNA strand only in a 5' 3'
direction
This means that it has to jump ahead in one of the strands and
synthesise the DNA backwards in pieces
One strand would be therefore produced continuously / leading and
the other in pieces / lagging

Any 2 points [2]

d
Transcription
1 DNA strand copied / sense
strand
RNA polymerase used
mRNA / codons produced

base uracil instead of thymine

used
only a short piece of DNA /
gene unzips
e

Replication
2 DNA strands copied

DNA polymerase used

DNA molecules / sister
chromatids
base thymine instead of uracil
used
entire DNA unzips

Any 2 points [2]

Tumour formation
Cells may activate the enzyme telomerase which prevents the telomeres from
getting shorter
Cells can continue to divide uncontrollably

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Aging
When the telomere gets too short, cells stop dividing / no
replacement of cells

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Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011