B i o l o g y f o r C a m b r i d g e I G C S E ® 2 nd E d i t i o n

Unit 18 Variation and selection

PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)
1 D selective breeding
2 A blood group
3 D mutation
4 D natural selection
5 A Beetles are well camouflaged so that predators cannot see them
6 B genes and environmental factors, genes only
7 D people with the allele for sickle cell have a resistance to malaria
8 D the probability that individuals survive and reproduce in the environment

Short Answer Questions

9 mutation change in DNA ;
variation range of forms found in a species ;
selection organisms best adapted to their environment survive and breed ;
phenotype outward appearance of an organism ;
genotype genetic constitution of an organism ; [5]
10 (a) (i) 34/150 × 100 ; 22.7(%) ; [2]
(ii) 160 – 229 = 69 ; / 69 ; [1]
may be less, e.g. if the largest handspan in first group is 169 and smallest handspan in last
group is 220 – in which case it is 169 – 220 (without the raw data it is impossible to tell)
(b) frequency histogram
35

30

25
Frequency

20

15

10

0
9

9
16

17

18

19

20

21

22
0–

0–

0–

0–

0–

0–

0–
16

17

18

19

20

21

22

Handspan / mm

at least half the graph paper used and axes scaled correctly ;
axes correctly orientated with handspan on the x-axis ;
x-axis labelled with unit ;
y-axis labelled ;

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columns plotted accurately, all same width with no gaps between them ; [5]
(c) (i) continuous (variation) ; [1]
(ii) range of values between two extremes (160 mm to 229 mm) ;
an example from the data ; [2]
11 (a) bar chart
60

50
Percentage of sample

40
of each country

30

20

10 Pakistan
New Zealand
0
A B AB O
Blood groups

at least half the graph paper used ;

axes correctly orientated with blood group on the x-axis ;
y-axis labelled ;
columns plotted accurately, gaps between them ;
bars for two countries shown and labelled ;
(above – blue = Pakistan, orange = New Zealand) [5]
(b) (i) discontinuous (variation) ; [1]
(ii) different categories (A, B, AB and O) ;
no intermediates ; [2]
(c)
parental phenotypes blood group B × blood group B
parental genotypes IBIO × IBIO ; both must be
heterozygous carrying the
IO allele
parental gametes
IB , IO + IB , IO ;

IB IO

IB IBIB IBIO

IO IBIO IOIO

offspring IBIB , IBIO , IOIO this box shows the

genotypes genotype that gives rise to
blood group O ;
offspring blood groups B, B, O ; [5]
phenotypes

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(d) blood group must be compatible ;

usually the same ;
so no rejection ;
recipient may produce antibodies against antigens on the red blood cells of the donor ; [3]
explanation is the same as for matching for blood transfusions – the table below shows
the possible matching of donors to recipients
blood type of donor blood type of the recipient explanation
no A or B antigens on red
O O or A or B or AB
blood cells of donor
no anti-A antibodies are
A A or AB
produced by recipient
no anti-B antibodies are
B B or AB
produced by recipient
no anti-A or anti-B antibodies
AB AB
are produced by recipient

12 (a) the inherited functional features of an organism ;

that increase its fitness ; [2]
(b) any three from:
small leaves / leaves reduced to spines ;
thick waxy cuticle ;
swollen stems ;
long, shallow roots ;
deep roots ;
shiny surface of, leaves / stem ;
stomata close during the day ; [3]
(c) adaptive feature(s) for survival in very dry conditions arise by mutation ;
any example(s) of these features (see list for (b)) ;
plants that have these adaptive feature(s) compete well with plants of the same
species that do not have these adaptive features ;
these (better adapted) plants survive and reproduce ;
pass on their alleles to the next generation ;
plants that are not able to survive die ;
leave, no / few offspring ; [6]
13 (a) when antibiotics are used most bacteria are killed ;
some may have gene for resistance ;
mutation gave rise to this gene ;
gene may code for enzyme that breaks down the antibiotic ;
bacteria with this gene survive ;
reproduce (asexually) to pass on gene ;
these bacteria have little competition as other bacteria (without the gene) are killed by the
antibiotic ; [3]

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(b) bacteria reproduce by, asexual reproduction / binary fission ;

DNA is, copied / replicated ;
DNA is passed to both of the new cells before they separate from each other ;
plasmids are small circular forms of DNA and these can be exchanged between bacteria ;
bacteria also exchange lengths of DNA between each other ; [2]
(c) see page 175
to find out if the bacteria are resistant to any antibiotics ;
antibiotics that do not kill bacteria in the agar plate should not be prescribed ;
alternatively
to find out which antibiotics kill the bacteria ;
antibiotics which kill the bacteria should be prescribed ; [2]
(d) viruses consist of, genetic material / DNA, and protein coat ;
they do not have cells ;
antibiotics target activities of cells ;
antibiotics, inhibit / target, activities in cells ;
e.g. ribosomes for protein synthesis / enzymes for making cell walls ; [3]
(e) use antibiotics less often ;
do not prescribe antibiotics when it is not absolutely necessary ;
do not prescribe antibiotics to treat viral disease ;
change the antibiotics prescribed for some diseases so they are not used all the time ;
use antibiotics in combination rather than singly (less likely for bacteria to develop
resistance when several antibiotics are used at the same time) ; [3]

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