9700_w18_qp_43
A paper of Biology, 9700
Questions:
10
Year:
2018
Paper:
4
Variant:
3

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In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, two different genes control body colour and eye colour. • G/g are alleles of the body colour gene. • G results in grey body, g results in black body. • R/r are alleles of the eye colour gene. • R results in red eyes, r results in brown eyes. Each gene is autosomal. A dihybrid cross was carried out using a fly with a grey body and red eyes crossed with a fly with a black body and brown eyes. Both parents were homozygous for both genes. The offspring from the F1 generation were crossed to obtain the F2 offspring. A statistical test showed that the results of the cross were significantly different from those expected. State the name of the statistical test used and state the expected phenotypic ratio for the F2 generation. statistical test expected ratio A test cross can be carried out in order to identify flies from an F2 generation that are heterozygous for both genes. Draw a genetic diagram to show how a test cross between a heterozygous grey‑bodied, red‑eyed F2 fly and a fly with a black body and brown eyes can produce four different offspring phenotypes. Use the symbols G/g and R/r. The results of the test cross in are shown in Table 2.1. These results are significantly different from the expected results. Table 2.1 phenotypes of offspring of test cross number of individuals grey body, red eyes grey body, brown eyes black body, red eyes black body, brown eyes Describe how these results are different from the expected results and explain why they are different.
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Meiosis is one process that contributes to genetic variation. State precisely the stage of meiosis where single chromosomes line up on the equator. Outline the events taking place during anaphase I of meiosis. Describe how crossing over during meiosis leads to genetic variation. Mutation also causes genetic variation. Some populations of water hemp, Amaranthus tuberculatus, have evolved herbicide resistance as a result of a mutation. This is a problem for farmers as water hemp grows in crop fields, lowering productivity. Two populations of water hemp were tested for resistance to the herbicide mesotrione. One was a population known to be resistant and the other was a test population, whose resistance was unknown. • Leaves were removed and immersed in a radioactively labelled solution of mesotrione. • The leaves absorbed some mesotrione and became radioactive. • Resistant leaves are able to degrade mesotrione by metabolism. • The time for 50% of absorbed mesotrione to degrade was calculated by measuring the radioactivity of the leaves. The results are shown in Table 3.1. Table 3.1 population of water hemp mean time for 50% of absorbed mesotrione to degrade / hours standard deviation test 27.5 4.75 control 10.1 2.34 Explain how the results in Table 3.1 show that the two populations differ in their resistance to mesotrione. Explain why this example of genetic variation is important for natural selection in water hemp populations. Farmers can send in a sample of leaves of water hemp from their fields to a laboratory to be tested for resistance to mesotrione or other herbicides. Suggest the benefit of this to a farmer. The null hypothesis states there is no significant difference between the mean times for 50% of absorbed mesotrione to degrade in the two populations. A t‑test can be carried out to compare these two means. The critical value for t at the p = 0.05 significance level is 2.23. Use the formula in to calculate the value of t. Show your working. t n s n s x x = + - e o Key x = mean s = standard deviation n1 = 6 (number of readings for test population) n2 = 6 (number of readings for control population) t = Use your calculated value of t to explain whether the null hypothesis should be accepted or rejected. accept or reject explanation
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The Hawaiian archipelago is a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific ocean. shows the relative locations of five of these islands. O’ahu Lana’i Moloka’i Maui Hawai’i Table 4.1 shows the size and age of these five islands and the total number of Mecyclothorax ground beetle species and their species density, on each island. Data for the island of Maui is shown as two distinct regions, West and Haleakalã. This is because they formed at different times from two separate volcanoes. Table 4.1 island area / km2 age of island / million years total number of Mecyclothorax species species density / number of species per km2 Hawai’i 10 433 0.4 0.003 Lãna’i 1.3 0.008 Maui (West) 1.3 0.061 Maui (Haleakalã) 1.1 0.081 Moloka’i 1.9 – 1.8 0.064 O’ahu 3.7 – 2.6 shows a ground beetle of the genus Mecyclothorax. All the beetle species of this genus on the Hawaiian archipelago form a monophyletic group, descended from one original colonising species that reached Maui from Australia. Complete Table 4.1 by calculating the density of Mecyclothorax beetle species on the island of O’ahu. Use Table 4.1 to explain why the island of Hawai’i has the lowest density of Mecyclothorax beetle species. Use and Table 4.1 to suggest why O’ahu has a lower number of Mecyclothorax beetle species than Moloka’i. The rate of speciation of Mecyclothorax beetles on the slopes of the volcano Haleakalã, on Maui, is the highest recorded for any genus or location on earth. The volcano last erupted 400 years ago. This produced lava flows which cut through ancient forest and vegetation, dividing it into many separate microhabitats. Explain how the large number of Mecyclothorax beetle species on Haleakalã developed.
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Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) is an autosomal recessive eye disease. LCA results in eye disorders, including severe loss of vision, at birth. LCA has been successfully treated by gene therapy, using a virus instead of a plasmid as the vector. Adeno‑associated virus (AAvectors containing the therapeutic allele were injected directly into the retina, the layer at the back of the eye containing the photoreceptor cells. People who had been blind from a young age were able to see again. There is a risk associated with the injection method used to deliver the vectors, as it might cause the retina to detach, damaging vision. This method of delivery was first used for LCA before being trialled on other retinal diseases that gradually reduce the vision of people as they get older. Suggest the main steps involved in creating recombinant DNA for this example of gene therapy. Explain why the fact that LCA is an autosomal recessive genetic disease makes it suitable for treatment with gene therapy. Suggest why the retinal injection method of gene therapy was used for LCA before it was trialled on other retinal diseases that gradually reduce the vision of people as they get older. Scientists tried to create an improved virus vector for gene therapy. step 1 – The scientists used a special form of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This form of PCR causes mutations in the DNA sequence of AAV by base substitution. step 2 – The viruses containing different base substitutions were tested. This was done by using the different viruses to deliver a new gene, the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP), into the photoreceptor cells of mice, using the retinal injection method. step 3 – The best virus, known as 7m8, caused the photoreceptor cells in the retina of the mouse to fluoresce brightly, even when the recombinant virus was injected into the fluid inside the eye instead of into the retina itself. step 4 – The 7m8 virus was used to cure a mouse with LCA by injecting this virus containing the therapeutic allele into the fluid inside the eye of the mouse. Suggest how errors occurring during PCR can cause base substitution mutations in the DNA sequence of AAV. Explain why the photoreceptor cells of the mouse fluoresced in step 3. Predict the impact of the 7m8 AAV on treatment for age‑related retinal diseases.
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