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CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level and GCE Advanced Level

MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2014 series

9700 BIOLOGY
9700/21 Paper 2 (AS Structured Questions), maximum raw mark 60

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of
the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners meeting before marking began,
which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner
Report for Teachers.

Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2014 series for most IGCSE, GCE
Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level components and some Ordinary Level components.
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GCE AS/A LEVEL May/June 2014 9700 21

Mark scheme abbreviations:

; separates marking points
/ alternative answers for the same point
R reject
A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or by extra guidance)
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants accepted)
max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be given
ora or reverse argument
mp marking point (with relevant number)
ecf error carried forward
I ignore

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GCE AS/A LEVEL May/June 2014 9700 21

1 (a) award two marks if correct answer within range 29 000 to 31 000 is given
allow 3 mm in reading the line, e.g.

90 000 90 10 3 9.0 10 2
3.0 3.0 10 6 3.0 10 9

() 30 000 / 3 104 ;;

one mark if not rounded to nearest whole number

one mark if a unit (mm, m) is given
one mark if line is measured and given in mm or cm within accepted range and divided by
3.0 m but incorrect conversion factor used for the line measurement or 3.0 m [2]

(b) feature identity name

provides motility F flagellum

stores genetic G DNA ; I any description,

information e.g. loop of / circular
A chromosome(s) / nucleoid
R plasmid / chromatid

partially permeable C cell surface / plasma, membrane ;

A phospholipid bilayer

composed of murein E cell wall ;

(peptidoglycan) R cellulose cell wall

site of translation A (70S / 18 nm) ribosome(s) ;

R 80S / 22 nm / larger, ribosome [4]

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GCE AS/A LEVEL May/June 2014 9700 21

(c) A (double) membrane-bound organelles only if no examples given (true)

nucleus / nuclear envelope ; A nuclear membrane I well-defined

chloroplast ; A grana / thylakoid(s) A plastid
(permanent) vacuole / tonoplast ; R vesicles unqualified A lysosome
mitochondrion / mitochondria ; A cristae
Golgi (body / apparatus / complex) / dictyosome ; A Golgi vesicle(s)

rough endoplasmic reticulum / rough (ER) / RER ;

smooth endoplasmic reticulum / smooth ER / SER ; A endoplasmic reticulum, if RER and SER
not given
nucleolus ;
linear / AW, chromosomes ; A DNA + histones
cellulose cell wall ;
starch grain / amyloplast ;
plasmodesma(ta) ;
larger / 80S / 22 nm, ribosomes ; [max 3]

(d) one mark for infected person with contaminated faeces, e.g.
faeces / sewage, contaminates (drinking) water / cooking utensils / vegetable plots / crops / food ;
A diarrhoea for faeces
R (human) waste unqualified
A ref. to houseflies landing on contaminated faeces

one mark for uninfected person

eating contaminated food / using contaminated utensils / drinking contaminated water ;
A bacteria enters water in context of drinking
R infected food or water
I handling contaminated food

A faecal-oral route for two marks [2]

(e) pathogen is at most vulnerable when in transfer between hosts / AW ;

A idea of breaking the transmission cycle

2 max for the following control methods:

sewage treatment / (effective) sanitation / correct ref. to positioning of latrines ;
do not use human faeces for fertiliser ;
piped / treated / boiled / chlorinated / purified, (drinking) water ;
A sanitised / clean, water
I cooking refs.
A water treatment with UV / ozone
bottled water ;
water treatment plants upstream of sewage disposal ;
(to reduce pool of infected people) antibiotics or oral / intravenous, rehydration (therapy) ;
A ORT [max 3]

[Total: 14]

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GCE AS/A LEVEL May/June 2014 9700 21

2 (a) population ;
community ;
(photo)autotroph / (primary) producer ;
(ecological) niche ; [4]

(b) provides ammonium (ions) / ammonia / nitrogen(ous) compounds / fixed nitrogen / organic
nitrogen ; A organic compounds
R nitrate / nitrite
R nitrate / nitrite, and ammonia

A formulae NH3 / NH4+

if only a formula is used then it must be completely correct

accept the following in context of plants / animals

for synthesis of amino acids / nucleotides ;

synthesis of protein / nucleic acids / DNA / RNA ;

proteins required for, growth / enzymes / tissue repair / AW ;

nucleic acids for storage of genetic information / AW ;

idea of offsets loss of, (fixed) nitrogen / nitrate ions ;

reduces effect of (fixed) nitrogen as a limiting factor (for growth) ; [max 3]

[Total: 7]

3 (a) (i) H and OH indicated ; A OH on end of amylose and H on alpha glucose

water eliminated / condensation ; A dehydration
oxygen bridge / glycosidic bond, drawn between C1 and C4 ;

If the whole glucose molecule and / or the end of the amylose molecule has not been
drawn, then only award mp3 if C1 and C4 are indicated in some way, e.g. by numbering
them or putting in the hydrogens. [3]

(ii) (1,4 / 1,6) glycosidic ; A glucosidic A phonetic spelling of glycosidic [1]

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GCE AS/A LEVEL May/June 2014 9700 21

(b) feature amylose glycogen cellulose

type of glucose -glucose -glucose -glucose ;

branched or unbranched branched unbranched / not

unbranched branched ;
molecule

role in organisms energy energy structural / (component

storage storage of) cell walls / tensile
strength / dietary
fibre / roughage ;
I support [3]

(c) (i) maltase and maltose must be correctly referenced

ignore references to reversible/irreversible

(ascorbase) binds to / fits into / enters active site ;

complementary (shape) to active site ;
so substrate / maltose, cannot enter / cannot bind ;
A no / few, ES complex
A prevents formation of ES complexes
A ascorbase forms enzyme inhibitor complex

competes with substrate / competitive inhibition ;

slows the (rate of), digestion / hydrolysis / breakdown, of maltose ;
R stops the reaction
R if in context of starch

alternative answer if candidates assume ascorbase is an enzyme:

ascorbase, breaks down / digests / hydrolyses, maltase ;
A ascorbase destroys the active site of maltase
so no enzymes to digests maltose ;
slows / stops, reaction / digestion / hydrolysis / breakdown, of maltose ; [max 3]

(ii) inhibits / slows down / prevents, breakdown / (catalysing) hydrolysis / digestion, of maltose
(to glucose) ; I starch

less glucose is absorbed / passes across membranes / enters blood ; [2]

[Total: 12]

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4 (a) (i) non-self

foreign / AW ; A ref. to epitope(s) I pathogen / organism

antigen
macromolecule / (glyco)protein / carbohydrate / polysaccharide / oligosaccharide ;
stimulates / AW, an immune response / production of antibodies ;
A results in formation of antigen-antibody complexes
A other described events in an immune response [max 2]

(ii) antibody / immunoglobulin / IgG, on cell surface / on cell membrane ;

(act as) receptors ;
ref. to antigen-binding / AW ;
(shape) specific / complementary, to antigen ; [max 2]

(b) (i) DNA / gene transcribed / mRNA using DNA as template / AW ;

A transcription unqualified
idea of mRNA associating with ribosome(s) ;
ref. to tRNA with specific amino acid (carried to ribosome) ;
pairing / AW of codons on mRNA with anticodons on tRNA ;
formation of peptide bonds (between adjacent amino acids) ;
antibody / protein / polypeptide(s), enters RER / moves to Golgi body ;
ref. to forming, secondary / tertiary structure ;
antibody / protein / polypeptide(s), modified / processed / glycosylated / formation
of quaternary structure / formation of disulphide bond(s) in Golgi (body / apparatus /
complex) ; I ref. to packaging [max 4]

(ii) vesicles move to cell / surface / plasma, membrane (via cytoskeleton) ;

R secreting vesicles unqualified
vesicles fuse with cell (surface) membrane / exocytosis ; R active transport
movement of vesicle / exocytosis requires energy or ATP / is active ; [max 2]

(c) memory cells ; A form immunological memory I gives immunity

remain / stay in circulation / blood / lymphatic system ;
R last a long time / long lived unqualified
for secondary response ;
fast(er) response when exposed again to same pathogen / same antigen ;
A fast(er) clonal selection / fast(er) clonal expansion
A divide quickly / rapidly
A long(er) lasting response
to form plasma cells (and more memory cells) ;
more antibodies produced / higher concentration of antibodies ;
R if in context of memory cells
to prevent person feeling ill / to prevent symptoms ; [max 3]

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(d) W cytokinesis / cytoplasmic division / cell divides into two ;

I cell division
R mitosis / telophase

Z (semi-conservative) replication (of DNA) ;

I S phase / interphase of cell cycle
R copying of DNA
R protein synthesis
R if replication is given in any other phase of the cell cycle [2]

(e) 1 breathing in / inhale smoke / second hand smoke / sidestream smoke ;

A passive smoking
I exposed to smoke
2 (tobacco smoke contains) carcinogen(s) ;
3 causes mutation / described ;
e.g. change to / alters / damages, DNA R if in wrong type of cell
4 leads to uncontrolled cell division / mitosis / growth ;
5 forming a tumour / mass of cells ;
6 correct ref. to (proto-)oncogenes / tumour suppressor genes ;
e.g. formation of oncogenes / mutation of tumour suppressor genes / switching off
tumour suppressing genes

mutation of correct named gene = 2 marks

e.g. mutation of tumour suppressor gene

P53 (gene) mutates = 2 marks [max 3]

[Total: 18]

5 (a) more / thicker, (cardiac) muscle (tissue) in left ventricle ; A ora

A thicker muscular wall
either
atrium pumps blood at lower pressure / against less resistance / to ventricle / short(er)
distance / with less force ;

or
ventricle pumps blood to the body / into systemic circulation / long(er) distance / against
greater resistance / at higher pressure / with more force ;
R ventricle wall withstands high pressure [max 2]

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GCE AS/A LEVEL May/June 2014 9700 21

(b) valve opens to allow blood flow from atrium into ventricle / when pressure in atrium is greater
than pressure in ventricle / during atrial systole ;

valve closes when ventricle contracts / when pressure in ventricle is greater than pressure in
atrium / during ventricle systole ;

during contraction of ventricles

papillary muscles contract to pull on tendons ; R if tendons are said to open the valve
tendons prevent valve, inverting / going inside out / everting / AW ; [max 3]

(c) 1 sino-atrial node / SAN sends out, waves of excitation / waves of depolarisation /
(electrical) impulses / action potential(s) ;
R nervous impulses / signal / message penalise once only

2 wave of excitation / AW / SAN stimulates, (both) atria to contract / atrial systole ;

3 fibrous ring / non-conducting tissue / insulating tissue (between atria and ventricles),
prevents impulse reaching the ventricles / prevents atria and ventricles contracting at the
same time ;

4 atrio-ventricular node / AVN delays impulse (by 0.1 s) / prevents ventricles contracting at
the same time as atria ;

5 allows, atria to empty / ventricles to fill ;

6 AVN sends out, waves of excitation / impulses to Purkyne tissue / Bundle of His (in
septum) ;

7 causes ventricles to contract together / at the same time / simultaneously / AW ; [max 4]

[Total: 9]

Cambridge International Examinations 2014