Cell Biology By: Dr.

Praveen Khandewal

Cell Biology QP

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

1 a) Determine the magnification of the string of Thiomargarita cells in figure 8, if the scale bar
represents 0.2 mm [3]

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b) Determine the width of the string of cells. [2]

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2 In figure 9 the actual length of the mitochondrion is 8 μm.

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a) Determine the magnification of this electron micrograph. [2]

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b) Calculate how long a 5 μm scale bar would be on this electron micrograph. [2]
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c) Determine the width of the mitochondrion. [1]

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

3 The magnification of the human cheek cell from a compound microscope (figure 10) is 2,000
×.
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a) Calculate how long a 20 μm scale bar would be on the image. [2]

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b) Determine the length of the cheek cell. [2]

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4 a) Using the width of the hen’s egg as a guide estimate the actual length of the ostrich egg
(figure 11). [2]
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b) Estimate the magnification of the image. [2]

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

Data based Questions: Membranes in freeze-etched electron micrographs Figure 6 shows a

freeze-etched electron micrograph image of part of a cell. It was prepared by Professor Horst
Robenek of Munster University

1 In all of the fractured membranes in the micrograph small granules are visible.
a) State what these granules are. [2]
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b) Explain the significance of these granules in the investigation of membrane structure. [3]
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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

2 One of the membranes that surround the nucleus is visible on the left of the micrograph.
Deduce whether it is the inner or outer nuclear membrane. (Always give your reasons when
asked to deduce something.)
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[2]

3 Identify three mitochondria visible in the micrograph, either using labels or by describing their
positions. [2]
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4 Explain the evidence from the micrograph that this cell was processing proteins in its
cytoplasm. [2]
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Diffusion of proteins in membranes: Frye and Edidin used an elegant technique to obtain
evidence for the fluid nature of membranes. They attached fluorescent markers to membrane
proteins – green markers to mouse cells and red markers to human cells. In both cases,
spherical cells growing in tissue culture were used. The marked mouse and human cells were
then fused together. At first, the fused cells had one green hemisphere and one red one, but
over the minutes following fusion, the red and green markers gradually merged, until they were
completely mixed throughout the whole of the cell membrane. Blocking of ATP production did
not prevent this mixing (ATP supplies energy for active processes in the cell).

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

1 Calculate the mean percentage of cells with markers fully mixed for each time after fusion. [4]
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2 Plot a graph of the results, including range bars for times where there was variation
in the results. To do this you plot the highest and lowest results with a small bar and join these
bars with a ruled line. You should also plot the mean result with a cross. This will lie on the
range bar. [4]
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3 Describe the trend shown by the graph. [1]

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4 Explain whether the results fit the Davson–Danielli model or the Singer–Nicolson model more
closely. [2]
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5 Explain the benefit of plotting range bars on graphs. [2]
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6 During this experiment the cells were incubated at 37 °C. Suggest a reason for the researchers
choosing this temperature. [1]
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7 The experiment was repeated at different temperatures. Figure 7 shows the results. Explain
the trends shown in the graph for temperatures between 15 and 35 °C. [2]

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

8 Explain the trends shown in the graph for temperatures below 15 °C. [2]
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9 When ATP synthesis was blocked in the cells, the mixing of the red and green markers still
occurred. Explain what conclusion can be drawn from this. [1]
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10 Predict, with reasons, the results of the experiment if it was repeated using cells from arctic
fish rather than from mice or humans. [1]
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Data based Questions:

Diffusion of oxygen in the cornea Oxygen concentrations were measured in the cornea of
anesthetized rabbits at different distances from the outer surface. These measurements were
continued into the aqueous humor behind the cornea. The rabbit’s cornea is 400 micrometres
(400 μm) thick. The graph (figure 7) shows the measurements. You may need to look at a
diagram of eye structure before answering the questions. The oxygen concentration in normal
air is 20 kilopascals (20kPa).
1 Calculate the thickness of the rabbit cornea in millimeters. [1]
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2 a) Describe the trend in oxygen concentrations in the cornea from the outer to the inner
surface. [2]
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b) Suggest reasons for the trend in oxygen concentration in the cornea. [2]

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

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3 a) Compare the oxygen concentrations in the aqueous humor with the concentrations in the
cornea. [2]
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b) Using the data in the graph, deduce whether oxygen diffuses from the cornea to the aqueous
humor. [2]
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4 Using the data in the graph evaluate diffusion as a method of moving substances in large
multicellular organisms. [2]
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5 a) Predict the effect of wearing contact lenses on oxygen concentrations in the cornea. [1]
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b) Suggest how this effect could be minimized. [1]

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6 The range bars for each data point indicate how much the measurements varied. Explain the
reason for showing range bars on the graph. [2]
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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

: Data based Questions: Phosphate absorption in barley roots

Roots were cut off from barley plants and were used to investigate phosphate absorption.
Roots were placed in phosphate solutions and air was bubbled through. The phosphate
concentration was the same in each case, but the percentage of oxygen and nitrogen was
varied in the air bubbled through. The rate of phosphate absorption was measured. Table 1
shows the results.
1 Describe the effect of reducing the oxygen concentration below 21.0% on the rate of
phosphate absorption by roots. You should only use information from the table in your answer.
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2 Explain the effect of reducing the oxygen percentage from 21.0 to 0.1 on phosphate
absorption. In your answer you should only use as much biological understanding as possible of
How cells absorb mineral ions. [3]
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An experiment was done to test which method of membrane transport was used by the roots
to absorb phosphate. Roots were placed in the phosphate solution as before, with 21.0%
oxygen bubbling through. Varying concentrations of a substance called DNP were added. DNP
blocks the production of ATP by aerobic cell respiration. Figure 11 shows the results of the
experiment.

3 Deduce, with a reason, whether the roots absorbed the phosphate by diffusion or active
transport. [2]
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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

4 Discuss the conclusions that can be drawn from the data in the graph about the method of
membrane transport used by the roots to absorb phosphate. [2]
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4 Two potassium ions from outside can then enter and attach to their binding sites.

5 Binding of potassium causes release of the phosphate group; this causes the pump to change
shape again so that it is again only open to the inside of the axon.

6 The interior of the pump opens to the inside of the axon and the two potassium ions are
released; sodium ions can then enter and bind to the pump again (stage 1).

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

Data based Questions: Osmosis in plant tissues

If samples of plant tissue are bathed in salt or sugar solutions for a short time, any increase or
decrease in mass is due almost entirely to water entering or leaving the cells by osmosis.
Figure 14 shows the percentage mass change of four tissues, when they were bathed in salt
solutions of different concentrations.

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

1 a) State whether water moved into or out of the tissues at 0.0 mol dm 3 sodium chloride
solution. [1]
b) State whether water moved into or out of the tissues at 1.0 mol dm 3 sodium chloride
solution. [2]

2 Deduce which tissue had the lowest solute concentration in its cytoplasm. Include how you
reached your conclusion in your answer. [2]

3 Suggest reasons for the differences in solute concentration between the tissues. [3]

4 Explain the reasons for using percentage mass change rather than the actual mass change in
grams in this type of experiment. [2]

Data based Questions: Centromeres and telomeres

Figure 3 and the other micrographs on the preceeding pages show cells undergoing mitosis. In
figure 3, DNA has been stained blue. The centromeres have been stained with a red fluorescent
dye. At the ends of the chromosomes there are structures called telomeres. These have been
stained with a green fluorescent dye.
1 Deduce the stage of mitosis that the cell was in, giving reasons for your answer. [3]
2 The cell has an even number of chromosomes.
a) State how many chromosomes there are in this cell? [1]
b) Explain the reason for body cells in plants and animals having an even number of
chromosomes. [2]
c) In the micrograph of a cell in interphase, the centromeres are on one side of the nucleus and
the telomeres are on the other side. Suggest reasons for this. [2]
d) An enzyme called telomerase lengthens the telomeres, by adding many short repeating base
sequences of DNA. This enzyme is only active in the germ cells that are used to produce
gametes. When DNA is replicated during the cell cycle in body cells, the end of the telomere

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

cannot be replicated, so the telomere becomes shorter. Predict the consequences for a plant or
animal of the shortening of telomeres. [2]

Data based Questions: The effect of smoking on health

One of the largest ever studies of the effect of smoking on health involved 34,439 male British
doctors. Information was collected on how much they smoked from 1951 to 2001 and the
cause of death was recorded for each of the doctors who died during this period. The table
below shows some of the results. The figures given are the number of deaths per hundred
thousand men per year.

1 Deduce whether there is a positive correlation between smoking and the mortality rate due
to all types of disease. [2]

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Cell Biology By: Dr. Praveen Khandewal

2 Using the data in the table, discuss whether the threat to health from smoking is greater with
respiratory or with circulatory diseases. [4]
3 Discuss whether the data suggests that smoking a small number of cigarettes is safe. [3]
4 Discuss whether the data proves that smoking is a cause of cirrhosis of the liver. [3]
5 The table does not include deaths due to cancer. The survey showed that seven types of
cancer are linked with smoking. Suggest three cancers that you would expect smoking to cause.
[3]

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