FINAL!!!

NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

LIFE SCIENCES

EXAMINATION

MARKING GUIDELINES

MARKS: 150

This Marking Guidelines consists of 8 pages.

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Life Sciences 2 June 2024 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guidelines

PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES

1. If more information than marks allocated is given

Stop marking when maximum marks is reached and put a wavy line and 'max' in the
right-hand margin.
2. If, for example, three reasons are required and five are given
Mark the first three irrespective of whether all or some are correct/incorrect.
3. If whole process is given when only a part of it is required
Read all and credit the relevant part.
4. If comparisons are asked for, but descriptions are given
Accept if the differences/similarities are clear.
5. If tabulation is required, but paragraphs are given
Candidates will lose marks for not tabulating.
6. If diagrams are given with annotations when descriptions are required
Candidates will lose marks.
7. If flow charts are given instead of descriptions
Candidates will lose marks.
8. If sequence is muddled and links do not make sense
Where sequence and links are correct, credit. Where sequence and links are incorrect, do not credit.
If sequence and links become correct again, resume credit.
9. Non-recognised abbreviations
Accept if first defined in answer. If not defined, do not credit the unrecognised abbreviation, but credit
the rest of the answer if correct.
10. Wrong numbering
If answer fits into the correct sequence of questions, but the wrong number is given, it is acceptable.
11. If language used changes the intended meaning
Do not accept.
12. Spelling errors
If recognisable, accept the answer, provided it does not mean something else in Life Sciences or if
it is out of context.
13. If common names are given in terminology
Accept, provided it was accepted at the national memo discussion meeting.
14. If only the letter is asked for, but only the name is given (and vice versa)
Do not credit.

15. If units are not given in measurements

Candidates will lose marks. Memorandum will allocate marks for units separately.

16. Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated in a different way.

17. Caption
All illustrations (diagrams, graphs, tables, etc.) must have a caption.

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Life Sciences 3 June 2024 Common Test
NSC – Memorandum

SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 1.1.1 B
1.1.2 B
1.1.3 C
1.1.4 D
1.1.5 C
1.1.6 B
1.1.7 C
1.1.8 D
1.1.9 B
1.1.10 C (10 x 2) (20)
1.2 1.2.1 Hypothalamus
1.2.2 Prolactin
1.2.3 Chorion
1.2.4 Progesterone
1.2.5 Allantois
1.2.6 Haemophilia
1.2.7 Allele
1.2.8 Genome
1.2.9 Sympathetic
2.1.10 Multiple Sclerosis (10 x 2) (10)
1.3 1.3.1 B only (2)
1.3.2 None (2)
1.3.3 Both A and B (2)
(6)
1.4 1.4.1 Dihybrid cross

1.4.2 (a) 3 (1)

(b) 1 (1)

1.4.3 Triangular wings with white eyes (1)

1.4.4 9 Triangular wings-red eyes: 3 Triangular wings-white eyes: 3 Oval

wings-red eyes: 1 Oval wings-white eyes.  (2)

1.4.5 tR/ Rt (1)

(7)

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NSC – Memorandum

1.5 1.5.1 (a) Sensory neuron (1)

(b) Synapse (1)

1.5.2 C - Effector muscle (2)

1.5.3 Transmits impulses from the sensory to the motor neurons/

connects a sensory neuron to a motor neuron (1)
(Mark the FIRST one only)

1.5.4 There will be no reaction to the stimulus (1)

(Mark FIRST one only)

1.5.5 - transmits impulses from receptors to the brain and from the brain to
the effectors
- contains reflex centres that function automatically to protect the
body (1)
(Mark the FIRST one only) (7)
[50]

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 2.1.1 (a) Translation (1)

(b) tRNA (1)

(c) Codon (1)

2.1.2 GAG (2)

2.1.3 - molecule S brings the required/specific amino acid

- to the ribosome (2)

2.1.4 - the mRNA codon AUA will change into CUA

- and codon GCC will change into UCC.
- which will change anticodons UAU to GAU
- and anticodon CGG into AGG.
- Amino acid leucine will be replaced by glutamine
- and proline will be replaced by serine
- Resulting in a different protein being formed. Any (5)
(12)

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Life Sciences 5 June 2024 Common Test
NSC – Memorandum

2.2 2.2.1 (a) Spindle fibre (1)

(b) Prophase I (1)

2.2.2 (a) Forms spindle fibres (1)

(b) Joins two chromatids/daughter chromosomes together (1)

T
2.2.3 Anaphase (Meiosis) I Anaphase (Meiosis) II
No centromere splits Centromere splits
Chromosomes move to opposite Chromatids/daughter
poles chromosomes move apart
A homologous pair of A whole chromosome would
chromosomes move to one pole move to one pole as abnormal
as abnormal process D process D  (5)
(Mark the FIRST TWO only) 1 mark for table + any (2 × 2)

2.2.4 - One gamete will have extra chromosome 21/24 chromosomes

- and when it fertilises a normal gamate/gamete with 23
chromosomes
- The zygote will have 3 copies of chromosome 21/47 chromosomes
- Resulting in Down syndrome Any (4)
(13)
2.3 2.3.1 13 (1)

2.3.2 Follicle (diameter) was the largest/ Follicle (diameter) decreases after
day 13 (1)
(mark the FIRST one only)

2.3.3 LH (1)

2.3.4 Oestrogen (1)

2.3.5 It thickens the endometrium (1)

2.3.6 No (1)

2.3.7 - Corpus luteum disintegrated/follicle size decreases towards day 28

- Causing progesterone levels to drop
- And endometrium will break down (3)
(9)
2.4 - Zygote is formed
- Which undergoes mitosis multiple times
- Forming a mass ball of cells
- Called a morula
- Which further undergoes mitosis to form a hollow ball of cells
- Called a blastocyst Any (4)

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NSC – Memorandum

2.5 Spermatogenesis*
- Under the influence of testosterone
- diploid cells in the seminiferous tubules/ testis
- undergo meiosis
- to form haploid sperm cells (1 compulsory mark + any 3) (4)

2.6 2.6.1 - Gland that secretes hormones into the blood stream
OR
- Ductless gland that secretes hormones (2)

2.6.2 - Water level in the blood increases

- Hypothalamus is stimulated /detects this increase
- A message is sent to the pituitary gland
- And less ADH is secreted into the blood
- Permeability of the nephron/distal convoluted tubule decreases
- Less water is reabsorbed into the blood
- More water is excreted as urine/dilute urine is produced
- Water level in the blood drops back to normal Any (6)
(8)
[50]

QUESTION 3

3.1 3.1.1 Sclera (1)

3.1.2 Cataracts (1)

3.1.3 Surgery (1)

(mark the FIRST one only)

3.1.4 Diagram 3 (1)

3.1.5 - The pupil is constricted*/narrower

- due to radial muscles relaxing
- and circular muscles contracting
- to cause less light to enter 1 compulsory mark + any 2 (3)

3.1.6 (a) Part B/ Ciliary muscles contract (2)

(b) Part C/ The lens becomes more convex (2)

(11)

3.2 - A change in direction and speed of the body

- causes the movement of fluid in the semi-circular canals
- which stimulates the cristae
- A change in the position of the head
- stimulates the maculae in the utriculus and sacculus
- The stimulus is converted into an impulse
- which were transported along the auditory nerve
- and interpreted in the cerebellum
- which sends impulses into the skeletal muscles
- to restore balance Any (6)
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Life Sciences 7 June 2024 Common Test
NSC – Memorandum

3.3 3.3.1 Aldosterone (1)

(Mark the FIRST one only)

3.3.2 - Enlarged penis

- Poor weight gain/weight loss
- Dehydration (3)
(Mark the FIRST THREE only)

3.3.3 (a) - High androgens

- promote rapid growth Any (2)

(b) - Low amount of adrenalin* leads to

- Less/No conversion of glycogen into glucose
- Less/No increase in breathing rate and heart rate
- Less oxygen goes to skeletal muscles
- And less blood flows to the brain and skeletal muscles
- Low levels of cellular respiration
- Resulting in the lack of energycausing weakness and
tiredness. (1 compulsory + Any 5) (6)
(12)

3.4 3.4.1 (a) Unaffected male (1)

(b) Gg and GG (2)

3.4.2 - Skomota is unaffected/does not have galactosemia

- and has Zandile/Sonwabile who are affected
with galactosemia /gg
- therefore must have inherited a recessive allele (g) from each
parent  (3)

3.4.3 P1 Phenotype - Affected (male) × unaffected (woman)

Genotype gg × Gg
Meiosis
G/Gametes g, g × G, g

Fertilisation

F1
Genotype Gg Gg gg gg 

Phenotype Unaffected affected

P1 and F1  Therefore, there is a 50%* chance of a child with

Meiosis and galactosemia.
fertilisation (1 compulsory + Any 5)

OR

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Life Sciences 8 June 2024 Common Test
NSC – Memorandum

P1 Affected male × unaffected woman

Phenotype gg × Gg
Genotype
Meiosis
Unaffected
Fertilisation Gametes G g

Affected
Gg gg
F1 g
Unaffected Affected
Gg gg
Phenotype g
Unaffected Affected
(correct gametes)
 (correct genotype)
2 Affected and 2 unaffected
P1 and F1  Therefore, there is a 50%* chance of a child with
Meiosis and galactosemia.
fertilisation Any 5+1* (6)
(12)

3.5 3.5.1 Growth of GM salmon (1)

3.5.2 - Serves as a control

- to verify that the growth of GM salmon is due to the environment in
which it grows (2)

3.5.3 - Same age of salmon/five day old salmon in each group

- Same species of salmon
- The measurement was done every month for 12 months (1)
(mark FIRST one only)

3.5.4 [(120 – 95) ÷ 95]  OR (25/95)  × 100

= 0,26 × 100 = 26%
= 26% (3)

3.5.5 GM salmon grows the best/the largest in the hatchery than in the
simulated natural environment. (2)
(9)
[50]

TOTAL SECTION B: [100]

GRAND TOTAL: [150]

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