Q1.

(a) Explain five properties that make water important for organisms.

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(5)

(b) Describe the biochemical tests you would use to confirm the presence of lipid, non-
reducing sugar and amylase in a sample.

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(5)

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 (c) Describe the chemical reactions involved in the conversion of polymers to
monomers and monomers to polymers.

Give two named examples of polymers and their associated monomers to illustrate
your answer.

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(5)
(Total 15 marks)

Q2.
(a) Some seeds contain lipids. Describe how you could use the emulsion test to show
that a seed contains lipids.

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(3)

(b) A triglyceride is one type of lipid. The diagram shows the structure of a triglyceride
molecule.

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 (i) A triglyceride molecule is formed by condensation. From how many molecules
is this triglyceride formed?

(1)

(ii) The structure of a phospholipid molecule is different from that of a triglyceride.

Describe how a phospholipid is different.

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(2)

(iii) Use the diagram to explain what is meant by an unsaturated fatty acid.

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q3.
The diagram shows part of a DNA molecule.

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(a) How many nucleotides are shown in the diagram above?

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(1)

(b) Name the type of bond labelled X in the diagram.

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(1)

(c) The enzymes DNA helicase and DNA polymerase are involved in DNA replication.

Describe the function of each of these enzymes.

DNA helicase _______________________________________________________

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DNA polymerase _____________________________________________________

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(2)

(d) Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleotide derivative.

Contrast the structures of ATP and a nucleotide found in DNA to give two
differences.

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 1. _________________________________________________________________

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2. _________________________________________________________________

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q4.
Starch and cellulose are two important plant polysaccharides.

The following diagram shows part of a starch molecule and part of a cellulose molecule.

(a) Explain the difference in the structure of the starch molecule and the cellulose
molecule shown in the diagram above.

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(2)

(b) Starch molecules and cellulose molecules have different functions in plant cells.
Each molecule is adapted for its function.

Explain one way in which starch molecules are adapted for their function in plant
cells.

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Page 5 of 15
 ___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) Explain how cellulose molecules are adapted for their function in plant cells.

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(3)
(Total 7 marks)

Q5.
(a) Name the two scientists who proposed models of the chemical structure of DNA
and of DNA replication.

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(1)

A scientist replicated DNA in a test tube. To do this, he mixed an enzyme with identical
single-stranded DNA fragments and a solution containing DNA nucleotides.

(b) Name the enzyme used in this DNA replication.

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(1)

(c) Use your knowledge of semi-conservative replication of DNA to suggest:

1. the role of the single-stranded DNA fragments ____________________________

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2. the role of the DNA nucleotides. _______________________________________

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(3)

Page 6 of 15
 (Total 5 marks)

Q6.
(a) Describe how a peptide bond is formed between two amino acids to form a
dipeptide.

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(2)

(b) The secondary structure of a polypeptide is produced by bonds between amino

acids.

Describe how.

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(2)

(c) Two proteins have the same number and type of amino acids but different tertiary
structures.

Explain why.

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 ___________________________________________________________________

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q7.
Cells constantly hydrolyse ATP to provide energy.

(a) Describe how ATP is resynthesised in cells.

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(2)

(b) Give two ways in which the hydrolysis of ATP is used in cells.

1. _________________________________________________________________

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2. _________________________________________________________________

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(2)

(c) This is a photograph (micrograph) of a mitochondrion taken using a scanning

electron microscope.

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 What is the evidence that a scanning electron microscope was used to take this
photograph?

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(1)

(d) Name the part of the mitochondrion labelled X in the photograph.

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(1)

(e) The actual length of the mitochondrion between points A and B in the photograph is
4 μm.

What is the magnification of the mitochondrion in the photograph?

Show your working.

Magnification ____________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Page 9 of 15
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) 1. A metabolite in condensation/hydrolysis/ photosynthesis/respiration;

2. A solvent so (metabolic) reactions can occur

OR
A solvent so allowing transport of substances;

3. High heat capacity so buffers changes in temperature;

For ‘buffer’ accept ‘resist’.

4. Large latent heat of vaporisation so provides a cooling effect (through

evaporation);

5. Cohesion (between water molecules) so supports columns of water (in

plants);
For ‘columns of water’ accept ‘transpiration stream’.
Do not credit ‘transpiration’ alone but accept description of
‘stream’.
For ‘columns of water’ accept ‘cohesion-tension (theory)’.
For cohesion accept hydrogen bonding

6. Cohesion (between water molecules) so produces surface tension

supporting (small) organisms;
For cohesion accept hydrogen bonding

Ignore reference to pH.

Allow other suitable properties but must have a valid explanation.
For example
• ice floating so maintaining aquatic habitat beneath
• water transparent so allowing light penetration for
photosynthesis
5 max

(b)
4 max if marks gained from only 2 substance tests.
Lipid

1. Add ethanol/alcohol then add water and shake/mix

OR
Add ethanol/alcohol and shake/mix then pour into/add water;
Reject heating emulsion test.
Accept ‘Add Sudan III and mix’.

2. White/milky emulsion
OR
emulsion test turns white/milky;
Ignore cloudy.
Reject precipitate.
Accept (for Sudan III) top (layer) red.

Page 10 of 15
 Non-reducing sugar

3. Do Benedict’s test and stays blue/negative;

Ignore details of method for Benedict’s test for this mp.

4. Boil with acid then neutralise with alkali;

Accept named examples of acids/alkalis.

5. Heat with Benedict’s and becomes red/orange (precipitate);

Do not credit mp5 if no attempt at mp4.
For ‘heat’ ignore ‘warm’/’heat gently’/’put in a water bath’ but
accept stated temperatures ≥ 60°C.
Heat must be stated again, do not accept using residual heat from
mp4.
Accept ‘do the Benedict’s test’ if full correct method given
elsewhere.
Accept ‘sodium carbonate, sodium citrate and copper sulfate
solution’ for Benedict’s but must have all three if term ‘Benedict’s’
not used.

Amylase

6. Add biuret (reagent) and becomes purple/violet/mauve/lilac;

Accept ‘sodium or potassium hydroxide and copper sulfate
solution’ for ‘biuret’.
Reject heating biuret test.

7. Add starch, (leave for a time), test for reducing sugar/absence of starch;
5 max

(c)
Ignore reference to dimers.

1. A condensation reaction joins monomers together and forms a

(chemical) bond and releases water;

2. A hydrolysis reaction breaks a (chemical) bond between monomers and

uses water;

3. A suitable example of polymers and the monomers from which they are
made;
3. and 4. Polymers must contain many monomers.
3. and 4: suitable examples include
• amino acid and polypeptide, protein, enzyme, antibody or
specific
example
• nucleotide and polynucleotide, DNA or RNA
• Alpha glucose and starch/glycogen
• Beta glucose and cellulose.
If neither specific carbohydrate example is given, allow
monosaccharide/glucose and polysaccharide.
3. and 4. Reject (once) reference to triglycerides.

Page 11 of 15
 4. A second suitable example of polymers and the monomers from which
they are made;

5. Reference to a correct bond within a named polymer;

Reject reference to ester bond.
5
[15]

Q2.
(a) 1. Crush / grind;

2. With ethanol / alcohol;

3. Then add water / then add to water;

2. Water must be added after ethanol for third mark.

4. Forms emulsion / goes white / cloudy;

4. Do not accept carry out emulsion test.
3

(b) (i) 4 / four;

1

(ii) 1. Phosphate / PO4;

“It” refers to phospholipid.

2. Instead of one of the fatty acids / and two fatty acids;

1. Accept minor errors in formula. Do not accept phosphorus
/ phosphorus group.
2

(iii) 1. Double bonds (present) / some / two carbons with only one
hydrogen / (double bonds) between carbon atoms / not saturated
with hydrogen;
Answer refers to unsaturated unless otherwise clearly
indicated.
May be shown in appropriate diagram.

2. In (fatty acid) C / 3;
2
[8]

Q3.
(a) 8;
Accept eight
1

(b) Phosphodiester (bond);

Accept phonetic spellings
1

(c) 1. DNA helicase – (unwinding DNA and) breaking

hydrogen bonds / bonds between chains / bases /
strands;

Page 12 of 15
 2. DNA polymerase – joins (adjacent) nucleotides OR
forms phosphodiester bond / sugar-phosphate
backbone;
1. Accept H bonds.
1. Accept hydrolyses for breaks
2. Reject forms hydrogen bonds (between nucleotides /
bases)
2

(d) 1. ATP has ribose and DNA nucleotide has deoxyribose;

2. ATP has 3 phosphate (groups) and DNA nucleotide
has 1 phosphate (group);
3. ATP – base always adenine and in DNA nucleotide
base can be different / varies;
Both parts of each MP needed
3. Reject Uracil / U
3. Accept C, T or G for different bases
Accept annotated diagram for any of the three marks
2 max
[6]

Q4.
(a) 1. Starch formed from α-glucose but cellulose formed from β-glucose;
2. Position of hydrogen and hydroxyl groups on carbon atom 1 inverted.
2

(b) 1. Insoluble;
2. Don’t affect water potential;
OR

3. Helical;
Accept form spirals
4. Compact;

OR
5. Large molecule;
6. Cannot leave cell.
2

(c) 1. Long and straight chains;

2. Become linked together by many hydrogen bonds to form fibrils;
3. Provide strength (to cell wall).
3
[7]

Q5.
(a) Watson and Crick
OR
Crick and Watson;
Correct spelling
Ignore first/given/fore names
1

Page 13 of 15
 (b) DNA polymerase;
Correct spelling
1

(c) Role of single-stranded DNA fragments

1. Template;
2. Determines order of nucleotides/bases;

Role of DNA nucleotides

3. Forms complementary pairs / A – T, G - C

OR
Forms complementary (DNA) strand;
Ignore forms complementary bases
Accept sequence/ chain for strand
3
[5]

Q6.
(a) 1. Condensation (reaction) / loss of water;
Accept each marking point if shown clearly in diagram.

2. Between amine / NH2 and carboxyl / COOH;

Accept between amino (group) and carboxylic / acid (group)
2

(b) 1. Hydrogen bonds;

Accept as a diagram
Reject N - - - C / ionic / disulfide bridge / peptide bond

2. Between NH (group of one amino acid) and C=O (group);

OR
Forming β pleated sheets / α helix;
2

(c) 1. Different sequence of amino acids

OR
Different primary structure;
If candidate assumes proteins are the same, accept effect of
different pH/ temperature

2. Forms ionic / hydrogen / disulfide bonds in different places;

2
[6]

Q7.
(a) 1. From ADP and phosphate;

Accept
Reject P/Phosphorus
Reject use of water in the reaction

Page 14 of 15
 2. By ATP synthase;
3. During respiration/photosynthesis;
2 max

(b) 1. To provide energy for other reactions/named process;

Reject ‘produce’ energy
2. To add phosphate to other substances and make them more reactive/change
their shape;
2

(c) (Can see) 3D image;

1

(d) Crista/cristae;
Ignore matrix
1

(e) Value between 20,750 (83mm) and 21,250 (85mm) two marks;;
Formula given/used but calculation wrong, award 1 mark
Magnification = image size
Object size
(Large number divided by 4)
2
[8]

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