BRITISH BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD 2013

ROUND TWO QUESTION PAPER

Time allowed 1
1
/
2
hours

Insru!"ons#
Answer $%% questions on the answer sheet.
Write your names, school and centre number on the top of the answer sheet.
Answers written in margins or on the question paper will not be marked.
Do all rough work on the question paper.
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
ou may use a calculator.
When you ha!e completed the test and checked your answers, r&urn $%% &s '$&r"$%s to
the in!igilator.
In(or'$"on#
The paper consists of "# questions scoring $% marks.
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
Answers consist of one or more letters or numerals, ticks and crosses or plus and minus
signs or the results of numerical calculations.
Goo) %u!*+
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q1 -3 '$r*s.
Urine production is the result of continuous filtration of plasma through the kidneys. &ndicate in the
table on the answer sheet, true statements about the mammalian kidney with a tick and false
statements with a cross.
a. The kidneys ha!e a direct effect on blood pressure.
b. The kidneys help regulate total blood !olume in circulation.
c. The loops of 'enle remo!e water, ions and nutrients from the blood.
d. Those able to e(crete the most hyperosmotic urine, such as the kangaroo rats li!ing in
the desert, ha!e relati!ely short loops of 'enle
e. The kidneys partner the lungs in controlling the p' in plasma.
f. The kidneys help maintain blood p' by e(creting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing
bicarbonate ions as needed.
g. The kidneys dispose of !olatile acids produced in metabolism.
h. Ammonia )*'
#
+ is produced in pro(imal tubule cells during acidosis.
i. The glomerular filtration rate is affected by blood pressure.
,. The kidneys produce AD' )antidiuretic hormone+.
Q2 -2 '$r*s.
The -uropean )freshwater+ eel usually obtains o(ygen by gills but can spend long periods of time out of
water using dermal gaseous e(change. The graph below shows the le!el of blood saturation by o(ygen
and o(ygen supply through different organs when the eel was remo!ed from the water. )arbitrary units+
.
/A, 01, 2 3, 4D
5atch the following statements )& to &6+ to the corresponding lines )A 7 D+ in the table on the
answer sheet.
&. Total blood saturation by o(ygen
&&. 8(ygen supply through gills
&&&. 8(ygen supply through skin
&6. 8(ygen supply from air bladder
9age : of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q3 -/ '$r*s.
=ish are specially adapted for aquatic life in different depths )e.g. surface, middle, bottom+ of the
water column and !arious special habitats )e.g. sea grass beds, rock cre!ices+. Their swimming
speeds are also partly dependent on their body morphology. 5atch, in the table on the answer
sheet, the fish )A 7 ', not drawn to scale+ with their respecti!e habitats and indicate the two fastest
swimmers and the two slowest swimmers.
Q/ -2 '$r*s.
Tom ran after a thief and caught him after an $>m chase. Which of the following biochemical?
physiological changes did his body undergo during the chase@ &ndicate the correct answers with a
tick and incorrect answers with a cross.
a. The cardio-!ascular system leapt into action, with the heart pump rate going from <?" litres
up to around ;> litres a minute, arteries constricted to ma(imiAe pressure around the system
whilst the !eins opened out to ease return of blood to the heart.
b. =at from fatty cells and glucose from the li!er were metaboliAed to create instant energy.
c. 1lood !essels to the kidney and digesti!e system constricted, to effecti!ely shut down
systems that were not essential for the moment.
d. 1lood !essels to the skin constricted reducing any potential blood loss. Bweat glands
opened, pro!iding an e(ternal cooling liquid to the o!er-worked system.
e. -ndorphins, bodyCs natural pain killers, were released.
9age ; of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q0 -2 '$r*s.
5ark the following statements related to the grey matter and white matter in the brain as correct
)tick+ or incorrect )cross+
a+ Drey 5atter is grey in colour because of the nuclei present in ner!e cell bodies, whereas
myelin is responsible for the white appearance of the white matter.
b+ Drey matter occupies E>F of the brain while white matter fills the rest.
c+ White matter controls functions that the body is unaware of such as temperature, blood
pressure and heart rate
d+ The senses of the body )speech, hearing, feelings, seeing and memory+ and control of the
muscles, are part of the grey matterGs function
e+ Drey matter consumes %<F of the total o(ygen used by the brain in humans
Q1 -1 '$r*.
3arbon particles were in,ected into the blood of mice. &n which one of the following places would
you most likely find the particles@
A+ &n the glomerular filtrate
1+ &n the adipose tissue of the li!er
3+ &n monocytes of the spleen
D+ &n plasma cells of the bone marrow
-+ &n the loops of 'enle
Q2 -1 '$r*.
9rofessor Hones is running an e(periment with his graduate students in his physiology lab. 8ne
group of students drinks a litre of water, another group drinks a litre of coffee, and a third group
drinks a litre of concentrated salt solution. The !olume of urine produced by all indi!iduals in the
three groups is measured o!er a period of se!eral hours. At the end of the monitoring period, which
group will ha!e produced the greatest !olume of urine and which group the least@
A+ Those who drank coffee will produce the most urine, while those who drank water will
produce the least
1+ Those who drank coffee will produce the most urine, while those who drank the salt solution
will produce the least
3+ Those who drank the salt solution will produce the most urine, while those who drank water
will produce the least
D+ Those who drank the salt solution will produce the most urine, while those who drank coffee
will produce the least
-+ There will be no difference between the three groups
Q3 -1 '$r*.
5ultiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder in which the bodyGs immune system attacks and
destroys the myelin of its own ner!ous system. Which one implication does this damage ha!e for
the ner!ous system@
A+ The cell bodies of ner!e cells can no longer reach action potential because the receptors that
take up sodium ha!e been damaged.
1+ Degraded myelin molecules block receptor proteins in the postsynaptic membrane.
3+ Iack of myelin decreases production of acetylcholine disrupting muscular coordination.
D+ A(ons conduct ner!ous impulses less effecti!ely because their insulating sheaths ha!e been
damaged.
-+ 1ecause the corpus callosum is made of myelin, the right and left sides of the brain are no
longer able to communicate.
9age # of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q4 -1 '$r*.
The human thyroid gland is controlled by a negati!e feedback mechanism. The hypothalamus
secretes thyrotropin-releasing hormone )TJ'+. TJ' stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete
thyroid stimulating hormone )TB'+. TB' induces the thyroid gland to secrete thyro(ine. What is
the ne(t step in the control system@
A+ Thyro(ine will inhibit the secretion of TJ'.
1+ Thyro(ine will cause the bodyGs basal metabolic rate and body temperature to drop.
3+ The hypothalamus will secrete a thyroid-inhibiting hormone that slows down production of
D+ thyro(ine.
-+ Thyro(ine will stimulate the increased production of TB'.
=+ The thyroid gland will respond to the rising le!el of thyro(ine and slow down its production.
Q10 -2 '$r*s.
&n the figure, the letter in each bo( represents an organ or tissue.
5atch each organ or tissue )a 7 e+ on the answer sheet to the correct bo( in the figure.

9age < of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q11 -3 '$r*s.
5atch plant structures ): 7 :>+ with the corresponding function )A 7 H+ in the table on the answer
sheet.
P%$n !&%% / T"ssu& sru!ur& 5un!"on-s. / 5&$ur&-s.
: Thylakoid membranes A An intercellular communication network
; 6ascular cambium 1
Btorage of water, digesti!e enAymes and other
inorganic and organic substances
# 3entral !acuole 3 9roduction of new plant tissues?organs
< 9lasmodesmata D 5odified parenchyma cell without nucleus
" Apical meristem -
Bmall opening in the surface of an o!ule,
through which the pollen tube penetrates.
E 9eriderm = 5echanical support
K Bie!e tube D 9resence of electron transport proteins
$ Trichome ' 9roduction of secondary !ascular tissues
% Becondary cell wall & Becondary protecti!e tissue
:> 5icropyle H 9rotection and absorption
9age " of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q12 -2 '$r*s.
Btudy the graph below and determine which of the statements )a to g+ are correct.
&ndicate correct answers with a tick and incorrect ones with a cross.
a+ &t is a photosynthetic 8
;
response cur!e.
b+ 9oint A is light saturation point.
c+ 9oint 1 is light compensation point.
d+ 3 is the ma(imal photosynthetic rate.
e+ 9lants stop growth when they grow under the irradiance greater than the !alue shown at point 1.
f+ Jespiration rate is greater than photosynthetic rate when plants are grown under the light
below the !alue shown at point A.
g+ 9lants grow )accumulate biomass+ when their growth light en!ironments are higher than the
photon flu( shown at point A.
9age E of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q13 -1 '$r*.
Di!e the letter)s+ of the factor)s+ shown below which regulate)s+ the output of the light-independent
3al!in cycle in plants.
A+ 3oncentration of 38
;
in the leaf
1+ 3oncentration of 8
;
in the leaf
3+ Amount of photorespiration
D+ Temperature
Q1/ -2 '$r*s.
Iettuce seeds were treated with !arious concentrations of coumarin and then placed in a range of
en!ironmental conditions to germinate. The graph below shows the results of these in!estigations.

=rom the results shown, which of the following statements are correct )tick+ and which are not
)cross+@
A+ 3oumarin is an inhibitor of seed germination
1+ Iight tends to re!erse the effects of coumarin
3+ Dermination is independent of light and temperature
D+ At higher temperatures light is less effecti!e in o!ercoming the effects of coumarin
Q10 -2 '$r*s.
The AGAMOUS )AG+ gene is in!ol!ed in flower de!elopment. 9lant mutants without a functional
AG would produce flowers with only receptacle, sepals and petals. A scientist generated a
transgenic plant harbouring a green fluorescence protein )D=9+ gene dri!en by the AG promoter in
a wild type background that produces normal flowers. Di!e the letter)s+ of the following flower
parts in which you are likely to obser!e strong D=9 fluorescent signals@
A+ Jeceptacle
1+ Bepal
3+ 9etal
D+ Btamen
-+ 3arpel
9age K of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q11 -1 '$r*.
9hytochromes e(ist in two isoforms, 9r and 9fr. &n darkness, they are synthesiAed as 9r form, then
turned into 9fr form after absorbing red light )most effecti!e at EEE nm+. When irradiated with far
red light, 9fr transforms back to 9r. According to the description abo!e, gi!e the letter)s+ of the
following which is?are likely to be the absorption spectrum?a of phytochrome@
Q12 -1 '$r*.
Di!e the letter)s+ of the following which is?are of benefit to the plant of 3

< photosynthesis as
compared to 3# photosynthesis.
A+ 3< photosynthesis needs fewer light quanta to fi( one mole of 38
;
.
1+ 3< photosynthesis can proceed at a much lower 38
;
concentration than 3# photosynthesis.
3+ 9lants with 3< photosynthesis are more economic in water use.
D+ 9lants with 3< photosynthesis require fewer types of minerals.

9age $ of ;<
)1+
)A+
)3+ )D+
)-+
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q13 -/ '$r*s.
1ateson and 9unnett ):%>$+ studied the flower colour and pollen grain shape in the sweet pea,
Lathyrus odoratus, which is related to the garden pea, Pisum sativum, which 5endel studied.
They crossed a true-breeding purple-flowered plant that had long pollen grains with a true-breeding
red-flowered plant that had round pollen grains, and tabulated the following results for the =;
progeny.
Ph&no67& O8s&r9&)
9urple flowers, long pollen grains ;%E
9urple flowers, round pollen grains :%
Jed flowers, long pollen grains ;K
Jed flowers, round pollen grains $"
Total number of progeny <;K
$ . -1 '$r*.
&f the genetic traits are assorted independently, what phenotype ratio would you e(pect to see@
8. -2 '$r*s.
8n the answer sheet fill in the e(pected !alues for the respecti!e phenotype and test for independent
assortment by calculating the chi squared !alue.
)(
:h" s;u$r&)
9$%u&s
: #.$<:
; ".%%:
# K.$:"
< %.<$$
" ::.>K>

Table. chi squared !alues for p L >.>"
!. -1 '$r*.
&ndicate likely e(planation)s+ with a tick and inappropriate e(planation)s+ with a cross for the
abo!e obser!ation.
9age % of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q14 -3 '$r*s.
Bome allele combinations can result in a particular mental disorder in humans. The Table shows the
enAyme acti!ities of different genotypes )reported as percentage of the normal acti!ity+.
Allele ;
Allele :
J;#:M 9;%;I J<>KW &6B-:; -;%>N J:"$O J;K:O <;<3
J;#:M P:
9;%;I P: P:
J<>KW P: P: P:
&6B-:; P: P: P: P:
-;%>N Q; P#
J:"$O QE." :>
J;K:O M Q;> #>
<;<3 <> ">
All indi!iduals homoAygous or heteroAygous for any combination of the first " alleles listed abo!e
e(hibit the classical symptoms of the disease. &ndi!iduals heteroAygous between <;<3 and any of
the first four alleles, howe!er, ha!e mild symptoms. J:"$O?J:"$O homoAygotes show classical
symptoms of the disease, while J;K:O?J;K:O homoAygotes and J;K:O?<;<3 heteroAygotes
ha!e mild symptoms.
$. -1 '$r*.
What is the estimated enAyme acti!ity in indi!iduals for genotype combinations marked by
M )J;K:O?-;%>N+@
8. -1 '$r*+
What is the estimated enAyme acti!ity in indi!iduals for genotype combinations marked by
)<;<3? J:"$O+@
!. -1 '$r*.
What is the critical range defining those with classical symptoms from those with mild
symptoms@
Q20 -2 '$r*s.
&n a particular breed of dogs, the hairless condition is produced by the heteroAygous genotype.
*ormal dogs are homoAygous recessi!e. 9uppies homoAygous for the ' allele are usually born
dead with abnormalities of the mouth and absence of e(ternal ears. &f the a!erage litter siAe at
weaning is E in matings between hairless dogs, what would be the a!erage e(pected number of
hairless and normal offspring at weaning for matings between hairless dogs and between hairless
and normal dogs@ Write the answers in the table on the answer sheet.
9age :> of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q21 -3 '$r*s.
A number of nutritional mutant strains were isolated from wild-type red bread mould Neurospora
crassa that responded to the addition of certain supplements in the culture medium by growth )R+ or
no growth )>+. Di!en in the Table below are the responses for single-gene mutants.
Btrain
Bupplements added to minimal culture medium
3itrulline ):+
Dlutamic
semialdehyde );+
Arginine )#+ 8rnithine )<+ Dlutamic acid )"+
A R > R > >
1 R R R R >
3 R > R R >
D > > R > >
$. -2 '$r*s.
&ndicate the order of the fi!e metabolites within the metabolic pathway by gi!ing the numbers.
8. -1 '$r*.
&ndicate the strain that is blocked at each of the four steps in the metabolic pathway by gi!ing the
letters.
Q22 -2 '$r*s.
=or a particular mammal a gene for hair colour is e(pressed as follows. A:A: L lethal, A:A; L
gray, A;A; L blackS a second gene for hair length is e(pressed as. 1:1: L long hair, 1:1; L short
hair, 1;1; L !ery short hair )fuAAy+. &f parents that are both A:A;1:1; are crossed.
a+ What is the fraction of adult offspring that is e(pected to be gray and fuAAy@
b+ &n the case when fuAAy is also a lethal trait, what is the fraction of adult progeny e(pected to
be black and short@
Q23 -1 '$r*.
What is the most frequent origin of DownCs syndrome@
A+ An e(cess of D*A ligase, causing abnormal D*A replication.
1+ A tandem duplication of D*A during meiotic cell di!ision.
3+ A point mutation in the gene encoding a histone.
D+ A frameshift mutation during foetal de!elopment.
-+ *ondis,unction of parental chromosomes during meiosis.
Q2/ -1 '$r*.
A population of laboratory rats in 'ardy-Weinberg equilibrium displays a polymorphism for coat
colour controlled by two alleles at a single locus. The 1 allele codes for black coat colour and is
completely dominant to the allele b for white coat colour. There are ;>> rats in the population. #;
are white and :E$ are black. 'ow many of the black rats are heteroAygous )1b+ at the coat-colour
locus@
9age :: of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q20 -2 '$r*s.
A cell in the D: phase has two homologous pairs of chromosomes. &t undergoes a mitotic di!ision,
followed by meiosis. At the end of meiosis ;, what is the sum of all the products of these di!isions
in all cells@ Write the appropriate numbers in the table on the answer sheet.
Q21 -1 '$r*.
Which statement about e!olution is correct@
A+ Analogous structures may be used to infer e!olutionary relationships between organisms.
1+ The e(istence of !estigial structures, which are structures found in organisms but not used,
is consistent with e!olutionary theory.
3+ As it is a theory, e!olution has not yet been sub,ect to a !ast amount of e(perimental
!erification.
D+ The de!elopment of comple( structures )e.g. the eye+ by accident is consistent with
e!olution by natural selection.
-+ *atural selection can pro!ide a population with new source of alleles.
Q22 -1 '$r*.
ou ha!e a summer ,ob in a lab breeding fruit flies. ou are gi!en your first mating pair of flies,
both of which ha!e grey bodies and normal wings. ou are asked to start a population of flies that
share these characteristics with their parents. 1ut upon mating the two flies, you end up with a large
amount of !ariation, as described in the table below. Di!e the letter)s+ of the statement)s+ which
could e(plain the outcome of your cross.
Traits *umber of offspring
Drey body, normal wings <"
1lack body, shri!elled wings "
Drey body, shri!elled wings :"
1lack body, normal wings :"
A+ The genes for body colour and wing shape assort independently.
1+ 1oth parents are heteroAygous for both genes
3+ 8ne parent is heteroAygous for both genes and the other is heteroAygous for the wing shape
gene
D+ ou ha!e achie!ed a rare result
-+ -ach parent is heteroAygous for one gene


9age :; of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q23 -1 '$r*.
Which is the one correct statement concerning the geographic distribution of animals or plants in a
population@
A+ most often uniform, pro!iding each indi!idual with the ma(imum a!ailability of space and
resources.
1+ most often clumped, with indi!iduals gathered around resources such as food or mates.
3+ determined by the amount of daylight as compared to hours of darkness.
D+ random in most species.
-+ spatially uniform only when competition for food resources is low.
Q24 -1 '$r*.
The cryptic shape, cryptic colouration, and cryptic beha!iour of a leaf-eating insect are most likely
to be e!idence of which one kind of biological relationship@
A+ 5utualism
1+ &nterspecific competition
3+ 3ommensalism
D+ 9redation
-+ &ntraspecific competition
Q30 -2 '$r*s.
A large forest is cleared. The land is rapidly coloniAed by species with which of the following
characteristics@ Write the number)s+ of the characteristic)s+ that apply.
:. long lifespan
;. rapid reproduction
#. fast growth
<. strong dispersal ability
". strong defence against natural enemies or predators.
Q31 -2 '$r*s.
A large proportion of angiosperms are pollinated by animals. Assign the following flower
descriptions )& to 6+ to the most likely pollinator )a to e+.
&. =lower white, open during night, intense fragrance, nectar hidden in long, tight tubes.
&&. =lower often with ultra!iolet colouring pattern, open during daytime, pleasant fragrance.
&&&. =lower large and coarse, bright red, open during daytime, no fragrance but large amounts of
nectar
&6. =lower large and coarse, far opened, open during night, intense fragrance, large amounts of
nectar
6. =lower reddish brown, no nectar, smell of rotten flesh
a. bats
b. birds
c. bees
d. flies
e. moths
9age :# of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q32 -1 '$r*.
'ay is boiled in water and cooled. Bome pond water, containing only heterotrophic protoAoa, is
added to it and kept in the dark for a long time. Write on the answer sheet the letter or letters of the
following which is?are correct.
A+ 'eterotrophic succession of protoAoa will occur with increase in total biomass.
1+ The energy of the system is ma(imum at the beginning.
3+ Buccession will occur, e!entually reaching a steady state in which energy flow is
maintained.
D+ The ecosystem may undergo succession but finally all organisms will die or go into resting
stages.
Q33 -1 '$r*.
An ecologist is comparing the growth of a herbaceous plant species growing in two different sites
A and 1. To compare the populations from the two sites, she has har!ested #> indi!iduals from each
site, then measured the root length, root biomass, and shoot biomass of each indi!idual. A summary
of those measurements are as follows.
Iocation 5ean root length )cm+ 5ean root biomass )g+ 5ean shoot biomass )g+
Bite A ;K.; R >.; #<$.K R >." E$>.K R >.:
Bite 1 :#.< R >.# #;;.< R >.E K>$.% R >.;
1ased on the data presented, which one of the following statements is likely to be true@
A+ Boil water a!ailability is lower in Bite 1 than in Bite A.
1+ 9lant producti!ity is higher in Bite A than in Bite 1.
3+ Boil water a!ailability is lower in Bite A than in Bite 1.
D+ Boil nutrient a!ailability is lower in Bite 1 than in Bite A.
Q3/ -3 '$r*s.
*itrogen, as a mineral nutrient, has the greatest effect on plant growth. The atmosphere contains
nearly $>F nitrogen gas )*
;
+, yet plants ha!e to be pro!ided ammonium salts or nitrates as
fertiliAers for optimum growth and yield. 3ertain nitrogen-fi(ing bacteria )rhiAobia, cyanobacteria,
etc.+ can con!ert atmospheric *
;
into ammonia using nitrogenase by the following reaction.
*
;
R $ e
-
R $ '
R
R :E AT9 ; *'
#
R '
;
R :E AD9 R :E 9
i
Buch bacteria can be used as biofertiliAers in agriculture. &n soil, ammonia is protonated to
ammonium )*'
<R
+. This, in turn, is con!erted to nitrate )*8
#-
-
+ and then to *
;
gas by the action of
nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, respecti!ely. 9lants require nitrogen mainly in the form of
nitrate, which is e(ported from roots to shoots, recon!erted to ammonium and assimilated as amino
acids.
:on.
9age :< of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q3/ !on+
=or each of the following three questions write the one letter that applies.
-$. 9lants do not themsel!es fi( *
;,
because.
A+ &t is easily a!ailable from the soil.
1+ They lack the nitrogenase enAyme comple(.
3+ The process has a !ery high requirement of AT9 per mole of *
;
fi(ed.
D+ 'ydrogen e!ol!ed in the process is deleterious to plants.
-8. 9rocesses related to nitrogen con!ersion to different chemical forms in the soil, carried out by
the nitrogen-fi(ing bacteria, nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria can be, respecti!ely,
described as.
A+ reduction, o(idation and o(idation.
1+ reduction, o(idation and reduction.
3+ reduction, reduction and o(idation.
D+ o(idation, o(idation and reduction.
-!. 1ased on the gi!en information, which type of soil bacteria will *8T be beneficial for plants@
A+ *itrogen-fi(ing bacteria
1+ *itrifying bacteria
3+ Denitrifying bacteria
D+ *itrifying and denitrifying bacteria
Q30 -1'$r*.
6er!et monkeys )Cercopithecus aethiops+ warn fellow monkeys by producing unique warning
signals according to the type of predators such as eagles, leopards and snakes. Depending on the
type of signals, monkeys in the group choose the appropriate method to escape. A newborn 6er!et
monkey is capable of producing all of these signals but it does not know which signal should be
used in each case. &f a baby monkey produces the signal for eagles when a sparrow is flying o!er,
adult monkeys look up at the sky and then ignore the signal. 'owe!er, if an eagle is indeed
ho!ering, the entire group ,oins in the warning. Bometimes, baby monkeys are punished by their
mothers for producing wrong signals.
Which of the following learning types is?are associated with the warning signal de!elopment in
baby monkeys@
A+ &mprinting
1+ Associati!e learning
3+ 9roblem sol!ing
D+ Bocial learning
9age :" of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q31 -2 '$r*s.
=ruit flies usually find food by following the odour of ethanol produced from fruits. The fruit also
ser!es as the place for male and female flies to mate and reproduce. The graph below shows the
relationship between the number of allured flies and the concentration of ethanol.
1ased on the graph, indicate the correct statement)s+ with a tick and incorrect statement)s+ with a
cross.
A+ The male?female ratio in the number of flies occupying the food source !aries depending
on the ethanol concentration.
1+ The number of mating animals would be the lowest when ethanol concentration is %.
3+ The competition between males would be most se!ere when ethanol concentration is K.
D+ The number of laid eggs would be the highest when ethanol concentration is around E
and K.
-+ The number of attracted flies would be the highest when ethanol concentration is E.
Q37 (1 mark)
When an ant in a colony dies, the live ants will throw the dead ant out of the anthill. If a live ant
from the colony, Ant X, is sprayed with a chemical characteristic of dead ants, the live ants will
repeatedly throw Ant X out of the anthill until the chemical on Ant X wears off.
What is the best behavioral explanation of the ant colony?
A+ The ants are e(hibiting a negati!e ta(is triggered by the chemical.
1+ The other ants can learn only through trial and error.
3+ The ants e(hibit a learned beha!iour.
D+ The li!e ants continue the beha!iour until they ha!e been habituated.
-+ The chemical acts as a sign stimulus for a fi(ed action pattern.
9age :E of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q33 -2 '$r*s.
5ale fiddler crabs use their enlarged claws chelipeds )ma,or chelipeds+ for signalling )e.g. fighting
for burrows, wa!ing at females, etc.+. A student studied male-female interactions by using mirrors
to reflect two different-siAed images of the same wa!ing male crab to females. 5irror
combinations used in the e(periment were. :>( . #( )Treatment &+, #( . :( )Treatment &&+ and :>( .
:( )Treatment &&&+. Ten wa!ing males were presented to ;> females in three trials for each
treatment. Bhe recorded the percentage of females )Draph A+ and time taken by each female to
approach each reflection )Draph 1+ for each treatment as well as whether the male was right or left-
handed )Draph 3+.
Larger image; Smaller image; Right-handed male; Left-handed male
&ndicate correct conclusion)s+ that can be drawn about the interactions between male and female
crabs with a tick, incorrect conclusion)s+ with a cross and the statement)s+ that cannot be concluded
with a dash )+.
a. =emale fiddler crabs generally prefer larger males.
b. &n mate-choice selection, male handedness is an important criterion.
c. 5ales that wa!e faster generally attracted more females.
d. The mean time taken for females to make a choice differed between Treatments && and &&&.
e. An ob!ious difference in cheliped siAe of males may be necessary before females become
more decisi!e.
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BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q34 -1 '$r*.
Which of the following is *8T a characteristic of all mammalian species@
A+ Dorsal ner!e cord
1+ -ndothermic metabolism
3+ Iungs
D+ 5ammary glands
-+ 9lacenta
Q/0 -2 '$r*s. The schematic diagram below represents group-in-group relationships. The T#
ta(on, represented by the largest circle, includes three T; ta(a. -ach of these three T; ta(a has one
T: ta(on, represented by circles filled with dotsS the dots represent indi!iduals.
According to abo!e scheme, assign the correct ta(a from the options gi!en below to each of the
circles. =ill in your answers by writing the appropriate number in the table. 5arks will only be
awarded if the entire table is correctly filled.
8ptions.
i. Annelida
ii. Iepidoptera
iii. 9olychaeta
i!. 5ollusca
!. 8rthoptera
!i. &nsecta
!ii. Arthropoda
!iii. 3rustacea
i(. Dastropoda
(. Arachnida
(i. Iumbricus )earthworm+
(ii. 'irudo )leech+
(iii. Dryllus )cricket+
(i!. Unio )freshwater mussel+
(!. -uscorpias )scorpion+
(!i. Daphnia )water flea+
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BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q/1 -2 '$r*s.
The Table below shows the genetic codes of amino acids.

Bome !iruses )e.g. tobacco mosaic !irus )T56++ ha!e J*A sequences that contain a TleakyT stop
codon. &n T56 %"F of the time the host ribosome will terminate the synthesis of the polypeptide at
this codon but the rest of the time it continues past it.
The following sequences show part of a mJ*A from T56. &ndicate the sequence)s+ that may result
in two polypeptides in the indicated frame with a tick and those that will not with a cross.
A. "G-AUD-U3U-UDU-3UU-UU3-A33-3DD-DDD-UAD-UAU-UA3-3AU-DAU-DDU-UAA-#G
1. "G-AUD-A33-3DD-DDD-UUU-3UU-UU3-UAD-UAU-DAU-3AU-DAA-DDU-UDU-UAA-#G
3. "G-AUD-3UU-UU3-U3U-UAU-UAD-3AU-DAU-DDU-UDU-A33-3DD-DDD-333-UAA-#G
D. "G-AUD-3AU-DUU-3UU-UU3-U3U-UAU-UDU-DDU-UDU-A33-3DD-DDD-UU3-UAA-#G
-. "G-AUD-3AU-DAU-DDU-UDU-A33-3DD-DDD-UAD-3UU-UU3-U3U-UAU-UD3-UAA-#G
=. "G-AUD-U3U-UAU-UDD-3AU-DAU-DDU-UDU-3UU-UU3-A33-3DD-DDD-AAA-UAA-#G
Q/2 -1 '$r*.
Di!e the number)s+ of the following which is?are true about endosymbiosis.
:. 1oth plastid and lysosome are products of endosymbiosis
;. -ukaryotic cells could engulf other eukaryotic cells to establish a symbiotic relationship
#. 3yanobacteria are ancestors of plastids and mitochondria
<. 3yanobacteria lost their chlorophyll b gene in endosymbiosis.
". =lagella of some eukaryotic cells are deri!ed from cyanobacteria
Q/3 -1 '$rk+
Buppose the lac repressor of E. coli is mutated so that it ne!er binds to the operator. Which one of
the following is true@
A+ Dlucose digesting enAymes are ne!er produced
1+ Iactose digesting enAymes are ne!er produced
3+ Iactose digesting enAymes are always produced
D+ The result depends on the concentration of glucose
-+ The result depends on the concentration of lactose
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BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q// -2 '$r*s.
There are !arious mechanisms by which a cell can commit suicide 7 a phenomenon known as
UapoptosisV. 8ne of the mechanisms is triggered by reacti!e o(ygen species. The outer membrane
of the mitochondrion normally e(presses a protein 1cl-; on its surface. Another protein Apaf-:
binds 1cl-;. Jeacti!e o(ygen species cause 1cl-; to release Apaf-: and a third protein 1a( to
penetrate the mitochondrial membrane, releasing cytochrome c. The released cytochrome c forms a
comple( with Apaf-: and caspase %. This comple( sequentially acti!ates many proteases that digest
cellular proteins.
=our possible conditions for cells are listed below.
&. The cell has e(pressed a mutant form of Apaf-: that always binds 1cl-;.
&&. The cell does not e(press 1cl-; at all.
&&&. The cell o!er e(presses a form of 1cl-; that is targeted to the cell membrane only.
&6. A chemical which e(tends the half life of 1cl-; is added to the cell.
1elow are listed three possible fates of these cells after they are e(posed to reacti!e o(ygen species.
a+ The cell resists apoptosis.
b+ The cell is forced towards apoptosis.
c+ The fate of the cell cannot be predicted.
8n the answer sheet, match the fates a,b Wc with the conditions & to &6
Q/0 -1 '$r*.
Which one of the following statements describes the function of a molecular chaperone@
A+ Transports rJ*A from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
1+ Acts as an energy source during the polymeriAation of amino acids into a polypeptide.
3+ Acts as a carrier molecule and bring Tacti!atedT monomers to a polymer for incorporation.
D+ 1inds to specific structures on the polypeptide in order to assist the folding of a protein into
its correct three-dimensional shape.
-+ Unfolds proteins with the incorrect three-dimensional shape and refolds them into the proper
shape.
Q/1 -1 '$r*.
An anticodon nucleotide sequence of fi!e successi!e tJ*As in!ol!ed in protein synthesis was
analysed, yielding the following content.
A D 3 T U
<>F ;KF :#F >F ;>F
What was the corresponding anti-sense strand of original D*A@
A D 3 T U
A ;>F :#F ;KF <>F >F
1 <>F ;KF :#F ;>F >F
3 E>F ;KF :#F >F >F
D ;>F :#F ;KF >F <>F
- <>F ;KF :#F >F ;>F
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BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q/2 -1 '$r*.
Which one of the following graphs shows the relati!e change in the amount of mitochondrial D*A
of a cell undergoing mitosis@
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BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q/3 -1 '$r*+
5ammalian plasma membranes are characteriAed by the presence of different types of
phospholipids )B5, 93, 9-, 9B and 9&+. The graph below shows the percentage distribution of each
phospholipid across the plasma membrane of human erythrocytes.
&ndicate the correct statement)s+ with a tick and incorrect statement)s+ with a cross. The numbers
indicated are appro(imate figures.
A+ &t can be concluded that membranes, in general, are asymmetric.
1+ ;<F of the total membrane phospholipids contain B5 and <F contain 9&.
3+ $>F of the inner total membrane phospholipids contain 9- and :EF contain 93.
D+ 5ost 93 is confined to the outer surface of the erythrocytes while most of the 9- and 9B are
confined to the inner surface of the erythrocytes.
Q/4 -1 '$r*.
ou e(tract J*A from li!er cells and then carry out an agarose gel electrophoresis of the li!er
J*A. The J*A fragments are then transferred to an J*A-binding membrane )nitrocellulose or
nylon+ using capillary action. *e(t, you hybridiAe a probe for gene M to the J*A on the membrane.
Which one of the following statements regarding your e(periment is true@
A. ou are trying to determine how many copies of Dene M are in li!er cells
1. ou are trying to determine if Dene M is e(pressed in li!er cells
3. ou are trying to determine the chromosomal location of Dene M
D. ou are trying to determine whether Dene M has a mutant sequence
Q00 -1 '$r*.
Di!e the letter)s+ of the statement)s+ about both lysosomes and pero(isomes which is?are correct.
A+ they contain digesti!e enAymes.
1+ they are !esicle-like in structure.
3+ they are formed by the Dolgi apparatus.
D+ they are bound by a single phospholipid bilayer membrane.
-+ they are able to )internally+ break down macromolecules internally.
9age ;; of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q01 -1 '$r*.
Which one of the following statements describes the effect of ageing )senescence+ on telomerase
acti!ity@
A+ Ageing cells gradually lose their ability to edit introns from transcribed mJ*A sequences,
leading to failures in protein synthesis.
1+ 3hromosomes gradually decrease in length because normal D*A synthesis cannot complete
replication at the end of the lagging strand.
3+ The cellGs ability to repair mistakes made during D*A replication decreases, allowing the
number of base substitutions in the genome to increase.
D+ D*A replication in the #C to "C direction is unaffected, but replication in the "C to #C direction
slows down, decreasing the rate at which dying cells can be replaced.
-+ D*A can no longer completely uncoil, making replication and gene e(pression less
efficient.
Q02 -2 '$r*s.
A gene Xregulatory protein M controls cell proliferation. 9rotein M is found in the cytosol and has no
typical nuclear localisation signal )*IB+. When cells are treated with a specific growth hormone,
protein M re-localiAes from the cytoplasm into the nucleus where it acti!ates the transcription
factors in!ol!ed in cell proliferation.
Jecently, a protein )+ that interacts with protein M has been identified in unstimulated cells. To
in!estigate the function of protein , a mutant lacking the gene encoding protein was generated.
=ractionation of cells from the wild type and mutant produced membrane )5+, cytoplasmic )3+, and
nuclear )*+ fractions for each cell type. 9roteins e(tracted from each fraction were separated by
BDB-9AD- )sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis+ and analysed by Western
blotting for the presence of proteins M and .

8n the basis of the results shown abo!e, which of the following statement)s+ concerning protein
is?are plausible@
A. &n the absence of growth hormone, protein associates with protein M, and the M?
comple( is sub,ected to a degradation pathway.
1. &n the presence of growth hormone, protein interacts with protein M, and the comple(
remains in the cytoplasm.
3. 9rotein M interacts with protein in the absence of growth hormone. Upon growth hormone
treatment, protein M is released from protein and re-localises to the nucleus.
D. 9rotein is a membrane-associated protein and re-localises with protein M to the nucleus
upon the growth hormone treatment.
-. 9rotein is one of the nuclear import proteins and the growth hormone does not induce
protein to translocate protein M to the nucleus.
9age ;# of ;<
BBO Roun) 2 , 2013
Q53 (3 marks)
Neil is dissecting a signal transduction pathway (illustrated in the following figure) that leads to
oncogenesis in cancer cells, in the hope that he can find inhibitors to block the signaling pathway
and use them as chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment.
In the following three questions indicate correct answers with a tick and incorrect ones with a cross.
a) Components of signal transduction, including A, B and C, usually are activated through
phosphorylation or dephosphorylation reactions. What are the mechanisms by which proteins A , B
and C are phosphorylated or dephosphorylated?
A+ Jeceptors may contain enAyme domains which can catalyse
phosphorylation?dephosphorylation reactions.
1+ -nAymes that participate in phosphorylation?dephosphorylation reactions may e(ist in the
cytoplasm.
3+ 9roteins A, 1 and 3 may contain enAyme domains which can catalyse
phosphorylation?dephosphorylation reactions.
D+ 9hosphorylation or dephosphorylation may not be mediated through enAymatic reactions.
-+ A phosphate group is transferred from the receptor to protein A.
=+ The phosphate group can only be pro!ided by '
#
98
<
.
8. Which of the following e(periments can pro!e that the signal transduction pathway is 1Y3, but
not 3Y1@
A+ Adding an A antagonist will acti!ate 1.
1+ Adding an A agonist will acti!ate 3.
3+ Adding a 1 agonist will acti!ate 3.
D+ Adding a 1 antagonist will acti!ate 3.
-+ &ncreasing the e(pression le!el of 1 will generate more of the acti!e 3 molecules.
=+ 3ell response can be seen when 1 antagonist and acti!e 3 molecules are added into the cell.
!. &f this is a highly acti!ated signal transduction pathway in cancer cells, in which of the following
processes may the signaling pathway be in!ol!ed@

A+ &nhibiting cell di!ision
1+ &nhibiting cell differentiation
3+ 'ypomethylation of some tumor suppressor genes
D+ Acti!ating the transcription of an oncogene
-+ Arresting the cell cycle at B phase
=+ &nhibiting the e(pression of some D*A repair gene
9age ;< of ;<