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Answer all the questions.

1. Fig. 22.1 shows a transverse section of the stem of a typical pondweed viewed using a × 10 objective lens. Part
of a graticule is shown below the stem. The markings on the graticule are 0.1 mm apart.

Fig. 22.1

(i) Measure the width of the stem between points A and B.

Give your answer to the nearest 0.1 mm.

Answer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [1]

(ii) Calculate the magnification of the image in Fig. 22.1.

Answer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [2]

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(iii) The thin stem and thin cell walls do not provide much support for the leaf. Suggest how the leaf is supported.

[2]

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2. The kidney is one of the organs of excretion in vertebrate animals.
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Fig. 2.1 shows a light micrograph of a section through a kidney cortex.

(i) Name the parts of the kidney labelled A and B.

[2]

(ii) Calculate the length of the line labelled X to Y.

Give your answer in micrometres (µm) to two significant figures.

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Answer = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ µm [2]

3. Plague is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis.

(i) The bacterium is a rod-shaped cell that is approximately 3 μm long.

Yersinia pestis is viewed using a light microscope with a magnification of 1250.

What would be the length of the cell in the image produced by this microscope?

Answer_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mm [2]

(ii) Photographs taken of the image obtained by the light microscope could be further enlarged using a projector.

Why might the enlarged image be unable to tell us more about the structure of Yersinia pestis?

[1]

(iii) Outbreaks of plague still occur occasionally. Plague is transmitted by several methods including droplet
infection, close contact between people and fleas moving between infected rats and people.

Suggest two ways to minimise the spread of an outbreak of plague.

[2]

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4. The figure shows a small artery. These small arteries are found linking the larger arteries with the arterioles that
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carry blood into the capillary beds of an organ or tissue.

Calculate the thickness of the wall of the artery between the points marked A and B on the figure.

Show your working and express your answer to the nearest micrometre.

Answer =_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ μm [2]

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5. The image below is a scanning electron micrograph of part of a sperm cell.
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The actual diameter of the sperm head is 5.1 µm. The diameter of the sperm head in the image is 1.9 cm.

Which row, A to D, correctly describes the resolution and magnification of the image above?

Resolution Magnification

A 5 nm 3725

B 37250 1 µm

C 0.1 mm 26840

D 2684 50 nm

Your answer

[1]

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6. Fig. 1 shows two blood smears, A and B.
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Fig. 1

(i) Which of the two images, A or B, shows a non-specific immune response?

Explain your answer.

[1]

(ii) The actual width of X in Fig. 1 image B is 15 µm.

Calculate the magnification used to produce image B in Fig. 1.

Give your answer to two significant figures.

Answer = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [2]

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Answer all the questions.

1. The diameter of the field of view seen by a light microscope changes with the magnification.
The relationship between magnification and diameter is,

If the diameter of the field of view at x40 is 400 μm, the area of the field of view at x400 will be:

A 40 μm2
B 5027 μm2
C 1257 μm2
D 126 μm2

Your answer
[1]

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2. The statements below refer to the tissue shown in Fig. 9.1 and the magnification.
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Which of the following statements is / are true?

Statement 1: The magnification of this image is × 300.

Statement 2: The tissue shown is epithelial tissue.
Statement 3: Cells S and T will be replaced from stem cells.

A 1, 2 and 3
B Only 1 and 2
C Only 2 and 3
D Only 1

Your answer

[1]

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3. Sections of muscle tissue can be prepared and studied under a microscope.
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A magnified section of muscle tissue is shown below in Fig. 17.1.

What is the approximate length of a sarcomere?

Magnification = × 16800

A 1.5 × 10−5 m

B 1.5 × 10−6 m

C 1.25 × 10−5 m

D 1.25 × 10−6 m

Your answer

[1]

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4. A population of nitrogen-fixing bacteria was isolated from a root nodule of the leguminous plant, Pisum sativum.
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The bacteria were then cultured in vitro and viewed using an electron microscope.

The resulting photomicrograph is shown in Fig. 34.1.

(i) Name the genus of nitrogen-fixing bacteria seen in Fig. 34.1.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the actual width of the bacterium labelled X. Show your working.

Answer = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ μm [2]

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5. Cell theory is one of the unifying concepts in biology. All cells are bounded by a plasma membrane. Animal cells
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also have intracellular membranes that form organelles. The chemical composition of these membranes is very
similar to that of the plasma membrane.

Fig.3.1 is an electron micrograph of a section through a liver cell showing some membrane-bound organelles.

(i) Cell theory states that metabolic reactions occur inside cells.

State one metabolic reaction that occurs in organelles such as L.

[1]

(ii) Using the information in Fig. 3.1, calculate the magnification of the electron micrograph in Fig. 3.1.

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Show the steps in your calculation.

Answer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [2]

(iii) Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) consists of a series of membranes within the cytoplasm of the cell, to
which ribosomes are bound.

Suggest the molecular composition and structure of the membranes to which the ribosomes are bound.

[3]

(iv) * Ribosomes are chemically different from the membranes to which they are bound. Each ribosome is made
of two sub-units. Each sub-unit consists of protein molecules associated with another polymer.

Compare the structure of the other polymer with that of a protein molecule.

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[6]

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6. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in animals. It is a mixed nerve, which means that it contains
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different types of neurones.

Fig. 2.1 shows a transverse section through part of the sciatic nerve as seen with a light microscope.

(i) Calculate the actual diameter of the sciatic nerve between X and Y as shown in Fig. 2.1.

Show your working. Give your answer to two significant figures.

Answer = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mm [2]

(ii) Identify the white structure surrounding the axoplasm in Fig. 2.1.

[1]

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7. Plant cells can be studied using microscopy.
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Using a light microscope and a suitably calibrated graticule it is possible to calculate the field of view for each
eyepiece lens. Each of the smallest divisions on the graticule shown at this magnification is 0.1 mm.

(i) For Fig. 4.2, calculate the diameter of the field of view.

diameter of field of view _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ μm [2]

(ii) For Fig. 4.2, estimate the number of cells shown in the field of view.

number of cells _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [1]

(iii) Using 3.14 as the value for π, calculate the density of the cells in the area shown in Fig. 4.2.

Show your working.

density of cells _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [3]

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8.
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(i) A light microscope was used to observe cells in the lower epidermis of a dicotyledonous leaf.

Fig. 1.2 shows a stage micrometer and an eyepiece graticule.

The division shown on the stage micrometer measures 10 µm.

Calculate the length of one eyepiece graticule unit.

Show your working.

Answer = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ µm [2]

(ii) Fig. 1.3 shows a stoma, guard cells and epidermal cells in the lower epidermis, as seen with a light

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 microscope.
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The magnification is the same as in Fig. 1.2.

Use the value you calculated in (i) to calculate the length of the guard cell between points X and Y.

Answer =_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ µm [2]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

1 i 1.7 mm (1) 1

ii × 50 (1)(1) ALLOW 1 mark for correct working e.g. 80

/ 1.6
ALLOW answer in the range of 48–51

iii air spaces give buoyancy (1) 2

supported by (surrounding) water (1)

Total 5

2 i A = Glomerulus (1) 2 ALLOW capillary (network)

B = Bowman's capsule (1)

ii 190 (1)(1) 2 AWARD ONE MARK for:

0.03 or 3 / 160

Total 4

3 i 3.75 (1)(1) 2 ALLOW 3,750 μm or 0.375 cm for one

mark.
ALLOW 1 mark for correct working e.g. 3 x
1250

ii (with light microscope) no further resolution 1 IGNORE ref to further detail, as implied in
(at × 1250) (1) question.
ALLOW ref to resolution not the same as
magnification.

iii two from 2 ALLOW (longer term) measures to reduce

stay keep indoors / increase ventilation / overcrowding.
wear masks (1)
measures to, exclude / not attract / kill, rats
/ fleas (1)
strict / immediate quarantine for persons
with symptoms (1)

Total 5

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

4 14 000 / 120 = 117 μm; 2 length of line A-B = 14mm / 14000 μm

Correct answer = 2 marks.

Allow one mark if correct working shown
including units for cm & mm
e.g. 1.4 cm / 120
14 mm / 120
14000 / 120

If answer = 125 μm allow one mark for

correct working but incorrect measurement
(15mm instead of 14)

Allow one mark if not rounded to nearest

micrometre

Examiner's Comments

As ever, many candidates proved

incapable of performing a relatively simple
calculation. Better candidates did well and
gave the correct response or at least
showed they knew how to carry out the
calculation. However, too many candidates
appeared to have little idea of what to do.
Commonly the magnification was left out of
the calculation and candidates simply
converted mm to µm. Another common
error was to convert mm to µm by dividing
by 1000 rather than multiplying. This is an
area in which centres need to improve in
light of the increased maths requirements
of the new specifications.

Total 2

5 A✓ 1

Total 1

6 i A because 1 Mark is for the explanation

nuclei (of white blood cells) are lobed ✓

ii (x) 1300 ✓✓ 2 If answer is incorrect ALLOW 1 mark for

evidence of 0.02 (m) / 0.000015 (m) or
equivalent numbers in alternate units

Total 3

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

1 C 1

Total 1

2 C 1

Total 1

3 D 1

Total 1

4 i Rhizobium (1) 1 ALLOW Sino / Meso / Brady /

Azorhizobium
ALLOW not italicised
DO NOT ALLOW lowercase r

ii image size ÷ magnification 2 ALLOW 2 marks for correct answer

OR without working
15,000 ÷ 32,000 (1)
0.47 / 0.5 (1) ALLOW 0.469

Total 3

5 i aerobic respiration OR synthesis of ATP 1 ALLOW Krebs cycle, link reaction,

oxidative phosphorylation, protein
synthesis, (mitochondrial) DNA replication

ii × 5150 (1) (1) 2 Correct answer = 2 marks

ALLOW × 5100 to × 5200

If answer is incorrect look for:

51 to 52 mm OR 5.1 to 5.2 cm (from scale
bar) converted to μm

Answer divided by 10

iii (membranes have) phospholipids and 3 IGNORE ref to glycoprotein or glycolipids

proteins and cholesterol (1)

(phospholipids) arranged as a bilayer (1)

(proteins) free to move / AW, within bilayer

(1)

ref to intrinsic and extrinsic proteins (1)

ref to cholesterol (molecules), spanning

bilayer (1)

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

iv Read through the whole answer from start 6

to finish, concentrating on features that
make it a stronger or weaker answer using
the indicative scientific content as
guidance. The indicative scientific content
indicates the expected parameters for
candidates' answers, but be prepared to
recognise and credit unexpected
approaches where they show relevance.

Using a ‘best-fit' approach based on the

science content of the answer, first decide
which set of level descriptors, Level 1,
Level 2 or Level 3, best describes the
overall quality of the answer using the
guidelines described in the level
descriptors in the mark scheme.

Once the level is located, award the higher

or lower mark.

The higher mark should be awarded

where the level descriptor has been
evidenced and all aspects of the
communication statement (in italics) have
been met.

The lower mark should be awarded where

the level descriptor has been evidenced
but aspects of the communication
statement (in italics) are missing.

In summary:

The science content determines the

level.
The communication statement
determines the mark within a level.

Level 3 (5–6 marks)

A comparison of proteins and RNA which Indicative scientific points may include:
is chemically detailed and includes FOR RNA
reference to the bonds in the molecules.
nucleotide as the monomer
There is a well developed description of nucleotide structure as a pentose
monomers polymers and bonds for both sugar, a phosphate and a
molecules which is clear and structured to (nitrogenous) base
give a comparison. The information RNA nucleotide sugar is ribose
presented is relevant. 4 RNA bases

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

RNA bases are adenine, uracil,
Level 2 (3–4 marks) cytosine and guanine.
A comparison of proteins and RNA with adenine and guanine are purines
some chemical detail. There is a cytosine and uracil are pyrimidines
description of monomers polymers and condensation reactions (between
bonds for both molecules which is clear nucleotides)
and logically structured. The information formation of phosphodiester bonds
presented is relevant.
FOR PROTEIN
Level 1 (1–2 marks)
An outline of the structure of RNA or amino acid as monomer
protein with limited comparative 20 different amino acids
statements. joined by condensation reactions
formation of peptide bonds
There is a general description of both carboxyl groups and amine groups
monomers and polymers which may be secondary structure / alpha helix / beta
unstructured. Some irrelevant or incorrect pleated sheet
information may be presented. hydrogen bonding
tertiary structure with bonds between R
0 marks groups
No response or no response worthy of ionic bonding
credit. disulphide bonding
hydrophobic and hydrophilic
interactions.

Total 12

6 i 0.45 mm (1)(1) 2 If answer is incorrect look for:

90 ÷ 200
OR
9 ÷ 200
OR
0.045 for max 1 mark

ii myelin sheath 1

Total 3

7 i 6 divisions = 0.6 mm 2 ALLOW one mark for correct working

0.6 × 1000 = 600 μm (1)(1)

ii ALLOW value between 10 – 12 cells (1) 1 DO NOT ALLOW if whole number not
given

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

iii Area of field of view = π × r2 3 ALLOW ecf from (i) and (ii) throughout

Correctly calculated density (1)(1)(1) Allow marks for working as follows:

one mark for calculating the area of field of
view – 3.14 × (300 × 300) = 282 600 μm2
one mark for correctly calculating the
radius – 600 / 2

The possible answers for density based on

10 / 11 / 12 cells depending on the answer
to (ii):

3.5 × 10–5 cells μm–2 (based on 10

cells)
3.9 × 10–5 cells μm–2 (based on 11
cells)
4.2 × 10–5 cells μm–2 (based on 12
cells).

Total 6

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Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

8 i 2 Correct answer = 2 marks

0.25 (μm) ✓✓ ACCEPT 0.23 – 0.28
1/36 – 44 = 1 mark
x 10 = 1 mark

Examiner's Comments

This was a straightforward magnification

calculation but many candidates did not
score any marks. Not all candidates
showed their working contrary to the
instructions given in the question. It is
worth pointing out that there was evidence
that a lot of candidates used the IAM
formula but most were not able to interpret
the answers correctly, they clearly didn’t
really understand the formula and were not
able to appreciate how unlikely it was that
some of the answers they obtained were
correct. Many candidates forgot to multiply
by 10 and therefore lost a mark.

ii 2 Correct answer = 2 marks

5 (μm) ✓✓ ACCEPT 4.6 – 5.6
20 (eye piece graticule units) = 1 mark
x (b)(i) = 1 mark
If answer given is incorrect allow 1 mark
for ECF

Examiner's Comments

More candidates gained marks in (ii), often

thanks to an error carried forward from the
previous question. However, the comments
made about (i) could equally apply here.

Total 4

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