Dr.
Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
A2.2 Cell Structure
1. A study was conducted to measure ATP production in mitochondria under different
oxygen concentrations.
The data are as follows:
Oxygen concentration (%) ATP produced (nmol)
0 0
5 10
10 25
15 40
20 50
Questions:
(a) Plot a graph of ATP production against oxygen concentration. (3 marks)
(b) Explain the relationship between oxygen concentration and ATP production. (3 marks)
(c) What would happen to ATP production in the absence of oxygen? Justify your
answer. (2 marks)
2. Electron micrographs show the following organelles in two different cell types.
Cell Type Organelles Observed
A Nucleus, Mitochondria, Ribosomes, Golgi apparatus
B Nucleoid, Ribosomes, Plasmid, Cell wall
Questions:
(a) Identify which cell type is prokaryotic and which is eukaryotic. Provide evidence
from the table. (3 marks)
(b) Describe one structural difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (2 marks)
3. Diagram of an animal cell
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
A2.1 Origin of Cells
4. Pasteur’s experiment on spontaneous generation produced the following results:
Flask Type Broth Sterilized Open to Air Microbial Growth
Swan-necked flask Yes Yes No
Straight-neck flask Yes Yes Yes
Questions:
(a) State the conclusion drawn from Pasteur’s experiment. (2 marks)
(b) Explain why microbial growth occurred in the straight-neck flask but not in the swan-
necked flask. (3 marks)
5. Miller-Urey Experiment
Questions:
(a) What organic compounds were synthesized in the Miller-Urey experiment? (2 marks)
(b) Explain how this experiment supports the hypothesis of abiogenesis. (3 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
A2.3 Viruses
6. The table below shows the replication rates of viruses in lytic and lysogenic cycles.
Viral Type Lytic Cycle Replication Time (hours) Lysogenic Cycle Latency Period (hours)
Virus A 4 12
Virus B 6 48
Questions:
(a) Compare the time required for replication in the lytic and lysogenic cycles for Virus A
and Virus B. (3 marks)
(b) Discuss the advantages of a lysogenic cycle for viral survival. (3 marks)
7. Diagram of HIV Virus Structure
Questions:
(a) Identify the roles of the capsid and reverse transcriptase in HIV replication. (3 marks)
(b) Describe how HIV integrates its genome into the host cell’s DNA. (3 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
8. Table of Organelle Functions
Organelle Function
Rough ER Protein synthesis and modification
Smooth ER Lipid synthesis and detoxification
Golgi Apparatus Packaging and transport of proteins
Questions:
(a) Match each function to its respective organelle. (3 marks)
(b) Explain how these organelles work together in protein secretion. (3 marks)
B2.1 Water Potential
9. A plant cell was placed in solutions of different solute concentrations. The following data
were recorded:
Solute Concentration (mol/L) Change in Cell Mass (%)
0.0 +10
0.2 +5
0.4 0
0.6 -5
Questions:
(a) Plot a graph of solute concentration against change in cell mass. (3 marks)
(b) Identify the solute concentration at which the water potential of the solution equals
that of the cell. Explain your answer. (3 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
10. Diagram of Osmosis in Plant Cells
Questions:
(a) Label the diagrams with the correct solution types (hypertonic, isotonic, hypotonic).
(3 marks)
(b) Explain what happens to the cell in each condition. (3 marks)
C1.1 Enzymes and Metabolism
11. Table of Enzyme Activity at Different pH Levels
pH Enzyme Activity (%)
3 20
5 50
7 100
9 60
Questions:
(a) Identify the optimal pH for the enzyme. (1 mark)
(b) Explain the effect of pH on enzyme activity. (3 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
12. Graph of Substrate Concentration vs Enzyme Activity
Questions:
(a) Explain why enzyme activity levels off at high substrate concentrations. (2 marks)
(b) Describe how competitive inhibitors would alter this graph. (3 marks)
13. Effect of enzyme inhibitors on reaction rates.
Inhibitor Type Reaction Rate (%)
Competitive 50
Non-competitive 30
No Inhibitor 100
Questions:
(a) Compare the effects of competitive and non-competitive inhibitors on reaction rates.
(3 marks)
(b) Explain why non-competitive inhibition cannot be overcome by increasing substrate
concentration. (3 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
14. Diagram of feedback inhibition in a metabolic pathway.
Questions:
(a) Explain how feedback inhibition regulates metabolic pathways. (3 marks)
(b) Provide an example of a metabolic pathway regulated by feedback inhibition. (2 marks)
A2.1 Origin of Cells
15. Experimental results demonstrating self-replicating RNA activity.
Time (hours) Number of RNA Molecules
0 1
1 2
2 4
3 8
Questions:
(a) Calculate the replication rate of RNA over time. (2 marks)
(b) Explain the significance of RNA self-replication in the context of the RNA World
Hypothesis. (4 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
B3.2 Organelles and Compartmentalization
16. Data showing pH levels and enzyme activity in organelles.
Organelle pH Enzyme Activity (%)
Cytoplasm 7.2 50
Lysosome 4.8 100
Mitochondrial Matrix 8.0 60
Questions:
(a) Analyze the relationship between pH and enzyme activity in the table. (3 marks)
(b) Explain why lysosomal enzymes are adapted to acidic conditions. (3 marks)
B2.1 Water Potential
17. Data on mass changes in plant cells exposed to solutions of different water potentials.
Water Potential of Solution (kPa) Change in Cell Mass (%)
0 +15
-100 0
-200 -10
Questions:
(a) Plot a graph of water potential versus change in cell mass. (3 marks)
(b) Determine the isotonic point and explain its significance. (3 marks)
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
A2.2 Cell Structure
17. Table showing membrane transport rates of different molecules.
Molecule Transport Rate (nmol/min) Type of Transport
Oxygen 50 Simple diffusion
Glucose 25 Facilitated diffusion
Sodium ions 10 Active transport
Questions:
(a) Compare the transport rates of the listed molecules. (2 marks)
(b) Explain why sodium ions require active transport for movement across membranes. (3 marks)
Graph Interpretation Questions
Topic A2.2: Cell Structure
Question 1
The graph below shows the surface area to volume ratio (SA:V) of cells of different sizes.
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
a) Describe the trend shown in the graph.
b) Explain how the SA:V ratio limits cell size and its implications for cellular function.
c) Predict the impact on the graph if the cell shape changes from spherical to elongated.
Topic A2.1: Origin of Cells
Question 2
The graph below illustrates the change in oxygen levels on early Earth over geological time.
a) Describe the relationship between the emergence of photosynthetic cyanobacteria and
atmospheric oxygen levels.
b) Explain how the rise in oxygen levels supports the hypothesis of the origin of eukaryotic cells
through endosymbiosis.
Topic A2.3: Viruses
Question 3
The graph shows viral particle concentration in a host organism over time after infection.
a) Identify the phases of viral replication
represented in the graph.
b) Explain the role of viral enzymes and host
cell machinery in the exponential increase of
viral concentration.
c) Analyze the effect of introducing an
antiviral drug at the peak concentration stage.
Predict the outcome.
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
Topic B3.2: Organelles and Compartmentalization
Question 4
The graph below compares the rate of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells under normal and
disrupted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function.
a) Interpret the difference in protein
synthesis rates between normal and
disrupted ER conditions.
b) Discuss the role of the ER in protein
processing and how compartmentalization
aids cellular efficiency.
c) Suggest two experimental methods to
verify ER disruption in the cell.
Topic B2.1: Water Potential
Question 5
The graph shows changes in mass of plant tissue samples placed in solutions of varying solute
concentrations.
a) Identify the solution in which the plant tissue reached equilibrium.
b) Calculate the water potential of the plant tissue based on the graph.
Dr. Aliaa Aly
Data Based questions – Question Bank A January 2025
c) Discuss the implications of water potential on water uptake and cell turgor in plant cells.
Question 6
The graph below shows the effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
a) Describe the trend in the graph and identify the optimum temperature for the enzyme.
b) Explain the decline in enzyme activity beyond the optimum temperature using the concept of
protein denaturation.
c) Predict how the graph would change if the enzyme's active site underwent a mutation affecting
substrate binding.
