EXAM QUESTIONS

AQA TRILOGY

CELL BIOLOGY

Q1-6 FOUNDATON

Q3-9 HIGHER

MARK SCHEME AT THE END OF

ALL THE QUESTIONS

Page 1 of 27
Q1.
Figure 1 shows one type of white blood cell.

Figure 1

(a)  What is structure A?

Tick one box.

Cell membrane

Cell wall

Cytoplasm

Nucleus

(1)

(b)  White blood cells help to defend the body against pathogens.

How do the white blood cells do this?

Tick three boxes.

Clone pathogens

Engulf pathogens

Produce antibiotics

Produce antibodies

Produce antitoxins

Produce toxins

(3)

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Measles is a serious disease. A person can die from measles.

Figure 2 shows the number of cases of measles in England and Wales between 2012 and
2015

Figure 2

(c)  Use Figure 2 to calculate the decrease in the number of cases of measles between
2012 and 2015

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Answer = ______________________ cases

(2)

(d)  Suggest one reason for the decrease in the number of cases of measles between
2012 and 2015

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e)  Antibiotics cannot be used to treat measles.

Suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(f)  Gonorrhoea is a disease caused by a bacterium.

Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics.

Give one other way to control the spread of gonorrhoea.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

A scientist investigated how effective different antibiotics were at killing gonorrhoea

bacteria.

This is the method used.

1.   Grow gonorrhoea bacteria on agar in a Petri dish.

2.   Place one paper disc soaked in water onto the agar.
3.   Place four other paper discs, each soaked in a different antibiotic, A, B, C, and D,
onto the agar.
4.   Use the same sized paper discs and the same concentration of each antibiotic.
5.   Incubate the Petri dish for 3 days.

Figure 3 shows the scientist’s results.

A clear area around the disc means the antibiotic has killed the bacteria.

Figure 3

(g)  Give one control variable the scientist used.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(h)  Suggest why one disc was soaked in water.

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(i)  Which antibiotic in Figure 3 would be the best to treat gonorrhoea?

Give a reason for your answer.

Antibiotic ___________________________________________________________

Reason ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 13 marks)

Q2.
Cells divide in a series of stages called the cell cycle.

Stage 2 of the cycle is mitosis.

The diagram below shows a simplified cell cycle for a human body cell.

(a)  Draw one line from each stage in the cell cycle to what happens during that stage.

Stage in the cell What happens during

cycle that stage

Stage 1 Nucleus divides

Stage 2 Cell divides into two

Stage 3 Copies of the DNA are

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 made
(2)

(b)  The mass of DNA in a human body cell at the start of the cell cycle is 6 picograms.

What mass of DNA will be in each of the new cells produced by this cell division?

Tick one box.

3 picograms

6 picograms

9 picograms

12 picograms

(1)

(c)  Stem cells are undifferentiated cells.

Which statement about stem cells is correct?

Tick one box.

Animal stem cells are found in meristems

Animal stem cells divide by meiosis

Meristem cells in plants can differentiate throughout

the life of the plant

Meristem cells in plants can only differentiate into one

type of cell
(1)

Stem cells from human embryos can differentiate into most types of human cell.

Research is being done into the use of embryonic stem cells in medical treatments.

The long-term effects of using embryonic stem cells in patients are not well understood.

In therapeutic cloning, human embryos are produced using a donated human egg cell and
a cell from the patient.

•   The embryo produced contains the same genetic information as the patient.

•   Stem cells are taken from the embryo and stimulated to divide to form cells the

Page 6 of 27
 patient needs.

•   The embryo is then destroyed.

(d)  Suggest two advantages of therapeutic cloning.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e)  Suggest two disadvantages of therapeutic cloning.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q3.
Figure 1 shows an animal cell and a bacterial cell.

Figure 1

(a) Compare the structure of the cells in Figure 1.

Complete the sentences.

Choose the answers from the box.

cell membrane cell wall chloroplast

cytoplasm nucleus

Only the animal cell contains a _________________________________________ .

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 Only the bacterial cell contains a _______________________________________ .
(2)

Figure 2 shows a section through a leaf.

Figure 2

(b) The function of palisade cells is to photosynthesise.

Describe one way palisade cells are adapted to carry out their function.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) Complete Table 1 to show whether each structure is a tissue, an organ or an organ
system.

Tick one box for each structure.

Table 1

Organ
Structure Tissue Organ
system

Leaf

Xylem

Roots, stem and

leaves
(2)

A student observed palisade cells using a microscope.

The microscope had four objective lenses, each with a different magnification.

(d) Which objective lens should the student use first?

Tick one box.

Page 8 of 27
 Give a reason for your answer.

×4 magnification

×10 magnification

×40 magnification

×100 magnification

Reason ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

The student measured the width of 5 different palisade cells at a total magnification of
×400

(e) Eyepiece lenses are usually ×5 or ×10 magnification.

What combination of eyepiece and objective lenses would give a total magnification
of ×400?

Eyepiece lens ____________________

Objective lens ____________________

(1)

(f) Table 2 shows the student’s results.

Table 2

Width of cell image in

Cell
mm

1 12

2 13

3 16

4 10

5 11

(f) Calculate the mean width of the palisade cell images.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Mean width = ____________________ mm

(1)

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 (g) Calculate the real width of a palisade cell.

Use the mean width you calculated in part (f).

Use the equation:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Real width = ____________________ mm

(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Q4.
Starfish can split in half. Each half can then grow new arms to form offspring.

This process is shown in the figure below.

(a) What process produces the starfish offspring?

Tick one box.

Asexual reproduction

Fertilisation

Selective breeding

Sexual reproduction

(1)

Page 10 of 27
 (b) More cells are produced as the starfish grows more arms.

What process will produce more cells in the starfish as they grow?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) All the offspring produced are genetically identical.

What name is given to genetically identical organisms?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d) Each body cell of the parent starfish contains 44 chromosomes.

How many chromosomes are in each body cell of the offspring?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

Q5.
In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising
information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.

Plants transport many substances between their leaves and roots.

The diagram below shows the direction of movement of substances through a plant.

Page 11 of 27
Describe how ions, water and sugar are obtained and transported through plants.

In your answer you should refer to materials moving upwards in a plant and to materials
moving downwards in a plant.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Page 12 of 27
 _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 6 marks)

Q6.
Gas exchange takes place in the lungs.

The diagram shows an alveolus next to a blood capillary in a lung.

The arrows show the movement of two gases, A and B.

(a) (i) Draw a ring around the correct answer to complete the sentence.

diffusion.

Gases A and B move by osmosis.

respiration.
(1)

(ii) Gas A moves from the blood to the air in the lungs.

Gas A is then breathed out.

Name Gas A.

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(iii) Which cells in the blood carry Gas B?

Draw a ring around the correct answer.

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 platelets red blood cells white blood cells
(1)

(b) The average number of alveoli in each human lung is 280 million.

The average surface area of 1 million alveoli is 0.25 m2.

Calculate the total surface area of a human lung.

___________________________________________________________________

Answer ___________________________________ m2
(2)

(c) An athlete trains to run a marathon. The surface area of each of the athlete’s lungs
has increased to 80 m2.

Give one way in which this increase will help the athlete.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

Q7.
As they go higher up a mountain, mountaineers take less oxygen into their bodies with
each breath, as shown in the table below.

MILLIGRAMS OF OXYGEN INTO

BLOOD WITH EACH NORMAL BREATH

MILLIGRAMS OF OXYGEN AFTER STAYING AT

HEIGHT
TAKEN INTO LUNGS WITH AT FIRST 4500 METRES FOR
EACH NORMAL BREATH TWO WEEKS

sea-level 300 60 90

1500 metres 250 50

3000 metres 200 40

4500 metres 150 30 45

(a) (i) How does the amount of oxygen taken into the blood with each breath vary
with the amount of oxygen breathed into the lungs with each breath?

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Use the idea of diffusion to explain why the amount of oxygen taken into the
blood varies in this way.

______________________________________________________________

Page 14 of 27
 ______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) (i) How does staying at an altitude of 4500 metres for two weeks affect the
mountaineers?

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Suggest an explanation for this.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(iii) Add the two missing figures to the right-hand column of the table.
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q8.
The diagram below shows how a nerve impulse passing along a relay neurone causes an
impulse to be sent along another type of neurone, neurone X.

(a) What type of neurone is neurone X?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Describe how information passes from the relay neurone to neurone X.
Use the diagram to help you.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 15 of 27
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(c) Scientists investigated the effect of two toxins on the way in which information
passes across synapses. The table below shows the results.

Toxin Effect at the synapse

Decreases the effect of the chemical

Curare
on neurone X

Increases the amount of the chemical

Strychnine
made in the relay neurone

Describe the effect of each of the toxins on the response by muscles.

Curare _____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Strychnine __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q9.
Water travels through plants in xylem tissue.

(a)  Describe the structure of xylem tissue.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Figure 1 shows guard cells around open stomata magnified 800 times.

Figure 1

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(b)  The image size of one of the guard cells is 26 millimetres long.

Calculate the real length of the guard cell in micrometres.

Include the equation you are using to calculate your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Real length of guard cell = __________________ micrometres

(3)

(c)  Guard cells increase in volume and become curved to open stomata.

Explain how guard cells increase in volume.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d)  The Baobab tree grows in Botswana, Africa.

The tree has no leaves for up to 9 months of the year.

Page 17 of 27
Figure 2 shows the average temperature and rainfall each month in Botswana.

Figure 2

Explain how having no leaves from March to November allows the Baobab tree to
survive in Botswana.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 18 of 27
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a)  cell membrane
extra ticks negates marks
1

(b)  engulf pathogens

1

produce antibodies
1

produce antitoxins
1
extra ticks negates marks

(c)  2050 − 100

1

= 1950
allow 1 mark for a correct subtraction of incorrect
values
1
an answer of 1950 scores 2 marks

(d)  any one from:

•   (more) people vaccinated
ignore injections / treatments / medicines
unqualified
allow vaccine produced
allow (more people given) MMR (vaccine)
do not allow antibiotics
ignore less people infected

•   (more) people immune

•   no new measles strain
1

(e)  any one from:

•   measles is (caused by) a virus
allow measles is not caused by a bacterium

•   viruses cannot be killed / destroyed by antibiotics

allow antibiotics only kill / destroy bacteria
ignore harmed / treated
1

(f)  any one from:

•   use of a barrier method of contraception
ignore use of diaphragm

•   use of a condom

ignore use protection / safe sex

Page 19 of 27
 •   vaccination / immunisation
•   avoid sexual intercourse / contact
do not accept less sexual intercourse / contact
1

(g)  any one from:

•   size / shape/ type of paper disc
ignore paper disc unqualified

•   concentration of antibiotic

allow strength / dosage of antibiotic
•   volume / amount of antibiotic
•   (incubation) time
allow 3 days
•   (incubation) temperature
ignore size of petri dish
1

(h)  to check that the disc / water did not have an effect
or
to make sure it was the antibiotic that had an effect
allow for comparison with the antibiotics
allow as a (experimental) control
do not accept as a control variable
1

(i)  (antibiotic) A
no marks if wrong antibiotic given
1

any one from:

•   (antibiotic A) had the largest clear area around it
•   (antibiotic A) killed the most bacteria
1
[13]

Q2.
(a)

allow 1 mark for 1 or 2 correct

credit can be given where students have
matched the boxes correctly, for example
numbering the boxes
2

(b)  6 picograms
1

Page 20 of 27
(c)  meristem cells in plants can differentiate throughout the life of the plant
1

(d)  any two from:

•   may cure / treat diseases
   or
   cure medical conditions
   or
   produce replacement cells / tissues / organs
allow example e.g. diabetes / paralysis
allow cells can be stored for future use
ignore used in medical treatments
ignore patient makes / grows cells / tissues /
organs

•   cells unlikely to be rejected by patient)

ignore same genetic information

•   cells / tissues of any type can be produced

ignore differentiated into most types of cells

•   many cells produced

•   cells produced could be used for research

•   would reduce waiting time for transplants

2
ignore references to cost
ignore all reference to producing babies / IVF

(e)  any two from:

•   (potential) life is killed / destroyed
allow embryo is killed
ignore embryo is destroyed
ignore embryo is a life / becomes a baby

•   shortage of donors / eggs

•   egg donation / collection has risks

•   do not yet know risks / side effects of the procedure on the patient
ignore long term effects are not well understood
allow may cause tumours / cancer

•   may transfer (viral) infection

•   poor success rate

allow in terms of viable egg / embryo / cell /
tissue / organ production
2
ignore references to cost
ignore unethical unqualified
Ignore reference to religion / beliefs
[8]

Page 21 of 27
Q3.
(a) nucleus
1

cell wall
1

(b) any one from:

• contain (many) chloroplasts

• positioned near the top surface of the leaf

• packed closely together

1

(c)
Organ
Structure Tissue Organ
system
Leaf ✔
Xylem ✔
Roots, stem
✔
and leaves

additional tick in a row negates the credit for that row

allow 1 mark for two correct rows

2

(d) ×4
1

reason: any one from:

• gives the largest field of view

• easier to focus
1

(e) eyepiece lens: ×10

and
objective lens: ×40

or

eyepiece lens: ×5
and
objective lens: ×80
allow sensible suggestions that give a magnification of ×400
1

(f) 12.4 (mm)

allow 12 (mm)
1

(e) real width =

1

Page 22 of 27
 0.031 (mm)
an answer of 0.031 (mm) scores 2 marks
allow ecf from part (f)
1
[11]

Q4.
(a) asexual reproduction
1

(b) mitosis
1

(c) clones
1

(d) 44
1
[4]

Q5.
Marks awarded for this answer will be determined by the Quality of Written
Communication (QWC) as well as the standard of the scientific response.

Level 3 (5–6 marks):

Processes used for obtaining specified materials are given.
and
correctly linked to the vessels that the materials are transported in
or
correctly linked to a description of the direction of movement of the materials.
For full credit, in addition to the above descriptors at least one of the processes must be
linked to the vessel that the material is transported in and the direction of the movement
of the material.

Level 2 (3–4 marks):

At least one process for obtaining a specified material is given
and
is correctly linked to the vessel that the material is transported in
or
correctly linked to a description of the direction of movement of the material

Level 1 (1–2 marks):

At least one process (P) for obtaining a material is given
or
at least one vessel (V) and the material it carries is given
or
there is a description of the direction of movement (M) for at least one material

0 marks:
No relevant points are made

examples of points made in the response Ions:

(P) taken up by diffusion or active transport
• from an area of high to low concentration (diffusion) or an area of low to high
concentration (active transport)

Page 23 of 27
 (V) travels in the xylem
(M) to the leaves or from the roots / soil

Water:
(P) taken up by osmosis
• from an area of low to high concentration
allow high concentration of water to low concentration of
water
allow from high water potential to low water potential
ignore along a concentration gradient
(V) travels in the xylem
(M) to the leaves or from the roots / soil
(P) transpiration stream
• movement replaces water as it evaporates from leaves
(V) in the xylem

Sugar:
(P) made during photosynthesis
(V) travels in the phloem
(M) to other parts of the plant or to storage organs or travels up and down
[6]

Q6.
(a) (i) diffusion
1

(ii) carbon dioxide

accept CO2 / CO2
do not accept CO2
1

(iii) red blood cells

1

(b) 70
if no / incorrect answer then
70 000 000
or
280 x 0.25 gains 1 mark
ignore doubling the answer
2

(c) allows more gas / oxygen / CO2

(exchange)
do not accept air
1
[6]

Q7.
(a) (i) increasing one increases the other
gains 1 mark

but

Page 24 of 27
 they increase in proportion/ 1/5 taken in at first / 3/10 taken in after 2 weeks
gains 2 marks
2

(ii) idea that more/faster diffusion with higher concentration

for 1 mark

or
with more oxygen particles/molecules (in same space)
1

(b) (i) can take more oxygen from (the same) air/changes from 30 to
45/increases by 15
gains 1 mark

but
takes 50% more or 1.5 times as much
gains 2 marks

or
increases by 15 mg breath
2

(ii) more red blood cells develop

or
more haemoglobin in the blood
(not just ‘acclimatises’)
for 1 mark
1

(iii) 75
60
each for 1 mark
2
[8]

Q8.
(a) motor
allow efferent / postsynaptic
allow another relay (neurone)
1

(b) release of chemical (from relay neurone)

allow ecf for ‘motor’ neurone from (a)
allow release of neurotransmitter / named example
1

chemical crosses gap / junction / synapse

allow diffuses across
allow chemical moves to X
1

chemical attaches to X / motor / next neurone (causing impulse)

1

Page 25 of 27
 (c) (curare) decrease / no contraction
accept (muscle) relaxes
1

(strychnine) increase / more contraction

if no other mark awarded allow 1 mark for (curare)
decrease / no response and (strychnine) increase / more
response
1
[6]

Q9.
(a)  (dead hollow) tubes
or
(dead) hollow cells
1

(strengthened by) lignin (and cellulose)

1

(b) 

= 0.0325 (millimetres)
allow 0.0325 (millimetres) for 2 marks
1

= 32.5 (micrometres)
allow 1 mark for incorrect length × 1000
1
an answer of 32.5 or 33 (micrometres) scores 3
marks

(c)  water enters (the guard cells)

1

(by) osmosis
allow diffusion (of water) through a partially
permeable membrane
1

(d)  water is lost through leaves by transpiration / evaporation

1

(no leaves is a benefit) when low / no rainfall so less / no water lost

1

(because) temperatures are high therefore transpiration would be rapid

1

or

Page 26 of 27
water is used in the leaves for photosynthesis (1)

(if there are no leaves) there is no photosynthesis then no water is needed

(which is a benefit) when there is low / no rainfall (1)

(because) temperatures are high therefore photosynthesis would be rapid (1)

[10]

Page 27 of 27