Exampro GCSE Biology Name:

B2.3 Enzymes Class:

Higher tier

Author:

Date:

Time: 77

Marks: 77

Comments:

Page 1 of 33
Q1. The diagram shows the apparatus used to investigate the digestion of milk fat by an
enzyme. The reaction mixture contained milk, sodium carbonate solution (an alkali) and the
enzyme. In Experiment 1, bile was also added. In Experiment 2, an equal volume of water
replaced the bile. In each experiment, the pH was recorded at 2-minute intervals.

Either: Experiment 1 or: Experiment 2

milk (contains fat) milk (contains fat)

sodium carbonate solution sodium carbonate solution
bile water
enzyme enzyme

The results of the two experiments are given in the table.

Page 2 of 33
 (a) Milk fat is a type of lipid. Give the name of an enzyme which catalyses the breakdown of
lipids.

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) What was produced in each experiment to cause the fall in pH?

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c) (i) For Experiment 1, calculate the average rate of fall in pH per minute, between
4 minutes and 8 minutes. Show clearly how you work out your final answer.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

............................................. pH units per minute

(2)

(ii) Why was the fall in pH faster when bile was present?

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Q2. Bile is produced in the liver, stored in the gall bladder, then released into the small intestine.

(a) Explain how bile affects the digestion of food in the small intestine.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 3 of 33
(b) Bile contains bile pigments and cholesterol.

If the diet contains too much cholesterol, some of it may form ‘gallstones’ in the bile.

These gallstones may prevent bile from moving out of the gall bladder into the small
intestine.

Bilirubin is a yellow-brown bile pigment. This pigment is produced by the liver from
haemoglobin released by broken-down red blood cells.

Suggest how gallstones may produce the following symptoms:

(i) very pale faeces

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) jaundice (a yellow tinge to the skin).

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 4 of 33
Q3. Diagrams A, B and C show cells from different parts of the human body, all drawn to the
same scale.

A B C

(a) Which cell, A, B or C, appears to be best adapted to increase diffusion into or

out of the cell?

Give one reason for your choice.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) (i) Cell C is found in the salivary glands.

Name the enzyme produced by the salivary glands.

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Use information from the diagram to explain how cell C is adapted for producing this
enzyme.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

Page 5 of 33
Q4. A manufacturer is trying to improve the quality of the biological detergent he produces.

Scientists at his company carried out the following experiments on enzymes:

• Samples of lipase were collected from five different types of bacterium, A, B, C, D and E.
• The samples were diluted to give the same concentration of lipase.
• Agar jelly containing a lipid was prepared in a dish. This forms a cloudy mixture which
becomes clear when the lipid is digested.
• Five small holes were cut into the agar.
• Two drops of lipase solution from bacterium A was added to hole A.
• This process was repeated for each sample of lipase.

Diagram 1 shows the appearance of the dish.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2 shows the appearance of the dish 24 hours later.

Diagram 2

(a) (i) Which type of bacterium, A, B, C, D or E, produced the most effective lipase in this
investigation?

Write your answer, A, B, C, D or E, in the box.

(1)

Page 6 of 33
 (ii) Explain your answer.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) The manufacturer plans to add the most effective lipase to the washing powders he
produces.

Suggest two other factors he should investigate before deciding which lipase is the most
effective.

1 ..................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

2 ..................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Many biological detergents cannot be used at high temperatures.

Explain why.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 7 of 33
Q5. The diagram shows the apparatus used to investigate the digestion of milk fat by an enzyme.
The reaction mixture contained milk and the enzyme.

In Experiment 1, bile was also added.

In Experiment 2, an equal volume of water replaced the bile.

In each experiment, the pH was recorded at 2 minute intervals.

The results of the two experiments are given in the table.

pH
Time in minutes
Experiment 1: with bile Experiment 2: without bile

0 9.0 9.0

2 8.8 9.0

4 8.7 9.0

6 8.1 8.8

8 7.7 8.6

10 7.6 8.2

(a) Milk fat is a type of lipid.

Explain why the pH changed in experiment 2.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 8 of 33
(b) (i) For Experiment 1, calculate the average rate of fall in pH per minute, between 4
minutes and 8 minutes.

Show clearly how you work out your final answer.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

................................. pH units per minute

(2)

(ii) The average rate of fall in pH per minute for Experiment 2 was 0.1 units of pH per
minute.

Explain the difference in the rate of fall in pH when bile is present.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 9 of 33
Q6. Fresh milk is a mixture of compounds including fat, protein and about 5 % lactose sugar.
Lactose must be digested by the enzyme lactase, before the products can be absorbed.

Lactase can be added to fresh milk to pre-digest the lactose. This makes ‘lactose-free’ milk,
which is suitable for people who do not produce enough lactase of their own.

A student investigated the effect of changing pH and temperature on the digestion of lactose in
milk.

The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 Table 2
Effect of pH Effect of temperature

Time taken to Temperature Time taken to

pH digest lactose in in°C digest lactose
minutes in minutes

4.0 20 30 20

5.0 18 35 14

6.0 13 40 11

7.0 7 45 6

8.0 5 50 12

9.0 6 55 23

(a) The label on a carton of lactose-free milk states:

‘Lactase is normally produced in the stomach of mammals.’

The results in Table 1 show that this statement is unlikely to be true.

Explain how.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 10 of 33
 (b) Explain as fully as you can the results shown in Table 2.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) Bile is produced in the liver and is released into the small intestine.

Explain how bile helps the digestion of milk.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q7. Starch is broken down into sugar by amylase. Amylase is produced in the salivary glands.

(a) Name two other organs in the digestive system which produce amylase.

.......................................................... and ....................................................

(2)

Page 11 of 33
(b) A colorimeter measures colour intensity by measuring the percentage of light that passes
through a solution.
Graph 1 shows the percentage of light passing through sugar solutions of different
concentrations to which a test reagent has been added.

Students used a colorimeter to compare the starch-digesting ability of amylase enzymes

obtained from two organs, P and Q.

• The students collected 5 cm3 samples of amylase from P and Q and placed them
into a water-bath at 40 °C.

• Two test tubes containing 10 cm3 samples of starch solution were also placed into
the water-bath.

• All the tubes were left in the water-bath for 10 minutes.

• Each amylase sample was added to one of the tubes containing the starch solution.

• The test tubes were placed back into the water-bath.

• Every minute, a few drops were taken from each tube, the test reagent was added
and the percentage of light passing through this solution was measured in the
colorimeter.

The tubes containing amylase samples and starch solution were left in the water-bath for
ten minutes before the amylase was added to the starch.

Explain why.

........................................................................................................................
Page 12 of 33
 ........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Graph 2 shows how the readings from the colorimeter changed over the next 20 minutes.

(i) Use Graph 1 and Graph 2 to determine the concentration of sugar in the mixture from
organ Q after 20 minutes.

...............................................................................................................

Answer ..........................mol per dm3

(1)

(ii) Use your answer to (c)(i) to calculate the rate at which sugar was produced in the
mixture containing amylase from organ Q.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

Answer ...............................................mol per dm3 per minute

(2)

Page 13 of 33
(iii) Suggest why the amount of light passing through the mixture from organ P did not
change after 16 minutes.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(iv) One of the students suggested that they could have completed their experiment
more quickly if the temperature of the water-bath had been set at 80 °C.

This would not have been the case.

Explain why.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 14 of 33
Q8. A molecule of DNA contains four different bases, W, X, Y and Z.

The four bases are arranged in a long chain.

The chain of bases controls the synthesis of a protein.

The diagram shows a small section of a DNA molecule.

This section is responsible for synthesising the protein for blue eye colour.

(a) What word is used to describe ‘a small section of a DNA molecule that controls the
synthesis of a protein’?

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) In the cell, where are proteins synthesised?

........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 15 of 33
 (c) Describe how the protein for blue eye colour is synthesised.

To gain full marks you must use information from the diagram.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(d) Mistakes sometimes occur when DNA molecules are copied during cell division.

Suppose that one of the W bases shown in the diagram was substituted by an X base.

(i) What would happen to the structure of the protein synthesised by this part of the
DNA molecule?

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) What might be the effect of this change in structure of the protein?

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Q9. There are enzymes in biological washing powders. Biological washing powder has to be
used at temperatures below 45 °C.

(a) The enzymes in biological washing powders do not work on the stains on clothes at
temperatures above 45 °C.

Explain why.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 16 of 33
(b) Some bacteria, called thermophilic bacteria live in hot springs at temperatures of 80 °C.

Scientists have extracted enzymes from these thermophilic bacteria. These enzymes are
being trialled in industrial laundries.
The laundries expect to increase the amount of clothes they can clean by using enzymes
from thermophilic bacteria instead of using the biological washing powders the laundries
use now.

(i) The laundries expect to be able to increase the amount of clothes that they can clean
each day.

Suggest why.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Using washing powders with enzymes from thermophilic bacteria may be more
harmful to the environment than using the biological washing powders that laundries
use now.

Suggest why.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 17 of 33
Q10. Isomerase is an enzyme which can change glucose into fructose.
Fructose is often used instead of glucose in products like slimming foods.

In industry, isomerase is often ‘immobilised’ within beads of gel.

The beads are placed in a glass column.
The isomerase stays attached to the beads and a solution of glucose is allowed to flow between
the beads in the column.

The diagram shows how immobilised isomerase is used.

(a) An alternative method of changing glucose into fructose would be to mix a solution of the
isomerase with the glucose solution in a large container.
Suggest two advantages of using isomerase immobilised in a column of beads.

1......................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

2......................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 18 of 33
(b) A manufacturer investigated the effect of using different flow rates of glucose solution on
the rate of fructose production.

The table shows the results.

Flow rate in Rate of fructose

production in
dm3 per minute mg per minute

1 150

2 325

3 480

4 608

5 650

6 650

7 650

The manufacturer decides to use a flow rate of 5 dm3 per minute.

Suggest why the manufacturer chose this flow rate.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Fructose is a much sweeter sugar than glucose.

Explain why manufacturers of slimming foods may wish to use fructose as a sweetener
instead of glucose.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Page 19 of 33
Q11. A certain gene codes for the production of an enzyme called ‘HEXA’.

One human genetic disorder causes damage to nerve cells in the brain.
This disorder is caused by a small change in the DNA of the HEXA gene.
People with this disorder make a changed HEXA enzyme that does not work.

(a) Explain how a change in the DNA of the HEXA gene can result in the production of a
changed HEXA enzyme that does not work.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(b) The gene coding for the HEXA enzyme is found on chromosome number 15.

(i) How many chromosomes are there in the nucleus of a human nerve cell? ...............
(1)

(ii) A boy had the changed HEXA gene on the chromosome number 15 that he inherited
from his father.
The changed HEXA gene coded for a HEXA enzyme that does not work.
The boy did not develop the genetic disorder.

Explain why the boy did not develop the genetic disorder.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)

Page 20 of 33
(iii) The boy grew up and got married.

A blood test showed that his wife had also inherited the same changed HEXA gene.

There is a 1 in 4 chance that this couple’s first child will have the genetic disorder.

Use a genetic diagram to explain why.

Use the following symbols in your explanation:

H = allele for making the normal HEXA enzyme

h = allele for making a HEXA enzyme that does not work.

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 21 of 33
Q12. Fresh milk is a mixture of compounds including lipid, protein and about 5% lactose sugar.

Lactose must be digested by the enzyme lactase, before the products can be absorbed.

Lactase can be added to fresh milk to pre-digest the lactose. This makes ‘lactose-free’ milk,
which is suitable for people who do not produce enough lactase of their own.

A student investigated the effect of changing pH and temperature on the digestion of lactose in
milk.

The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 Table 2
Effect of pH Effect of temperature

Time taken to Time taken to

Temperature
pH digest lactose in digest lactose in
in °C
minutes minutes

4.0 20 25 20

5.0 18 30 14

6.0 13 35 11

7.0 7 40 6

8.0 5 45 29

9.0 6 50 No digestion

(a) The label on a carton of lactose-free milk states:

‘Lactase is normally produced in the stomach of mammals.’

The results in Table 1 suggest that this statement is not true.

Explain how.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 22 of 33
(b) Explain, as fully as you can, the results shown in Table 2 .

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) Bile is produced in the liver and is released into the small intestine.

Bile helps the digestion of lipid in the milk.

Describe how.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 23 of 33
M1. (a) lipase
1

(b) fatty acid

ignore glycerol
1

(c) (i) 0.25 or

if correct answer ignore working or lack of working

for 1 mark
2

(ii) fats emulsified or described re. Small droplets or large S.A.

(for enzyme action) or fats ‘mix’ better with water
do not allow breakdown / breakup unqualified
1
[5]

M2. (a) any two from:

• neutralises acid / makes conditions alkaline / raises pH

• enzymes (in small intestine) work (more/most effectively)

or stop/prevents enzymes being denatured

• emulsifies fats/lipids or description of emulsification

do not accept breakdown unqualified

• larger surface area

2

(b) (i) bile / bilirubin / pigment / broken down haemoglobin /

substance / cholesterol linked to movement or effect
1

does not get to the intestine / food / faeces

or cannot leave liver or effect not happening (in intestine)
1

Page 24 of 33
 (ii) bilirubin / pigment / broken down haemoglobin
not ‘bile’ alone
1

(deposited) in skin
only award if bilirubin / pigment / broken down haemoglobin given
allow carried in the blood
1
[6]

M3. (a) B
no mark for “B” alone, the mark is for B and the explanation.

large(r) surface / area or large(r) membrane

accept reference to microvilli
ignore villi / hairs / cilia
accept reasonable descriptions of the surface eg folded
membrane / surface
do not accept wall / cell wall
1

(b) (i) any one from:

• (salivary) amylase

• carbohydrase
1

(ii) many ribosomes

do not mix routes. If both routes given award marks for the greater.
1

ribosomes produce protein

accept amylase / enzyme / carbohydrase is made of protein

or

(allow)

many mitochondria (1)

mitochondria provide energy to build / make protein (1)

accept ATP instead of energy
1
[4]

Page 25 of 33
M4. (a) (i) B
1

(ii) any one from:

• largest area of / most digestion (of lipid)

allow agar / jelly / mixture broken down / digested
do not allow digestion of bacteria / lipase
ignore digestion by bacteria

• largest clear area

1

(b) any two from:

• effect of pH / pH described

• effect of temperature

• effect on different types of lipid / fat

• cost or allergic reactions or effect on skin / fabrics / or

environment or interaction with other chemicals in
powder or shelf life
2

(c) enzymes / named enzyme denatured / destroyed

allow active site(of enzyme) altered
1
[5]

M5. (a) the enzyme must be lipase

1

since fatty acid produced, which lowered the pH

1

(b) (i) 0.25 or

correct answer with / without working

if answer incorrect / missing, then evidence of

gains 1 mark

(ii) bile provides optimum / suitable / best pH for enzyme action

therefore the rate of the reaction increased
1
[5]

Page 26 of 33
M6. (a) stomach is acidic / has low pH
allow any pH below 7
ignore stomach is not alkaline
1

lactase works best / well in alkali / high pH / neutral / non-acidic conditions

allow any pH of 7 and above
accept works slowly in acid conditions
allow figures from table with a comparison
ignore reference to temperature
1

(b) any three from

• (below 45(°C)) increase in temperature increases rate / speed of reaction

• reference to molecules moving faster / colliding faster / harder / more collisions

• optimum / best at 45(°C)

allow value(s) in range 41 - 49

• high temps / above 45(°C) (rate slows due to) denaturation of enzyme /lactase
allow synonyms of denaturation but not killed
denaturation at high and low temperature does not gain this mark
ignore body temperature
ignore references to time / pH
3

(c) any two from

• acid neutralised or conditions made neutral / alkali

accept bile is alkaline

• (allow) emulsification / greater surface area of fat / lipid

allow description of emulsification eg fat is broken down / broken up
into droplets

• enzymes (in small intestine) work (more effectively / better)

allow better for enzymes
2
[7]

M7. (a) pancreas

either order
1

small intestine
1

Page 27 of 33
 (b) any two from:

• to give them time to come to temperature of the water-bath

accept so (they / both) are at the same temperature

• at / near body temperature / best / optimum temperature

• otherwise reaction would take place at a series of different temperatures

or sensible statement about control / fair test
2

(c) (i) 0.42

allow in range 0.42 to 0.425
1

(ii) 0.021
correct answer with or without working
allow ecf from (c)(i) ie (c)(i) ÷ 20 correctly calculated for 2 marks
if answer incorrect 0.42 ÷ 20 or (c)(i) ÷ 20 gains 1 mark
2

(iii) (all) starch digested / gone / used up / turned to sugar

allow the amount of sugar stays the same / maximum
1

(iv) any two from

allow reference to active site once only as alternative to first or
second bullet point

• enzyme destroyed / denatured / damaged / shape changed

do not accept killed

• unable to fit (starch molecule)

• starch can’t be digested

enzymes don’t work is insufficient
2
[10]

M8. (a) gene / allele

1

(b) (in / on) ribosome(s)

1

Page 28 of 33
 (c) any three from:

• amino acids make up a protein

• (protein is) particular combination / sequence (of amino acids)

• bases form a code

• the bases work in threes or description

accept bases work in triplet

• (code / three bases) for one amino acid

accept eg (bases) WXZ for amino acid J for 2 marks
3

(d) (i) different / wrong amino acid (coded for) or different / wrong shape
ignore reference to amino acid ‘made’
ignore change unqualified
ignore different protein
1

(ii) different / example of different eye colour

allow protein may / would not be made / function (normally)
1
[7]

M9. (a) shape changed / destroyed (above 45 °C)

accept denatured
accept active site changed
do not accept enzyme killed
1

(shape) doesn’t fit (other molecules / stain)

1

(b) (i) any two from:

• can wash the clothes at higher temperature

• so wash / enzyme action will be quicker

do not accept idea of bacteria working faster

• enzyme not destroyed at high temperature / 80 °C

accept denaturation or description
2

(ii) high(er) temperature / 80 °C uses more energy / fuel

1

Page 29 of 33
 more pollution / named (eg carbon dioxide / global warming) (from electricity
production)

or

increased release of hot water (into the environment)

1
[6]

M10. (a) any two from:

• product not contaminated with enzyme or is pure

• enzyme can be reused

allow enzyme not wasted / less
enzyme is needed

• continuous flow process possible

• enzyme more stable / can be used at higher temperature

allow enzyme lasts longer
ignore refs. to cost / cheaper
2

(b) maximum fructose production / maximum enzyme activity

accept optimum / best

or

increase in flow rate does not increase production

1

higher rate leaves some glucose unchanged

allow glucose not wasted / extra glucose wastes money
1

(c) less (fructose) needed (for same sweetness)

ignore fructose is sweeter unqualified
1

(less fructose ) → less fattening / fewer ‘calories’
ignore refs. to cost / cheaper
1
[6]

M11. (a) changes code /sequences of bases

or
sequence of amino acids is different
1

the enzyme has different / wrong shape / structure

allow the active site is changed
1

Page 30 of 33
 so substrate will not fit into enzyme / will not join to enzyme
1

(b) (i) 46
allow 23 pairs
1

(ii) also inherited (from mother) normal chromosome 15 / normal allele / normal
gene / boy is heterozygous / Hh
allow the boy is a carrier
1

(allele for) this disorder is recessive

or
the normal allele would give a working enzyme
ignore converse
1

(iii) genetic diagram including:

Parental gametes:

H and h from both parents

accept alternative symbols, if defined
1

derivation of offspring genotypes:

HH Hh Hh hh
allow alternative if correct for student’s parental genotypes /
gametes
1

identification of hh (having the disorder) if 1 in 4

1
[9]

M12. (a) stomach is acidic / has low pH

allow any pH below 7
ignore stomach is not alkaline
1

lactase works best / well in alkali / high pH / neutral / non-acidic conditions

allow any pH of 7 and above
accept works slowly in acid conditions
allow figures from table with a comparison
ignore reference to temperature
1

Page 31 of 33
(b) any three from:

• (below 40(°C)) increase in temperature increases rate / speed of reaction

• reference to molecules moving faster / colliding faster / harder / more collisions

• enzyme optimum / works best at 40°C

allow value(s) in range 36 – 44
ignore body temperature unless qualified

• high temperatures (above 40°C) / 45°C / 50°C enzyme denatured

allow synonyms for denaturation, but do not allow ‘killed’
denaturation at high and low temperature does not gain this mark
ignore references to time / pH
3

(c) any two from:

• acid neutralised or conditions made neutral / alkali

accept bile is alkaline

• (allow) emulsification / greater surface area (of lipid / fat)

allow description of emulsification eg fat broken down / broken up
into droplets
do not accept idea of chemical breakdown

• lipase / enzymes (in small intestine) work more effectively / better

allow better for enzymes
ignore reference to other named enzymes
2
[7]

Page 32 of 33
Page 33 of 33