Answers to Exam practice

Chapter 41 12. (a) X is a restriction enzyme. (1)

Y is a DNA ligase. (1)
Techniques in modern
biotechnology (b) The DNA fragments containing the gene of
interest should be cut with the same restriction
Multiple-choice questions (p.41-47) enzyme, (1)
1. C so that sticky ends complementary to the cut
plasmids are produced. (1)
2. D
(c) Correct drawing:
3. C
• plasmid with foreign DNA joined in ring (1)
4. B • ring of plasmid only (1)
In PCR, denaturation occurs when the hydrogen • ring of foreign DNA only (1)
bonds between the nucleotides are broken.
13. (a) (i) 2.5 minutes × 4 = 10 minutes (1)
5. D (ii) 1.1 to 1.5 minutes (1)

6. D (b)
Taq polymerase should be used because it takes
less time to complete one PCR cycle / it
7. B requires a lower temperature and so the cost is
8. A cheaper. (1)

Callus is a mass of undifferentiated cells. OR

Pfu polymerase should be used because it
9. A proof-reads and corrects errors. (1)
10. B (c) The high temperatures required during the PCR
cycle would not cause denaturation of the DNA
Short questions (p.41-48) polymerase. (1)

11. (a) People produced animals or plants with certain 14. (a) restriction enzyme / restriction endonuclease (1)
desirable characters by selective breeding. / (b) DNA fragments move towards the anode from
People produced wine / beer / bread / cheese / the cathode because they are negatively
yoghurt / soy sauce by fermentation. charged. (1)
(or other reasonable answers) (1) They move at different rates in the gel (1)
(b) Biotechnology is the use of biological processes, according to their sizes. (1)
biological systems or organisms to produce (c) The DNA probe is single-stranded DNA (1)
goods or provide services to humans. (1)
that is complementary to / specifically binds to
Selective breeding involves the use of animals specific base sequence. (1)
or plants / the making of fermented food
The DNA probe may be labelled with
products involves the use of microorganisms;
radioactivity or fluorescence for detection. (1)
thus is considered as biotechnology. (1)

(c) It is quicker. / It does not involve sexual 15. (a) PCR will amplify DNA for analysis (1)
reproduction which produces genetic from small amounts of DNA. (1)
variations; the desirable characteristics can be (b) (i) Site 2 contains all of the bands / unique
maintained. (1) bands of the ten-spot ladybird. (1)
(or other reasonable answers) Site 2 has no bands which occur only in /
does not contain all the bands of the two-
spot ladybird. (1)

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 (ii) At site 1, harlequin ladybird has not been (c) The plasmids used contain a herbicide
feeding at all / is cannibalistic / not feeding resistance gene. (1)
on the two-spot or ten-spot ladybird. (1) Incubate the infected plant tissues together
At site 3, harlequin ladybird has been with the herbicide to which transformed cells
preying on something other than the are resistant. (1)
ten-spot or two-spot ladybird. (1) Cells that have taken up the transformed
16. (a) To produce large numbers of genetically plasmids survive, while those that did not take
identical plants (plant clones) (1) up the transformed plasmids are killed. (1)

(b) To prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria (1) 18. HKDSEE Biology 2018 Paper 2 Q4(b)
(c) Favourable characteristic can be maintained in
19. (a) To cut DNA at the same sequence (1)
all plants. (1) /
so that DNA fragments containing the required
Disease-free plants can be produced. (1) /
genes can be obtained. (1)
Larger number of plants can be produced / The
success rate is higher. (1) / (b) Each has a specific base sequence (1)

Production of plants is faster. (1) that is complementary to allele r or R. (1)

(Any two, 2) (c) Fragments L are from the parent with the
genotype rr, because they are all longer
(d) Obtaining the desired gene (with the use of
fragments (195 base pair fragments). (1)
restriction enzyme) (1)
Fragments N are from the parent with the
Use of a vector to introduce the gene into a
genotype RR, because they are all shorter
plant cell / reference to Agrobacterium / Ti
fragments (135 base pair fragments). (1)
plasmid / gene gun (1)
Fragments M are from offspring with the
Selection of the plants containing the desired
genotype Rr, consisting of both 195 and 135
gene (1)
base pair fragments. (1)

(d) When cells are in mitosis, the chromosomes are

Structured questions (p.41-51)
visible. (1)
17. (a) Selective breeding takes a long period of time Scientists can observe which chromosome is
(several generations) to develop resistant bound with the DNA probe. (1)
potato plants. (1)
20. HKDSEE Biology 2014 Paper 2 Q4(b)
Selective breeding does not guarantee the
production of offspring with blight resistance. 21. (a) diploid set of chromosomes (1)
(or other reasonable answers) (1)
because its nucleus comes from the body cell of
(b) Extract Ti plasmid from Agrobacterium and cut sheep A which is diploid (1)
it using a restriction enzyme. Cut the DNA
(b) mitotic cell division (1)
fragment containing the blight resistance gene
with the same restriction enzyme. (1) (c) sheep A (1)

Insert the DNA fragment containing the blight The body characteristics of Dolly are
resistance gene into the plasmid and join them determined by its genetic material, (1)
using DNA ligase. (1) which is derived from and identical to the
Introduce the recombinant plasmid into genetic material in the body cell of sheep A. (1)
Agrobacterium. (1) (d) It does not involve fertilization. (1)
Infect plant tissues with the transformed The embryo grows from a body cell nucleus
Agrobacterium. (1) rather than from a zygote. (1)

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 (e) To propagate animals of considerable economic The cut DNA fragments and the cut
importance (1) / plasmids are joined by DNA ligase. (1)
To save endangered animals (1) / The recombinant plasmids are introduced
Cloned animals can be used as models for into E. coli. (1)
studying diseases and testing drugs (1) /
Cloned GM animals could serve as ‘biological Chapter 42
factories’ to produce pharmaceutical products
Applications in biotechnology
or other useful chemicals (1) /
Cloning early embryos could provide stem cells Multiple-choice questions (p.42-36)
for use in research or medical treatment (1) 1. C
(Any two, 2) The gene coding for human insulin can be obtained
(f) The success rate of animal cloning using from many types of body cells.
nuclear transfer is low. (1) /
2. D
The cost is high. (1) /
3. D
Animal clones might age faster and have a
shorter lifespan. (1) 4. C
(Any two, 2)
5. B
22. (a) Dairy cows with high milk yield are selected to Under natural conditions, adult stem cells can only
breed. (1) differentiate into limited types of body cells.
The alleles for high milk yield can be passed on
6. B
to offspring. (1)
This is repeated for many generations. (1) 7. C
The alleles for high milk yield accumulate in the Traditional breeding is not specific as it does not
population. involve the direct manipulation of DNA or genes.

(b) A somatic cell is obtained from a high-yield 8. A

cow. (1)
Transgenic plants are genetically identical and they
An egg cell is obtained from another cow, rarely increase biodiversity.
whose nucleus is then removed. (1)
The somatic cell is fused with the enucleated
Short questions (p.42-38)
egg cell. The fused cell divides by mitotic cell
divisions and develops into an embryo. (1) 9. (a) (i) white blood cells / lymphocytes / B cells (1)
The embryo is implanted into the uterus of a (ii) antibodies against the hepatitis B virus (1)
surrogate mother. The surrogate mother will
(b) Traditional vaccines contain whole viruses, (1)
give birth to the cloned cow. (1)
which may become active in the human body
(c) (i) Some people worry that the milk from the and cause diseases or other health
treated cows may contain BST which may problems. (1)
cause unknown effects to human health.
The vaccines produced by genetically modified
(or other reasonable answers) (1)
yeast contain only viral coat proteins. (1)
(ii) DNA fragments containing the gene for
BST are obtained and cut with a restriction 10. (a) gene therapy / ex vivo gene therapy / somatic
enzyme. (1) cell gene therapy (1)

Plasmids are isolated and cut with the same (b) Step 3: The vectors introduce the therapeutic
restriction enzyme. (1) genes into the cells. (1)

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 Step 5: The genetically modified cells are Chemical insecticides may persist in the
transferred into the patient. (1) environment. /

(c) severe combined immunodeficiency disease Any chemical insecticides left on edible plants
(SCID) / cystic fibrosis (1) may cause harm to humans. (1)

(or other reasonable answers) (or other reasonable answers)

11. (a) stem cells (1)

Structured questions (p.42-40)
(b)
13. HKDSEE Biology 2013 Paper 2 Q4(a)
part of cell
where number of 14. (a) Antigens in NicVAX / vaccine are recognized as
function of
control of chromosomes non-self / foreign (1)
cell division
cell division in each cell
occurs by B cells. (1)
increases the twice as many The B cells bound with the antigens become
number of  cytoplasm  as in the cells  activated and divide into many identical B
cells in Stage 1 cells. (1)
increases the same number
size of each  nucleus  as in the cells  Some B cells differentiate into plasma cells. (1)
cell in Stage 1 Plasma cells produce antibodies specific for the
keeps the half as many antigens. (1)
cell
number of   as in the cells 
membrane
cells the same in Stage 1 (b) (i) The nicotine concentration in foetal
circulation increased rapidly from 0 to 30
(1 mark for each correct , 3)
minutes. (1)
(c) To obtain embryonic stem cells, embryos which The concentration then decreased from 30
are potential lives are destroyed. (1) to 40 minutes. (1)
(or other reasonable answers) After 40 minutes, the concentration
12. (a) Fewer leaves mean reduced photosynthesis (1) increased slowly. (1)

Less energy / glucose / carbohydrate / (Max. 2)

respiration for growth (1) (ii) Both types of monoclonal antibodies
OR reduce nicotine concentration in the foetal
circulation. (1)
Corn borers may spread disease to plants (1)
The maximum concentration for nicotine
Disease reduces growth (1)
alone is 12.5 ng cm–3, while those for
(b) Cut DNA fragments containing the target gene Nic-IgG and Nic311 are 2.0 ng cm–3 and
and bacterial plasmids with the same restriction 5.5 ng cm–3 respectively. (1)
enzymes. (1) Lower nicotine concentration gives fewer
Join the cut DNA fragments and cut plasmids adverse side-effects in the foetus. (1)
with DNA ligase. (1) (c) pregnancy testing / diagnosis of disease /
Transfer recombinant plasmids into bacteria. treatment of disease / delivery of drugs / blood
Infect plant cells with the transformed or tissue typing
bacteria. (1) (or other reasonable answers) (1)
(c) Bt toxin is specific to target species. / 15. (a) No. (1)
Chemical insecticides kill other insects. This Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defective gene
may reduce biodiversity. / which cannot be transmitted to other
Chemical insecticides may accumulate along people. (1)
food chains. /

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 (b) The normal CFTP gene is introduced into the (b) The son has beta thalassaemia, so he must have
patient’s cells. (1) received one allele for beta thalassaemia from
As a result, the gene product (CFTP) is either of his parents. (1)
produced by the patient. (1) Since his parents are normal, at least one of
them has both the normal allele and the allele
(c) Liposome is mainly made up of lipid which has
for beta thalassaemia. (1)
similar chemical nature / composition as the
cell membrane. (1) Only the normal character is expressed, (1)

Liposome and cell membrane can fuse together therefore the allele for beta thalassaemia is
easily. (1) recessive. (1)

(d) Yes. (1) (c) Bone marrow stem cells from the healthy
person can differentiate into functional red
Only the somatic cells of the patient receive the
blood cells. (1)
foreign gene. (1)
The defective gene in the germ cells (sperm (d) (i) The normal genes are inserted into the
and ovum) can still pass to the offspring. (1) vector (e.g. retroviruses). (1)
Blood stem cells are taken from the bone
(e) The new genes may be wrongly delivered to
marrow of the patient. (1)
non-target cells, or be inappropriately
expressed. This may lead to other health The cells are treated with the vectors to
problems. (1) / transfer the normal genes into them. (1)

The vectors used may trigger severe immune The modified stem cells are returned to the
responses in some patients and in serious cases bone marrow of the patient. (1)
death may result. (1) / (ii) No, (1)
The new genes are inserted at random because the genetic make-up of germ cells
locations in the genome. The inserted gene (e.g. sperms and ova) are not changed. (1)
may affect the expression of an existing
18. (a) (i) The crop plant can be grown in cold
gene. (1)
regions. (1)
(Any two, 2)
(ii) The growth of the crop plant is not affected
16. (a) Stem cells can differentiate into the desired cell by fungi. (1)
types (1) The crop plant can grow better / yield
to replace the damaged cells in the spinal increases. (1)
cord. (1)
(b) The gene for the desirable characteristic is
(b) Stem cells from the same dog are genetically obtained / isolated. (1)
identical and are less likely to cause immune Cut the gene and plasmid using the same
responses. (1) restriction enzyme. (1)
Stem cells from another dog may transmit The gene is inserted into the cut plasmid and
diseases. (1) joined together with the help of DNA ligase. (1)
(c) (i) The dogs given the neutral fluid are the The recombinant plasmid is then introduced
control group. (1) into the host plant (1)
The control group is set up to ensure that using Agrobacterium / gene gun / viruses. (1)
the treatment effect is caused by the stem (c) It takes shorter time for tissue culture to
cells. (1) produce offspring with the desirable
(ii) To remove bias (1) characteristics. (1)
As there is no genetic variation, all the offspring
17. (a) Blood transfusion can supply the body with
are genetically identical and possess the
normal red blood cells for oxygen transport. (1)
desirable characteristics. (1)

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 19. HKDSEE Biology 2017 Paper 2 Q4(a) Positive impact on environment:
Less pesticide is used so that other organisms in the
20. (a) It describes an organism whose genetic
ecosystem are less likely to be affected by
material has been modified to contain genes
pesticide. (1)
from another organism. (1)
Negative impact on environment:
(b) Restriction enzyme. (1)
Bt maize may out-compete the wild types and
It is used to cut the DNA fragments that
replace them. This results in a reduction in
contain the target gene and cut the
biodiversity and may even upset the ecological
plasmids. (1)
balance. (1)
DNA ligase. (1)
(or other reasonable answers)
It is used to join the target gene and the cut
plasmid. (1) 4. (a) The cattle produced by somatic cell nuclear
transfer is genetically identical to the parent, so
(c) All the goats cloned will have the silk
the favourable characteristics of the parent are
production gene and they can all produce
retained in the offspring. (1)
spider silk proteins. (1)
Organisms that are difficult or slow to breed
Cloning can propagate the transgenic goats
normally can be reproduced quickly by
faster than sexual reproduction. (1)
cloning. (1)
(d) Advantage: Genetic variations exist among
(b) The success rate of animal cloning using
offspring. More desirable characteristics may be
nuclear transfer is still low and the cost is high./
created. (1)
Some cloned animals age faster and have a
Disadvantage: The offspring may not have
shorter lifespan. (1)
inherited the silk production gene. (1)
(c) standpoint (1)
21. HKDSEE Biology 2016 Paper 2 Q4(b)
relevant reasons (2)

5. (a) Pluripotent stem cells are stem cells having the

Chapter 43 potential to develop into any types of cells. (1)
Bioethics (b) There is no need to destroy embryos in order to
obtain pluripotent stem cells. (1)
Multiple-choice questions (p.43-26)
(c) Stem cells may divide uncontrollably and
1. D
become cancerous in patients. (1)
2. D The increasing popularity of stem cell therapy
may lead to the trading of tissues or organs
developed from stem cells. (1)
Short questions (p.43-26)
(or other reasonable answers)
3. Example of transgenic crops: Bt maize
Positive impact on society:
Structured questions (p.43-27)
Increased yield may help alleviate food shortage
6. (a) Selective breeding and gene modification are
problem. (1)
similar in the way that both methods can
Negative impact on society:
produce organisms with desirable
Farmers in the developing countries may not be characteristics. (1)
able to afford to buy the expensive seeds for the
Selective breeding and gene modification differ
transgenic maize. This may widen the wealth gap
in the following ways:
between developing and developed countries. (1)
• Gene modification is much faster than
selective breeding. (1)

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 • In gene modification, the genes for the (c) DNA is negatively charged. (1)
desirable characteristics are identified and In gel electrophoresis, DNA fragments are
manipulated. The results are precise and placed in an electric current and they move
predictable. In selective breeding, the towards the positively charged end of the
offspring produced through sexual gel. (1)
reproduction may be genetically different
The smaller fragments can pass through the gel
from the parents. The desirable
more easily and they travel faster than the
characteristics occurred in the parents may
larger ones. (1)
not appear in the offspring. (1)
Therefore, DNA fragments are separated into
• Selective breeding can be performed on
bands according to their molecular size. (1)
closely related species only. Gene
modification can be used to transfer genes (d) Advantage:
from one species to other non-related Early detection of genetic diseases enables
species. (1) doctors and the parents to prepare for proper
treatment of the child. / Prospective parents
(b) Herbicide-resistant soya beans can withstand
have a chance to understand the risks of having
the effects of herbicide. (1)
an affected child and make decisions
This can reduce crop loss due to the use of
concerning the affected pregnancy. (1)
herbicide. / This can increase crop yield. (1)
Disadvantage:
(c) (i) Antibiotic resistance genes are used as a
If the foetus is tested positive for the genetic
marker to indicate which crop cells are
disease, the parents may face the dilemma of
successfully transformed. (1)
whether to continue the pregnancy or not. This
Crop cells incorporated with antibiotic causes psychological stress to the parents. /
resistance genes can survive when grown in Some screening tests may generate false-
a culture medium containing antibiotics, positive or false-negative results which may
while crop cells that did not take up lead to unnecessary anxiety or pregnancy
antibiotic resistance genes will be killed. (1) termination. (1)
(ii) GM crops are grown in open areas. There is
8. (a) (i) All the DNA / genes of the human
a chance that antibiotic resistant genes in
species (1)
GM crops may transfer to pathogenic
(ii) Disputes may arise about the ownership of
bacteria, (1)
genetic information. /
resulting in antibiotic-resistant
People are concerned about the privacy of
‘superbugs’. (1)
genetic information. /
7. (a) (i) Primers are short lengths of single-stranded Knowing a person’s genetic information
DNA that are complementary to specific may cause discrimination and social
regions of the DNA sample. They bind to inequality. (1)
those regions and mark the locations where
(or other reasonable answers)
the synthesis of new DNA strands starts. (1)
(b) (i) Human Genome Project identifies the allele
(ii) During the process of PCR, the reaction
related to melanoma. (1)
mixture is heated to various
Drugs can be developed to target at this
temperatures. (1)
allele (1)
The DNA polymerase used must be able to
to prevent gene expression / translation of
withstand the heat without
the gene products. (1)
denaturation. (1)

(b) The restriction enzyme cuts DNA at specific

sites, producing DNA fragments of varying
lengths. Some of the fragments contain VNTRs.
(1)
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 (ii) The drug affects expression of the allele
related to melanoma. (1)
The synthesis of the gene products
stops. (1)
Without the required proteins, melanoma
cells cannot grow properly, (1)
or cannot carry out mitotic cell division. (1)

(c) Inserted with the human gene for human

collagen, the yeast cells synthesize collagen
identical to the collagen produced by the
human body. (1)
The human body would not recognize the
collagen as foreign. (1)

9. (a) Insert normal genes into vectors. (1)

Remove defective cells from a patient. (1)
The vectors introduce the genes into the
cells. (1)
Select the cells with the normal genes and let
them multiply in cell culture. (1)
Re-introduce the cells into the patient. (1)

(b) The new DNA fragment is inserted near a gene

involved in the regulation of cell cycle. (1)
The cells divide uncontrollably / fail to undergo
cell death, and undergo metastasis. (1)

(c) Yes (1)

because there is a risk of developing cancer /
cancer may recur. (1)
OR
No (1)
because the cancer is treatable / the SCID
patient cannot have a better quality of life if not
treated. (1)

10. HKDSEE Biology 2012 Paper 2 Q4(b)

11. HKDSEE Biology 2016 Paper 2 Q4(a)

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