Q1. The diagram shows a molecule of haemoglobin.

(a) What is the evidence from the diagram that haemoglobin has a quaternary structure?

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(1)

(b) (i) A gene codes for the α-polypeptide chain. There are 423 bases in this gene that code
for amino acids. How many amino acids are there in the α-polypeptide chain?

(1)

(ii) The total number of bases in the DNA of the α-polypeptide gene is more than 423.

Give two reasons why there are more than 423 bases.

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

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

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(2)

(c) The haemoglobin in one organism may have a different chemical structure from the
haemoglobin in another organism. Describe how.

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(1)

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(d) The graph shows oxygen dissociation curves for horse haemoglobin and for llama
haemoglobin. Horses are adapted to live at sea level and llamas are adapted to live in high
mountains.

Use the graph to explain why llamas are better adapted to live in high mountains than
horses.

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(3)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q2. The graph shows the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve at two different partial pressures of
carbon dioxide (pCO2).

(a) During vigorous exercise, the blood entering a leg muscle had a pO2 of 4 kPa and a pCO2
of 5.3 kPa. The blood leaving the muscle had a pO2 of 2.8 kPa and a pCO2 of 9.3 kPa.
Each dm3 of blood leaving the lungs contained 200 cm3 oxygen and was 98% saturated
with oxygen.

Use this information and information from the graph to calculate the volume of oxygen
released to the muscle from 1 dm3 of blood. Show your working.

Answer ...................................... cm3 oxygen

(2)

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S (b) The blood leaving a muscle has a lower pH than the blood entering it. During vigorous
exercise, the fall in pH is even greater. Explain what causes this greater fall in pH.

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(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Q3. The diagram shows vessels in a small piece of tissue from a mammal. The chart shows the
hydrostatic pressure of the blood as it flows through the capillary.

(a) Name the fluid contained in vessel X. ........................................................................

(1)

(b) Draw an arrow on the capillary to show the direction of the flow of blood. Describe the
evidence from the chart to support your answer.

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(1)

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(c) Describe and explain how water is exchanged between the blood and tissue fluid as blood
flows along the capillary.

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(4)

(d) Shrews are small mammals. Their tissues have a much higher respiration rate than
human tissues. The graph shows the position of the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation
curves for a shrew and a human.

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 Explain the advantage to the shrew of the position of the curve being different from that of a
human.

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(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Q4. A decrease in the pH of blood plasma reduces the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen.

(a) (i) Explain how aerobic respiration in cells leads to a change in the pH of blood plasma.

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(2)

(ii) What is the advantage to tissue cells of a reduction in the affinity of haemoglobin for
oxygen when the plasma pH decreases?

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(2)

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(b) Deer mice are small mammals which live in North America. One population lives at high
altitude and another at low altitude. Less oxygen is available at high altitude. The graph
shows the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curves for the two populations of deer mice.

(i) Explain the advantage for mice living at high altitude in having a dissociation curve
which is to the left of the curve for mice living at low altitude.

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(2)

(ii) Suggest why it would be a disadvantage for the curve to be much further to the left.

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(1)
(Total 7 marks)

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Q5. The diagram shows some blood vessels in muscle tissue.

(a) (i) Which type of blood vessel is X?

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(1)

(ii) Name two substances which are at a higher concentration in the blood at A than in
the blood at B.

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

2 ..........................................................................................................
(1)

(b) The table shows the mean diameter of the lumen and the rate of blood flow in some types
of human blood vessel.

Type of blood vessel Mean diameter of lumen / Rate of blood flow /

μm cm s–1

Artery 400 10 – 40

Arteriole 30 0.1 – 10

Capillary 8 less than 0.1

Using information in the table, explain what causes the rate of blood flow to be slower in
capillaries than in other vessels.

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(2)

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 (c) (i) Which type of blood vessel has most elastic tissue in its wall?

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(1)

(ii) How does this elastic tissue help to smooth out the flow of blood in the blood vessel?

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(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q6. This question should be answered in continuous prose.

Quality of Written Communication will be assessed in these answers.

(a) Describe and explain four ways in which the structure of a capillary adapts it for the
exchange of substances between blood and the surrounding tissue.

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(4)

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(b) Explain how tissue fluid is formed and how it may be returned to the circulatory system.

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(6)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q7. The diagram shows some cells from the tissues in a root.

(a) Name the tissues labelled W and X.

W ...................................................................

X .............................................................…....
(2)

(b) Explain why water moves from the apoplast pathway to the symplast pathway when it
reaches the tissue labelled W.

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(2)

(c) ATP is used at a high rate in the phloem tissue of roots. Explain what ATP is used for in
phloem tissue.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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M1. (a) More that one polypeptide/chain;
Ignore references to haem/other groups
1

(b) (i) 141;

1

(ii) 1. Stop/start sequences;

2. Non coding DNA (in the gene)/introns/multiple

repeats/junk DNA;
Do not credit “some bases repeated”

3. Two chains/a non-coding strand/complementary base pairs;

4. Addition of base by mutation;

2 max

(c) Different primary structure/amino acids/different number

of polypeptide chains;
Question is about haemoglobin so do not credit differences in DNA
1

(d) 1. Low partial pressure of oxygen;

2. In lungs;

3. (Llama) haemoglobin able to load more oxygen/(llama)

haemoglobin saturated (at low/particular partial pressure
of oxygen);

4. Higher affinity for oxygen;

The terms used in the graph (or near approximations) should be
used in this answer.
Ignore references to unloading
The answer must relate to llamas
3 max
[8]

M2. (a) correct answer: 77 - 78 ;; allow 75 - 80 = 2 marks

OR Use of 55 AND 17 saturation / fall = 38; = 1 mark

OR (Fall = y % +) use of ; = 1 mark

2

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 (b) (in exercise) - faster respiration rate;
more CO2 production;
CO2 is acidic / forms carbonic acid;
lactic acid production;
+
release of H ions;
3 max
[5]

M3. (a) lymph;

1

(b) arrow drawn from right to left . no mark ( if wrong direction disqualify )
correct reference to blood entering capillary having higher hydrostatic
pressure;
1

(c) HP forces water out;

idea that HP is “higher” than WP;
proteins remain in blood (increases WP);
idea that WP is now “higher” than HP;
water returns by osmosis / along WP gradient;
water moves out at arteriole end and back in (at venule end);
4 max

(d) high respiration rate means high demand for oxygen;

shrew haemoglobin has lower affinity for oxygen / gives up O2
more readily;

shrew Hb lower saturation rate than human Hb at same partial

pressure / more O2
released at same pp;
3
[9]

M4. (a) (i) CO2 is produced (in respiration);

forms carbonic acid / hydrogen ions released;
(lactic acid produced negates both points)
2

(ii) low pH because high rate of respiration;

cells need more O2;
more O2 released / O2 released faster;
2 max

Page 13 of 19
 (b) (i) high altitudes have a low partial pressure of O2;
high saturation/affinity of Hb with O2 (at low partial pressure O2);
sufficient/enough O2 supplied to cells / tissues;

2 max

(ii) difficult to unload/dissociate O2 (at tissues);

1
[7]

M5. (a) (i) arteriole;

1

(ii) any two

oxygen/glucose/amino acids / fatty acids / glycerol / minerals;
1

(b) small diameter/ lumen / small mean cross sectional area / increase in
(total) cross sectional area;
more surface in contact with blood;
greater friction / resistance;
(causes) loss of pressure;
2 max

(c) (i) artery;

1

(ii) stretches/expands to accommodate increase in blood

volume / when ventricle contracts/ increase in blood pressure;
recoils when blood volume decreases / when ventricle
relaxes / blood pressure decreases;
2
[7]

M6. (a) 1. permeable capillary wall/membrane;

2. single cell thick/thin walls, reduces diffusion distance;
3. flattened (endothelial) cells, reduces diffusion distance;
4. fenestrations, allows large molecules through;
5. small diameter/ narrow, gives a large surface area to volume/
short diffusion distance;
6. narrow lumen, reduces flow rate giving more time for diffusion;
7. red blood cells in contact with wall/ pass singly, gives short diffusion
distance / more time for diffusion;
(allow 1 mark for 2 features with no explanation)
4 max

Page 14 of 19
 (b) 1. (hydrostatic) pressure of blood high at arterial end;
2. fluid/water/soluble molecules pass out (reject plasma);
3. proteins/large molecules remain;
4. this lowers the water potential / water potential becomes more negative;
5. water moves back into venous end of capillary (reject tissue fluid);
6. by osmosis / diffusion;
7. lymph system collects any excess tissue fluid;
8. (lymph) returns to blood / circulatory system / link with vena cava/
returns tissue fluid to vein;
6 max
[10]
QWC 1

M7. (a) endodermis;

xylem;
2

(b) Casparian strip / suberin (accept casparien, not caspian);

impermeable / barrier to water movement (“idea” of waterproof, not waxy);
water enters cell along water potential/osmotic gradient / by osmosis;
2 max

(c) ATP supplies energy (reject produces/creates energy);

for active transport / movement against a concentration gradient
(allow active uptake);
to move sugars/sucrose (from phloem tissue) (allow glucose, mineral ions
neutral, not carbohydrate);
2 max
[6]

Page 15 of 19
E1. (a) Although there were various interpretations of the diagram, most candidates correctly
indicated the presence of more than one polypeptide chain.

(b) In part (i), many candidates correctly identified the number of amino acids coded by this
piece of DNA as 141. Incorrect responses were usually centred on multiplying the number
of bases either by two or by three. In part (ii), the single mark that was most frequently
awarded was for a reference to introns. Many candidates, however, interpreted the
question as asking about the nature of the genetic code. There were many responses
centred on there being “more than one code for an amino acid”.

(c) Despite the mark allocation shown for this question, there were some very extensive
answers involving the DNA base sequence and protein structure. Many of these accounts
also reflected much confusion between the terms base and amino acid. There were
occasional unfortunate references to the environment causing the difference in
haemoglobin structure.

(d) Better candidates were able to identify the principle involved here and suggested an
explanation based on the ability of haemoglobin to load more oxygen at lower partial
pressures. Where these candidates used the information from the graph and wrote of the
partial pressure of oxygen and the percentage saturation of haemoglobin, they were
usually able to gain full credit. There was, however, much imprecise wording and accounts
were often marred by such phrases as there was “less air in mountains” and “the llama
carries more oxygen”. Less able candidates frequently twist the wording of questions
round. This question, for example, was occasionally answered as requiring an explanation
of the adaptations of horses to living at low altitudes. Such an interpretation failed to gain
credit.

E2. (a) It was evident that some of the better candidates were well prepared for dealing with
data from oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curves. Errors included misreading the figures
from the graph and not knowing how to deal with the 98% saturation figure. Many weak
candidates did not even attempt the calculation.

(b) This was very well answered, with full marks being quite common. Since the question
referred to a greater fall in pH of the blood during vigorous exercise, a comparative answer
was required: thus more carbon dioxide would have been produced due to a faster
respiration rate. Most knew that carbon dioxide formed an acid in water and chemical
equations showing the formation of carbonic acid and ET ions were quite common. Those
for whom vigorous exercise was the immediate clue for the involvement of anaerobic
respiration had lactic acid production as a mark-worthy point. However, such candidates
often forgot that glucose catabolism in such circumstances would usually be via a mixture
of aerobic and anaerobic processes and so they failed to mention carbon dioxide
production and tended to score less well. Some referred to the interaction of ET ions and
haemoglobin. Unfortunately, this was irrelevant here as the EE ions would actually be
combining with oxyhaemoglobin in the muscle, helping to displace oxygen and hence this
would hardly contribute to an increase in ET ion concentration.

E3. (a) This was correctly answered by most candidates, although a significant number
identified X as tissue fluid or even plasma.

Page 16 of 19
 (b) Most candidates gained a mark, although a number correctly drew the arrow but then
failed to give an adequate description of the evidence, therefore failing to gain credit.

(c) This was a high scoring question. Many candidates showed a good understanding of how
water is exchanged. However, only the most able gave explanations relating hydrostatic
pressure changes with the changes in water potential along the capillary. Similarly, only
the better candidates explained the role of plasma proteins in venous return.

(d) This topic appeared poorly understood with only the best candidates scoring full
marks. Many candidates had difficulty explaining the differences in the two curves with
regard to unloading tensions. Many candidates correctly explained that shrew haemoglobin
has a lower affinity to oxygen, but only the more able went on to explain the significance of
this is terms of saturation and partial pressure, and how this gives the shrew an
advantage. Confused references to the relative affinity of haemoglobin to oxygen were
common.

E4. (a) Very few candidates considered the full context of this question in their answer. Most
gained credit for making an appropriate link between the reduction in haemoglobin’s affinity
for oxygen and its ability to unload oxygen more readily, but why it is advantageous to
tissue cells for oxygen to be readily unloaded when the pH of plasma is low was not often
considered.

(b) (i) The increased affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen in animals whose habitats occur at
high altitudes is understood well by the majority of candidates. Unfortunately, very
few candidates were able to apply this understanding to the context of the question,
i.e. that it is essential if sufficient oxygen is going to reach (respiring) tissue cells
when the partial pressure of oxygen in the air breathed by the animal is low.

(ii) This was answered well by the majority of candidates.

E5. Most candidates scored highly on this question, with only the weakest having problems.

(a) Few candidates were unable to identify the blood vessel labelled X and the substances it
carried.

(b) Most correctly identified the small diameter of capillaries as a cause of slow flow rate, but
only the more able candidates were able to relate the small diameter to increased friction
or resistance.

(c) Again most were able to identify the type of blood vessel in part (i) but part (ii)
discriminated well with only the more able candidates being able to explain fully the role of
elastic tissue in smoothing out the flow of blood. Many candidates correctly described that
elastic tissue expands and recoils but only the better candidates explained that the
expansion of arteries accommodates increased blood flow, and recoil when blood flow
decreases. Errors such as elastic tissue contracting and relaxing were common.

Page 17 of 19
E6. There were many very clear and accurate answers to both parts (a) and (b), showing an
excellent understanding and a high standard of communication skills.

(a) This part of the question required candidates to describe and explain the features of a
single capillary, which adapt it for exchange. Good answers described a feature, such as a
wall, which is only one cell thick, and then explained how it enables efficient exchange,
such as the reduction of diffusion distance. Many answers described a feature but then
gave an incomplete explanation, such as ‘makes diffusion more efficient’. The narrow
lumen of capillaries and red blood cells in contact with the capillary wall were frequently
described as features, but with no explanation of how these features affect the exchange
of substances.

(b) The explanations of how tissue fluid is formed and how it is returned to the blood system
indicate that this topic is well understood by many candidates. There were many excellent
explanations of how hydrostatic pressure causes the loss of fluid from capillaries at the
arterial end and how changes in water potential bring about the return of fluid at the venous
end of a capillary. Candidates failed to gain marks by using inaccurate language, such as
‘plasma’ being lost from capillaries, or ‘tissue fluid’ being returned to them.

E7. (a) Only a small proportion of candidates correctly identified both types of tissue, although
many knew one. A common error was to identify tissue W as the ‘Casparian strip’, failing
to recognise that this is not a tissue. A surprising number of candidates identified tissue X
as ‘phloem’.

(b) Most candidates gave clear and accurate accounts about the role of the Casparian strip in
diverting water into the symplast pathway. Very few included osmosis in the explanation.

(c) Candidates were familiar with the concept of active transport, but not its involvement in the
loading of sugars into the phloem. Many candidates referred incorrectly to the loading of
phloem from the soil or they focussed on the movement of mineral ions rather than
sugars. Unfortunately, many failed to gain this mark, because of a misconception that
energy is produced, rather than released, by the transport process. ATP as the immediate
source of energy was given correctly by a significant number of candidates.

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