Genetic Technology Past Paper Exam
Questions with Latest Update
Describe how deftinactin could be produced on a large scale (5)
Oct/Nov 2015 V1
{Can apply to growing anything on a large scale} - Answer-1 grow the wild-type,
bacterium / D. acidovorans ;
2 in fermenter ;
3 ref. to (fed) batch culture ;
4 ref. to sterilized ;
5 nutrients at start (batch) / nutrients at intervals (fed) ;
6 carbon / nitrogen, sources ;
7 ref. to aeration / provide oxygen ;
8 ref. to constant temperature / water jacket ; A environmental conditions
kept constant
9 details of fermenter ; e.g. paddles / stirrers
10 harvest delftibactin / downstream processing
Suggest the advantages of using, in Bt cotton, the gene coding for Cry1Ac, rather than
one of the genes coding for other types of the Cry-proteins (2)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1
{Can apply to questions about inserting specific genes} - Answer-1 (only) kills / targets /
acts on, specific / some, insects / pests ;
2 does not kill, beneficial / useful, insects ;
3 (such as) pollinators / bees / predators of pests ;
4 to conserve / protect, biodiversity / food web
5 idea that other Cry proteins might not kill, right pests / bollworm
Explain why a promoter is included in a genetic package (2)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1 - Answer-1 (so, new / foreign / inserted) gene(s) are, expressed /
switched on / transcribed (and translated) ;
2 RNA polymerase binds (at promoter) ;
3 ref. to correct / template, strand ;
4 to control quantity of Cry(1Ac / protein) made ;
5 to control, where / which part(s) of plant, make Cry(1Ac / protein)
Suggest how herbicide resistance can be used as a genetic marker (3)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1
{Applies to any genetic marker question} - Answer-1 insert, herbicide resistance gene /
it, next to, Bt / Cry(1Ac), gene ;
2 spray / add, herbicide on (transformed) plants / protoplasts / cells ;
3 survivors have, Bt / Cry(1Ac), gene ;
4 to identify, successful / GM / insect-resistant, plants
, Suggest how a variety of Bt cotton that is better adapted to dry conditions could be
produced from the existing varieties of Bt cotton, without using gene technology (3)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1 - Answer-1 selective breeding / artificial selection ;
2 cross Bt cotton with a (Bt) variety that grows well in, dry / drought ;
3 select / choose, offspring with Bt (trait / gene) and grow well in, dry / drought ;
4 repeat (crossing / selection) for several generations
Explain why a DNA sample is heated to 95 degrees in PCR (2)
Oct/Nov 2016 V1 - Answer-1 to, separate the two strands / denature DNA
2 by breaking hydrogen bonds (between bases) ;
3 so that bases are exposed ;
4 to produce template strands for (complementary) copying
Explain why primers are added in PCR (2)
Oct/Nov 2016 V1 - Answer-1 (primer) binds / anneals, to DNA by complementary base
pairing ;
2 idea of attaching close to the specific section of DNA ;
3 (DNA) polymerase only attaches to double-stranded DNA ;
4 (primers) reduce re-annealing of separated strands
Explain why Taq polymerase is used in PCR (2)
Oct/Nov 2016 V1 - Answer-1 synthesises complementary DNA strands
2 (Taq polymerase), is heat stable / works at high temperature ;
3 (so) does not need to be added again for each cycle / needs replacing only after a
number of cycles ; or other polymerases need replacing regularly ;
4 process is, more efficient / faster (than normal DNA polymerase)
Describe and explain one advantage of treating diabetics with human insulin produces
by rDNA technology (2)
Oct/Nov 2014 - Answer-1 identical to that produced by body ;
2 activity the same / fast response / no immune response ;
3 no need for animal insulin / AW ;
4 for religious reasons / for ethical reasons / for e.g. vegetarian ;
5 uncontaminated / pure ;
6 so no risk of disease ;
7 production very efficient / always available ;
8 extraction from animals, costly / complex / limited by supply of animals
Suggest why some people at risk of HD may decide not to take the blood test (3)
Oct/Nov 2013 V1 - Answer-1. fear of needles ;
2. fear of positive result ;
3. fear of effect of result on other members of family ;
4. no desire to have children ;
Questions with Latest Update
Describe how deftinactin could be produced on a large scale (5)
Oct/Nov 2015 V1
{Can apply to growing anything on a large scale} - Answer-1 grow the wild-type,
bacterium / D. acidovorans ;
2 in fermenter ;
3 ref. to (fed) batch culture ;
4 ref. to sterilized ;
5 nutrients at start (batch) / nutrients at intervals (fed) ;
6 carbon / nitrogen, sources ;
7 ref. to aeration / provide oxygen ;
8 ref. to constant temperature / water jacket ; A environmental conditions
kept constant
9 details of fermenter ; e.g. paddles / stirrers
10 harvest delftibactin / downstream processing
Suggest the advantages of using, in Bt cotton, the gene coding for Cry1Ac, rather than
one of the genes coding for other types of the Cry-proteins (2)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1
{Can apply to questions about inserting specific genes} - Answer-1 (only) kills / targets /
acts on, specific / some, insects / pests ;
2 does not kill, beneficial / useful, insects ;
3 (such as) pollinators / bees / predators of pests ;
4 to conserve / protect, biodiversity / food web
5 idea that other Cry proteins might not kill, right pests / bollworm
Explain why a promoter is included in a genetic package (2)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1 - Answer-1 (so, new / foreign / inserted) gene(s) are, expressed /
switched on / transcribed (and translated) ;
2 RNA polymerase binds (at promoter) ;
3 ref. to correct / template, strand ;
4 to control quantity of Cry(1Ac / protein) made ;
5 to control, where / which part(s) of plant, make Cry(1Ac / protein)
Suggest how herbicide resistance can be used as a genetic marker (3)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1
{Applies to any genetic marker question} - Answer-1 insert, herbicide resistance gene /
it, next to, Bt / Cry(1Ac), gene ;
2 spray / add, herbicide on (transformed) plants / protoplasts / cells ;
3 survivors have, Bt / Cry(1Ac), gene ;
4 to identify, successful / GM / insect-resistant, plants
, Suggest how a variety of Bt cotton that is better adapted to dry conditions could be
produced from the existing varieties of Bt cotton, without using gene technology (3)
Oct/Nov 2017 V1 - Answer-1 selective breeding / artificial selection ;
2 cross Bt cotton with a (Bt) variety that grows well in, dry / drought ;
3 select / choose, offspring with Bt (trait / gene) and grow well in, dry / drought ;
4 repeat (crossing / selection) for several generations
Explain why a DNA sample is heated to 95 degrees in PCR (2)
Oct/Nov 2016 V1 - Answer-1 to, separate the two strands / denature DNA
2 by breaking hydrogen bonds (between bases) ;
3 so that bases are exposed ;
4 to produce template strands for (complementary) copying
Explain why primers are added in PCR (2)
Oct/Nov 2016 V1 - Answer-1 (primer) binds / anneals, to DNA by complementary base
pairing ;
2 idea of attaching close to the specific section of DNA ;
3 (DNA) polymerase only attaches to double-stranded DNA ;
4 (primers) reduce re-annealing of separated strands
Explain why Taq polymerase is used in PCR (2)
Oct/Nov 2016 V1 - Answer-1 synthesises complementary DNA strands
2 (Taq polymerase), is heat stable / works at high temperature ;
3 (so) does not need to be added again for each cycle / needs replacing only after a
number of cycles ; or other polymerases need replacing regularly ;
4 process is, more efficient / faster (than normal DNA polymerase)
Describe and explain one advantage of treating diabetics with human insulin produces
by rDNA technology (2)
Oct/Nov 2014 - Answer-1 identical to that produced by body ;
2 activity the same / fast response / no immune response ;
3 no need for animal insulin / AW ;
4 for religious reasons / for ethical reasons / for e.g. vegetarian ;
5 uncontaminated / pure ;
6 so no risk of disease ;
7 production very efficient / always available ;
8 extraction from animals, costly / complex / limited by supply of animals
Suggest why some people at risk of HD may decide not to take the blood test (3)
Oct/Nov 2013 V1 - Answer-1. fear of needles ;
2. fear of positive result ;
3. fear of effect of result on other members of family ;
4. no desire to have children ;
