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A-LevelBiologyInherited change9700/42 · Oct/Nov 2021 · Q79 Marks

The Labrador is a variety of domestic dog. Labradors have fur that can be brown, black or yellow. In Labradors, TYRP1 is one gene that codes for fur colour. This gene has two alleles, B and b. • The dominant allele, B, codes for the enzyme tyrosinase that functions in the pathway to produce melanin, leading to black fur. • The production of melanin in Labradors is very similar to the production of melanin in humans. • The recessive allele, b, codes for an enzyme that results in the production of a brown form of melanin, leading to brown fur.

  1. (a)Outline how melanin may be produced in Labradors to produce black fur.[2]
  2. (b)(i)Construct a genetic diagram to show the ratio of possible offspring from a cross between a black male Labrador, heterozygous for both genes, and a yellow female Labrador, heterozygous for TYRP1. parental phenotype parental genotype gametes offspring genotypes offspring phenotypes ratio[6]
  3. (b)(ii)State the term used to describe a protein that is involved in the control of gene expression in eukaryotes.[1]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] (a) tyrosine converted to, DOPA / dopaquinone;
  2. [1] (a) dopaquinone converted to melanin ;
  3. [1] (a) ref. to melanocytes ;
  4. [1] (b)(i) parental phenotype (black x yellow)
  5. [1] (b)(i) parental genotype BbEe x Bbee ;
  6. [1] (b)(i) gametes BE Be bE be x Be be ;
  7. [1] (b)(i) offspring genotypes BBEe BbEe BbEe BBee Bbee Bbee bbee bbEe
  8. [1] (b)(i) offspring phenotypes black black black yellow yellow yellow yellow brown
  9. [1] (b)(i) ratio 3 black : 1 brown : 4 yellow; (ecf to max 3)
  10. [1] (b)(ii) transcription factor ;

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About this question

Topic
Inherited change, A-Level Biology (syllabus 9700). Structured question, 9 marks.
Source
A-Level Biology, Oct/Nov 2021 Paper 4 Variant 2, question 7.

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