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A-LevelBiologyNucleic acids and protein synthesisMay/June 2017Paper 1 Q181 Mark

The bacterium Escherichia coli divides once every 50 minutes at 36 °C. E. coli were grown on a medium containing only heavy nitrogen, 15N, until all of the bacterial DNA contained heavy nitrogen (0 minutes). Some of the bacteria were moved from a heavy nitrogen medium and cultured in a medium with only light nitrogen, 14N. Some bacteria were collected after each of three generations. Their DNA was extracted and centrifuged. Hybrid DNA contains heavy and light nitrogen. The diagram shows the possible positions (upper, middle and lower) of the bands of DNA. The actual positions of bands in the first two samples are shown. [Diagram showing test tubes with DNA bands at 0, 50, 100, 150 minutes] Which proportion of the DNA of the sample taken at 150 minutes will be at the upper position?

A25%
B50%
C75%
D100%

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The correct answer is C. This question tests the candidate's understanding of nucleic acids and protein synthesis within the Biologysyllabus. The examiner's mark scheme requires...

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Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

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About This A-Level Biology Question

This multiple-choice question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) May/June 2017 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Nucleic acids and protein synthesis and is worth 1 mark.

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