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O-LevelBiologyPlant Nutrition5090/22 · Oct/Nov 2019 · Q210 Marks

Plants absorb light energy to use in the process of photosynthesis.

  1. (a)(i)Name the part of a plant cell where photosynthesis takes place.[1]
  2. (a)(ii)State the equation, in words or symbols, for photosynthesis.[2]
  3. (b)Photosynthesis also takes place in some bacteria. Suggest and explain the colour of these bacteria.[2]
  4. (c)(i)These bacteria are able to absorb more light than plants because they have additional chemicals that absorb light. Scientists have suggested that it may be possible to transfer a gene that codes for one of these additional chemicals into the DNA of plants used to produce crops that humans eat. Name the process that scientists would use to transfer the gene from these bacteria into the DNA of a plant.[1]
  5. (c)(ii)Suggest and explain the possible advantages of transferring this gene into the DNA of a plant used to produce crops that humans eat.[4]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] chloroplast;
  2. [2] carbon dioxide / 6CO2 + water / 6H20 (. ); →) glucose / C6H12O6 + oxygen / 6O2;
  3. [2] green; chlorophyll;
  4. [1] genetic + engineering / modification; Ig biotechnology
  5. [4] increased / more / greater / higher / high ; any three from ... light + absorbed AW ; photosynthesis ; production AW of + glucose / starch / carbohydrate / sugar; growth / yield / protein synthesis / production of protoplasm ; profit AW;

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About this question

Topic
Plant Nutrition, O-Level Biology (syllabus 5090). Structured question, 10 marks.
Source
O-Level Biology, Oct/Nov 2019 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 2.

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