SECOND TERM EXAMINATION - 2023

BIOLOGY – MARKING KEY

GRADE: 12 TIME: 3 HOURS
DATE: 24/11/23 MAX. MARKS: 70
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[The time stated above is the time allowed for writing the examination.
In
addition, the first 15 minutes will be the time given for reading the
question
paper]
This paper is divided into four sections – A, B, C and D.
Answer all questions.
Section – A consists of one question having sub-parts of one mark each.
Section – B consists of seven questions of two marks each.
Section – C consists of seven questions of three marks each, and
Section – D consists of three questions of five marks each.
Internal choices have been provided in one question each in Section B,
Section C and Section D.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
__________________________________________________________________________
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SECTION A - 20 Marks
Question 1:
Answer the following questions briefly.
i. Name the toxin which is responsible for causing the symptoms of malaria. [1]
Haemazoin.
ii. If a segment of double stranded DNA has 22% adenine, calculate the
percentage of cytosine in the DNA. 28% [1]
iii. Would you choose an exonuclease or endonuclease, while producing a
recombinant DNA molecule and why? Endonuclease as it will cutting on
specific restriction site [1]
iv. Define carrying capacity . [1]

v. Indicate the stages where meiosis and mitosis occur (1, 2 or 3) in the
flowchart. [1]
Meiosis mitosis mitosis

vi. Given below are the events in human reproduction. Write them in correct
sequential order. [1]
Insemination, gametogenesis, fertilization, parturition, gestation, implantation.

Gametogenesis, insemination, fertilization, implantation, gestation,parturition

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vii. Mention the evolutionary change between Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus.
[1]

i. Dryopithecus Ramapithecus
Any 2 changes 1 mark – large to small canine; knucle walker to partially uright; large
and broadened jaw to small delicate jaws

viii. The Net Primary Productivity (GPP) of the Congo rainforest in Africa is
a. approximately 2200 g C/m2/yr and the respiration losses (R) of 1800 g
C/m2/yr.Calculate the Gross Primary Productivity (NPP) of this
ecosystem. NPP=GPP-R ; 4000 C/m2/yr

[1]

ix. Name the technique used to detect fetal abnormalities. Amniocentesis [1]

x. Expand the following, [2]

a. PAR. Photosythetically active radiation
b. MALT Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue.

xi. Choose the correct options from the following,

1. Decomposers like fungi and bacteria are. [1]

(i) autotrophs (ii) heterotrophs (iii) saprotrophs (iv) chemo-autotrophs
Choose the correct answer.
(a) (i) and (iii) (b) (i) and (iv) (c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (i) and
(ii)

2. An antibiotic resistance gene in a vector usually helps in the selection of [1]

(a) competent cells (b) transformed cells
(c) recombinant cells (d) None of these

3. represents an equation used in [1]

(a) population genetics (b) Mendelian genetics

(c) biometrics (d) molecular genetics

4. A dicotyledonous plant bears flowers, but never produces fruits and seeds.

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 The most probable cause for the above situation is [1]

(a) plant is dioecious and bears only pistillate flowers

(b) plant is dioecious and bears both pistillate and staminate flowers
(c) plant is monoecious
(d) plant is dioecious and bears only staminate flowers

5. A linear dsDNA virus has the following restriction sites in its genome. [1]

The solid bar represents a PCR fragment that was amplified, radioactively
labeled and used as a probe for the Southern Blot shows below. In each
lane, the viral DNA was digested with a restriction endonuclease and run
through an agarose gel. The gel was transferred onto a nylon membrane and
probed with the PCR fragment shown above.

Which lane corresponds to the viral DNA if it was digested with BamHI?

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

vi. Assertion: When the two genes in a dihybrid cross are situated on the same
chromosome, the proportion of parental gene combinations is much higher
than nonparental type.

Reason: Higher parental gene combinations can be attributed to crossing

over between two genes.

[1]

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 (a) Both assertion and reason are true, and reason is the correct explanation of
the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but reason is not correct explanation of
the assertion.

(c) Assertion is true but reason is False.

(d) Bath assertion and reason are false.

a. In the year 2020, the population of Pisum sativum flowers in an area was 500.
After one year, a botanist found that the population had an average natality of
100, average mortality of 60, immigration was 15 and emigration was 20.
Calculate the total number of flowers that were present in the area in 2022.

[1]
Nt = 500+100-60+15-20 = 535 (2021); 2022 - 570
b. Give scientific reason for the following, [1mark each]

[2]
i. A person with cuts and bruises following an accident is administered
tetanus anti-toxin.
ii. Origin of life is not possible under the present atmospheric conditions.

SECTION B - 14 Marks

Question 2:
Give one significant contribution of the following scientists. [2]
(a) Benzer - Cistron, recon, muton
(b) Oparin - Coacervates, Conditions on primitive earth were favorable for chemical evolution

Question 3: [2]
Define the following terms :- (a) Cryopreservation. (b) Biodiversity Hotspots.
{1 mark each}
OR
Construct a pyramid of biomass starting with phytoplankton. Is the pyramid upright or
inverted?
1 mark – pyramid (4 tropic levels should be drawn); 1mark - inverted
Question 4 : Mention any four areas where genetic modification of plants has been
useful. [2]
½ mark each for any four points as below,
Genetic modification of plants is useful in different areas. Because of following
reasons
(a) It increases tolerance against abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat).
(b) It reduces reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
(c) It reduces post-harvest losses.

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(d) It increases the efficiency of minerals used by plants (this prevents early
exhaustion of
fertility of soil).
(e) It enhances nutritional value of food, e.g., vitamin-A enriched rice (golden rice).
(f) It creates tailor-made plants to supply alternative resources such as starch fuels
and
pharmaceuticals to industries

Question 5: State any 2 measures taken by government to improve the reproductive

health of the people under reproductive and child healthcare program. [2]
Family planning, awareness about reproductive health
Question 6 : Name the microbe used as, [2]
a. Immunosuppressant – Trichoderma polysporum
b. Production of swiss cheese – Propioniibacterium shermanii
-1 for binomial nomenclature not followed

Question 7 : In an association of two animal species, one is a termite which feeds

on wood and the other is a protozoan Trichonympha present in the gut of the termite.
What type of association they establish? Justify with reason.
[2]

Mutualism; one is getting shelter and other helps in digestion of cellulose

Question 8 : If a patient is advised anti-retroviral therapy, name the disease he

might be suffering from and its causative agent?. How does our body respond to
these kinds of infections.
[2]
1 mark – eg of viral disease and causative agent; 1 mark – interferon and its
explanation.
SECTION C – 21 Marks

Question 9 :
State and explain any three factors that cause variations in populations. [3]
Mutation; gene flow; non random mating
Question 10:
State the causative agent and one preventive measure of each of the following,
(a) Ringworm - Microsporum,Trichophyton,Epidermophyton ; Personal and
public hygiene
(b) Filariasis - Wuchereria bancrofti ; Elimination of mosquito
(C) Typhoid - Salmonella typhi ; Proper sanitation and Immunization. TAB Vaccine
-1 for not following binomial nomenclature [3]

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Question 11:
With a neat, labelled diagram, describe the parts of a mature angiosperm embryo
sac. Mention the role of synergids. [3]

1mark drawing; 1 mark label ; 1 mark - The synergids have special cellular
thickenings at the micropylar tip called filiform apparatus, which play an important
role in guiding the pollen tubes into the synergid.

OR
Draw a structure of a typical antibody molecule.

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Question 12: For the pedigree shown,
[3]
a. What are the genotypes of individuals C and D? Briefly justify your answer.
C – XY ; D – XX’
C & D– heterozygous condition; as they don’t have the disease but their
offspring have. (only if proper explanation)
b. What can you say about the likely genotype of individuals A and B? Justify
your answer.
A – XX ; B- XY
Both are homozygous dominant; (only if proper explanation)
c. Is the inheritance shown autosomal or X-inked? X – linked ; Autosomal
recessive (only if proper explanation)

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Question 13: Based on the below diagram, answer the question that follows [3]

a. Identify and define the stage marked as A. – ovulation – ½ definition – ½

mark
b. Name the structure that secretes progesterone.corpus luteum – ½ mark
c. Mention the significance of progesterone. Maintains endometrium lining for
implantation – ½ mark
d. Name the cells in stage (e). How many days/ weeks it takes for the
development of heart in embryo. Morula – ½ mark ; 4 weeks – ½ mark

Question 14: The following image is a flowering twig of Cannabis plant. [3]

a. Mention any two drugs which can be obtained from this plant? Any 2
ganja/marijuana/ charas/ bhang
b. Give 2 effects of these drugs on the body.
Effects on mood, memory, moto coordination, cognitive ability. Any 2 effects 1
mark
c. Can a drug obtained from plants be abusive and addictive. Discuss with
example. Yes, marijuana and its addiction – 1 mark

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Question 15: Differentiate between the following, [3]
a. Detritivores and Decomposers
b. Commensalism and ammensalism
c. In- situ and Ex- situ methods of biodiversity conservation
{1 mark each; both side has to be correct to get the marks}

SECTION D – 15 Marks

Question 16:
Explain briefly with a neat, labelled diagram about the working principle of lac operon
in E. coli. [5]
2 marks – for drawing it should have correct sequence of gene and their roles.
1 marks when glucose is absent – 2 explanatory points
1 mark when lactose is present – 2 explanatory points
1 mark for gene expression.

OR

Represent schematically the life-cycle of a malarial parasite.

10 correct points – 5 marks

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Question 17:
(a) Explain the ‘Species-Area Relationship’ with the help of a graph. Give its
mathematical expressions also. [3]
(explain – 1 mark; equation – 1 mark; graph – 1 mark)
According to AV Humboldt, a German scientist within, a region, species richness
increased with increasing explored area (only upto a limit). Accordingly the relation
between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa (birds, bat,
angiosperms,aquatic fishes) turns out to be a rectangular hyperbola.
The relationship depicts a straight line on a logaithimic scale described by the
following equation
log S = log C + Z log A
Where, ‘S’ stands for species richness, ‘A’ is area and ‘Z’ and ‘C’ are slope of line
(regression coefficient) and y intercept respectively.

In graph if it starts from 0 no mark will be awarded.

(b) Explain ‘Rivet Popper Hypothesis’. [2]

Ecologist Paul Ehrlich gave rivet popper hypothesis to help understand the
contribution
species richness. He compared each species with rivet in the body of an airplane.
(i) This hypothesis explains that ecosystem to be an airplane and the species to be
the rivets joining all parts together.
(ii) If every passenger travelling in the airplane start taking rivets home (causing a
species to become extinct), initially it may not affect flight safety (proper functioning
of ecosystem), but over a period of time the plane becomes weak and dangerous
(species become endangered and then extinct.)

Question 18: In the given figure, Form (A) and Form (B) represent different forms of
a proteinaceous hormone secreted by pancreas in mammals. [5]

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(a) What type of bonding is present between chains of this hormone? Disulphide
bond -1/2 mark
(b) What are these form (A) and form (B). How these forms differ from each
other? Form (A) – Proinsulin
Form (B) – Mature insulin.Proinsulin contains an extra stretch called C – peptide which is absent in
mature insulin [1.5]
(c) Explain how this hormone was produced by Eli Lilly, an American
company, using rDNA technology. [3 mark]
Eli Lilly company prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to A and B [1]peptide chains of
human insulin and introduced them in plasmid E. coli [1] to produce insulin chains. Chains A and B
were produced separately, extracted and combined by creating disulphide bonds to form
insulin.[1]

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