FACULTY OF PRE-MEDICAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS JULY 2020

BS 1001

CELLS AND BIOMOLECULES

FRIDAY 31st JULY 2020

DURATION: Four Hours TOTAL MARKS: 100

Examiners: Ms. K. Malisa, Mr M. Mudenda & Ms. L. Chanda

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE WHOLE PAPER

1. Write your Student Identity Number on ALL pages of the answer

booklet(s).

2. Follow the instructions outlined in each section on the number of

questions to answer.
3. Present your work in a clear and logical and legible manner.

4. Any disregard for examinations rules and regulations will result in

you being disqualified from this examination.
5. Ensure that you upload your answer scripts in PDF format to the
Moodle platform before the end of the exam duration.
6. Answer scripts with identical entries will automatically be
disqualified.
SECTION A [40 Marks]

Answer All the questions in this section.

A1. The Scientific Method.

Dr. Moono, a Lecturer and Researcher at one of the local universities in Lusaka City is concerned
about the effects of alcohol intake on the academic performance of students at her university. What
steps can Dr. Moono take to best study these effects? [10 Marks]

A2. The Origin of Life

a) In 1859 a scientist proposed the theory spontaneous generation. What was the name of the
scientist? [ 1 Mark]
b) Briefly state the theory of spontaneous generation. [2 marks]
c) In a quest to disprove the theory of spontaneous generation, several scientists conducted
experiment to argue for or against spontaneous generation. John Needham. Argued for
spontaneous generation. Which scientist disproved John Needham’s experiment to prove
the theory of spontaneous generation? [1 mark]
d) Briefly explain the experiment that conclusively disproved the idea of spontaneous
generation? [2 marks]
e) What does the term abiogenesis mean? [1 mark]
f) “Individuals with characteristics best suited to their environment are more likely to
survive, reproduce successfully and pass their genes on to their children. Individuals that
are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive, reproduce and pass their
genes to the next generation.” Which scientist suggested this theory?[1 mark]
g) The scientist in (f) largely based his theory on what organism found where? [2 marks]

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A3. Classification of Organisms

a) What Language is used in the naming of organisms scientifically? [1 Mark]

b) What is the two-word system of naming organisms called? [1 Mark]

c) Which Scientist was responsible for developing the two-word system of naming organisms
as stated in (b) above? [1 Mark]

d) Classify a human being up to species level. Ensure that you use the scientific rules of
naming and writing. [7 Marks]

A4. Early Developments and Discoveries in Biology

Complete the following table on early developments and discoveries in biology by filling in the
year of the event. [10 Marks]

DEVELOPMENT/DISCOVERY YEAR
German Botanist Matthias Schleiden concluded
that all plants are made up of cells
German Physician Rudolf Virchow concluded that
all cells arise from pre-existing cells

Robert Hooke first used the word cell to describe

the basic unit of organisms as observed in a thin
slice of cork.
German Zoologist Theodore Schwann concluded
that all animals are made up of cells

Anton van Leeuwenhoek, used a microscope with

one lens to observe insects and other specimen.

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SECTION B [20 Marks]

Instruction: Question B1 is compulsory. Answer question B1 and any other (one) question.

B1. Mitosis and Meiosis

a) What are the similarities and differences between meiosis 1 and mitosis?

b) What are the differences between binary fusion and mitosis?

c) Mention the differences between Prophase in Mitosis and Prophase in Meiosis 1. [10 Marks]

B2. Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

a) An organism consists of ribosome, cytoplasm, cell wall, cell membrane and a nucleoide.
What type of cell is it? [1 mark]
b) Name one feature Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells have in common? [1 mark]
c) What component or molecule do bacterial cell walls contain that differs from all other
cells? [1 mark]
d) What is the composition of the fluid found in the vacuole? [1 mark]
e) Which organism among plants, bacteria, fungi and protozoa do not contain cells with cell
wall? [1 mark]
f) State which component in the cell is known as the ……? [5 marks]

i. Powerhouse of the cell

ii. Storage organelle for genetic material
iii. Site for metabolic reactions
iv. Control center of the cell
v. Site for protein synthesis

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B3. Cell Membrane and Cell Transport

a) What kind of solution should a cell be placed in for it to become lysed? [1 mark]

b) Give an example of a transmembrane protein. [1 mark]

c) Which form of membrane transport does NOT require the expenditure of energy by the cell?
[1 Mark]

d) Given a cell with concentration of solutes in the environment lesser than the concentration of
solutes in the surrounding fluid………

i. the extracellular fluid is said to be? [1 Mark]

ii. the intracellular fluid is said to be? [1 Mark]

e) Given the following molecules carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, potassium ion, water...

i. Which is least likely to cross a cellular membrane by simple diffusion? [1 Mark]

ii. Which will cross the membrane with the least speed? [1 Mark]
iii. Which will cross the membrane with the fastest speed? [1 Mark]
iv. Why is the molecule on iii able to cross faster than the molecule in ii? [1 Mark]

f) A bacterium containing sodium ions at a concentration of 0.1 mM lives in a pond that contains
sodium ions at 0.005 mM. What specific mode of transport are the sodium ions entering the cell
by? [1 Mark]

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SECTION C [40 Marks]

Instruction: Answer any four (4) questions in this section.

C1. Water

Water has a number of unique properties that are essential for life. Most of these properties are as
a result of the polar nature of water and its ability to form hydrogen bonds. Using your knowledge
on the properties of water, answer the questions below.

a) Why is it important for water to be a liquid over a broad range of temperatures? [2 Marks]
b) Why is water referred to as polar and why does its polarity affect its solvent properties?
[2 Marks]
c) What two processes are involved in the transport of water from the roots to the leaves of a
plant? [2 Marks]
d) What is the biological importance of solid water being able to float on liquid water?
[2 Marks]
e) Why is water’s high latent heat of vaporization biologically significant? Give two reasons.
[2 Marks]

C2. Carbohydrates

a) D-Glucose alpha-D-Glucose -Amylopectin Glycogen Sucrose.

Using each carbohydrate only once from the list above, state which carbohydrate is:

i. A non-reducing sugar? [1 Mark]

ii. A carbohydrate containing both a beta 1-4 glycosidic bond and beta 1-6
glycosidic bond in its structure [1 Mark]

iii. A cyclic monosaccharide [1 Mark]

iv. A reducing sugar [1 Mark]

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 b) Give the uses of the each of the polysaccharides below: [4 marks]

i. Amylose

ii. Cellulose

iii. Glycogen

iv. Peptidoglycan

c) In a lab experiment, Ngosa and Melinda synthesized an artificial polysaccharide containing

four glucose units, one galactose unit and one fructose unit. Upon acid hydrolysis of the
polysaccharide with three water molecules, they obtained two disaccharides and two
monosaccharide units. If the monosaccharide units obtained were a glucose unit and galactose unit,
what were the two other molecules obtained? [2 marks]

C3. Lipids

Figure 1.1

a) Name the molecule shown in Figure 1.1 above. [1 Mark]

b) List four functions of the molecule named in (a) above in the human body. [4 Marks]
c) Name two functions of this molecule in the cell plasma membrane. [2 Marks]
d) Excess of this molecule in your blood stream can lead to health problems. List any two of
these health problems. [2 Marks]
e) State one way of preventing accumulation of high levels of this molecule in your body.

[1 Mark]

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C4. Amino Acids and Proteins

Amino acids are organic compounds that contain amine and carboxyl functional groups, along
with a side chain specific to each amino acid. Clearly and concisely explain the process of
dipeptide formation. [10 Marks]

C5. Nucleic Acids

Humans have two types of nucleic acids in their bodies: DNA and RNA. These molecules contain
the set of instructions for our cells: they determine who and what we are. Compare and contrast
DNA and RNA. [10 Marks]

C6. Enzymes

a) What do you understand by the term enzyme? [1 Mark]

b) Define the term Energy of Activation. [1 Mark]
c) What type of proteins are enzymes? [1 Mark]
d) What are enzyme co-factors? [1 Mark]
e) What is an enzyme without a co-factor called? [1 Mark]
f) Explain how an enzyme controlled reaction is affected by changes in potential hydrogen.
[3 Marks]
g) Explain how a non-competitive enzyme inhibitor affects enzyme activity. [2 Marks]

C7. Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are required by the body for optimal health. List 5 fat soluble vitamins and
for each mention the disease caused by its deficiency. [10 Marks]

-The End-

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