Mark Scheme (RESULTS)

January 2009

GCE

GCE SNAB Biology (6131/01)

Edexcel Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 4496750

Registered Office: One90 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BH
General Marking Guidance

• All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark
the first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.

• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded

for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.

• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to

their perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.

• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should

be used appropriately.

• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners
should always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the
mark scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if
the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to the mark
scheme.

• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the

principles by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be
limited.

• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark

scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.

• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it
with an alternative response.

6131_01
 Unit 6131/01
Question Answer Mark
Number

1(a) circle to include 1 phosphate + 1 sugar + 1 base ; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

1(b)(i) hydrogen / H (bond) ; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

1(b)(ii) A; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

1(c) 1. phosphate / phosphoric acid ;

2. deoxyribose / pentose (sugar) / 5C sugar ; (2)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

1(d)
Base Percentage found in
a sample of human
genetic material / %

Cytosine 14

Adenine 36

Guanine 14

{three numbers correct / three bases correct} ;

the bases and numbers are correctly matched ;

(2)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

2(a) {alveolus / alveoli / eq} (membranes) ; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

2(b)(i)

(1)
9

Question Answer Mark

Number

2(b)(ii) carbohydrate / glycocalyx /glycoprotein ; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

2(b)(iii) V; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

2(c)(i) 1. {concentration increases / more pigment leaks

out} as temperature rises (up to 80°C) ;

2. credit correct manipulation of the data ;

3. reference to increase in kinetic energy / eq ;

4. due to {channel / eq} proteins denaturing ;

5. (all) proteins denatured by 80ºC / eq ;

6. reference to diffusion of pigment through bilayer

/ eq ;

7. reference to damage to both {tonoplast / eq} and

cell surface membrane ;

8. only a little pigment leaks out up to 50ºC ;

max
9. because most membrane proteins closed / eq ; (5)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

2(c)(ii) 1. (dynamic) equilibrium has been achieved ;

2. equal concentrations of pigment in water and

beetroot / no concentration gradient ;

3. reference to volume of water used ;

4. correct reference to experimental error / max

reliability of data ; (2)

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Question Answer Mark
Number

3(a) 1. 3 fatty acids ;

2. 1 glycerol ;

3. fatty acids correctly joined via ester bonds ; (3)

Question Answer Mark

Number

3(b) Statement Tick (9)

or cross
(8)

Triglycerides are building blocks of 8;

polysaccharides

Triglycerides can contain a small 8;

amount of nitrogen

Triglycerides can be modified into 9;

phospholipids

Triglycerides release water during 8;

hydrolysis
(4)

Question Answer Mark

Number

3(c) {no C =C / no double bonds / only single bonds} in {fatty

acid chain / hydrocarbon chain} /{fully filled up / eq}
with hydrogens ; (1)

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Question Answer Mark
Number

4(a)(i)

1.0

0.5
9
0.0

0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6

Time / s (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

4(a)(ii) 1. time from one peak to the next (approx 0.82 ±

0.02) ;

2. 60 ÷ time / 71-75 beats per minute ; (2)

Question Answer Mark

Number

4(a)(iii) {more peaks / eq} (in the same time) / irregular

heart beat ; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

4(b) 1. stops {oxygenated blood / oxygen /eq} reaching

tumour (tissue) / eq ;

2. anaerobic respiration (to tumour tissue) ;

max
3. build-up of lactic acid ; (2)

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Question Answer Mark
Number

5(a) 1. has one {β-thalassaemia / eq} allele (and one

normal allele) / heterozygous ;

2. does not show the {condition / symptoms / eq} /

phenotype unaffected ;

3. but can pass the allele on to the next generation; max

(2)

Question Answer Mark

Number

5(b)(i) 3; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

5(b)(ii) 1. parental genotypes correct (both heterozygous) ;

2. gametes obviously shown ;

3. cross showing 4 correct offspring ;

4. reference to one being double recessive / showing max

the trait ; (3)

Question Answer Mark

Number

5(b)(iii) 1. H has the condition so has {2 β-thalassaemia / eq}

alleles ;

2. receives one thalassaemia allele from G ;

3. G does not show the condition, therefore must be

heterozygous / must also have allele for ‘normal’ max
haemoglobin ; (2)

Question Answer Mark

Number

5(c)(i) 0.25 / 25% / ¼ / 1 in 4 ; (1)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

5(c)(ii) 1. some couples would prefer not to know (so would

decline CVS offer) ;

2. risk of miscarriage (due to CVS) ;

3. correctly stated level of risk / 1 to 2 % (increased

risk of miscarriage) ;

4. decision to continue with pregnancy or not (if

thalassaemia present) ;

5. to give couple time to become better informed max

about condition and its implications ; (2)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

6(a) 1. {impairs / eq} (functioning of male reproductive

system) ;

2. commonly causes a lack of vas deferens / sperm

ducts ;

3. therefore no sperm released / eq ;

4. if vas deferens present, {lumen / eq} {narrowed /

eq} ;

5. so fewer (than normal) sperm {released / max

ejaculated / eq} ; (3)

Question Answer Mark

Number

6(b)(i) reference to {substitution / eq} / at ref number 6 /

named swap

and

reference to {substitution / eq} / at ref number 11 /

named swap ; (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number

6(b)(ii) TAGTAA C A A C A A ; (ignore gap) (1)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

7(a) glucose ;

galactose ; (2)

Question Answer Mark

Number

7(b) For lactose:

1. low fat yoghurt has {more / eq} therefore greater
risk of obesity ;

For cholesterol:
2. more cholesterol in high fat yoghurt / eq,
therefore {greater / eq} deposition in arteries /
atherosclerosis / eq ;

For fats:
3. high fat yoghurt has {more / eq} therefore
{greater / eq} deposition in arteries /
atherosclerosis / eq ;

4. total fat would include saturated fats which

increases risk ;

5. total fat would include unsaturated fats which do

not increase risk / eq ;

6. saturated fats can be made into {cholesterol /

LDLs}(in the liver) ;

General – award each one once in correct context:

7. obesity linked to CVD ;

8. atherosclerosis can lead to heart disease / eq ;

9. credit correct manipulation of the data once e.g.

2.1 times as much cholesterol in high fat max
yoghurt ; (5)

6131_01
Question Answer Mark
Number

7(c)(i) Stage 2 – mRNA ;

DNA ;

Stage 3 – mRNA ;
tRNA ; max
rRNA ; (4)

Question Answer Mark

Number

7(c)(ii) ribosome / rough endoplasmic reticulum / RER /

cytoplasm ; (1)

PAPER TOTAL: 60 MARKS

6131_01