CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY SCIENCE STAGE 9

UNIT 7: GENES AND INHERITANCE

Ryan
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………........

1 The diagram shows the genetic material inside an animal cell.

NOT TO SCALE
Look at parts A, B, C, D and E.
(a) Circle the letter that shows a chromosome.
A B C D E
[1]
(b) Circle the letter that controls a single characteristic such as eye colour.
A B C D E
[1]
(c) Write down the name of the chemical that is in a chromosome.
DNA
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……... [1]

Total: … / 6

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2 Fill in blanks with one number and/or one letter.

nucleus
The ……………….. of every cell contains threads called chromosomes. Different species of organism have
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different numbers of chromosomes in the nuclei of their cells. Human cells have ……………….. chromosomes.
Scientists number the chromosomes in a cell according to how long the chromosomes are. In a human cell,
1
the longest chromosome is ……………….., the next longest is chromosome 2, and so on.
Each ………………..
chromosome is made up of hundreds of different genes. The genes are arranged in a particular
characteristic in the organism.
sequence along the chromosome. Each gene helps to control a particular ………………..
Chromosomes are made of a chemical substance called DNA. Each chromosome is one enormously long
molecule of DNA. This means that genes are also made of DNA. A DNA molecule has a shape like a twisted
ladder. This shape is called a ………………...
double helix .
Total: … / 6

3 In this exercise, you will use phrases to write sentences about genes, chromosomes and DNA.
Write a sentence that contains the phrases provided.

(a) Phrase: contains many different genes

A chromosome contains different genes.
Sentence: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

(b) Phrase: have different numbers of chromosomes

Different species have different numbers of chromosomes.
Sentence: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………... [1]

(c) Phrase: like a twisted ladder

A DNA looks like a twisted ladder.
Sentence: ………………………………………………………………………………………………...………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………... [1]

(d) Phrase: different versions of the same gene

Alleles are different version of the same gene.
Sentence: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

(e) Phrase: two copies of each chromosome

Human cells have two copies of each chromosome.
Sentence: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

Total: … / 5

4 Arrange DNA, chromosome and gene in order of increasing their size.

Gene, DNA, Chromosome
………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….... [1]

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5 Regular cells of cats contains 38 chromosomes, divided into 19 pairs, unlike human cells which have 23
pairs of chromosomes.

(a) What does this information tell you about the characteristics of cats and humans?
It tells me that cats and humans have different characteristics.
…………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

(b) State a similarity between chromosomes in cats and humans.

The chromosomes are both arranged in pairs.
…………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

Total: … / 2

6 Complete these sentences about egg cells and sperm cells.

Choose from the list.
cytoplasm female fertilisation gametes
male nucleus swimming
gametes
Egg cells and sperm cells are specialised cells called ……………….. .
female
Egg cells are ……………….. male
and sperm cells are ……………….. .
fertilisation .
A sperm cell can join with an egg cell in a process called ………………..
Total: … / 6

7 Egg cells have some adaptive features to its function.

For each of the following features, explain why it is advantageous for the egg cells.

(a) Egg cells are covered by a jelly coat.

It helps protect the egg and prevent more than one sperm form entering the egg.
…………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

(b) Egg cells are very big.

Being big would help the egg cell contain many nutrients needed for early development.
…………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

(c) The cytoplasm inside the egg cells contain many nutrients.
The nutrients help the embryo in the egg grow.
…………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…... [1]

Total: … / 3

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 8 The diagrams show an egg cell and a sperm cell.

Complete the table to compare three differences in the structures of these two gametes.
Use the labels on the diagrams to find information to write in the table.
In the table:
• Write comparable points opposite each other.
• Draw a line underneath each pair of points.

How the difference helps the gametes to

Egg cell Sperm cell
carry out their functions
- Large amount of cytoplasm - Small amount of cytoplasm - As the egg needs to provide nutritients
- No tail - Has a tail to the embryo
- Big - Small - As the sperm needs a tail to swim to
the egg cell
- As the egg needs to store nutrients,
while the sperm being small helps it
move easily

Total: … / 6

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9 Offspring inherit characteristics from their parents when a sperm and an egg fuse together.

(a) Name the process that happens when a sperm and an egg fuse together.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……...
Fertilisation [1]

(b) The sperm and the egg that fuse together determine the sex of the offspring.
Look at the diagram showing the chromosomes in the sperm and the egg which determine
the sex of the offspring.

Explain why there is a 50% chance of the offspring being male.

Use the diagram to help you.
The egg always contains the X chromosome while half the sperm carries the X chromosome
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
while the other half carries the Y. Only one of them will fertilise the egg, which would make
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
the chance of an offspring being male 50%.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………... [2]

(c) (i) A child's biological sex (male or female) is determined by the chromosome that the father or mother
contribute?
The father
…………………………………………………………………………………………...……………………... [1]

(ii) Explain your answer in (i).

The egg always has the X chromosome and the sperm can either contribute an X or a Y. If the
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Y chromosome fertilises the egg then it would be a male.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [2]

(d) Define inheritance.

Inheritance is when genetic information and characteristics from parents.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……... [2]

Total: … / 8

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10 Jay investigated variation in bean pods.
You can see a picture of a pod on the picture below.

He picked 20 bean pods randomly, all from the same species of bean plant. He counted the number of beans
in each pod. These are the results that he wrote down.
7, 3, 8, 6, 3, 4, 7, 5, 5, 8, 6, 4, 6, 7, 5, 5, 6, 5, 4, 8
(a) Calculate the mean number of beans in a pod.
Show your working.

5.6 [2]
the mean number of beans in a pod = …………….

(b) Copy this results table. Use Arun’s results to complete it.

Number of beans in a pod 3 4 5 6 7 8

Tally II III IIIII IIII III III

Number of pods 2 3 5 4 3 3
[2]
(c) Draw a bar chart to show the results.
Add a suitable scale on each axis

[4]

Total: … / 8

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11 The table below compares some features of male and female gametes.
Complete the table.

Small Big

Many

Motile Non-motile

Total: … / 3

12 Define:

(a) Variation in a species:

The differences of characteristics of individuals in the same species.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [2]

(b) Natural selection:

Is when individuals with better characteristics are more like to survive and reproduce. This
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
would make them pass these traits to their offspring.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [2]

Total: … / 4
13 This question is about inheritance and variation.

(a) In humans, sex is determined by a pair of sex chromosomes.

There are two different sex chromosomes, X and Y.
Complete the diagram to show how these two chromosomes are inherited in humans.

Y X

XX XX XY XY

[3]
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 (b) Humans and rabbits show variation.
Look at the pictures of three rabbits.

(i) One example of variation is length of leg.

Write down one other example of variation seen in these rabbits.
Their fur colour.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………... [1]

(ii) What is the cause of this variation?

Inherited genes from their parents.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………... [1]

(c) Define inheritance.

Inheritance is the passing of characteristics from parents to their offspring.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [2]

Total: … / 7

14 Antibiotic is a popular kind of drugs. Antibiotics are usually prescribed as tablets.

(a) Describe the uses of antibiotics.

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections by killing them or stopping them from growing
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
and multiplying.
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [2]

(b) Explain why antibiotics cannot be used to treat flu.

As the flu is a virus and antibiotics don't work against viruses.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [2]

(c) A long-term use of antibiotics can reduce its effectiveness.

Explain why.
As some bacteria that has immunity survive the antibiotics and multiply.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………... [3]

Total: … / 7
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