1.

The spontaneous origin of life on Earth is thought to have involved the non-living synthesis of
simple organic molecules.
(a)

List two other processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life.
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(2)

(b)

Discuss possible locations where conditions would have allowed the synthesis of organic
compounds.
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(2)

(c)

Outline the role of prokaryotes in the development of an oxygen-rich atmosphere on the

Earth.
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology

2.

Discuss the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of eukaryotes.

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(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology

3.

(a)

State two processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.
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(2)

(b)

Outline the properties of RNA that may have allowed it to play a role in the origin of life.
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(2)
(Total 4 marks)

4.

(a)

Identify two processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.
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(2)

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(b)

Outline ideas about the pace of evolution according to gradualism and punctuated
equilibrium.
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(2)

(c)

(i)

Define a clade.
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(1)

IB Questionbank Biology

(ii)

Analyse the relationship between the organisms in the following cladogram.

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(3)
(Total 8 marks)

5.

(a)

Describe the processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.
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(3)

(b)

Discuss the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of eukaryotes.

IB Questionbank Biology

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(3)
(Total 6 marks)

6.

(a)

State two properties of RNA that would allow it to play a role in the origin of life.
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(2)

(b)

Outline the experiment of Miller and Urey into the origin of organic compounds.
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(3)
(Total 5 marks)

7.

(a)

State one process needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.
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(1)

IB Questionbank Biology

(b)

Outline the contribution of prokaryotes to the creation of an oxygen-rich atmosphere.

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(2)
(Total 3 marks)

8.

(a)

State the conclusion drawn from the Miller-Urey experiment.

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(1)

(b)

Outline two pieces of evidence that support the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of
eukaryotes.
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(2)
(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology

9.

(a)

Outline properties of RNA that may have played a role in the development of life on this
planet.
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(2)

(b)

State two types of molecules used in the experiments of Miller and Urey to simulate the
atmosphere of pre-biotic earth.
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(1)

(c)

Outline the endosymbiotic theory.

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(4)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology

10.

Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme used by cells to protect themselves against oxidative

damage. These enzymes can have different metals as part of their structure.
A study to compare two dismutases from Escherichia coli bacteria and two dismutases from
eukaryotic cells was undertaken. The following enzymes were used:
E. coli dismutase with iron (Fe)
E. coli dismutase with manganese (Mn)
eukaryotic mitochondrial dismutase with manganese (Mn)
eukaryotic cytoplasmic dismutase with copper-zinc (Cu-Zn).
The following shows part of the amino acid sequences of these enzymes. Boxes enclose
identical amino acids in the sequence of the two E. coli and mitochondrial dismutases.

[Steinman, H M and Hill, R L. 1973. Sequence homologies among bacterial and mitochondrial superoxide
dismutases. PNAS. Vol 70, issue 12. Pp 37253729. Used with the permission of the authors.]

(a)

State how many amino acids are in the same position in the E. coli (Fe), E. coli (Mn) and
the mitochondrial dismutase sequences shown.
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(1)

(b)

State the amino acids which are present in the same position in at least one bacterial
dismutase and in both eukaryotic dismutases.
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(1)

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(c)

Compare the E. coli (Mn) and the mitochondrial dismutases.

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(2)

(d)

Using the diagram, suggest whether the evolution of bacterial dismutase and cytoplasmic
dismutase is convergent or divergent.
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(1)

(e)

The sequences of the two bacterial dismutases and the mitochondrial dismutase show a
high degree of homology. Discuss how this supports the endosymbiotic theory for the
origin of mitochondria.
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(2)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology

10