| Date | November 2009 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 09N.1.SL.TZ0.16 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Question number | 16 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The Human Genome Project allowed the first accurate estimates of the number of different genes in the human genome. What was a typical estimate, based on the results of the Human Genome Project?
A. 46
B. 64
C. 25 000
D. 1 000 000
Markscheme
C
Examiners report
Most candidates answered this question correctly. There were some complaints on the G2 reports submitted about the fact that there are different quotes in different text books about the number of genes in the human genome. What most books state is that it was originally believed there would be millions of genes and eventually only about 25 000 were discovered. All the other numbers in the distractors were a long way from this number.
