DP Biology Questionbank

• Syllabus

Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics (Core topics)

Sub sections and their related questions

B.1 Microbiology: organisms in industry

• 15M.3.HL.TZ1.8a (ii): List two roles for microbes in ecosystems.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.7a: State the number of years during the study when contaminated dairy products caused food poisoning.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.7b(i): Compare the outbreaks of food poisoning in 1989 and 1994.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.7b(ii): Suggest two reasons for these changes.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.7c: Explain how pasteurization may have prevented food poisoning by dairy products.
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.7a: State the highest temperature at which bacteria were found in water that had passed through the...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.7b: Calculate the maximum volume of safe drinking water that could be produced by the chulli purifier...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.7c: Discuss whether 80°C is the best temperature to operate the chulli purifier.
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.7d: The results suggest that there may be a relationship between the water flow rate and the minimum...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.7e: Evaluate pasteurization as a method of controlling microbial growth.
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.8b: Outline how bacteria can be classified by Gram staining.
• 13M.3.HL.TZ2.9: Explain how methane can be generated from biomass.
• 13M.3.SL.TZ1.16a: State the concentration of glucose at 20°C after 110 hours of incubation, giving the units.
• 13M.3.SL.TZ1.16b: State the effect of increasing temperature from 20°C to 30 °C on the rate of production of ethanol.
• 13M.3.SL.TZ1.16c (i): Deduce one reason why there were no more rises in ethanol concentration after 120 hours at 30°.
• 13M.3.SL.TZ1.16c (ii): Deduce one reason why the concentration of ethanol and acetic acid at 35°C  does not rise after...
• 13M.3.SL.TZ1.16d: Discuss the idea of producing wine using a lower temperature range to avoid economic losses due...
• 13M.3.SL.TZ2.16e: In 2003, the Integrated Approach to Community Development (IACD) organization introduced the...
• 13M.3.SL.TZ2.17b: Explain how Gram staining is used in microbiology.
• 13N.3.SL.TZ0.16a: State the mean luminescence per squid 11.5 hours after colonization by parental V. fischeri.
• 13N.3.SL.TZ0.16b: Between 8.5 and 10.5 hours after colonization with the parental bacterial strain, luminescence...
• 13N.3.SL.TZ0.16c: Using the data in the graph, distinguish between luminescence in squid colonized by the parental...
• 13N.3.SL.TZ0.16d: Bioluminescence only happens when V. fischeri becomes part of a population with high density, for...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ1.8a: Outline the diversity of Eubacteria according to cell wall structure.
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.7a (i): Identify the amount of laccases produced when the veratryl alcohol concentration is at its...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.7a (ii): Identify the amount of laccases produced when the veratryl alcohol concentration is at its lowest...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.7b: Analyse the overall effects of the veratryl alcohol concentration and fermentation time on the...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.7c: Suggest two other conditions that might affect the production of laccases.
• 11M.3.SL.TZ2.16a (i): Identify the amount of laccases produced when the veratryl alcohol concentration is at its...
• 11M.3.SL.TZ2.16a (ii): Identify the amount of laccases produced when the veratryl alcohol concentration is at its lowest...
• 11M.3.SL.TZ2.16b: Analyse the overall effects of the veratryl alcohol concentration and fermentation time on the...
• 11M.3.SL.TZ2.16c: Deduce from the graph the optimal conditions for maximizing the biotechnological production of...
• 12M.3.HL.TZ1.8b: The diagram below represents the cell walls of two different bacteria. State, with a reason,...
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.7a: State the maximum concentration of glucose reached during the two phases, giving the units.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.7b: Distinguish between the changes in concentration of xylose and arabinose in phase II.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.7c: Explain the changes in concentration of glucose and xylose during phase II.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.7d: Suggest an advantage of the use of wheat straw as a source of energy.
• 11N.3.HL.TZ0.8a (i): The electron micrograph below shows a thin section of the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus...
• 11N.3.HL.TZ0.8b: Outline the role of saprotrophic bacteria in the treatment of sewage using reed bed systems.
• 10N.3.SL.TZ0.17b: Label the parts of the cell walls in Gram-positive Eubacteria and Gram-negative Eubacteria shown...
• 09N.3.HL.TZ0.8a: Distinguish between the cell walls of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using the table...
• 09N.3.SL.TZ0.18a: State two fuels that can be produced from biomass using microbes.
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.9a: Using the diagram, suggest a reason for high concentrations of NADH favouring the production of...
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.9b: Predict one metabolite other than succinate that will be produced in greater amounts if the...
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.9a: State the general term for the reaction, involving microorganisms, that takes place in the...
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.9b: Other than temperature and pH, state one variable that should be monitored during continuous...
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.9c: State the binomial name of an organism used in continuous culturing to produce citric acid used...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.8a: State a suitable fungus for the production of citric acid in the fermenter.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.8b: Suggest a reason that fermentation is most successful at 30°C.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.8c: Suggest reasons for the changes in mass of sugar and citric acid after day 6.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.8d: State two uses of the citric acid produced.  
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.9a: Outline the effect of disc 3 on the bacterial lawn.
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.9b: Outline the effect of mutating the LpxC inhibitor.
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.9c: Predict the results obtained with disc 1 in a Gram-positive bacterial lawn.
• 17M.2.HL.TZ1.1f.ii: Suggest a reason for the greater expression of the gene for the urea transporter after an...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.8a.i: Biogas production in a fermenter requires a substrate. State another requirement for this process.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.8a.ii: Suggest reasons based on the data in the graph for increases in biogas production at Svensk Biogas.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.8b: Outline the principles of fermentation by continuous culture.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.16a: Calculate the diversity of site C. Working should be shown.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.8c: Distinguish between the structure of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. 
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.9d: Aspergillus niger is used to produce citric acid by continuous fermentation. Glucose is converted...
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.9c: Distinguish between batch fermentation and continuous fermentation.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.08a: State two conditions in the fermenter that would be monitored by the probes.  
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.08b: Suggest a reason that the fermenter is surrounded by a water jacket.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.08c: Identify the waste gas produced.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.08d: Explain the process of penicillin production in the fermenter.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.12a: Beans contribute to flatulence. Alpha-galactosidase, derived from the fungus Aspergillus niger,...
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.12b: Temperature is a variable that needs to be continually monitored in deep-tank batch fermentation...

B.2 Biotechnology in agriculture

• 15M.3.SL.TZ2.18b: Explain the production of methane from biomass.
• 09M.1.SL.TZ2.25: Which enzymes are needed to incorporate genes into plasmids to create recombinant plasmids? A....
• 09N.3.SL.TZ0.17a: Identify the type of pathogen shown in the electron micrograph, giving reasons for your answer.
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.10a: (i) Outline the pattern of change in resistant populations of ryegrass over time in...
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.10b: State two environmental benefits from the use of genetically modified glyphosate resistant soybeans.
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.10c: Explain the role of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid in genetic modification.
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.10a: Before planting their crops, farmers have traditionally plowed their land to suppress weed...
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.10b: Explain the role of bioinformatics in the determination of the function of an unknown target gene.
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.10c: Outline what is meant by open reading frame (ORF).
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.10d: Genetic engineers sometimes use physical methods to transform cells. Describe the method of...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.9b: Marker genes are often inserted together with the new gene. State the function of the marker...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.9c: Outline the characteristics of an open reading frame.    
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.9d: Explain, using an example, how gene transfer to a plant could help increase crop yield.    
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.10a: Outline the use of kanamycin in the selection of transgenic cotyledons.
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.10b: State how the sequence of the target gene from the fungus could be identified using a...
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.10c: Suggest whether the results of this experiment show that these transgenic tomato plants are more...
• 17M.2.HL.TZ1.1f.ii: Suggest a reason for the greater expression of the gene for the urea transporter after an...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.9b: State one other physical method used to introduce DNA into plants.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.12: Discuss the environmental risks of the cultivation of genetically modified crops.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.16a: Calculate the diversity of site C. Working should be shown.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.9a: Outline how open reading frames are identified in DNA. 
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.9c: There are several methods of introducing DNA into a cell in the laboratory. Outline the...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.10a: Discuss the hypothesis that the temperature at which starches form a gel depends on the degree of...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.10b: State one advantage of potatoes with a high amylopectin content. 
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.10c: The Amflora potato was approved for industrial applications in the European Union (EU) in 2010...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.11a: Using this information, outline the reason for Golden rice being considered a transgenic organism.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.11b: Outline the bioinformatics method used to identify the target gene in the plant.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.11: Outline one example of the use of a marker gene in genetic engineering.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.13a: The following base sequence represents part of a larger DNA molecule that is going to be analysed...
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.13b: State the type of codon that helps to identify open reading frames.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.13c: Once an open reading frame is identified, explain the steps researchers would follow to determine...
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.09a: State the role of a vector in biotechnology.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.09b: Explain how the Hepatitis B vaccine is produced using TMV.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.09c: State the importance of marker genes in genetic modification.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.09a: Analyse the data for the growth of nontransgenic trout and transgenic trout.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.09b: Suggest a reason for the growth differences between the nontransgenic trout and transgenic trout.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.09c: Describe the use of marker genes in the development of transgenic organisms such as trout.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.09d: Outline the possible environmental impact associated with the accidental release of transgenic...

B.3 Environmental protection

• 15M.3.SL.TZ2.16a: State the percentage of cholera producing strains that do not produce quorum sensing proteins...
• 15M.3.SL.TZ2.16b: Determine the approximate percentage of non-cholera producing strains that produce quorum sensing...
• 15M.3.SL.TZ2.16c: Compare the percentage of strains that do not produce quorum sensing proteins (QS – ) in strains...
• 15M.3.SL.TZ2.16d: Deduce, using the data, whether the genes for quorum sensing and for toxicity of cholera evolved...
• 15M.3.SL.TZ2.16e: Vibrio cholerae is Gram-negative.  Describe the structure of the cell wall of this bacterium.
• 15M.3.HL.TZ2.9: Describe the consequences of releasing raw sewage into rivers.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.8a: State one example of a bacterium that forms aggregates.
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.8d: The image shows part of a sewage treatment plant.   Outline the role of bacteria in trickling...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.7a: Predict the Cr3+ concentration that would cause 50% inhibition in BPT3.  
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.7b: Waste water from some industrial processes contains high levels of Cr3+. State, with a reason,...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.7c: Compare the effect of Cr3+ and S2– on the inhibition of BPT3.
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.7d: Raw sewage contains high level of nitrates. Explain the importance of denitrification of raw...
• 13M.3.HL.TZ1.9: Explain how bacteria are used in bioremediation of soil.
• 13N.3.SL.TZ0.17b: Outline the role of saprotrophic bacteria in the treatment of sewage.
• 11M.3.HL.TZ1.8d: Explain the use of bacteria in bioremediation.
• 11M.3.SL.TZ1.17a: State two roles of microbes in ecosystems.
• 12M.3.HL.TZ1.8c: Microorganisms play many roles in ecosystems. List two of these roles. 1.      ...
• 12M.3.HL.TZ2.8a: State, giving one specific example, how individual bacteria change their characteristics when...
• 12M.3.SL.TZ1.15a: State which indicator was more resistant to the heat treatment.
• 12M.3.SL.TZ1.16b: Compare the effect of the 80°C heat treatment on coliphages and S. choleraesuis.
• 12M.3.SL.TZ1.16c: Discuss whether the heat treatment should be continued beyond 60 minutes if this technique were...
• 12M.3.SL.TZ1.16d: In many areas, sewage is discharged directly into the environment. State two potential...
• 10M.3.HL.TZ1.7a: Identify the time at which fecal coliform bacteria counts fell below 1 unit per 100 ml.
• 10M.3.HL.TZ1.7c: For an accidental sewage spill, suggest, giving a reason, which of the two microbes may be most...
• 11N.3.HL.TZ0.7a: Describe the cadmium ion uptake by A. fumigatus at pH 6.
• 11N.3.HL.TZ0.7b: Calculate the difference in cadmium ion uptake between pH 4 and pH 5 at 60...
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.7a : State the respiratory activity when the C23O gene ratio first reached its highest level.
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.7b: Describe the respiratory activity as the soil treatment progresses.
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.7c: The data in the graph indicates that hydrocarbon degradation occurred during the first 30 days of...
• 12N.3.HL.TZ0.7e: Scientists are interested in inserting the C23O genes into bacteria to clean up oil spills in the...
• 12N.3.SL.TZ0.18b (i): Outline the role of saprotrophic bacteria in the treatment of sewage.
• 10N.3.SL.TZ0.18b: Explain the consequences of releasing raw sewage into rivers and the involvement of...
• 10N.3.HL.TZ0.9: Explain the use of bacteria in the bioremediation of water.
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.11a: Suggest one way in which organisms such as Paenibacillus metabolize toxic substances.
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.11b: The decontamination system for the removal of the dye uses a surface to which Paenibacillus can...
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.11c: Outline another named example of a microorganism used in bioremediation.
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.11a: List two properties of biofilms.
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.11b: Distinguish between the data for shower head biofilms and municipal water sources.
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.11c: Suggest reasons for biofilms developing inside shower heads.
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.12: Explain, with reference to one example, how a polluted ecosystem can be restored through...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.10a: Outline the emergent properties of biofilms.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.10b: Explain two ways in which bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas can be used for bioremediation.
• 16N.3.HL.TZ0.13: Explain the formation of biofilms and the problems associated with their formation.
• 17M.2.HL.TZ1.1f.ii: Suggest a reason for the greater expression of the gene for the urea transporter after an...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.10a: Evaluate the effect of 1 % ginger root extract on biofilm formation.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.10b: Outline the importance of avoiding biofilm formation in pipes carrying drinking water.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.11a: Determine the optimum concentration of sodium chloride for benzene degradation.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.11b: State the genus of halophilic bacteria in the soil that could be degrading the benzene.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.16a: Calculate the diversity of site C. Working should be shown.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.10a: Biofilms can be formed in many different environments. State one example of an environment where...
• 17M.3.HL.TZ1.10a.ii: Discuss the emergent properties of biofilms.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.9: The diagram shows a biofilm that has formed on a tooth. Using the diagram, explain the concept...
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.13: Explain how microorganisms can be used in response to pollution incidents such as an oil spill.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.10a: Outline the evidence that P. fluorescens can degrade the cyanide.
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.10b: Suggest how the addition of sucrose promotes the degradation of cyanide. 
• 17M.3.HL.TZ2.10c: With respect to the degradation of cyanide by P. fluorescens, explain what is meant by...
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.10a: State the effect chlorination has on the accumulation of biofilm in the pipe.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.10b: Suggest why membrane filtration may be more suitable than chlorination in purifying the water.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.10c: Identify which two pipes would be required to study the effect of heat on biofilm accumulation.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.10d: Explain how quorum sensing benefits the bacteria within the steel pipes.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.11: The picture shows workers cleaning up a polluted stretch of coastline in Alaska after oil was...
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.11a: Outline the emergent properties of biofilms.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.11b: State a positive application of biofilms.
• 17N.3.HL.TZ0.11c: Suggest two problems that could be caused by the presence of biofilms in water systems.