Describe the endosymbiotic theory.

Explain the need for halving the chromosome number during a sexual life cycle and how this is done.

Outline the binomial system of classification.

a. theory that eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotes
OR
origin of eukaryotic organisms based on some organisms living inside/engulfed by other organisms
OR
prokaryotic cell engulfed another prokaryote including it in cytoplasm without digesting it;
b. mitochondria/chloroplasts have double membranes;
c. mitochondria/chloroplasts have their own DNA/loop of DNA/naked DNA;
d. mitochondria/chloroplasts have similar size to prokaryotes;
e. mitochondria/chloroplasts can reproduce by binary fission;
f. mitochondria/chloroplasts have 70S ribosomes (same as prokaryotes);

a. chromosome number is halved so the zygote/offspring has same number as the parent / so that chromosome number is not doubled;
b. process is meiosis;
c. DNA/chromosomes replicate (so each chromosome consists of two chromatids);
d. homologous chromosomes pair in prophase I;
e. (these) separate in anaphase I into two cells;
f. (after meiosis I) cells are haploid;
g. in meiosis II chromatids are separated;
h. result is four haploid cells/gametes;
i. each gamete is genetically unique;
j. (uniqueness) is due to crossing over/independent assortment/random alignment of chromosomes;
k. fertilization results in the formation of a diploid zygote;
l. (fertilization) results in variation in a population

a. the binomial system of names for species is universal among biologists
OR
named according to a globally recognized scheme;
b. allows to classify organisms into groups based on similar characteristics/common ancestry/DNA;
c. every species is given a binomial name;
d. members of the same species can mate and reproduce fertile offspring
e. genus is written first, followed by species;
f. genus is capitalized, (followed by) species is lower case
OR
an underlined correct example/stated that it must be underlined or italicized;

The theory of endosymbiosis was quite well known. Common errors included the original engulfing process being carried out by a eukaryote, rather than a prokaryote.

This provided a departure from the usual questions requiring a straight recall of meiosis. In general, it was well attempted, with all but a few students failing to state that meiosis was at the heart of the question. Despite the question stating halving of the chromosome number, many insisted on writing about chromosomal errors such as Down syndrome, which was not pertinent to the question.

This part was about the use of the binomial system for naming organisms. Weaker students insisted on describing the complete classification starting from kingdom, which was not required and put themselves in danger of losing the clarity mark for including superfluous material. Most were able to gain 2 marks for saying that the genus was written before species and about the use of capital/lower case or underlining or italicising.