DP Biology (last assessment 2024)

Test builder »

Question 18N.3.HL.TZ0.11f

Select a Test
Date November 2018 Marks available [Maximum mark: 3] Reference code 18N.3.HL.TZ0.11f
Level HL Paper 3 Time zone TZ0
Command term Deduce Question number f Adapted from N/A
f.
[Maximum mark: 3]
18N.3.HL.TZ0.11f

Golden rice (Oryza sativa, GR) is the generic name given to genetically modified rice that produces beta-carotene (provitamin A). Golden rice was created by transforming rice with the gene coding for the PSY protein (phytoene synthase) from daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) or from corn (Zea mays).

The picture shows variations of rice.

A   White wild-type rice

B   Yellow Golden rice expressing the gene coding for PSY from daffodil

C   Orange Golden rice expressing the gene coding for PSY from corn

[Reprinted from TRENDS in Plant Science, 10(12), S. Al-Babili and P. Beyer, 'Golden Rice – five years on the road – five years to go?',
pp. 565--573, Copyright (2005), with permission from Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/trends-in-plant-science]

(f)

In the alignment there are dashes (–) in some positions. Deduce what is indicated by these dashes.

[3]

Markscheme

a. dashes are shown where there is no alignment ✔

b. due to lack of amino acids on one of the sequences ✔

c. in order to make them align the computer introduces gaps ✔

d. the sequence with dashes does not include the sequence of the other protein shown ✔