B1 You and your Genes Study Task

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/biology/variationandinheritancewww.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Gene

Allele

Mutation

Ethics

Chromosome

Dominant

Carrier

Stem cells

(Total marks: 8)

2) Research

It is now possible to fertilise many embryos, then choose one and make sure it does not contain any inherited diseases. You must write a describe some of the issues raised by this new technology.

Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain:Evaluate the arguments for and against embryo selection. (3)

Describe what is tested in the embryo to see if it has any inherited diseases. (2)

Suggest what type of people may be involved in deciding ethical issues (e.g. what should doctors be allowed to do? ) (2)

State one example of an inherited disease, and say what it does to you (2)

State your own opinion about selecting embryos. Justify your opinion, and try to give examples of situations (2)

Your account should be about 100-150 words long.

(Total marks: 11)3) Explain

Some people suggest that we should keep a copy of everybody’s DNA on record. Compare what you think the benefits and drawbacks of this may be. (3)

Describe the steps involved in cloning a living organism e.g. Dolly the sheep. (4)

CLONING DINOSAURS

The scientists in the film Jurassic Park reconstructed dinosaurs from DNA preserved in amber. That fiction is unlikely ever to become fact because DNA simply is not tough enough to survive in that way.

But reconstructing a dinosaur from genes passed down the evolutionary tree to modern birds might be viable before the end of the century, according to scientists in the United States.

"On the timescale of 50-100 years... you might conceivably be able to alter the DNA of a chicken, say, to reconstruct something that looks more like a dinosaur," David Stern, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University told the BBC.

The speculation may be justified because the current explosion of information about the genetic make-up of various creatures, plants and organisms has made it clear just how many modern genes are closely related or even identical to those of long extinct life forms. Moving from this understanding to actually designing a prototype ancient creature is, however, a huge leap.

"You can imagine that if we have some understanding of how the same genes are used in, say, a chicken and a lizard to generate the differences between those two species, then we can imagine trying to reconstruct something that looks more like a dinosaur. You would have to change the way that those genes are used during development to, say, make the bones larger, or longer, or shorter," David Stern explained.

"What we're really seeking is a very basic understanding of how these genes operate during development in a very wide range of organisms," he said.

Initial successes

A Californian team has managed to get the beaks of chicken embryos to grow tooth buds, something their ancestors lost the ability to do 60 million years ago.

Any dinosaur put together using these techniques would be unlikely to be a perfect replica of an extinct one. It would more likely be a generic prototype, combining different features and forms.

David Stern says that we should be using the time we have before such things are possible to consider what they would mean.

"It's going to raise a number of ethical questions. It's a very difficult problem to think about right now because it's such a new problem," he said.

4) Suggest a reason why some people may object to the work being done by the scientists in California. (3)

5) Why might the ancestors of chickens have ‘lost’ the ability to grow tooth buds? (2)

Total Marks: 31

A* 28A 25B 19C 12

My mark:

B2 Keeping Healthy Study Task

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/biology/

www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Correlation

Antibiotics

Lifestyle diseases

coronary arteries

vaccination

resistant

clinical trials

(Total marks: 7)

2) ResearchAlthough there are many types of microorganisms, only a few are responsible for causing diseases in humans. You must write a short answer to describe the cause and effect of some common diseases.

Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain: Explain why some diseases (like flu and HIV) are hard to treat (2)

Describe symptoms of these diseases. (3)

Explain why it can be difficult to make sure that everyone receives a vaccine for some diseases. (3)

Describe the treatment of these diseases(3)

Diseases caused by microorganisms are often more common in LEDC (poorer countries). Suggest why. (2)

Your account should be about 100-150 words long.

(Total marks: 13)

3) Explain…

Why are some diseases that were common in the past not so common now? Give specific examples. (3)

Why is it only in recent years that scientists have discovered how many diseases work? (2)

A decision by the government's health watchdog to deny Alzheimer's drugs to patients with mild-stage disease is being challenged at the High Court.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) ruled the medicines were not cost effective.

Should all drugs be available?

But critics argue the decision process was flawed and did not take into account the benefits to carers. Drugs company Easai has brought the case to the High Court with support from fellow drugs firm Pfizer and the Alzheimer's Society.

NICE guidance in 2001 recommended the drugs - which can make it easier to carry out everyday tasks - should be used as standard.

But guidance published in November 2006, after months of appeals, stated that the drugs should only be prescribed to people with moderate-stage disease.

NICE's analysis of the evidence showed the drugs, which cost about £2.50 a day, did not make enough of a difference to recommend them for all patients and were not good value for money.

Campaigners are angry that people suffering from Alzheimer's have to get worse before they are eligible for treatment.

They will tell the court that NICE did not properly evaluate the impact of the drugs on the quality of life of carers and that the figures on the cost of long-term care used in their analysis were too low.

About 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia and more than half of those have Alzheimer's disease.

4) NICE is an organisation that has a role in deciding which drugs should be made available to patients. Why is this organisation needed? (2)

5) ‘Ethical decisions must be made all the time in hospitals’.Explain what you understand my this. (3)

6) Should medicines be available to everyone who needs the, no matter what the cost? Give a reason for your answer (2)

Total Marks: 32

A* 28A 25B 20C 13D 7

My mark:

B3 Life on Earth Study Task

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/biology/variationandinheritancewww.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Evolution

Adaptation

Natural selection

Sustainability

Extinct

Hormone

Nervous communication

(Total marks: 7)

2) Research

Write an account of the life of Charles Darwin. Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain:Explain why many people did not accept his theory (2)

Date of birth and death (1)

Explain the role of Alfred Wallace in Darwin’s work (2)

Education (1)

Explain some of the problems with Darwin’s theory (2)

His famous voyage (2)

Describe his theory, including names of animals he observed (3)

Your account should be about 100-150 words long.

(Total marks: 13)

3) Explain

What are the reasons that living things become extinct? Give examples of causes. (3)

Farmers have used selective breeding for thousands of years. Give an example of an organism (plant or animal) and suggest how selective breeding is used to pick certain characteristics. (3)

Scientists find 'mass dodo grave' Scientists have discovered the "beautifully preserved" bones of about 20 dodos at a dig site in Mauritius.

Little is known about the dodo, a famous flightless bird thought to have become extinct in the 17th Century. No complete skeleton has ever been found in Mauritius, and the last full set of bones was destroyed in a fire at a museum in Oxford, England, in 1755. Researchers believe the bones are at least 2,000 years old, and hope to learn more about how dodos lived.

A team of Dutch and Mauritian scientists discovered the bones in a swampy area near a sugar plantation on the south-east of the island. The bones were said to have been recovered from a single layer of earth, with the prospect of further excavations to come. Sections of beaks and the remains of dodo chicks were thought to be among the find.

'Foolish' bird

"This new find will allow for the first scientific research into and reconstruction of the world in which the dodo lived, before western man landed on Mauritius and wiped out

the species," the country's Natural History Museum announced in a statement.

Dutch geologist Kenneth Rijsdijk, who led the dig, said DNA samples from the dodo bones could revolutionise our understanding of how the birds lived.

The dodo was mocked by Portuguese and Dutch colonialists for its size and apparent lack of fear of armed, hungry hunters.

It took its name from the Portuguese word for "fool", and was hunted to extinction within 200 years of Europeans landing on Mauritius.

4) Suggest why the bones of the dodo may be useful to scientists. (2)

5) What reasons does the article suggest for the dodo’s extinction? (1)

6) Imagine that some dodo’s were afraid of humans. Suggest how this might have helped the dodo species survive. (2)

7) Sailors brought many non-native species on their boats, for example dogs and rats. Suggest what problems this may have caused to the dodos. (2)

Total Marks: 33

A* 31A 27B 22C 16D 10

My mark:

C1 Air Quality Study Task

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Emissions

Concentration

Combustion

Product

Hydrocarbon

Correlation

Catalytic converter

Sustainable development

(Total marks: 8)

2) Research

There is currently a lot of concern regarding the levels of polluting gases in the atmosphere. You will write a short piece about some of the issues this raises.

Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain:Compare the benefits of cutting emissions against what it might cost people to pay for improvements. (3)

State two polluting gases that scientists suggest need cutting down. (2)

Suggest ways the Government have used in this country to encourage people to live more sustainably. (3)

Describe the ways people may be encouraged to reduce ‘Greenhouse gases’ (2)

Some developing countries produce large amounts of polluting gases. Justify whether these countries should have to obey strict emission laws (2)

Your account should be about 100-150 words long.

(Total marks: 12)3) Explain

Explain the process of combustion of carbon in terms of reactants and products (3)

Describe how the Greenhouse Effect can increase global temperature (3)

Green cars? The following are responses written by the public about plans to rate cars on how environmentally friendly they are. Cars are banded from A (electric cars) to F.

All very well to have a car which produces very little CO2, but what about the energy used to make and scrap a car? I have a 16-year-old VW which does 30-40 mpg; presumably if I behaved as manufacturers would like, I would have bought - and junked - at least three cars in that time. Is this eco-friendly?GC, Geneva, Switzerland

This is yet another worthless study. Electric vehicles require the electricity to be generated in the first place, in the UK that is mostly from burning natural gas, which produces C02. Furthermore no account is taken of the problem of battery disposal, affecting hybrids and electric cars. It also ignores the energy consumed and the pollution that occurs in the production and disposal of the vehicles. On their own, these figures are technically quite worthless and are likely to mislead the public. If one wants a 'green' vehicle then the whole product lifecycle needs to be analysed, from raw material extraction right through to final waste disposal.RW, UK & USA

The rating of battery electric cars as band A, based on their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, is flawed. Zero emission at point of use does not take into account the environmental effects of electricity generation and losses in transmission to charge the batteries. Fossil fuel power stations all emit CO2. David, Sussex

If carbon dioxide is the measure for greenness then anything that burns hydro-carbons is never going to be green. Hydrogen cars produce water vapour (although some NO2 is produced in the combustion process) so could be reasonably green as an internal combustion engine. The real answer would be to discover some new method of power generation - budding Einsteins start here.RM, Newhaven UK

I think it is arguable whether even an electric car can be classed as green since the electricity they run on will still produce emissions whilst it’s being generated. I think the only personal transport that is really A grade green is the bicycle. I don't think there's anything wrong with demonising 4x4's - they are wasteful, selfish, dangerous and dirty, and its time their owners faced up to the damage they do to our environment.PT, London, UK

Rating vehicles only based on CO2 emissions is a flawed generalisation - there are many other combustion by-products produced that are also damaging to the environment. It is also relative - for example if you travel extensively by air, by reducing the number of journeys you make you can have a far larger impact on the environment than by switching to a slightly smaller, more efficient car.JW, Henley upon Thames

5) Give three reasons from the passage that people use to complain about the new plan. (3)

5) What two suggestions are made that could help reduce CO2 emissions? (2)

Total Marks: 31

A* 28A 25B 19C 12

My mark:

C2 Material Choices Study Task

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Nanometre_________________________________________________________________________

Polymerize_________________________________________________________________________

Incinerator_________________________________________________________________________

Landfill_________________________________________________________________________Sustainable________________________________________________________________________

Vulcanisation________________________________________________________________________

Crude oil________________________________________________________________________

(Total marks: 7)

2) Research

As the population of a country grows, they produce more and more waste. The waste must be disposed of somewhere, which can lead to problems. You must write a short explanation of some of the problems with waste disposal.

Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain:Recommendations about how to deal with increasing amounts of waste (3)

Suggest why some things get recycled but other materials don’t (2)

Explain some of the social issues around waste disposal (2)

Describe the problems with disposing of rubbish (3)Suggest some uses for the rubbish we throw away (2)

Your account should be about 100-200 words long.

(Total marks: 12)3) Explain

Why is it important to be able to test properties of materials? Give an example of a desirable property of a plastic for a particular use. (3)

Why is oil such an important chemical for Western countries (e.g. Europe and the USA)? (3)

4) Batteries can contain metals such as cadmium, zinc and mercury. State the chemical symbols for these elements, and suggest why it is important that these elements are collected for recycling (3)

5) Suggest why organisations such as the Government or the European Union (EU) might decide to make laws to encourage recycling. Is there an alternative? (4)

Battery recycling campaign's successA recycling campaign in Bristol has amassed the weight of a double decker bus in unwanted batteries during its pilot year.

The government-backed initiative, launched ahead of a forthcoming EU directive on batteries, has collected two tonnes more than its 10-tonne target.

But despite the success, widespread recycling of batteries could be slowed by a lack of facilities in the UK.

Over the next few years, new EU battery recycling legislation is expected which will oblige member states to recycle at least 45% of batteries used - an estimated 10,000 tonnes per year in Britain.

February's closure of Britannia Zinc Ltd means batteries collected through the Bristol scheme are being sent to Europe for recycling - a costly solution that may not be practical UK-wide.

Commenting on the campaign, Sir Jonathan Porritt, said: "The enthusiasm of the people of Bristol to get behind such an initiative is extremely positive, and has highlighted that kerbside collection is a viable method.

"I'm delighted that the scheme looks set to continue in the city. However, to make widespread battery recycling cost-effective and sustainable, we urgently need a solution for carrying out the recycling in the UK."

Partners involved in the pilot say valuable experience has been gained and the findings will feed into future initiatives elsewhere in the country.

Total Marks: 32

A* 30A 26B 21C 15D 9

My mark:

C3 Food Matters Study Task

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk./bitesize www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Fertilizer

Pesticide

Balanced diet

Obesity

Sustainable

Urea

Allergy

(Total marks: 7)

2) Research

Describe modern farming methods Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain:Explain why people may be opposed to intensive farming (2)

Two examples of modern crops (1)

Explain the benefits to a farmer of intensive farming (2)

Describe how fertilisers are used (1)

Explain the possible problems of using pesticides (2)

Explain ‘factory farming’ (intensive farming), giving an example of an animal that can be used (3)

Explain what organic farming is (1)

Your account should be about 100-200 words long.

(Total marks: 12)

3) Explain

How can a person with diabetes control the condition? (3)

Why is the Government concerned about people’s diet? (3)

4) Genetically Modified (GM) Crops.

GM crops are created by inserting genes from different plants or even animals into a crop to provide it with special attributes, such as resistance to pesticides. For GM crops:

Are more cost-effective: GM crops have lower costs of production because herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant plants produce higher yields, according to Monsanto, a major GM producer

Are safe for human consumption: There is no evidence to suggest that GM foods are unsafe, the British Medical Association said in a 2003 statement.

Can benefit human health: Crops can be enriched with nutrients to address human health issues, according to the Royal Society.

Could help the developing world Cut down on pesticide and herbicide use: Pesticide use has decreased in

GM crop-growing areas, according to a 2002 study by the US-based National Center for Food and Agricultural policy.

Help preserve natural habitats: Monsanto says that natural ecosystems would be protected from demands for agricultural land as GM crops allow efficient use of existing farm land.

Against GM crops:

Could increase herbicide and pesticide use: Pesticide and herbicide tolerance could mean that farmers spray their crops more liberally – so increasing the risk of pesticide residue in food, according to the Soil Association.

Could damage non-GM farmers: Cross-contamination of non-GM fields could affect farmers with GM-free status and destroy their trade, argues Friends of the Earth

Have unpredictable health risks: GM crops could be harmful to human health, according to a report by an activist group, Scientists for Global Responsibility. A Food Standards Agency (FSA) study showed that antibiotic-resistant genes can cross from our food to our stomach, possibly making antibiotics ineffective. The FSA says there is little risk of antibiotic resistance, but the Soil Association disputes this claim.

Won't help feed the developed world: The cause of hunger isn’t scarcity of food but the distribution of grain says Oxfam.

Mainly benefits big biotechnology companies Could affect biodiversity: Using herbicide on resistant crops could lead to

fields being cleared of weeds, removing food sources for wildlife, according to Genewatch. The latest government GM crop trials in the UK showed detrimental effects on local wildlife.

4) From the passage, name a) A company b) A Government Agency c) A ‘pressure’ group.(3)

5) What are the arguments for/against GM in Developing countries? (2)

6) In order to provide evidence for their claims, what could organisations do to provide evidence? Give an example of how they might do this. (2)

Total Marks: 32

A* 30A 26B 21C 15D 9

My mark:

P1The Earth in the Universe

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Asteroid

Continental drift

Mass extinction

Exoplanet

Light pollution

Big bang

Oceanic ridge

(Total marks: 7)

2) ResearchNatural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes pose a serious threat to people living near them. You must write a short description about the problems these natural events could cause.

Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain:Explain how earthquakes can be measured (3)

Describe what happens in an earthquake (2)

Discuss the global consequence of a major eruption. Name any specific gases involved. (4)

Suggest why more people die after big earthquakes than during the quake itself (2)

Describe the difference between lava and magma (2)

Your account should be about 100-200 words long.

(Total marks: 13)

3) Explain

Why is the study and exploration of space important? (3)

Why have people’s ideas about how the universe works changed over time? (3)

Nasa grounds space shuttlesThe US space agency (Nasa) has grounded its space shuttle fleet indefinitely after finding small cracks in fuel pipes in the main engines of two orbiters.

The cracks, discovered on Atlantis and Discovery, will delay the scheduled 19 July launch of Columbia. The cracks were found in metal liners used to direct fuel flow inside the main rocket motor's fuel pipes.

"The concern is that... if a piece were to crack off and go down into the engine, would that damage the engine and cause it to shut down?" said Nasa spokeman James Hartsfield. "Whether that is something that could actually happen, we don't know yet."

Engineers found the first crack during an inspection of "flow liners" - thin pieces of metal that aid the flow in fuel pipes - as they were installing engines in Atlantis more than a week ago.

Because it takes a week or so to remove a shuttle's engines and the same amount of time to reinstall them, Columbia's forthcoming mission on 19 July has been delayed indefinitely.

Nasa engineers will try to determine if the problem is a flaw introduced at the time the flow liners were installed in the shuttles or whether the cracks are a problem of age.

4) What advantages are there of space shuttles over conventional rockets? (2)

5) If the space shuttle is such an expensive, valuable piece of machinery, why are there faults with its design or the materials it is made of? (3)

Total Marks: 31

A* 30A 26B 21C 15D 9

My mark:

P2 Radiation and Life

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

ALARA

Ionization

photon

radioactive source

Greenhouse gases

microwaves

radiation

(Total marks: 7)

2) ResearchElectromagnetic radiation can be used in medicine to look inside the body, but also to kill damaged cells. You must write a short piece explaining the benefits and dangers of using EM radiation.

Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain: Explain why using rays that could look inside the body can be better than using surgery (3)

Describe the history of X-rays (who discovered them, and when?) (3)

Discuss if people are right to worry about the risks of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones (4)

Describe why doctors have to be careful about how some types of radiation are used (2) Name some diseases or conditions that can be treated by radiation (2)

Your account should be about 100-200 words long.

(Total marks: 12)

3) Explain

What are the sources of electromagnetic radiation in the home? Name the source and the type of EM radiation given off. (3)

Why do some people think that climate change (global warming) is not a cause for concern? (3)

Is Global Warming really happening?When scientists suggested that the Earth was warming because of the reckless burning of fossil fuels, and that the consequent release of carbon dioxide was causing the so-called 'greenhouse effect', there was a campaign to discredit them. A powerful lobby, organised in the US and funded largely by the petrochemical, mining and automotive industries employed scientists and publicists to counter every warning, suggesting they were alarmist and unsubstantiated. It threw doubt on global warming, saying that even if it could be proved to be happening, it was due to natural causes and was something we should welcome more than fear.

This barrage of misinformation and misunderstanding has created problems for scientists, who have been trying to engage governments and the public in a serious debate and set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Atmospheric contrastsThere was the additional problem - made much of by the sceptics - that data showing the Earth's surface temperature rising appeared to conflict with other data, collected by satellites and weather balloons, indicating that upper-air temperatures have remained stable. But recently, the US National Research Council said "the differences between the surface and upper-air trends in no way invalidates the conclusion that the Earth's temperature is rising."

The council considered the most decisive evidence to be nothing more obscure than human observation. "Warming trends are most clearly revealed by surface temperature measurements which have been recorded daily at hundreds of locations for more than a century," it said. Those records show that the rise has not only been persistent since the 1860s, it has also been accelerating. And if you plot a graph of rising temperatures against rising atmospheric CO2, the two lines march steadily upwards.

4) The article mentions a ‘powerful lobby’. What does this mean, and why is it important to know who funds them? (3)

5) Long term study (taking many years) is important in getting good evidence for climate change. Why might scientists be keen to act now, rather than waiting for the long term studies? (3)

Total Marks: 31

A* 30A 26B 21C 15D 9

My mark:

P3 Radioactive Materials

Helpful web sites:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/www.s-cool.co.uk

1) Define the following terms:

Half-life

Background radiation

contamination

radiotherapy

nuclear fission

isotope

radioactive decay

(Total marks: 7)

2) ResearchNuclear power stations are becoming an alternative to old power stations that burn fossil fuels. You must write a short piece that explains some of the issues raised by building nuclear power plants.Grade A answers contain: Grade C answers contain: Explain why there is an increasing need for power sources across the world (3)

Describe why nuclear power is cleaner than fossil fuel powered stations (3)

Discuss if people are right to be concerned about more nuclear power plants being built (4)

Describe why nuclear power stations are considered more dangerous than fossil fuel stations (2)

Your account should be about 100-200 words long.

(Total marks: 12)

3) ExplainIf gamma radiation has only a very weak ionizing power compared to alpha radiation, why is it so dangerous? (2)

Why is the disposal of nuclear waste such a problem? (3)

A new generation of nuclear power stations has been given the go-ahead by the government - but where are the scientists and engineers to build and run them? Inside Sellafield nuclear power plant, past the police checks and the barbed wire fences, 26-year-old Gemma Johnson is hard at work in one of the plant's high-security laboratories. Surrounded by test tubes and bubbling liquids, she is carrying out research aimed at improving the way radioactive waste is treated. Gemma is one of the much-needed qualified scientists joining the nuclear industry after years of declining recruit numbers. "I've always been interested in science, and I grew up not far from Sellafield, so in many ways this is the perfect job for me," Gemma says. "It's exciting because the technology's developing all the time, and there are always new things to work on. "I've got a project coming up where I'm helping manage a team of nuclear scientists from more than 30 countries, so I get to travel and meet new people. It's brilliant." 'Funny comments' Gemma's enthusiasm for nuclear energy is not shared by everyone. Opponents say it is expensive, dirty and dangerous. "You sometimes get a few funny comments when you meet new people, and tell them what you do for a living. "People ask things like 'Do you glow in the dark?' And I say 'Do I look like I glow in the dark? "And then we talk about it, and I explain if we don't have people who are trained and skilled, powering your hairdryer and all the rest of it, then what are you going to do? "And then they see it from a different point of view."

4) Why might people have a negative view about nuclear power? (3)

5) Why has the government decided to build more Nuclear Power Plants if people think it is dangerous? (3)

Total Marks: 30

A* 28A 25B 20C 14D 8

My mark: