Cell Structure (OCR AS Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours34 questions
1a
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2 marks

ocr-2-1e-sq-chloroplast
Figure 1.1

Figure 1.1 is a transmission electron micrograph (TEM) image of a chloroplast. 

Explain why this image was made using a transmission electron microscope rather than a light microscope. 

1b
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2 marks

Table 1 below lists the features of types of microscopes.

Table 1

Feature

Type of microscope

Requires extensive sample preparation

 

Inexpensive to buy and install

 

Produces black-and-white images

 

Requires a vacuum 

 

Complete the table by writing the name of the type of microscope (light or electron) next to the statement to which it applies. 

[2]

1c
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3 marks

Describe how the structure of the chloroplast relates to its function.

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2a
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5 marks

Figure 2.1 shows a drawing of an animal cell.ocr-2-1e-sq-eukaryotic-cell

Figure 2.1

Identify the structures A - E.

 

Label Structure
A  
B  
C  
D  
E  
2b
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1 mark

State the role of structure C.

2c
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2 marks

Structure A contains pores.

Outline the significance of the pores in the function of structure A.

2d
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3 marks

List three organelles or structures that would not be found in an animal cell.

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3a
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1 mark

Microscopy is used to magnify objects. Microscopes are very useful for studying biological specimens.

Define the term magnification.

3b
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1 mark

Define the term resolution.

3c
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4 marks

Complete the sentences using the most appropriate terms. Your terms can be single words or short phrases. 

Cells and cellular structures are often ……………. This makes it difficult to visualise components while using a light microscope. Staining techniques use coloured dyes to ……………... Using multiple different dyes to stain different parts of the specimen is known as  ……………. staining. For example,  ……………. is a dye which stains cells red/pink.

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4a
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4 marks

Protein synthesis requires various steps and the use of different organelles within a cell.

The table below lists the steps involved in the production and release of an extracellular protein 

Label the steps of protein production with the organelle/structure involved.

 

Protein Production Step

Organelle

1 Synthesis  
2 Packaging into transport vesicles  
3 Processing  
4 Secretion   
4b
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1 mark

Name the process where mRNA is read and used to synthesise proteins.

4c
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4 marks

Complete the sentences using the most appropriate terms.

The cytoskeleton is a network of fibres which provides strength and ……………. in eukaryotic cells. Cytoskeleton structures can also protrude from the cell, for example ……………., which are used for cell …………….. The cytoskeleton is comprised of three components: microfilaments, ……………. and intermediate fibres.

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5a
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2 marks

Prokaryotic cells can be between 100-1000 times smaller than eukaryotic cells.

State two ways that prokaryotic cells differ structurally from eukaryotic cells.

5b
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6 marks

Some prokaryotic cells also contain additional components such as plasmids.

Complete the table below by outlining the structure and function of each cell structure.

Organelle Structure  Function
Plasmid    
Flagellum    
Capsule    

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1a
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3 marks

The image below is a photomicrograph of a mitochondrion.

q19a-paper-1-nov-2020-ocr-a-level-biology

(i)

State the type of microscope used to produce this image.

 [1]

(ii)

Identify the structures labelled M and N in the photomicrograph.

[2]

1b
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2 marks

Describe two ways in which the structure of mitochondrial membranes is related to the function of a mitochondrion.

1c
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5 marks

The endosymbiosis theory suggests that mitochondria may have evolved from bacteria that were taken inside other cells.

These cells then evolved into eukaryotes.

(i)

Give two structural features of mitochondria that support this theory.

[2]

(ii)

Explain why early eukaryotes were able to grow more quickly than cells that did not possess mitochondria.

[3]

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2
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8 marks

Sago pondweed is an underwater plant that grows in many regions of the world.

Fig. 1.1 shows a transmission electron micrograph of a sago pondweed cell.

q1-paper-3-june-2019-ocr-a-level-biology

Fig. 1.1

(i)

Identify the cellular components shown at A and B.

[2]

(ii)

The real size of the line between C and D on Fig. 1.1 is 1.4 × 10−6 m.

Calculate the magnification that was used to produce the image in Fig. 1.1.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

[2]

(iii)

Fig. 1.2 shows a student’s drawing of another sago pondweed cell, which was observed under a light microscope. The student used a sharp pencil but did not label the drawing.

q1iii-paper-3-june-2019-ocr-a-level-biology

Fig. 1.2

Describe two other ways in which the drawing could be improved.

 [2]

(iv)

The student stained a sago pondweed sample to improve the contrast between cellular components when viewed under a microscope.

The student used the following procedure to stain the sample:

  • Use forceps to place the sample on a glass slide.

  • Use a pipette to place two drops of the stain in the centre of the sample.

  • Carefully lower a cover slip onto the sample, ensuring that the cover slip is parallel with the slide as it is lowered.

Describe two improvements the student should make to their staining procedure.

[2]

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3a
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2 marks

The onion plant, Allium cepa, is grown as a food crop around the world.

The table below contains statements about the root cells of an onion.

Place ticks () in the boxes in the table to indicate whether the statements are true or false.

Statement about onion root cells True False
contain chloroplasts    
contain mitochondria    
contain 70S ribosomes in the cytoplasm    
have pili    
have cellulose cell walls    

3b
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2 marks

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of the root of an onion plant.

RxUnOtrw_onion-root

Fig. 1

Identify the tissues shown at M and N.

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4a
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2 marks

Fig. 1 shows a magnified view of a cell.

1-2-e-1a-paper-2

Fig. 1

Identify structures L and N in Fig. 1.

4b
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2 marks

Another structure that would be present in the cell in Fig. 1 is the Golgi apparatus.

Describe the function of the Golgi apparatus.

4c
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4 marks

Large numbers of organelle O are found inside neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that carries out phagocytosis.

Suggest why these cells contain large numbers of organelle O.

4d
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3 marks
(i)
Identify the type of cell (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) that is shown in Fig. 1.

[1]

(ii)

Explain your answer to part (i).

[2]

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5a
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1 mark

Fig. 1 below shows the components of a cell which are responsible for the production of proteins.organelles-protein-production-1-1

Fig. 1

Name the process by which the contents of the vesicle are released in stage 6.

5b
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4 marks

The table below contains descriptions or names of several processes that occur during protein production in cells.

Complete the table by entering the number from Fig. 1 that is associated with the process described.

Numbers can be used once, more than once or not at all.

Process Stage
mRNA leaves through pores 2
Transcription  
Modification of proteins  
Folding and processing of proteins  
Translation  

5c
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2 marks

In prokaryotic cells translation of mRNA can occur while the same piece of mRNA is still being transcribed.

Explain how the features of prokaryote cell structure allow protein synthesis to occur in this way.

5d
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2 marks

Fig. 2 below shows a prokaryotic cell dividing.

binary-fission-sq

Fig. 2

In certain conditions some prokaryotic cells can divide every 25 minutes.

With a starting population of 2.45 × 103 cells, and assuming that each cell divides every 25 minutes, calculate how many cells there will be after 3.75 hours. Assume that no cells die during this time.

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1a
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2 marks

A scientist investigated the lifecycle of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Using a transmission electron microscope, they observed HIV viruses being released from an infected host cell (Figure 1.1). They labelled the image indicating how the replicated particles are released from the cell (“budding”), and the mature form of HIV.

ocr-2-1h-sq-hiv

Figure 1.1

In this transmission electron microscope image, the virus indicated with an arrow measures 7mm across. The actual diameter of the virus is 100 nm. 

Calculate the magnification of the image in Figure 1.1. 

1b
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3 marks

Compare the magnification and resolution achieved by a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope.

1c
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4 marks

HIV viruses hijack the machinery of the host cell to replicate themselves. Once the virus proteins are built, immature viruses are assembled and released from the cell in a process called budding.

Suggest and explain which parts of the host cell the virus proteins might use to replicate themselves. 

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2a
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3 marks

A student used a light microscope to investigate the presence of white blood cells (WBCs) in a sample of blood. Figure 2.1 shows a micrograph of the sample.ocr-2-1h-sq-lymphocytes

Figure 2.1

Suggest the steps that the student may have taken to visualise the WBCs in their sample. 

2b
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4 marks

White blood cells contain specialised vesicles which carry hydrolytic enzymes.

Explain how white blood cells use these organelles in their cell function. 

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3a
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6 marks

Eukaryotic cells contain many membrane-bound cellular components.

Discuss, with examples, the importance of membrane-bound cellular components for cell function. 

3b
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2 marks

Suggest why prokaryotic cells do not have membrane-bound organelles. 

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4a
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6 marks

Figure 4.1 shows a diagram of the structure of two centrioles. Centrioles are comprised of microtubules.

ocr-2-1h-sq-centrioles

Figure 4.1

Compare and contrast the different types of fibres which make up the cytoskeleton. 

4b
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4 marks

Explain the importance of centrioles in animal cells. 

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5a
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2 marks

ocr-2-1h-sq-mitochondria-graph

Figure 5.1

A scientist investigated the number of mitochondria in cells taken from barley plant (Hordeum vulgare) leaves. Using a confocal laser scanning microscope, they recorded the number of mitochondria in each cell. They presented their data in a bar chart (Figure 5.1).

Suggest why the number of mitochondria per cell increases as cell size increases. 

5b
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2 marks

The scientist then used flow cytometry to investigate the DNA content of the cells of the barley plant.

Predict how DNA content might change as cell size increases.

5c
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4 marks

It is theorised that mitochondria were once bacteria which were engulfed by other prokaryotic cells. The resulting cells were the first eukaryotic cells. This is called the endosymbiotic theory.

Scientists also theorise that a similar process may have occurred with chloroplasts.

Discuss how the structure of chloroplasts provides evidence in favour of the endosymbiotic theory of chloroplast origin.

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