Cell Structure (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours15 questions
1a
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3 marks

The diagram below shows an image of a plant cell.

plant-cell

Name structures P, Q and R.

1b
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2 marks
(i)
Name one structure that is visible in the diagram that you did not identify in your answer to part (a). 

(1)

(ii)

State the function of the structure named in part (i)

(1)

1c
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1 mark

Which of the following structures is not found in a prokaryotic cell?

  A A cell membrane
  B Chloroplasts
  C Plasmids
  D Circular DNA

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2a
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2 marks

The diagram below shows a plant cell drawn to scale. 

plant-cell-2

Calculate how many times longer the cell length is than the chloroplast length.

2b
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2 marks

State two ways in which an animal cell would be different to the cell shown in part (a).

2c
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3 marks

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The diagram below shows a representation of a specialised plant cell.

Root hair cell structure SQ

Name the structures labelled XY and Z.

2d
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2 marks

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Explain how the cell shown in part (c) is specialised to carry out its function.

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3a
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4 marks

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The image below shows contains information about several types of specialised cell.

Specialised cells SQ

(i)

Name the types of specialised cell represented by cells QR and S.

(3)

(ii)

Draw lines between the images and the statements to match each cell with its function.

(1)

3b
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2 marks

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Another example of a specialised cell is a red blood cell. One special feature of red blood cells is the absence of a nucleus.

Explain one other special feature of a red blood cell.

3c
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2 marks

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(i)

Name the process by which cells become specialised.

(1)

(ii)

The process named in part (i) is controlled by the DNA.

Describe how the DNA controls the process named in part (i).

(1)

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4a
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2 marks

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State the meaning of the term stem cell.

4b
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2 marks

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Name two sources of stem cells.

4c
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3 marks

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Describe how stem cells can be used in medicine. Include an example in your answer.

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5a
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2 marks

The image below shows a red blood cell viewed under a microscope using a magnification of x6000 

redbloodcellwithruler

Use the formula provided to calculate the actual diameter of the red blood cell. Give your answer in mm.

Actual space diameter space of space cell space in space mm space equals fraction numerator diameter space shown space in space the space image space in space mm over denominator magnification end fraction

5b
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3 marks

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Red blood cells such as that shown in part (a) do not have a nucleus.

(i)

Describe the role of the nucleus in cells where it is present.

(1)

(ii)

Explain why it is useful for the red blood cell not to have a nucleus.

(2)

5c
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2 marks

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Red blood cells are an example of a specialised animal cell. An example of a specialised plant cell is a palisade mesophyll cell, shown in the diagram below.

Palisade cell SQ

Explain how a palisade mesophyll cell is specialised to carry out its function.

5d
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2 marks

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Other than the cell types named in parts (a)-(c), name two other examples of specialised cells.

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1a
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2 marks
(a)

Plant and animal cells have some features in common and some differences.

(i)

Which of these structures is not found in animal cells?

(1)

  A cell membrane
  B cell wall
  C mitochondrion
  D nucleus

(ii)

Which of these substances is a carbohydrate stored in plant cells? 

(1)

  A chlorophyll
  B glucose
  C glycogen
  D starch

1b
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6 marks
(b)

The diagram shows a leaf palisade mesophyll cell.

4bi1br-nov-2020-q1b-palisade-mesophyll-cell---sq

(i)

Describe the function of the parts labelled A, B, C and D.

(4)

(ii)

Explain two ways that the structure of this palisade mesophyll cell is adapted for its function.

(2)

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2a
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2 marks

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(a)

As an embryo develops, its cells differentiate.

Explain the importance of cell differentiation in the development of the growing embryo.

(2)

2b
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3 marks

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(b)

 

(i)

Which of these is a feature of adult stem cells?

(1)

  A They do not divide
  B They divide by meiosis
  C They can become all cell types
  D They are found in some tissues and organs

(ii)

Adult stem cells or embryonic stem cells can be used in medical treatments.

Explain why the choice between these two types of stem cells can cause issues for doctors.

(2)

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3a
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3 marks
(a)

The diagram below shows a representation of a plant cell.

plant-cell

Describe the functions of structures P Q, and R.

(3)

3b
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2 marks

(b)

(i)

Label the diagram in part (a) with an S to indicate the location of the cell wall.

(1)

(ii)

Describe the function of the cell wall.

(1)

3c
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2 marks
(c)

Plants are one of the four groups of eukaryotes.

(i)
Name another group of eukaryotes in which you might find structure P labelled in part (a).

(1)

(ii)

State one other feature of the group named in part (i).

(1)

3d
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2 marks
(d)

The cell shown below is found inside a salivary gland.

salivary-gland-cell_question

Suggest what can be concluded about the activities of the salivary gland cell from the image above.

(2)

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4a
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4 marks

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(a)

The image below shows four specialised cells. Each cell is represented by a letter, A-D.

cells

Identify one letter, from A-D, that corresponds to a cell that is described in each of the following statements. Each letter may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

(i)

This is a plant cell.

(1)

(ii)

This cell contains digestive enzymes.

(1)

(iii)

This cell is motile (moves around).

(1)

(iv)

This cell is involved in co-ordination of the body's activities.

(1)

4b
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(b)

Each of the cells shown in part (a) began its life as a stem cell.

Describe how a stem cell can give rise to the cell types shown in part (a).

(2)

4c
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5 marks

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(c)

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition in which patients lose muscle mass, leading to muscle weakness.

A clinical trial was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of bone marrow-derived stem cell treatment on muscle regeneration in muscular dystrophy patients.

(i)

Bone marrow-derived stem cells are extracted from bone marrow.

Explain the abilities of stem cells taken from bone marrow.

(2)

(ii)

Suggest how stem cells could be used to treat muscle wasting.

(3)

4d
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5 marks

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(d)

The graph below shows some of the results from the trial.

graph-4d

(i)

Identify the dependent variable in this trial.

(1)

(ii)

Suggest how the researchers might have measured the dependent variable identified in part (i).

(2)

(iii)

Calculate the percentage of participants that showed a large muscle mass improvement in the trial. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.

(2)

4e
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(e)

A medical student concluded from these results that stem cell therapy would be an effective treatment for muscular dystrophy.

Evaluate the student's conclusion.

(3)

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5a
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3 marks

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(a)

The image below shows a microscope image of the surface of a plant root.

qo4bqFYV_4

(i)

Name structure X.

(1)

(ii)

Name two structures that would be present in structure X that would not be found in an animal cell.

(2)

5b
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2 marks
(b)

The actual length of an object in a magnified image can be calculated using the following formula:

Actual space length space equals space fraction numerator length space of space image over denominator magnification end fraction

Calculate the actual length of structure X shown in part (a).

Measure structure X from the tip to the point at which the upper edge joins the main part of the root.

Give your answer in mm.

(2)

5c
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4 marks

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(c)

Suggest why the lack of a fully developed structure X could be damaging to a plant.

(4)

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1a
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1 mark
(a)

A student uses a light microscope to look at a human cheek cell.

The student makes this drawing of the cell.

4bi11b-nov-2020-q3a-nucleus---sq

Name the organelle shown in the drawing.

(1)

1b
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2 marks
(b)

Mitochondria are organelles that are too small to be seen using a light microscope.

The drawing shows a mitochondrion that has been magnified.

4bi11b-nov-2020-q3b-mitochondrion---sq

The actual length of this mitochondrion is 6 μm.

[1 μm = 0.001 mm]

Calculate the magnification of this drawing.

(2)

1c
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4 marks
(c)

The table gives information about mitochondria in different human cells.

Cell Mean number of mitochondria per cell Mean volume of cell in µm3 Mean number of mitochondria per µm3
Heart muscle 5 000 15 000  
Sperm 75 30 2.50
Egg 600 000 4 000 000 0.15
(i)

What is the mean number of mitochondria per μm3 in a heart muscle cell?

(1)

  A 0.33
  B 3
  C 10 000
  D 75 000 000

(ii)

Comment on the differences in the data for the sperm and for the egg.

(3)

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2a
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2 marks
(a)
The image below is an electron microscope photograph of a cell.

4-2-q1b-plant-cell-electron-micrograph---sq

(i)

Name the group of organisms from which the cell shown in the image has been taken.

(1)

(ii)

Explain how you identified the group of organisms in part (i).

(1)

2b
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3 marks
(b)

Structure Y in part (a) is a starch granule.

Explain why structure Y is present inside structure X in the image in part (a).

(3)

2c
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3 marks
(c)

Name three structures that are not clearly identifiable in the image in part (a) that you would expect to find inside cells from this group of organisms.

(3)

2d
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2 marks
(d)

The cell in part (a) has been magnified 7.5 x 103 times, and the image of the nucleus has a diameter of 6.5 cm.

Use the formula below to calculate the actual diameter of the nucleus. Give your answer in μm.

Actual space diameter space equals fraction numerator image space diameter over denominator magnification end fraction

Note that 1 μm = 0.001 mm 

(2)

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3a
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3 marks

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(a)

The image below is a representation of an electron microscope photograph of part of a sperm cell.

l78Q64BN_micrograph

Name structures XY and Z labelled in the image.

(3)

3b
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2 marks

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(b)

Label two additional features on the image in part (a) with descriptions that explain how the features aid the sperm cell in its function.

(2)

3c
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3 marks

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(c)

Sperm cells are produced in the testes in a process known as spermatogenesis. A summary of spermatogenesis is shown in the image below.


image

(i)

Label the image above with a letter D to indicate where the process of differentiation is occurring.

(1)

(ii)

Explain what is taking place at letter D in order for differentiation to occur.

(2)

3d
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5 marks
(d)

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) can be used to treat male infertility.

(i)

Suggest how SSCs could be used to treat male infertility.

(2)

(ii)

Some research in mice has suggested that SSCs have the ability to become many different cell types.

Evaluate the potential use of SSCs in stem cell therapy.

(3)

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4a
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2 marks
(a)

The diagram below shows three different cells.

cell-comparisoncell-comparison-2

Calculate the size ratio of the bacterial cell compared to the liver cell and mesophyll cell.

(2)
4b
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3 marks
(b)

The electron microscope image below shows a section from the inside of a liver cell...

hepatocito-tem-1

Bochimoto H, Matsuno N, Ishihara Y, Shonaka T, Koga D, Hira Y, et al., CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

(i)

Name the organelles indicated by X.

(1)

(ii)

Use information in the image to suggest the possible cell activities that take place inside a liver cell.

(2)

4c
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2 marks

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(c)

The liver is known to have a strong regenerative ability, meaning that when the liver is damaged it can regenerate itself within days. This regenerative ability is thought to be due to several types of adult stem cells present within and around the liver.

Contrast adult stem cells with stem cells taken from an embryo.

(2)

4d
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3 marks

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(d)

Scientists researching the regenerative capacity of the liver have identified a chemical signalling pathway inside liver cells that prevents the liver from growing too large when it regenerates. This chemical signalling pathway has been named 'Hippo'.

A recent discovery has shown that switching off the Hippo signalling pathway reverses the differentiation process, resulting in de-differentiated liver cells.

Suggest what this discovery could mean for the development of stem cell therapies.

(3)

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5a
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5 marks

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(a)

The image below shows a light microscope photograph of part of a plant root.

Root hair cell micrograph wikipedia

Berkshire Community College  Bioscience Image Library, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

(i)

Name the type of specialised plant cell visible in the image.

(1)

(ii)

Explain how the process of differentiation has allowed the cell in the image to carry out its specific function in plants.

(4)

5b
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4 marks
(b)

A group of scientists carried out a study to investigate the starch content of roots in a species of grass at four points throughout the year. 

Their results can be seen in the graph below.

root-starch-2

(i)

Explain why the grass roots contain starch.

(2)

(ii)

Explain how the starch found in the roots of grass species helps to support growth of the grasses.

(2)
5c
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5 marks

(c)

(i)

Calculate the percentage change in stored starch from January to October in the graph in part (b).

(2)

(ii)

Suggest an explanation for the change calculated in part (i).

(3)

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