Pbiol 011: Basic Biology Semester 1 Question Paper
Pbiol 011: Basic Biology Semester 1
Course:Certificate Of Pre-University Biology
Institution: Kabarak University question papers
Exam Year:2009
KABARAK UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
2008/2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF PRE- UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY
COURSE CODE: PBIOL 011
COURSE TITLE: BASIC BIOLOGY
STREAM: SEMESTER ONE
DAY: FRIDAY
TIME: 9.00 – 11.00 A.M.
DATE: 07/08/2009
INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer ALL questions in section A and any TWO from section B
SECTION A: (40 MARKS)
1. (a) Define the following terms;
i. Freely permeable membrane
ii. An impermeable membrane
iii. Selectively permeable membrane (3 marks)
(b) What are plastids? (2 marks)
(c) Plastids can grow and develop into many different types of structures. Name the
plastids that do the following;
- Carry out photosynthesis
- Synthesize lipids and other materials
- Store starch
- Contain coloured lipids
- Occur when tissues is in the dark (5 marks)
2. (a) Explain briefly what a buffer is (2 marks)
(b) What factors make carbon the appropriate constituent of organic
macromolecules? (3 marks)
(c) What are the structural differences and similarities between DNA and RNA?
(5 marks)
3. (a) List four components of plant cell that are not found in animal cells. (6 marks)
(b) How will you decide if a leaf is simple or compound? (2 marks)
(c) What is the significance of the leaf arrangement of leaves on a plant? (2 marks)
4. (a) What is the significance of mitosis? (3 marks)
(b) In tossing three coins simultaneously, what is the probability in one toss of
i. 3 heads
ii. 2 heads and one tail
(Show the binomial expansion) (7 marks)
SECTION B: (30 MARKS)
5. (a) Name the different primary meristems and the tissues they produce. (3 marks)
(b) What are the primary functions of the following tissues?
- Cork
- Phloem
- Collenchymas
- Parenchyma
- Epidermis
(c) By use of a simple diagram explain how the internal structure of a leaf is related
to its function. (7 marks)
6. The genotype of F1 individuals in a trihybrid cross is AaBbCc. Assuming independent
assortment of these three genes, what are the probabilities that F2 offspring would have
the following genotypes; aabbcc, AaBbCc, AABBCC, aaBBcc, and AaBBCc.
(15 marks)
7. (a) In a hypothetical segment DNA, the sequence of basis is AGGCTTGATCG,
what would be the sequence of bases in the message RNA strand? (7 marks)
(b) How does meiosis produce variability in offspring? (8 marks)
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