Question 1

A woman was found murdered in her home.  She was stabbed and seemed to have tried to fight off her murderer or murderers.  Skin tissue was found under her  nails and strands of hair were found in her hands.

Three suspects were found and blood samples were taken from all three suspects.

The diagram below shows the DNA profiles of the evidence found on the victim as well as blood from the victim and the three suspects.

2.1

What is insulin? (2)

It is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that decreases the blood glucose level.

From where was it previously extracted before the discovery of recombinant DNA technology? (2)

The pancreas of freshly slaughtered cattle or pigs.

List TWO disadvantages of the extracted insulin mentioned above. (4)

It was expensive and there were insufficient quantities.

The supply of insulin was controlled by the demand for meat rather than the need for diabetics/kill more animals.

Insulin extracted was sometimes contaminated with pancreatic enzymes and thus not pure.

Explain why the use of bacterial cells in the manufacture of human insulin is an important achievement in science. (2)

It is pure human insulin/contains no allergens.

It could be produced on demand.

It doesn’t offend vegans or people who don’t eat pork.

It is cheaper in the long term.

It doesn’t harm animals / infringe their rights.

Question 2

2.2  The diagrams below illustrate some stages in the manufacturing of insulin.  Study the diagrams and answer the questions that follow. (Diagrams are NOT drawn to scale.)

State the function of each of the following in the manufacturing of insulin.

Enzymes (1)

Used to cut the insulin gene/used to cut the plasmid at specific point/used to splice the desirable gene into the vector.

Plasmids (1)

It is cut open and used as a gene vector.

Fermenter (1)

Used to culture bacteria under optimal conditions/under optimal pH, temperature and nutrient levels/mass production.

2.3

During which biological process is insulin (protein) manufactured by using the human gene? (1)

protein synthesis

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Choose

Did the DNA from the hair and skin tissue come from the same person? (1)

No

Which of the three suspects could have committed the murder? Substantiate your answer. (3)

Suspect 3. DNA from the hair sample is identical to his.

Do you think that more than one of these suspects could have committed the crime? Explain. (3)

No. There are no other matches between the blood samples of the suspects and the DNA found on the victim.

Do you think that more than one of these suspects could have committed the crime? Explain. (4)

No.

The victim could have picked up the hair and skin tissue from one of the suspects when she had come into contact with them prior to the murder, and having these under her nails does not necessarily mean that the people whom the hair and skin tissue belong to, are definitely murderers.

The suspect may have an identical twin who has the same DNA.

Hair and skin tissue could have been planted at the crime scene.

Samples taken could have been mixed in the laboratory.

Should a DNA database of all South Africans be compiled? Give a reason for your answer. (3)

Yes. It would be easier to track criminals and this may deter people from committing crimes, hence, a decrease in the crime rate of our country. It can also be used to track children who have been separated from parents or siblings who have been separated from each other, or it can be used for paternity tests or to identify missing persons.

OR

No. Until a uniform method or uniform standards are developed for taking the fingerprint, errors could result in innocent victims being convicted or guilty persons being set free. It infringes on the rights of people who may not want their fingerprints taken. It would cost the government too much money which could be used for basic needs like food, housing, water, electricity, etc.

Questions source: DBE  (Authorisation 11798)

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