CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Genetic technology

Genetic technology: explain question

Explain4 marksStandard

A 35-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes has been using porcine (pig) insulin for many years. Her doctor switches her to recombinant human insulin. Explain the advantages of using recombinant human insulin instead of animal-sourced insulin.

How this question is marked

4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.

More Genetic technology questions

5 marks · Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a genetic disorder in which the immune system is severely compromised. Outline how gene therapy…
5 marks · Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a genetic disorder caused by a defect in the gene coding for adenosine deaminase (ADA). Outline…
5 marks · A forensic scientist has extracted a small quantity of DNA from a crime scene. To obtain enough DNA for analysis, she intends to amplify a…
5 marks · A 6-year-old child has been diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a rare inherited eye disease that causes severe vision loss…
4 marks · A research team has isolated a cDNA copy of the human lactoferrin gene. They plan to insert this gene into a plasmid and transform yeast…
5 marks · Genetically modified (GM) salmon have been engineered to grow to market size in half the time of non-GM salmon. They contain a gene from…

All Genetic technology questions

Written by Markquill to follow the Cambridge International syllabus. Markquill is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.