Explanation​:
Amino acids (Choice B) can form polypeptides through the formation of peptide bonds as a result of condensation reactions. Fatty acids (Choice A) are involved in the formation of lipids and are not monomers. Proteins (Choice C) are composed of one or more polypeptides and are polymers. Nucleotides (Choice D) are the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

Explanation​:
When two monosaccharides are joined together to form a disaccharide, water is produced, therefore it is a condensation reaction. Choice A is correct.

Choice B is incorrect as hydrolysis uses water to break bonds, in this case converting a disaccharide into a monosaccharides. Choice C is incorrect as catabolism breaks down large molecules into smaller molecules. Choice D is incorrect as oxidation means adding oxygen or losing electrons.

Explanation​:
Saprotrophs are decomposers that secrete digestive enzymes onto organic molecules and then absorb the digested nutrients. This is a form of extra-cellular nutrition. Fungi and certain bacteria are examples of saprotrophs. Woodlice or pill bugs are detritivores. Detritivores are decomposers, but they ingest the organic molecules before digesting them into smaller, soluble ones. Choice D is, therefore, correct. Mushrooms and yeast are fungi, and Bacillus subtilis is a bacterium. Therefore Choices A, B and C are all saprotrophs and therefore are incorrect.

Explanation:
The enzyme lactase breaks down the substrate lactose into glucose and galactose.

Glucose and galactose are products of the reaction (Choices A and B).

Fructose is not a substrate for the enzyme lactase (Choice D).

Explanation​:
Autotrophs are producers (Choice A, B). They are self-feeding whereas heterotrophs are organisms that gain nutrition by feeding on another organisms (Choice C, D). Detritivores consume dead organic matter by ingestion (Choice C) whereas saprotrophs break down food outside their bodies by secreting enzymes into the environment.

Explanation:
Choice A is correct because dense bones would make the duck heavier, therefore making it harder for it to move.

Choice B is incorrect, as wings enable the duck to fly. Choice C is incorrect, as webbed feet aid the duck in swimming more efficiently. Choice D is incorrect as the oily coating on feathers helps to waterproof the duck and keep it light so it does not become waterlogged. This helps the duck to swim and fly more easily.

Explanation​:
A community is a group of populations living and interacting in a shared habitat (biotic factors). The abiotic factors for this community have not been described but could be the depth of the water, light intensity and the nutrients available for phytoplankton.

A population (Choice A) is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time which can interbreed. A habitat (Choice C) refers to the environment in which a species normally lives. An ecosystem (Choice D) is a group of populations living and interacting in a common habitat and includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

Explanation:
Cholesterol is a steroid, not a transport channel.

Reducing membrane fluidity (Choice A), increasing membrane flexibility (Choice B), and reducing permeability to hydrophilic substances (Choice D) are all roles of cholesterol in cell membranes.

Explanation​:
Choice C – The statement is false. Phospholipids are a class of lipids which have a hydrophilic “head” and two hydrophobic “tails.” The heads contain a phosphate group and the two tails each contain one fatty acid.

Choice A, B, and D – These statements are all true.

Explanation:
Veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. As muscles surrounding the veins contract, they push the blood towards the heart and venous valves open to allow the flow of blood. When the muscles relax, the valves close to prevent the blood from flowing backwards in response to gravity. So, venous valves help prevent the backflow of blood away from the heart (Choice B).

The relaxation of skeletal muscles decreases blood pressure in veins and does not play a role in preventing the backflow of blood in veins (Choice A). When the heart relaxes, this decreases blood pressure in arteries, it does not affect blood pressure in veins and plays no role in preventing the backflow of blood in veins (Choice C). Thin vessel walls are most exemplified in capillaries whose walls are one cell thick and allow exchange of substances. Thin walls play no role in preventing the backflow of blood (Choice D).

Explanation​:
The quaternary structure of a protein can relate to the number of amino acid chains which make up the protein. These chains are held together by R-group interactions (Choice C). Choices A and B relate to the secondary structure of a protein. Choice D refers to the primary structure of a protein.

Explanation​:
Blood plasma (Choice D) is the liquid component of blood and is composed of water which contains proteins, ions, and dissolved nutrients.
Red blood cells (Choice A) transport oxygen.
Platelets (Choice C) are responsible for the process of blood clotting.
White blood cells (Choice B) are part of the immune system.

Explanation​:
Choice D is correct because larger cells do not generally have fewer transport proteins. Choice D is also correct because as cell size increases, cytoplasmic volume increases, increasing the cell's metabolic demands which increases the cell’s need to exchange substances. Because cytoplasmic volume increases more rapidly than the surface area of the cell membrane, the surface area to volume ratio decreases. This means that as cell size increases, the cell membrane's surface area is soon unable to excrete waste and intake nutrients rapidly enough.

Choice A and C are incorrect as they include the statement that fewer transport proteins are present in the cell membranes of larger cells. Choice B is incorrect as it does not include the statement that increases in cytoplasmic volume increase metabolic demands

Explanation:
Centrifugation is a technique that primarily separates substances based on their density. When a mixture is centrifuged, particles or components with higher density sediment to the bottom of the tube. Choice A is, therefore, correct.

Centrifugation does not separate substances based on their charge. Electrophoresis is a technique that separates particles or molecules based on their charge. Choice B is, therefore, incorrect. Centrifugation does not directly separate substances based on their chemical composition. Other techniques like chromatography may be more suitable for separating substances by chemical composition. Choice C is, therefore, incorrect. Centrifugation does not separate substances based on their colour. Colour differences might be observed during centrifugation, but they are not the basis for separation. Choice D is, therefore, incorrect.

Explanation​:
The protein filament that is thicker and has heads is made of myosin (arrow I). The thinner protein filaments are made of actin, troponin and tropomyosin. Arrow II is pointing to the actin component of the thin filament (Choice D). Tropomyosin is a protein in the thin filament that masks myosin-binding sites (shown as thin black lines). Troponin is also a protein found in thin filaments. It has binding sites for calcium ions (shown as small double circles attached to tropomyosin lines).

Explanation​:
Regular exercise prevents the buildup of fatty plaque in the coronary arteries thereby preventing heart disease (Choice D). Some of the factors that cause the buildup of fatty plaque and occlusion of the arteries causing chest pain are high blood pressure (Choice A), high blood sugar due to diabetes (Choice B) and some genetic factors (Choice C).

Explanation​:
Choice C is correct because immediately after prophase is prometaphase, during which the nuclear membrane breaks down into small vesicles.

Choice A is incorrect because, during prophase, the nuclear membrane already has existing pores. Choice B is incorrect because the nuclear membrane only reassembles during telophase, which is the last stage of mitosis, and not immediately after prophase. Choice D is incorrect because the mitotic spindle forms between the poles of the cell immediately after prophase.

Explanation​:
Obligate anaerobes are single-celled organisms that will not survive if oxygen is present. Facultative anaerobes are organisms that can either respire aerobically or anaerobically. Obligate aerobes can only respire if oxygen is present and cannot survive in conditions low in oxygen. Therefore Choice A is correct.

Choices B and D are incorrect because obligate anaerobes cannot respire when oxygen is present. Choice C is incorrect as obligate anaerobes require anoxic conditions, and obligate aerobes cannot carry out anaerobic respiration.

Explanation​:
Choice C is correct because Y is the nucleus and is an organelle, whereas X is the cytosol and not an organelle.

Choice A is incorrect because only X, the cytosol, is primarily composed of water and solutes, Y, the nucleus, primarily contains the DNA. Choice B is incorrect because Y, the nucleus, has a specialised function. Choice D is incorrect because Y, the nucleus, is not found in prokaryotes, but both X, the cytosol, and Y, the nucleus, are found in eukaryotes.

Explanation​:
A cell membrane is formed of two layers of phospholipids whereby hydrophilic phosphate heads face the cytoplasm of the cell (cell interior) and the cell's environment (exterior) while the hydrophobic lipid tails face each other and form the interior of the membrane.

Having lipid tails pointing away (Choice A) is not a valid choice since lipid tails are hydrophobic and cannot face the cell's aqueous interior and exterior. Proteins are embedded in the membrane and do not line the outer layer (Choice C). The cell membrane is a bilayer and not just a monolayer (Choice D).

Explanation:
The bond formed between two glucose molecules to form maltose is an alpha 1-4 linkage. This is a covalent bond between two alpha glucose molecules, where the carbon #1 of one of the glucose molecules forms a bond with the carbon #4 of the other glucose molecule. Choice C is correct.

A hydrogen bond (Choice A) is a weak electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom that is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom in a different molecule or region of the same molecule. For example, between two water molecules. Peptide bonds (Choice B) are covenant bonds that hold amino acids together in polypeptide chains, and phosphodiester bonds (Choice D) are covalent bonds between the ribose sugars and phosphate groups, forming the backbone of DNA and RNA. Choices A, B and D are incorrect.

Explanation​:
The Golgi apparatus is a membrane-bound organelle that processes, modifies and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to various cellular compartments. Choice C is, therefore, correct.

The cell wall (Choice A) does provide structural support and protection to plant cells, but it is not an organelle, it is an extracellular structure external to the plasma membrane. The cytoplasm (Choice B) is not an organelle, but its role is to provide a medium for metabolic reactions to occur in. Although anaerobic respiration occurs in the cytoplasm, the cytoplasm does not produce ATP itself.. Lysosomes (Choice D) digest worn-out organelles, pathogens, macromolecules and debris, however, they are membrane-bound organelles.

Explanation:
The diagram shows glycerol and 3 fatty acids. When these are joined in a condensation reaction, a triglyceride is formed. Choice D is correct.

Choices A, B and C are incorrect.

Explanation​:
The sinoatrial node is a region of specialized cardiac muscle cells found in the wall of the right atrium. The sinoatrial node acts as a pacemaker and is involved in controlling heart rate (Choice A).
The opening of the atrioventricular valves occurs when there is an increase in pressure inside the atria. Blood flows to the ventricles when these valves are open. This action does not control the heart rate (Choice B).
Pulmonary circulation is when blood flows into the lungs from the right ventricle and is returned to the left atrium after it is oxygenated, and does not control the heart rate (Choice C).
The opening of the semilunar valves occurs when the pressure in the ventricles increases (Choice D). This does not control heart rate.

Explanation:
Choice B is correct because disease is a living factor and is, therefore, a biotic factor, not an abiotic one. Sunlight (Choice A), precipitation (Choice C), and pH (Choice D) are all non-living factors and are therefore abiotic.