Explanation:
Choice A is correct because during metaphase I homologous chromosomes align at the equator and are subject to random orientation. Choice B is incorrect as, during Prophase I, homologous chromosomes condense and crossing over occurs. Choice C is incorrect as, during Metaphase II, chromosomes align on the cell's equator, and there is random orientation of the sister chromatids and not homologous chromosomes. Choice D is incorrect as, during Prophase II, chromosomes align on the cell's equator.

Explanation:
Telophase is the last phase of mitosis and does not cause mutations (Choice C). Single base substitutions cause a change in the base sequence of DNA, which is a mutation (Choice A). Carcinogens (Choice B) and high energy radiation (Choice D) are mutagens which means they can cause changes in the base sequence of DNA.

Explanation:
A greenhouse gas is a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases absorb the long wave infrared radiation (heat energy) emitted from Earth’s surface and can reradiate it back to Earth’s surface. So, one factor that determines whether a gas acts as a greenhouse gas is its ability to absorb long wave radiation: gases that are better able to absorb long wave radiation are more likely to act as greenhouse gases. A second factor that qualifies carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas of concern is its relatively high concentration in the atmosphere: gases that are in higher concentration in the atmosphere have a larger effect on Earth’s temperature.

Explanation:
The solution used to bathe organs to be used in a transplant should have an osmolarity equal to that of the organ to be transplanted and so the solution is isotonic compared to the organ’s tissues.

A solution with an osmolarity higher than that of the organ to be transplanted (Choice A) would cause tissue cells to shrivel, while a solution with an osmolarity lower than that of the organ to be transplanted (Choice B) would cause organ cells to burst. There are no described protocols that indicate that the solution should be mixed with cells from the organ to be transplanted (Choice D).

Explanation:
Choice B is correct because pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma. Choice A is incorrect because the fusion of a male and female gamete is fertilization. Choice C is incorrect because the transfer of seeds away from the parent plant is dispersal. Choice D is incorrect because pollination can occur without a pollinator. Some plants are wind-pollinated.

Explanation:
A base substitution is when one nucleotide randomly replaces another in a sequence causing a single nucleotide polymorphism. This can result in a shorter polypeptide being translated (Statement I) due to the base change causing a stop codon to appear earlier in the DNA/mRNA sequence. It can also cause an altered polypeptide chain to be translated (Statement II) if the base substitution causes a different amino acid to be translated. It can also have no effect on the polypeptide that is translated (Statement III), as the genetic code is degenerate, meaning many codons code for the same amino acid. Choice D is therefore correct.

Choices A, B and C are incorrect, as they do not include all three statements.

Explanation:
Choice A is correct because if the heart were placed in a hypotonic solution (as opposed to isotonic) water would diffuse into the cardiac muscles.

Choice B is incorrect because there would be no net movement into the tissues of the heart in an isotonic solution, not a hypotonic or hypertonic solution. Choice C is incorrect because even if it is placed in a solution other than an isotonic solution, it cannot dry out as it is still bathed in a watery solution. Choice D is incorrect as the tonicity of the solution the heart is stored in has no effect on whether the recipient’s immune system identifies the heart as foreign which would lead to rejection of the heart by the immune system.

Explanation:
Choice D is correct because transpiration is the loss of water from the stomata of a plant, it is not a stage of plant reproduction. Choices A, C and D are incorrect because pollination, fertilisation and seed dispersal are all stages of plant reproduction.

Explanation:
Negative feedback is a regulatory mechanism in which the body responds to a change in order to return the homeostatic variable back to within its set points. For example, if blood pH increases above the set point, negative feedback mechanisms will occur to bring blood pH back down. Statement I is therefore true and Statement II is therefore false. Choices B and D are not correct.

While the nervous system plays a significant role in many feedback mechanisms, it is not the only system involved. The endocrine system, which releases hormones into the bloodstream also plays a crucial role in feedback control. Statement III is therefore false, meaning Choice B is incorrect, and Choice A is the correct response to the question.

Explanation:
Choice C is a correct definition of a gene. Chromosomes are made of DNA and protein (Choice A), while genes are only made of DNA. When DNA is at various levels of supercoiling, it is wrapped around histone proteins. However, the presence of histones is not part of the definition of a gene (Choice B). Genes control some characteristics, but some characteristics are also affected by the environment (Choice D).

Explanation:
mRNA, also known as messenger RNA, carries the genetic information needed for protein synthesis (Choice B).

Ribosomal RNA is found in ribosomes. This RNA contributes to the structure of the ribosome and does not code for proteins (Choice A).

ATP (Choice C) is a molecule made out of a nucleotide (adenosine tri-phosphate), while nucleic acid is made out of many nucleotides.

tRNA (Choice D), also known as transfer RNA, brings amino acids to the ribosomes and does not code for proteins.

Explanation:
At fertilisation, two gametes, which are haploid, fuse together to produce a diploid cell. Gametes of a fruit fly have a haploid number of 4, so fertilisation produces a cell with 8 chromosomes (choice A). Choice B is incorrect because 4 is the haploid number. Choice C is incorrect because fruit fly somatic cells have 8 chromosomes and fertilised egg cells have 8 chromosomes. Choice D is incorrect because 16 is twice the diploid number of fruit flies.

Explanation:
Choice B is incorrect as it describes unlinked genes. Choice C is incorrect as all genes can be recombined during crossing over. However, the frequency of recombination due to crossing over is much lower in linked genes, depending on how close they are. Choice D is incorrect as it describes alleles.

Explanation:
The question states that heterozygous individuals have the banded pattern on their hairs, which means that the agouti trait is dominant. Two heterozygous parents will produce offspring with the dominant and recessive characteristics in the ratio of 3:1 (Choice B). The offspring of a heterozygous individual and a homozygous agouti individual will all receive at least one dominant allele, so they would all be agouti (Choice A). The offspring of at least one parent that is homozygous for agouti will all have the agouti characteristic (Choices C and D).

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

Choice C -This statement is false. In eukaryotic cells, translation takes place in the cytoplasm. Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus.

Explanation:
Haemoglobin is a globular protein which is responsible for transporting oxygen around the body (Choice A). Choice B is incorrect as collagen is a fibrous protein. Choice C is incorrect as haemoglobin is not a fibrous protein and does not provide structural support. Choice D is incorrect as collagen does not transport oxygen.

Explanation:
Sweat (Choice B) is a coolant and helps to cool the body.
Tears (Choice A), urine (Choice C) and saliva (Choice D) do not lower or raise the body temperature.

Explanation:
Statement III is not true, as homologous chromosomes often have different alleles (forms of genes), so are generally not identical to each other.

Statements I and II are true, as homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes that have their centromeres and genes at the same positions. Therefore, Choice C is correct.

Explanation:
Mitosis forms two genetically identical daughter cells with the same number of diploid chromosomes as the parent cell.

18 (Choice B) is incorrect as it is the haploid number of chromosomes. 72 (Choice C) is incorrect as it is twice the diploid number of chromosomes. 9 (Choice D) is incorrect as it is a quarter of the diploid number and an odd number.

Explanation:
Choice A is correct because high blood glucose concentration is detected by the beta cells in the pancreas and they respond by releasing insulin. Choice B is incorrect because alpha cells produce glucagon and not insulin. Choice C is incorrect because the release of insulin is triggered by high blood glucose concentration and not low blood glucose concentration. Choice D is incorrect because low blood glucose concentration does not cause the release of insulin and insulin is not secreted by alpha cells.

Explanation:
The graph shows an overall positive correlation, as maternal age increases, the incidence of non-disjunction increases (Choice A). Choice B is incorrect because there is a positive correlation not a negative correlation. Choice C is incorrect because there is a correlation. Choice D is incorrect because non-disjunction does occur below 35 years, but the incidence is lower when compared to above 35 years.

Explanation:
Choice C is correct because the biological mother passes on the X chromosome to a son and the biological father contributes only with Y. For the son to be colour-blind, he must have an allele for it on the X chromosome. Therefore the biological mother must have at least one recessive allele (n). Choices A and B are incorrect because individuals with X and Y are male. Choice D is incorrect because, in this case, no sons would have the condition.

Explanation:
Photosynthesis (Choice B) is the process by which carbon dioxide in the air is converted to carbon compounds in green plants.

Respiration releases carbon dioxide (Choice A), and decomposition by decomposers (Choice C) also releases carbon dioxide. Transpiration is the process by which water is drawn up the stem of a plant to the leaves where it evaporates (Choice D) and is not involved directly in the carbon cycle.

Explanation:

Taq polymerase was isolated from bacteria found in the hot springs at Yellowstone National Park, USA. This enzyme is able to withstand high temperatures used for PCR assays.
All other choices (Choice A, C and D) describe bacteria living in colder locations compared to hot springs which strongly suggests that enzymes present in these bacteria would not be adapted to higher temperatures.

Explanation:
A mRNA strand contains four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and uracil (U). It does not contain thymine (T) (Choice C and Choice D).

Most mRNA strands which code for polypeptides begin with the $\text{‘}$START$\text{’}$ codon AUG and end with a `STOP$\text{’}$ codon, UAG, UAA or UGA (Choice A). Choice B has a $\text{‘}$STOP$\text{’}$ codon at the beginning which would terminate translation before it begins.