GRADE 12
LIFE SCIENCES
PRACTICAL TASK 1
11 FEBRUARY 2025
DNA AND MEIOSIS
LEARNER’sNAME:________________________________________________________
CLASS : __________________
TIME: 1HOUR
Total
30
This question paper consists of 05 pages
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Life sciences Practical task 1/ Grade 12 2 MDE/11 February 2025
QUESTION 1
Erwin Chargaff a biochemist, researched the nitrogenous bases in DNA. His
research revealed the percentage of each base found in an organism’s DNA. The
table below includes some of his data.
Nitrogen Base Make-up of different organisms (in %)
Organism A T G C
Wheat 27,3 27,2 22,7 22.8
Yeast 31,3 32.9 18,7 17.1
Turtle 29,3 X 22.0 21.3
Rat 28,6 28,5 21,4 21,5
Human 30,9 29,4 19,9 19,8
1.1 What conclusion can be made about nitrogenous bases from the table above?
(2)
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1.2 Determine X. Show your workings.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ (3)
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Life sciences Practical task 1/ Grade 12 3 MDE/11 February 2025
1.3 Draw a bar graph to represent the nitrogen base make-up for humans.
(6)
QUESTION 2
2.1 Use the following shapes to draw a nucleotide present in mRNA, but not in
DNA.
T R P D U
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Life sciences Practical task 1/ Grade 12 4 MDE/11 February 2025
(3)
QUESTION 3 : MEIOSIS
3.1 Each person has a unique DNA combination. These differences in DNA are
made possible because of meiosis.
The micrographs above show the different phases of meiosis:
3.1 Identify the phases of meiosis shown in micrographs 4 and 5.
4 _________________________
5 _________________________ (2)
3.2 How do the chromosomes of micrographs 4 and 5 differ from each other?
_____________________ (1)
3.3 Which process that leads to genetic variation takes place in micrograph1?
_______________________ (1)
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Life sciences Practical task 1/ Grade 12 5 MDE/11 February 2025
3.4 Describe the process mentioned in QUESTION 3.3.
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_________________________________________________________ (4)
3.5 What is the most important difference between the cells in micrograph 6
and the cells of micrograph 1?
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_________________________________________________________ (1)
3.6. Use 4 chromosomes and make a drawing with labels of micrograph 4.
(5)
3.7 State the biological importance of meiosis.
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___________________________________________________________(2)
TOTAL: 30
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