Home / IB DP Biology C3.2 Defence against disease- FA 2025- IB Style Questions For SL Paper 2

IB DP Biology C3.2 Defence against disease- FA 2025- IB Style Questions For SL Paper 2

Question

 Explain the role of cells in the defence against infectious disease.[7]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans

a.cells of skin provide a physical barrier/produce fatty acids/lactic acid/lysozyme which stops entry of microbes
OR
mucous membranes produce mucus to trap pathogens
OR
stomach cells produce hydrochloric acid which kills microbes;
b.platelets start the clotting process preventing access of pathogens;
c.(two types of) white blood cells fight infections in the body;
d.phagocytes ingest pathogens (by endocytosis/phagocytosis);
e.gives non-specific immunity to diseases / ingest any type of pathogen;
f.production of antibodies by lymphocytes/B cells;
g.in response to particular pathogens/antigens;
h.gives specific immunity;
i.lymphocyte/B cell makes only one type of antibody;
j.plasma cells produce large quantity of (one type of) antibody;
k.some lymphocytes act/remain as memory cells;
l.can quickly reproduce to form a clone of plasma cells if a pathogen carrying a specific antigen is re-encountered;
m.results in faster defence against second exposure to specific antigen/pathogen/disease;

Question

a. Using the Punnett grid, explain how two parents can have children with any of the different ABO blood groups.

[3]

b. Distinguish between the structure of arteries and the structure of veins. [3]

c. Explain how cuts in the skin are sealed by blood clotting. [2]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Markscheme

a. correct gametes of one parent as IA AND i in header line/column
AND
correct gametes of other parent as IB AND i in header column/line 

b. correct corresponding genotypes in inner squares as IAIB, IAi, IBi, ii 

c. corresponding phenotypes of children identified as AB, A, B and O 

d. ratio of phenotypes is 1:1:1:1  OWTTE

Allow ECF.

a.

a. arteries have thicker (muscular) walls/layer/tunica (media)
OR
veins have thinner (muscular) walls/layer/tunica (media) 

b. arteries have no valves
OR
veins have valves 

c. arteries have thicker elastic layer
OR
veins have thinner elastic layer 

d. arteries have a smaller lumen/bore
OR
veins have a larger lumen/bore 

Accept answers presented in a table.

b.

a. clotting factors released from platelets 

b. clotting process involves a cascade/series of reactions 

c. produces thrombin 

d. causes rapid conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin 

e. fibrin makes a mesh to seal the wound OWTTE

c.

Question

The diagram shows the human heart.

a.i. On the diagram, label the aorta. [1]

a.ii. On the diagram, label the right atrium. [1]

b. Explain how valves control the flow of blood through the heart.[2]

c. Outline the causes and consequences of blood clot formation in coronary arteries.[2]

d. Outline the role of lymphocytes in defence against disease.[2]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Markscheme

both labelled clearly as in diagram ✔

a.i.

both labelled clearly as in diagram ✔

a.ii.

a. valves open and close in response to changes in blood pressure/heart contraction/pumping ✔

b. valve prevents backflow/maintains direction of blood flow ✔

c. valves allow heart chambers to fill/to empty ✔

b.

a. coronary heart disease/CHD/coronary artery disease/CAD occurs when there is reduction of oxygen to the heart muscle ✔

b. high ratio of LDL to HDL/fatty diet leads to plaque formation in arteries ✔

c. plaque breaks off causing damage that activates blood clot formation ✔

d. clots «in the bloodstream» may block a coronary artery/coronary thrombosis reducing blood flow/oxygen
OR
clots can cause heart attack/muscle death ✔

e. sickle cell anemia «crisis» produces blood clots «that can cause coronary/arterial blockage» ✔

c.

a. produce antibodies ✔

b. memory cells confer immunity ✔

c. specific immunity results from production of antibodies specific to a particular antigen ✔

d. recognize pathogens ✔

e. destroy foreign cells/cancer cells ✔

d.

Question

a. Outline how cuts in the skin are sealed to prevent blood loss.[4]

b. Outline how two parents could have a child with any of the four ABO blood groups.[4]

c. Explain how ventilation and lung structure contribute to passive gas exchange.[7]

▶️Answer/Explanation

Markscheme

a. platelets respond to/detect skin/blood vessel damage ✔

b. platelets release clotting factors ✔

c. clotting factors trigger a chain/cascade of reactions ✔

d. «leading to» formation of thrombin ✔

e. thrombin causes fibrinogen conversion into fibrin ✔

f. blood clot seals the wound due to fibrin network of fibres ✔

Accept answers presented as a flow chart.

a.

a. «first set of» gametes/parental genotype IA, i ✔

b. «other set of» gametes/parental genotype IB, i ✔

c. «genotypes of offspring are respectively» IAIB, IBi, IAi, ii ✔ All four correct required.

d. «phenotypes of offspring are respectively» AB, B, A, O ✔ All four correct required linked to genotypes

Award marks only for the first grid if more than one drawn;
e.g. of Punnett grid

Answers can be given in a Punnett grid or in prose.

Accept the four possible blood groups of the offspring anywhere in the answer.

b.

a. air carried through trachea AND bronchi/bronchioles AND alveoli ✔ All three required in correct order.

b. alveoli increase the surface area/thin walled for gas exchange ✔

c. gas exchange carried out through type I pneumocytes ✔

d. type II pneumocytes secrete surfactant to reduce surface tension ✔

e. moist surface/surfactant allows gases to diffuse in solution ✔

f. ventilation/moving blood maintains concentration gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide ✔

g. between air in alveoli and blood in «adjacent» capillaries
OR
oxygen diffuses from alveoli to capillaries and carbon dioxide from capillaries to alveoli ✔ OWTTE

h. external intercostal muscles/diaphragm contract during inspiration ✔

i. lowering air pressure «in lungs»/increasing thorax volume ✔

j. relaxation of external intercostal muscles/diaphragm enable «passive» expiration ✔

k. internal intercostal «and abdominal muscles» contract «to force» expiration ✔

l. expiration due to increasing air pressure «in lungs»/decreasing thorax volume ✔

Accept correctly annotated diagram.

c.
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