Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November Prediction 2026 Memo

Copyright reserved Please turn over hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 12 NSC Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 LIFE SCIENCES P2 PREDICTION EXAMINATION 2026 MARKING GUIDELINES MARKS: 150 These marking guidelines consist of 13 pages.

Life Sciences/P2 2 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES 1. If more information than marks allocated is given Stop marking when the maximum marks are reached; draw a wavy line and write ‘max’ in the right-hand margin. 2. If, for example, three reasons are required and five are given Mark the first three only, irrespective of whether they are correct or incorrect. 3. If a whole process is given when only a part of it is required Read all of it and credit the relevant part. 4. If comparisons are asked for but descriptions are given Accept if the differences/similarities are clear. 5. If tabulation is required but paragraphs are given Candidates lose the mark for the table. 6. If diagrams with annotations are given when descriptions are required Candidates lose marks. 7. If flow charts are given instead of descriptions Candidates lose marks. 8. If the sequence is muddled and links do not make sense Credit where the sequence and links are correct. Where they are incorrect, do not credit. If they become correct again, resume crediting. 9. Non-recognised abbreviations Accept if first defined in the answer; otherwise do not credit the abbreviation but credit the rest of the answer if correct. 10. Wrong numbering If the answer fits into the correct sequence of questions but the wrong number is given, it is acceptable. 11. If the language used changes the intended meaning Do not accept. 12. Spelling errors Accept if recognisable, provided it does not mean something else in Life Sciences and is not out of context. 13. If only the letter is asked for but only the name is given (and vice versa) Do not credit. 14. If units are not given in measurements Candidates lose marks; the marking guidelines allocate marks for units separately. 15. Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated in a different way. 16. Caption All illustrations (diagrams, graphs, tables, etc.) must have a caption. 17. Code-switching of official languages (terms and concepts) A single word or two in another official language should be credited if it is correct. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 3 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 18. Symbols used in these marking guidelines ✓= one mark; / = alternative answer; * = compulsory mark; (Mark first … only) = mark only the stated number of answers in the order given. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 4 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 SECTION A QUESTION 1 1.1 1.1.1 C✓✓ 1.1.2 A✓✓ 1.1.3 D✓✓ 1.1.4 B✓✓ 1.1.5 A✓✓ 1.1.6 C✓✓ 1.1.7 D✓✓ 1.1.8 B✓✓ 1.1.9 A✓✓ 1.1.10 C✓✓ (10 x 2) (20) 1.2 1.2.1 Anticodon✓ 1.2.2 Hydrogen bond(s)✓ 1.2.3 Chiasma/chiasmata✓ 1.2.4 Homologous chromosomes✓/homologous pair 1.2.5 Genotype✓ 1.2.6 Cloning✓ 1.2.7 Transitional species✓/transitional form/transitional fossil 1.2.8 Population✓ 1.2.9 Bipedalism✓/bipedal (9 x 1) (9) 1.3 1.3.1 A only✓✓ 1.3.2 B only✓✓ 1.3.3 None✓✓ (3 x 2) (6) 1.4 1.4.1 Dihybrid cross✓ (1) 1.4.2 bbPp✓ (1) 1.4.3 (a) BbPp✓ (1) (b) Black coat✓with horns/horned✓ (2) 1.4.4 3 black, polled : 1 black, horned : 3 red, polled : 1 red, horned✓✓ (1 mark for the correct phenotypes, 1 mark for the correct ratio) (2) (7) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 5 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 1.5 1.5.1 Autosomes✓ (1) 1.5.2 Female✓ (1) 1.5.3 There are two X-chromosomes✓/the chromosomes of pair 23 are identical in size and shape/there is no Y-chromosome (1) 1.5.4 Down syndrome✓/Trisomy 21 (1) 1.5.5 47✓ (1) 1.5.6 Non-disjunction✓ (1) 1.5.7 Anaphase I✓/Anaphase II (Mark first ONE only) (1) 1.5.8 23✓ (1) (8) TOTAL SECTION A: 50 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 6 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 SECTION B QUESTION 2 2.1 2.1.1 (a) Ribosome✓ (1) (b) tRNA✓/transfer RNA (1) 2.1.2 UUC✓ (1) 2.1.3 GAA✓ (1) 2.1.4 Tryptophan✓ (1) 2.1.5 Translation - The mRNA attaches to a ribosome✓ - Each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid✓ - The tRNA with an anticodon that is complementary to the codon on the mRNA✓ - brings the amino acid to the ribosome✓ - The anticodon of the tRNA binds to the codon of the mRNA✓ - The ribosome moves along the mRNA✓and the process is repeated - Adjacent amino acids are joined by peptide bonds✓ - to form a polypeptide chain/protein✓ - The tRNA molecules are released/return to the cytoplasm to collect more amino acids✓ Any 6 (6) 2.1.6 - CUC also codes for leucine✓ - so the same amino acid is placed in the sequence✓/the sequence of amino acids does not change - The protein formed is the same/normal✓/the mutation has no effect (harmless mutation) (3) (14) 2.2 2.2.1 Anaphase I✓ (1) 2.2.2 Homologous chromosomes✓(each still made up of two chromatids) are being pulled to opposite poles✓/have separated and are at opposite sides of the cell (2) 2.2.3 (a) Spindle fibre✓ (1) (b) Centriole✓/centrosome (1) 2.2.4 4✓/Four (2n = 4) (1) 2.2.5 (a) Crossing over✓ (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 7 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 (b) - During prophase I homologous chromosomes pair up✓ - Non-sister chromatids overlap✓ - at points called chiasmata✓ - The chromatids break at the chiasma✓ - and segments of genetic material/DNA are exchanged✓ Any 3 (3) 2.2.6 - It brings about genetic variation✓(new combinations of alleles) - which increases the chances of survival of a species/allows natural selection to take place✓when the environment changes (2) (12) 2.3 2.3.1 3✓/Three (1) 2.3.2 (a) XbY✓ (1) (b) XBY✓ (1) 2.3.3 - Her father/individual 1 is colour-blind/XbY✓ - A father passes his X-chromosome to all his daughters✓ - so she received the Xb allele from her father✓ - She has normal vision so she must also have the XB allele✓(from her mother)/she is XBXb - Her son/individual 6 is colour-blind and received the Xb allele from her✓ Any 3 (3) 2.3.4 50%✓ (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 8 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 2.3.5 P1 Phenotype Normal female x Normal male✓ Genotype XBXb x XBY✓ Meiosis G/gametes XB, Xb x XB, Y✓ Fertilisation F1 Genotype XBXB, XBY, XBXb, XbY✓ Phenotype 2 normal females : 1 normal male : 1 colour-blind male 25% chance of a colour-blind child✓ P1 and F1✓ Meiosis and fertilisation✓ Any 6 OR P1 Phenotype Normal female x Normal male✓ Genotype XBXb x XBY✓ Meiosis Gametes XB Xb XB XBXB XBXb Y XBY XbY Fertilisation 1 mark for correct gametes; 1 mark for correct genotypes 25% chance of a colour-blind child✓ P1 and F1✓; Meiosis and fertilisation✓ Any 6 NOTE: 50% (chance for a son) is NOT credited for the answer mark; the question asks for any child. (6) (13) 2.4 2.4.1 Co-dominance✓ (1) 2.4.2 IBIB✓and IBi✓ (2) 2.4.3 - Baby X has blood group AB/genotype IAIB✓ - and must receive the IA allele from one parent and the IB allele from the other parent✓ - Mother 2 has blood group O/genotype ii and can only pass on the i allele✓ - Neither parent of couple 2 has the IB allele✓/father 2 (blood group A) cannot pass on IB Any 3 (3) 2.4.4 ii✓ (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 9 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 2.4.5 - Yes✓, baby Y is the biological child of couple 2 - Half of the bands of baby Y match bands of mother 2✓ - and the other half of the bands match bands of father 2✓ - Every band of baby Y matches a band of one of the parents✓ Any 3 (Mark the explanation only if ‘yes’ is given or implied.) (3) 2.4.6 - The DNA profile of each person is unique✓(except identical twins) - Many people share the same blood group✓/blood groups can only exclude a person Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) (11) [50] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 10 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 QUESTION 3 3.1 3.1.1 (a) Site/distance from the mine dump✓where the seeds were collected (1) (b) (Average) percentage of seedlings that survived✓ (1) 3.1.2 - Concentration of copper/15 mg/ℓ✓ - Number of seedlings/200 seedlings per site✓ - Duration of the investigation/six weeks✓ - Age of the seedlings✓ - Species of grass✓ - Type/volume of nutrient solution✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) 3.1.3 - The investigation was repeated three times✓ - A large sample was used/200 seedlings per site/seeds from 50 plants✓ Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) 3.1.4 The further the site is from the mine dump✓, the lower the percentage of seedlings that survived✓ OR: The closer the site is to the mine dump, the higher the percentage of seedlings that survived✓✓ (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 11 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 3.1.5 A (mine dump) B (100 m) C (500 m) D (2 km) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Site Seedlings that survived (%) Average percentage of grass seedlings from four sites that survived in a copper solution Criteria Mark Correct type of graph: bar graph (T) 1 Caption includes both variables (C) 1 Correct label for X-axis and correct label and unit for Y-axis (L) 1 Appropriate scale for Y-axis; bars of equal width and equally spaced (S) 1 Plotting of bars (P): 1–3 bars plotted correctly 1 All 4 bars plotted correctly 2 If a line graph is drawn: mark lost for type of graph (T); plotting can still be credited. If a histogram is drawn: mark lost for type of graph (T) only. If the axes are transposed: marks will be lost for labels (L) and scale (S). (6) 3.1.6 - There was variation✓in the grass population - Some plants were tolerant to copper and others were not✓ - On the mine dump the high concentration of copper killed the plants that were not tolerant✓ - The copper-tolerant plants survived✓ - and reproduced✓ - passing on the allele(s)/characteristic for copper tolerance to their offspring✓ - Over many generations the proportion of copper-tolerant plants on the mine dump increased✓ Any 6 (6) (18) 3.2 3.2.1 Allopatric speciation✓/speciation through geographic isolation (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 12 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 3.2.2 - The ancestral beetle population was split into two populations✓ - by a geographical barrier/the river✓ - There was no gene flow between the two populations✓(the beetles could not fly or swim across) - Each population was exposed to different environmental conditions✓(dry forest/moist forest) - Natural selection acted independently on each population✓ - Over many generations the two populations became genetically and phenotypically different✓ - so that they can no longer interbreed✓even if they meet again - forming two different species, P and Q✓ Any 6 (6) 3.2.3 When placed together they did not mate✓/they could not interbreed (1) 3.2.4 - Breeding at different times of the year✓ - Species-specific courtship behaviour✓ - Prevention of fertilisation✓/incompatible reproductive organs - Production of infertile offspring✓ Any 2 (Mark first TWO only) (2) (10) 3.3 3.3.1 B✓ (1) 3.3.2 SKULL A SKULL B Prominent brow ridges Brow ridges absent/not prominent Jaws protrude/prognathous Jaws do not protrude/flat face (less prognathous) Large canines Small canines Gap/diastema next to the canines No gap between the teeth Small cranium Large cranium Sloping/flat forehead Rounded/high forehead No chin Chin present (Mark first THREE only) Table✓+ any (3 x 2)✓✓✓✓✓✓ (Differences must be compared in the same row. Do not credit the position of the foramen magnum – it is not visible in these diagrams.) (7) (8) 3.4 3.4.1 Modern humans/Homo sapiens originated in Africa✓ and then migrated to other continents✓ (2) 3.4.2 South America✓ (1) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 13 NSC – Marking Guidelines Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 3.4.3 70 000 – 14 000✓ = 56 000 years✓ (2) 3.4.4 Mitochondrial DNA✓/mtDNA (1) 3.4.5 - Mitochondria are found in the cytoplasm of the ovum✓ - The sperm contributes only its nucleus to the zygote✓/the mitochondria of the sperm do not enter the ovum/are destroyed - so all the mitochondria of the zygote come from the mother✓ Any 2 (2) 3.4.6 Homo erectus✓ (1) 3.4.7 - Fossil evidence✓ - Cultural evidence✓/stone tools Any 1 (Mark first ONE only) (1) (10) 3.5 - The ancestral river fish had functional eyes✓ - In the dark caves the fish did not use their eyes✓ - Structures that are not used degenerate✓(law of use and disuse) - so the eyes became smaller/non-functional during the lifetime of the fish✓ - This acquired characteristic was passed on to the offspring✓(inheritance of acquired characteristics) - Over many generations the cave fish lost their functional eyes✓ Any 4 (4) [50] TOTAL SECTION B: 100 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved