Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November Prediction 2026 QP

Copyright reserved Please turn over Prediction hlayiso mock exams Practice Series: Grade 12 NSC Preparation WWW.HLAYISO.COM NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE GRADE 12 LIFE SCIENCES P2 PREDICTION EXAMINATION 2026 MARKS: 150 TIME: 2½ hours This question paper consists of 15 pages.

Life Sciences/P2 2 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions. 1. Answer ALL the questions. 2. Write ALL the answers in the ANSWER BOOK. 3. Start the answers to EACH question at the top of a NEW page. 4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this question paper. 5. Present your answers according to the instructions of each question. 6. Do ALL drawings in pencil and label them in blue or black ink. 7. Draw diagrams, tables or flow charts only when asked to do so. 8. The diagrams in this question paper are NOT necessarily drawn to scale. 9. Do NOT use graph paper. 10. You must use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass, where necessary. 11. Write neatly and legibly. Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 3 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 SECTION A QUESTION 1 1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the question numbers (1.1.1 to 1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.1.11 D. 1.1.1 A DNA molecule contains 18% thymine. What percentage of the nitrogenous bases in this molecule is cytosine? A 18% B 36% C 32% D 64% 1.1.2 Consider the following events: (i) Crossing over during prophase I (ii) Random arrangement of chromosomes at the equator during metaphase I (iii) Replication of DNA during interphase (iv) Separation of chromatids during anaphase II Which of the events above contribute to genetic variation in gametes? A (i) and (ii) only B (i), (ii) and (iii) only C (ii) and (iv) only D (iii) and (iv) only 1.1.3 The fossils known as the Taung Child and Mrs Ples belong to the species … A Homo naledi. B Australopithecus sediba. C Homo habilis. D Australopithecus africanus. 1.1.4 Which ONE of the following is the genotype of a female who is a carrier of haemophilia? A XhXh B XHXh C XHXH D XhY Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 4 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 1.1.5 A man with the genotype IAi and a woman with the genotype IBi have a child. What is the probability that the child will have blood group O? A 25% B 50% C 0% D 75% QUESTIONS 1.1.6 AND 1.1.7 REFER TO THE TABLE BELOW, WHICH SHOWS THE APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE DNA OF HUMANS AND THE DNA OF SOME OTHER PRIMATES. PRIMATE SIMILARITY TO HUMAN DNA (%) Chimpanzee 98,8 Gorilla 98,4 Orang-utan 97,0 Rhesus monkey 93,0 1.1.6 The information in the table is an example of … A fossil evidence for evolution. B cultural evidence for evolution. C genetic evidence for evolution. D evidence from biogeography. 1.1.7 Which ONE of the following conclusions is supported by the data in the table? A Humans evolved from chimpanzees. B Rhesus monkeys are more closely related to humans than gorillas are. C Humans and orang-utans belong to the same genus. D Humans share a more recent common ancestor with chimpanzees than with orang-utans. 1.1.8 Which ONE of the following is an advantage of obtaining stem cells from the umbilical cord rather than from embryos? A Umbilical cord stem cells can only become blood cells. B Fewer ethical objections are raised because no embryo is destroyed. C Umbilical cord stem cells are already specialised. D Umbilical cord stem cells are haploid. 1.1.9 Which ONE of the following is an example of cultural evidence for human evolution? A Stone tools found together with hominid fossils B Mitochondrial DNA of modern populations C The position of the foramen magnum in fossil skulls D The shape of the pelvis of fossil hominids Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 5 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 1.1.10 During gamete formation in a woman, chromosome pair 21 failed to separate during anaphase I. Which ONE of the following shows the number of chromosomes in the gametes that could be formed? A 23 and 23 B 47 and 45 C 24 and 22 D 46 and 46 (10 x 2) (20) 1.2 Give the correct biological term for EACH of the following descriptions. Write only the term next to the question numbers (1.2.1 to 1.2.9) in the ANSWER BOOK. 1.2.1 A sequence of three nitrogenous bases on a tRNA molecule that is complementary to a codon 1.2.2 The type of bond between the nitrogenous bases of the two strands of a DNA molecule 1.2.3 The point where non-sister chromatids overlap during crossing over 1.2.4 A pair of chromosomes that are similar in size and shape and carry genes for the same characteristics 1.2.5 The genetic make-up of an organism for a particular characteristic 1.2.6 The biotechnological process used to produce organisms that are genetically identical to the parent 1.2.7 A species that has characteristics of both an ancestral group and a descendant group 1.2.8 A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same habitat at the same time 1.2.9 The ability of an organism to walk upright on two legs (9 x 1) (9) 1.3 Indicate whether each of the descriptions in COLUMN I applies to A ONLY, B ONLY, BOTH A AND B or NONE of the items in COLUMN II. Write A only, B only, both A and B or none next to the question numbers (1.3.1 to 1.3.3) in the ANSWER BOOK. COLUMN I COLUMN II 1.3.1 Cell division that produces genetically identical daughter cells A: Mitosis B: Meiosis 1.3.2 Evolution that takes place slowly and steadily over a long period of time A: Punctuated equilibrium B: Gradualism 1.3.3 Contains the sugar deoxyribose A: mRNA B: tRNA (3 x 2) (6) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 6 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 1.4 In cattle, black coat colour (B) is dominant over red coat colour (b), and the absence of horns, called polled (P), is dominant over the presence of horns (p). A bull with the genotype BbPp was crossed with cow 2. The Punnett square below shows the gametes of the parents and some of the possible genotypes of the offspring. Gametes BP Bp bP bp bP BbPP 1 bbPP bbPp bp BbPp 2 bbPp bbpp 1.4.1 Name the type of cross shown above. (1) 1.4.2 Give the genotype of cow 2. (1) 1.4.3 Give the: (a) Genotype of offspring 1 (1) (b) Phenotype of offspring 2 (2) 1.4.4 Give the phenotypic ratio of the offspring of this cross. (2) (7) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 7 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 1.5 The diagram below shows the karyotype of a person. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 21 23 1.5.1 Give the collective name for the chromosomes numbered 1 to 22. (1) 1.5.2 State the gender of this person. (1) 1.5.3 Give ONE observable reason for your answer to QUESTION 1.5.2. (1) 1.5.4 Name the genetic disorder shown by this karyotype. (1) 1.5.5 How many chromosomes are present in EACH somatic cell of this person? (1) 1.5.6 Name the abnormal event during meiosis that resulted in this disorder. (1) 1.5.7 Name ONE phase of meiosis during which the event named in QUESTION 1.5.6 can take place. (1) 1.5.8 How many chromosomes are present in a normal human ovum? (1) (8) TOTAL SECTION A: 50 Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 8 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 SECTION B QUESTION 2 2.1 The diagram below represents a stage of protein synthesis. The table shows some mRNA codons and the amino acids they code for. A U G C U U G C A U G G A A G C G U A C C 1 2 3 4 5 P X mRNA mRNA CODON AMINO ACID AUG Methionine CUU Leucine CUC Leucine GCA Alanine UGG Tryptophan AAG Lysine ACC Threonine GAA Glutamic acid UUC Phenylalanine 2.1.1 Identify: (a) Organelle P (1) (b) Molecule X (1) 2.1.2 Give the anticodon that is complementary to codon 5. (1) 2.1.3 Give the sequence of nitrogenous bases on the DNA template strand that coded for codon 2. (1) 2.1.4 Use the table to name the amino acid that is coded for by codon 4. (1) 2.1.5 Describe the stage of protein synthesis represented in the diagram. (6) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 9 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 2.1.6 A mutation changed codon 2 from CUU to CUC. Use the information in the table to explain the effect of this mutation on the protein that is formed. (3) (14) 2.2 The diagram below represents a cell during meiosis. The shading shows the origin of the genetic material of each chromatid. A B 2.2.1 Identify the phase of meiosis represented in the diagram. (1) 2.2.2 Give ONE observable reason for your answer to QUESTION 2.2.1. (2) 2.2.3 Identify part: (a) A (1) (b) B (1) 2.2.4 What is the diploid number of this organism? (1) 2.2.5 The shading of the chromatids shows that a process took place earlier during meiosis I. (a) Name this process. (1) (b) Describe the process named in QUESTION 2.2.5(a). (3) 2.2.6 Explain the importance of the process named in QUESTION 2.2.5(a). (2) (12) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 10 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 2.3 Colour-blindness is a sex-linked disorder caused by a recessive allele (Xb). The allele for normal vision is represented by XB. The diagram below shows the inheritance of colour-blindness in a family. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 KEY: Male with normal vision Colour-blind male Female with normal vision 2.3.1 How many generations are represented in the diagram? (1) 2.3.2 Give the genotype of individual: (a) 1 (1) (b) 4 (1) 2.3.3 Individual 3 has normal vision. Explain why she must be a carrier of colour-blindness. (3) 2.3.4 What is the percentage chance that individual 7 is a carrier of colour-blindness? (1) 2.3.5 Individuals 3 and 5 plan to have another child. Use a genetic cross to show the percentage chance that this child will be colour-blind. (6) (13) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 11 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 2.4 Two babies, X and Y, were born on the same night in a hospital. Their name tags fell off and the hospital was not sure which baby belonged to which couple. Blood tests were done on both couples and both babies. PERSON Mother 1 Father 1 Mother 2 Father 2 Baby X Baby Y BLOOD GROUP A B O A AB O The diagram below shows the DNA profiles of couple 2 and baby Y. Mother 2 Father 2 Baby Y 2.4.1 Name the type of dominance shown by the inheritance of blood group AB. (1) 2.4.2 Give ALL the possible genotypes of father 1. (2) 2.4.3 Use the blood groups to explain why baby X cannot be the child of couple 2. (3) 2.4.4 Give the genotype of baby Y. (1) 2.4.5 Use the DNA profiles to explain whether baby Y is the biological child of couple 2. (3) 2.4.6 Give ONE reason why DNA profiling is more reliable than blood groups to identify the parents of a child. (1) (11) [50] Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 12 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 QUESTION 3 3.1 A species of grass grows on the waste dumps of an old copper mine in Limpopo. The soil of the dumps contains high concentrations of copper, which is poisonous to most plants. The same grass species also grows in the surrounding area, where the soil contains less copper further away from the dumps. Scientists investigated the tolerance to copper of grass plants from four sites. The procedure was as follows: • Seeds were collected from 50 plants at each of the following sites: Site A: on the mine dump; Site B: 100 m from the dump; Site C: 500 m from the dump; Site D: a pasture 2 km from the dump • The seeds were germinated and the seedlings were grown for two weeks without copper. • 200 seedlings from each site were then placed in a nutrient solution containing 15 mg/ℓof copper. • All the seedlings were kept at the same temperature and light intensity. • After six weeks the percentage of seedlings that survived was recorded. • The investigation was repeated three times and the average percentage was calculated. The results are shown in the table below. SITE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF SEEDLINGS THAT SURVIVED (%) A (mine dump) 84 B (100 m) 61 C (500 m) 23 D (2 km) 6 [Data: examiner’s own] 3.1.1 Identify the: (a) Independent variable (1) (b) Dependent variable (1) 3.1.2 State ONE factor, other than temperature and light intensity, that was kept constant during this investigation. (1) 3.1.3 State ONE way in which the scientists ensured the reliability of the results. (1) 3.1.4 Describe the relationship between the distance of the site from the mine dump and the percentage of seedlings that survived. (2) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 13 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 3.1.5 Draw a bar graph to represent the results of this investigation. (6) 3.1.6 Use Darwin’s theory of natural selection to explain how the grass population on the mine dump became tolerant to copper. (6) (18) 3.2 Read the extract below. Two species of flightless ground beetle, species P and species Q, live on opposite banks of a large river in a forest in KwaZulu-Natal. DNA evidence shows that both species evolved from a single ancestral population. About two million years ago the river changed its course and divided the forest into two parts. The beetles cannot fly or swim across the river. Over time the forest on the northern bank became drier, while the forest on the southern bank remained moist. When beetles of species P and species Q were placed together in a laboratory, they did not mate with each other. [Examiner’s own scenario] 3.2.1 Name the type of speciation described in the extract. (1) 3.2.2 Describe how species P and species Q evolved from the ancestral population. (6) 3.2.3 Give ONE piece of evidence from the extract which shows that P and Q are different species. (1) 3.2.4 Name TWO reproductive isolating mechanisms that could prevent species P and species Q from producing fertile offspring. (2) (10) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 14 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 3.3 The diagrams below represent the skulls of an African ape (skull A) and a modern human (skull B). They are drawn to the same scale. SKULL A SKULL B [Examiner’s own drawing] 3.3.1 Which skull (A or B) has the larger cranium? (1) 3.3.2 Tabulate THREE visible differences between skull A and skull B. (7) (8) Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Sciences/P2 15 NSC Prediction Hlayiso/Prediction 2026 3.4 The diagram below shows the possible migration routes of modern humans (Homo sapiens) and the approximate time when they first arrived on each continent. The information is based on genetic and other evidence. to North America (via Bering Strait) from Asia AFRICA origin: about 200 000 years ago ASIA 70 000 years ago EUROPE 45 000 years ago AUSTRALIA 50 000 years ago NORTH AMERICA 15 000 years ago SOUTH AMERICA 14 000 years ago [Dates approximate; summary compiled by the examiner from various sources] 3.4.1 State the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis. (2) 3.4.2 Name the continent that was the last to be reached by modern humans. (1) 3.4.3 Calculate how many years passed between the arrival of modern humans in Asia and their arrival in South America. Show ALL your working. (2) 3.4.4 Name the type of DNA that is used to trace the ancestry of humans through the female line. (1) 3.4.5 Explain why the type of DNA named in QUESTION 3.4.4 is inherited only from the mother. (2) 3.4.6 Name the hominid species that is thought to have been the first to leave Africa. (1) 3.4.7 Name ONE type of evidence, other than genetic evidence, that supports the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis. (1) (10) 3.5 Some species of fish live in dark underground caves. These cave fish have no functional eyes, while closely related fish that live in rivers have well-developed eyes. Scientists believe that the cave fish evolved from river fish that entered the caves many generations ago. Describe how Lamarck would have explained the evolution of cave fish without functional eyes. (4) [50] TOTAL SECTION B: 100 GRAND TOTAL: 150 Copyright reserved