# Life Sciences Grade 12 P1 NSC November 2013 Memo (English)

> Grade 12 Life Sciences Paper 1 memorandum from the NSC November Exam 2013 (English), 12 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/life-sciences-p1-nov-2013-memo-eng/86a52d8f-329a-44b4-b501-d512c9b125ed
- Updated: 2026-09-27
- Subject: Life Sciences
- Grade: Grade 12
- Document type: Memorandum
- Year: 2013
- Exam period: NSC November Exam
- Paper: 1
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 12

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## About this document

Life Sciences · Grade 12 · NSC November Exam · 2013. Memorandum, 12 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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## Document text

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                               NATIONAL
                          SENIOR CERTIFICATE

                                 GRADE 12

                                 LIFE SCIENCES P1

                                 NOVEMBER 2013

                                  MEMORANDUM

MARKS: 150

                       This memorandum consists of 12 pages.

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Life Sciences/P1                               2                            DBE/November 2013
                                       NSC – Memorandum

PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES 2013

1.        If more information than marks allocated is given
          Stop marking when maximum marks is reached and put a wavy line and 'max'
          in the right-hand margin.

2.        If, for example, three reasons are required and five are given
          Mark the first three irrespective of whether all or some are correct/incorrect.

3.        If whole process is given when only part of it is required
          Read all and credit relevant part.

4.        If comparisons are asked for and descriptions are given
          Accept if differences/similarities are clear.

5.        If tabulation is required but paragraphs are given
          Candidates will lose marks for not tabulating.

6.        If diagrams are given with annotations when descriptions are required
          Candidates will lose marks.

7.        If flow charts are given instead of descriptions
          Candidates will lose marks.

8.        If sequence is muddled and links do not make sense
           Where sequence and links are correct, credit. Where sequence and links is
           incorrect, do not credit. If sequence and links becomes correct again, resume
           credit.

9.        Non-recognised abbreviations
          Accept if first defined in answer. If not defined, do not credit the unrecognised
          abbreviation but credit the rest of answer if correct.

10.       Wrong numbering
          If answer fits into the correct sequence of questions but the wrong number is
          given, it is acceptable.

11.       If language used changes the intended meaning
          Do not accept.

12.       Spelling errors
          If recognisable accept provided it does not mean something else in Life
          Sciences or if it is out of context.

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Life Sciences/P1                               3                            DBE/November 2013
                                       NSC – Memorandum

13.       If common names given in terminology
          Accept provided it was accepted at the national memo discussion meeting.

14.       If only letter is asked for and only name is given (and vice versa)
          No credit.

15.       If units are not given in measurements
          Candidates will lose marks. Memorandum will allocate marks for units
          separately.

16.       Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated in a different
          way.

17.       Caption
          All illustrations (diagrams, graphs, tables, etc.) must have a caption.

18.       Code-switching of official languages (terms and concepts)
          A single word or two that appears in any official language other than the
          learners' assessment language used to the greatest extent in his/her answers
          should be credited, if it is correct. A marker that is proficient in the relevant
          official language should be consulted. This is applicable to all official
          languages.

19.       No changes must be made to the marking memoranda without consulting
          the provincial internal moderator who in turn will consult with the national
          internal moderator (and the external moderators where necessary)

20.       Only memoranda bearing the signatures of the national internal moderator
          and the UMALUSI moderators and distributed by the National Department
          of Education via the provinces must be used.

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Life Sciences/P1                                4              DBE/November 2013
                                        NSC – Memorandum

SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1       1.1.1       B 
          1.1.2       A 
          1.1.3       C
          1.1.4       B
          1.1.5       B
          1.1.6       B
          1.1.7       D
          1.1.8       A
          1.1.9       B
          1.1.10      C                                             (10 x 2)       (20)

1.2       1.2.1       Anticodon
          1.2.2       Polyploid/polyploidy
          1.2.3       Haemophilia
          1.2.4       Heterozygotes/heterozygous/hybrid
          1.2.5       Phenotype
          1.2.6       DNA profiling/DNA fingerprinting
          1.2.7       Autosomes
          1.2.8       Cloning                                                       (8)

1.3       1.3.1       A only
          1.3.2       A only
          1.3.3       A only
          1.3.4       B only
          1.3.5       A only
          1.3.6       Both A and B 
          1.3.7       Both A and B 
          1.3.8       A only                                        (8 x 2)        (16)

1.4       1.4.1       (a)    Rr                                                     (1)
                      (b)    rr                                                     (1)

          1.4.2       75%                                                          (2)

          1.4.3       Rr
                      rr (any order)                                                (2)
                                                                                     (6)

                                                           TOTAL SECTION A:          50

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Life Sciences/P1                                5                         DBE/November 2013
                                        NSC – Memorandum

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1       2.1.1       (DNA) replication                                                           (1)
          2.1.2       During interphase/ between cell divisions /before cell
                      division/before mitosis/ before meiosis                                      (1)
          2.1.3       1 - G/Guanine
                      2 - C/Cytosine                                                              (2)

          2.1.4       RNA is a single strand/while DNA is double stranded
                      RNA has uracil/and DNA has thymine
                      RNA has single bases/and DNA has paired bases
                      RNA has ribose/while DNA has deoxyribose
                      RNA is much shorter/whereas DNA is longer
                      RNA maybe linear/straight/ looped /and DNA is helix
                      (Mark first TWO only)                                            Any         (2)
                                                                                                   (6)

2.2       2.2.1       Translation                                                                 (1)

          2.2.2       (a) mRNA                                                                    (1)
                      (b) tRNA                                                                    (1)
                      (c) Codon                                                                   (1)

          2.2.3       Histidine glycinemethionine(correct sequence)                             (3)
                                                                                                   (7)

2.3       2.3.1       A - Homologous chromosomes/bivalent/(tetrad)                                (1)
                      B - Centromere                                                              (1)

          2.3.2       Y – Z – X  (Must be in the correct sequence)                                (1)

          2.3.3       Genetic material was exchanged between the chromosomes in
                      diagram X
                      due to crossing over 
                      whereas the chromosomes in diagram Y did not undergo
                      crossing over                                                               (3)

          2.3.4       (a) During meiosis the chromosome pair 21 does not separate/
                          there is non-disjunction
                          Two gametes (M and N) will have an extra copy of
                          chromosomenumber 21 and therefore the other gametes
                          (O and P) do not have a copy of chromosome 21                            (2)

                      (b) Down syndrome/ Trisomy 21
                          If this gamete fuses with a normal sperm having 1 copy of
                          chromosome 21
                          the resulting zygote will have 3 copies of chromosome
                          number 21 /47 chromosomes                                                (3)
                                                                                                   (11)
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Life Sciences/P1                                    6                          DBE/November 2013
                                            NSC – Memorandum

          2.4            P 2 /(parent)     phenotype       Grey bodied x Grey bodied
                                           genotype               Gg x Gg

                         Meiosis
                
                         G/gametes                               G, g    x G, g
                     

                         Fertilisation

                         F 2 /(offspring/F 1 ) genotype         GG, Gg, Gg &        gg

                                            phenotype           grey bodied   black bodied

                                                                                            Any          (6)

                         OR

                         P 2 /(parent)   phenotype        Grey bodied x Grey bodied
                                         genotype              Gg     x Gg

                         Meiosis

                     

                                              gametes       G      g
                
                                                G          GG      Gg
                         Fertilisation           g         Gg      gg

                                              1 mark for correct gametes
                                              1 mark for correct genotypes

                         F 2 /(offspring) genotype          GG, Gg, Gg &       gg

                                         phenotype        grey bodied    black bodied

                                                                                             Any        (6)
                                                                                                        [30]

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Life Sciences/P1                              7                          DBE/November 2013
                                      NSC – Memorandum

QUESTION 3
3.1       3.1.1       An organism's complete set of genes                                      (1)

          3.1.2       Genetic engineering: involves the transfer of genes from
                      one organism to another/(manipulation of DNA)

                      Selective breeding: Parents with desirable phenotypes are
                      selected to produce offspring with desirable phenotypes

                                                     OR
                      Genetic engineering can involve gene transfer between organisms
                      from different kingdoms

                      Selective breeding can occur using organisms from the same or
                      different species within a kingdom                                       (2)

          3.1.3       - To assess the risks to human health /the environment
                      - To determine if the presence of the transferred gene will
                        affect the expression of other genes
                      - To test the effectivenessof the product
                      (Mark first ONE only)                                   Any               (1)

          3.1.4       - The spraying of herbicide will kill the weeds
                      - without killing the crops,
                      - thus reducing the competition and increasing the yield
                                                                                     Any        (3)

          3.1.5       - Produce crops that are resistant to adverse conditions/
                        drought/disease/pests
                      - Increase crop yield
                      - Change the time for the ripening of fruits
                      - Increase shelf life of plant products
                      - Improve nutritional value of food
                      - Improve the taste of food
                      - Developing fruit/plants with desirable characteristics
                      (Mark first THREE only)                                       Any         (3)

          3.1.6       The companies have invested a lot of time/money to make the
                      GM seeds
                      The companies want to control the seed market thus increasing
                      their profit                                          Any 1 x 2          (2)
                                                                                                (12)

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Life Sciences/P1                               8                           DBE/November 2013
                                       NSC – Memorandum

3.2       3.2.1       3:1                                                                        (1)
          3.2.2       X: Seed shape = 5474 = 2,96 : 1/2.95:1
                                     1850
                      Y: Seed colour = 6022 = 3, 01 : 1
                                       2001
                      Closest: Seed colour/(Y)                                                   (3)

          3.2.3       Y has the largersample size                                               (2)

          3.2.4       Round seeds                                                                (1)

          3.2.5       All the plants must be homozygous in P 1 
                      All the plants must be heterozygous in P 2 
                      Same type of plant/species
                      Same environmental conditions
                      Same method of pollination
                      (Mark first TWO only)                                           Any         (2)

          3.2.6       During gamete formation, members of each allele pair separate
                      such that each gamete only contains one allele for a particular trait      (2)
                                                                                                  (11)

3.3       - There is variation in the original population of organisms
          - The population has been separated into two groups
          - due to a geographical barrier*/any example
          - No gene flow occurs between the two groups
          - The environmental conditions on either side of the geographical
            barrier may be different
          - Each population undergoes natural selection independently
            and develops differently
          - Genotypically and phenotypically
          - The differences that develop between the two populations
            prevent them from inter-breedingeven if they were to mix
          - One or both groups may become new species
                                                            Max 6 + 1*(compulsory mark)           (7)
                                                                                                  [30]

                                                                     TOTAL SECTION B:             60

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Life Sciences/P1                                                      9                          DBE/November 2013
                                                              NSC – Memorandum

SECTION C

QUESTION 4
4.1       4.1.1

                                            The number of surviving seedlings for Group 1(that was
                                           watered with a dilute copper solution) at varying distances
                                                                   from a mine                                  

                                                         20        20                               Type
                                           20
                     

           Number of seedlings surviving
                                           15
                                                                                 12
                                                                                   12

                                           10
                                                                                                   
                                                                                              4
                                                                                              
                                            5                                             4
                                                                                                                 2

                                            0
                                                0       10          20        30        40                  50
            Scale of                                          Distance from mine (m) 
             X and Y axes
                                                         1          2          3         4                  5
                                                                  Sample area

Checklist for the mark allocation of the graph

 Correct type of graph with points joined                                                       1
 Title of graph                                                                                 1
 Correct label for X-axis                                                                       1
 Correct label for Y-axis                                                                       1
 Appropriate scale for X-axis and Y-axis                                                        1
 Plotting of points                                                           1–1 to 4 points plotted correctly
                                                                              2–all 5 points plotted correctly

NOTE:

If the wrong type of graph is drawn:
- Marks will be lost for 'correct type of graph'
If axes are transposed:
- Marks will be lost for labelling of X-axis and Y-axis                                                                  (7)

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Life Sciences/P1                              10                           DBE/November 2013
                                       NSC – Memorandum

          4.1.2       Number of surviving seedlings
                      Average height of surviving seedlings                                      (2)

          4.1.3       Distance from mine/sample area
                      Solution added /(dilute copper solution and distilled water)
                      (Mark first TWO only)                                                       (2)

          4.1.4       -   In the beginning, there was variationin the grass species
                          population
                      -   there were copper tolerant and copper intolerant forms
                      -   Due to the high copper concentration near the mine
                      -   the copper intolerant plants died 
                      -   whereas the copper tolerant plants survived
                      -   and were able to reproduce
                      -   thus passing copper tolerance to the offspring
                      -   Over many generations, the proportion of copper
                          tolerant plants increasedand hence most seedlings
                          from seeds collected near the mine survived             Any             (6)
                                                                                                  (17)

4.2       Analysis of mutations on the Y-chromosome
          shows that the oldest male ancestors of humans
          were from Africa                                                                       (3)

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Life Sciences/P1                           11                         DBE/November 2013
                                    NSC – Memorandum
4.3       Foramen magnum
          - The foramen magnum was in a backward position in the ape-like
             beingsF
          - but in a forward/ central/ ventral position in modern humansF
          Significance
          - This represents a change from quadrupedalism in ape-like beingsS
          - To bipedalism/(walking upright) in modern humansS, leading to the
             following in modern humans:
                                                            S
             o Increased awareness of the environment in sensing danger/food
                                                              S
             o Freeing of the hands to use implements / carry objects/ weapons/
                 offspring
                                                                           S
             o Exposure of a large surface area for thermoregulation /losing body
                 heat to surroundings in hot conditions/reducing overheating
                                                                             S
             o Display of sex organs /breasts as part of courtship behaviour

          Cranium
          - Modern humans have a larger craniumF than the ape-like beingsF
          - Modern humans have a less sloping foreheadF than the ape-like
             beingsF
          - Modern humans have a cranium that is more roundedF than the ape-like
             beingsF
          Significance
          - This allowed space for a larger brainS in humans than in ape-like
             beingsS, making the following possible:
             o   Better co-ordination of movementS
             o   Processing of a large amount of informationS
             o   Processing information fasterS
             o   Development of spoken and written languages to communicateS
          Jaws
          - Humans have smaller jawsF than the ape-like beingsF
          - Humans have jaws that are non-prognathousF/ flat face
             compared to the jaws of ape-like beings which are prognathousF/sloping
             face
          - Humans have C-shaped jawsF /jaws that are gently curved
             compared to the U shaped jawsF in the ape-like beings
          Significance
          - This corresponds with a change in diet from hard, raw foodS in the ape-
             like beings
          - To softer, cooked foodS in humans
          Dentition/Teeth
          - In ape-like beings there are gapsF/diastema between incisors and
             canines
          - but no gapsF between the teeth in humans
          - Humans have smaller teethF/incisors and canines than the ape-like
             beingsF
          - Humans have flatter molars and pre-molarsF than the ape-like beingsF
          Significance
          - This corresponds with the decreased need to bite and tearS
          - and an increased need to grind and chewS in humans
             in view of the change in diet to soft, cooked foodS

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Life Sciences/P1                                12                           DBE/November 2013
                                         NSC – Memorandum

          Eyebrow ridges
          - Humans have eyebrow ridges that are smallerF than those of the ape-
             like beingsF
          Significance
          - There is a decreased need to strengthen the skullS of humans
          - due to the smaller size of the jawsS

          Chin
          - In humans the chin is more developedF compared to the ape-like
             beingsF
          Significance
          - Developed chin assists with speechS in humans

          Zygomatic arch
          - In humans the zygomatic arch/cheek bone is less developedF than in the
             ape-like beingsF

          Significance
          - This corresponds with the decreased need for attachment of strong
             musclesS
          - due to the decreased jaw sizeS in humans

                                             Description of features that changed any            (10)
              Significance of the changes (must be linked to the features described) any         (7)
                                                                                  Content:       (17)
                                                                                 Synthesis:      (3)
                                                                                                 (20)
Assessing the presentation of the essay

Criterion          Relevance (R)             Logical sequence (L)      Comprehensive (C)
Generally          All information           Ideas are arranged in a   All aspects required by
                   provided is relevant to   logical/cause-effect      the essay have been
                   the topic                 sequence                  sufficiently addressed
In this            Only information          Generally each            At least 3 structural
essay              relevant to the           significance is           changes described
                   structural changes or     appropriately linked to   together with the
                   significance is given     the relevant structural   significance of each
                   (there is no irrelevant   change to the skull
                   information)
Mark                           1                       1                          1

                               R                      L                        C

                                                                       TOTAL SECTION C:          40
                                                                          GRAND TOTAL:           150

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