# Life Sciences Grade 12 Paper 2 NSC June 2015 Memo (English)

> Grade 12 Life Sciences Paper 2 memorandum from the NSC June Exam 2015 (English), 11 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/life-sciences-p2-june-july-2015-memo-eng/d6c0abd7-6ef8-46e2-b6c1-5f8388545390
- Updated: 2026-09-27
- Subject: Life Sciences
- Grade: Grade 12
- Document type: Memorandum
- Year: 2015
- Exam period: NSC June Exam
- Paper: 2
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 11

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## About this document

Life Sciences · Grade 12 · NSC June Exam · 2015. Memorandum, 11 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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                     SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

                                LIFE SCIENCES P2

                                        2015

                                  MEMORANDUM

                                                               MARKS: 150

                       This memorandum consists of 11 pages.

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Life Sciences/P2                              2                                         DBE/2015
                                      SCE – Memorandum

PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES

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 a part of it is required
      Read all 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 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 are
      incorrect, do not credit. If sequence and links become 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 the 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 the answer, provided it does not mean something else in Life
    Sciences or if it is out of context.

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

14. If only the letter is asked for but only the name is given (and vice versa)
    Do not credit.

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Life Sciences/P2                             3                                     DBE/2015
                                     SCE – Memorandum

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 appear(s) 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. Changes to the memorandum
    No changes must be made to the memoranda without consulting the provincial
    internal moderator who in turn will consult with the national internal moderator (and
    the Umalusi moderators where necessary).

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

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Life Sciences/P2                              4                           DBE/2015
                                      SCE – Memorandum

SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1       1.1.1       A
          1.1.2       C
          1.1.3       A
          1.1.4       C
          1.1.5       B
          1.1.6       A/B
          1.1.7       B
          1.1.8       A                                                (8 x 2)        (16)

1.2       1.2.1       Incomplete dominance /(co dominance)
          1.2.2       Sex-linked
          1.2.3       Homologous  chromosome
          1.2.4       Amino acids
          1.2.5       Co dominance
          1.2.6       Stem cells/(meristematic)
          1.2.7       Transitional 
          1.2.8       Recessive
          1.2.9       Monohybrid                                         (9 x 1)       (9)

1.3       1.3.1       None
          1.3.2       A only
          1.3.3       A only 
          1.3.4       Both A and B                                      (4 x 2)       (8)

1.4       1.4.1       (a) RrTT                                                         (1)

                      (b) rrtt                                                         (1)

          1.4.2       RT rT                                                           (2)

          1.4.3       (a) Red fruit, short                                             (1)
                      (b) Red fruit, tall                                              (1)

          1.4.4       RRTT                                                            (2)
                                                                                        (8)
1.5       1.5.1       Prophase II/Telophase I                                          (1)
          1.5.2       (a) D- centriole/(centrosome)                                   (2)
                      (b) B- chromosome                                               (2)
                      (c) E- centromere                                               (2)
          1.5.3       (a) 4                                                            (1)
                      (b) 2                                                            (1)
                                                                                        (9)
                                                              TOTAL SECTION A:          50

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Life Sciences/P2                                5                               DBE/2015
                                        SCE – Memorandum

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1       2.1.1       A group of organisms of the same species
                      that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring                       (2)

          2.1.2       -  Crossing over
                      -  Random arrangementof chromosomes
                      -  Independent assortment /random segregation /    Meiosis
                         random assortment
                      - Mutations
                      - Chance fertilization/Random fertilization
                      - Random mating
                      (Mark first FOUR only)                                  (Any 4)         (4)

          2.1.3       (a) Speciation                                                         (1)

                      (b)
                      - The rocky island* /geographic barrier
                      - separated the fish into two populations
                      - with different environmental conditions on each side
                      - Each group underwent natural selection independently
                      - and developed differently
                      - Each group became genotypically
                      - and phenotypically different
                      - which prevented them from interbreeding leading to the
                          formation of a new species
                                                                *1 compulsory + any 5         (6)
                                                                                              (13)

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Life Sciences/P2                                 6                                   DBE/2015
                                         SCE – Memorandum

2.2                P2              Phenotype     Grey male       x     Albino female
                                   Genotype            Gg        x     gg
                   Meiosis
                                   G/gametes           G, g      x      g, g
                   Fertilisation
                   F2              Genotype            Gg;    Gg;     gg; gg 
                                   Phenotype        2 grey rabbits : 2 albino rabbits 

                   Phenotypic ratio of offspring is *1 : 1
                   P 2 and
                   F2
                   Meiosis and fertilisation
                                                                 *1 compulsory + any 6

                                                    OR

                   P2              Phenotype     Grey male       x     Albino female
                                   Genotype            Gg        x     gg
                   Meiosis
                                                Gametes           G             g
                   Fertilisation                   g              Gg            gg
                                                   g              Gg            gg

                                                 1 mark for correct gametes
                                                 1 mark for correct genotypes

                   F2              Phenotype   2 grey rabbits : 2 albino rabbits 

                   Phenotypic ratio of offspring is *1 : 1
                   P 2 and
                   F2                                                                             (7)
                   Meiosis and fertilisation
                                                                 *1 compulsory + any 6
2.3       2.3.1         (a) DNA molecule                                                          (1)

                        (b) Amino acid                                                            (1)

          2.3.2         Transcription                                                             (1)

          2.3.3         -    The sequence of nitrogen bases on molecule W/DNA will
                             change
                        -    This would cause a corresponding change on the molecule
                             X/mRNA
                        -    The amino acid brought in by tRNA will be different
                        -    A different protein will form                                        (4)

          2.3.4         (a) UCU                                                                   (1)

                        (b) Arginine ; Methionine ; Glycine
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Life Sciences/P2                               7                                   DBE/2015
                                       SCE – Memorandum
                          (Must be in the correct order)                                         (3)
                                                                                                 (11)

2.4       2.4.1       Using/not using DNA evidence increases/decreases the number of
                      people found guilty of crimes
                                                     OR
                      Using/not using DNA evidence has no effect in finding people guilty
                      of crimes                                                                (2)

          2.4.2       Number of people found guilty/convicted                                   (1)

          2.4.3       44 – 25 = 19                                                             (2)

          2.4.4       -   More criminals are found guilty when DNA evidence is
                          includedin the investigation
                      -   DNA found at a crime scene
                      -   can be compared to the DNA database
                      -   making it easier/faster
                      -   to identify suspects in the crime            any 4                    (4)
                                                                                                 (9)
                                                                                                 [40]

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Life Sciences/P2                               8                                      DBE/2015
                                       SCE – Memorandum

QUESTION 3
3.1       3.1.1      -   Predators may mistake it
                     -   for A. ochlea
                     -   which has an unpleasant taste                                             (3)

          3.1.2      -   There was variation amongst the H. deceptor butterflies
                     -   Some butterflies did not appear similar to A. ochlea
                     -   Those that did not appear similar to A. ochlea were preyed
                         upon/died
                     -   Some were similar in appearanceto the A. ochlea butterfly
                     -   Fewer of these butterflies were preyed upon
                     -   and more of them survived
                     -   They passed this gene to their offspring
                     -   More butterflies in the next generation were similar in
                         appearance to the A. ochlea                               Any 6           (6)

          3.1.3      -  In natural selection the environment/nature is the
                        driving/selective force while in artificial selection humans
                        represent the selective force
                     - Natural selection occurs in response to suitability to the
                        environment while artificial selection is in response to satisfying
                        human needs
                     - Natural selection occurs within a species while artificial
                        selection may involve one or more species
                     (Mark first ONE only)                                        (Any 1 x 2)       (2)
                                                                                                    (11)

3.2       3.2.1      Phylogenetic tree                                                             (1)

          3.2.2      (a) 2                                                                         (1)

                     (b) 7                                                                         (1)

          3.2.3      -   A. boisei and A. robustus share a more recent
                     -   common ancestor                                                           (2)

          3.2.4      Homo habilis                                                                  (1)

          3.2.5      Taung child
                                         A. africanus
                     Mrs Ples
                     Karabo/A. sediba
                     Little foot /A. prometheus
                     (Mark first TWO only)                                            Any 2         (2)

          3.2.6      -   The oldest fossils of Homo/Homo habilis /Homo erectus
                     -   are found only in Africa 
                     -   The younger fossils of Homo/Homo erectus
                     -   were found in Africa and other parts of the world
                     -   This implies that earliest Homo sp. evolved in Africa/Homo
                         erectus migrated out of Africa
                                                                                   Any 3            (3)
                                                                                                    (11)

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Life Sciences/P2                                9                                    DBE/2015
                                        SCE – Memorandum

3.3       3.3.1       A and D
                      (Mark first TWO only)                                                        (2)

          3.3.2       -     The pelvis is wide/cup-shaped
                      -     to support the weight of an organism walking upright                  (2)

          3.3.3       Diagram A
                      - The foramen magnum is located centrally/more forward
                         position below the skull
                      - so that the vertebral column arises from beneath the skull
                      - for bipedalism                                           any 2

                      Diagram B
                      - The foramen magnum is located towards the back of the skull
                      - so that the vertebral column arises from the back of the skull
                      - for quadrupedal locomotion                                any 2           (4)

                                    Diagram A                       Diagram B
                          Gently curved/C-shaped jaw      Rectangular/U-shaped jaw
          3.3.4           Small jaws                      Large jaws
                          Smaller canines /(teeth)        Larger canines/(teeth)
                          No diastema/Fewer spaces         Diastema present/Larger
                          between the teeth               spaces between the teeth
                                                                            Table format 1
                      (Mark first THREE only)                                Any 3 x 2 6           (7)

          3.3.5       Freely rotating arm
                      Rotation around elbow joints
                      Rotation around the wrist
                      Bare fingertips/nails instead of claws
                      Long upper arms
                      Opposable thumbs
                      Five fingers
                      (Mark first THREE only)                                        Any 3         (3)
                                                                                                   (18)
                                                                                                   [40]

                                                                     TOTAL SECTION B:              80

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Life Sciences/P2                            10                                   DBE/2015
                                    SCE – Memorandum

SECTION C

QUESTION 4

Mutations

•   Mutations refer to sudden changes
•   in the genetic composition of an individual

•   Gene mutations
•   result in a change in the structure of the DNA in a single gene

•   Chromosomal aberrations
•   are changes in the normal structure/number of chromosomes

•   Harmful/lethal mutations
•   result in genetic disorders/characteristics that decrease the survival of an
    organism                                                                      Any 5        (5)

Genetic disorders
• Haemophilia
• Blood does not clot
• because the protein for blood clotting is not produced

•   Colour blindness
•   The person cannot differentiate between different colours
•   due to the absence of the necessary protein for photoreception

•   Albinism
•   The lack of pigment in the skin
•   due to the absence of the protein that forms melanin

•   Down syndrome
•   The person has an extra copy of chromosome 21
•   due to non-disjunction during meiosis.                                     (4 x 3)        (12)

                                                                              Content:         (17)
                                                                             Synthesis:        (3)
                                                                                               (20)

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Life Sciences/P2                                 11                                    DBE/2015
                                         SCE – Memorandum

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    logical/cause-effect      the essay have been
                     to the topic            sequence                  sufficiently addressed
In this essay        Only information        Information regarding     At least two types of
                     regarding mutations     mutations and related     mutation; and two
                     and the related to      genetic disorders are     disorders fully
                     genetic disorders is    each explained in a       described.
                     given. (no irrelevant   logical order.
                     information).
Mark                           1                       1                          1

                                                                           TOTAL SECTION C: 20
                                                                              GRAND TOTAL: 150

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