# Life Sciences Grade 12 Paper 2 NSC June 2023 Memo (English)

> Grade 12 Life Sciences Paper 2 memorandum from the NSC June Exam 2023 (English), 11 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/life-sciences-p2-may-june-2023-mg-eng/e55f322d-39a8-4876-ac28-814312186109
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Subject: Life Sciences
- Grade: Grade 12
- Document type: Memorandum
- Year: 2023
- Exam period: NSC June Exam
- Paper: 2
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 11

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Life Sciences · Grade 12 · NSC June Exam · 2023. Memorandum. Read online or download the PDF.

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             SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS/
         NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

                                 LIFE SCIENCES P2

                                         2023

                               MARKING GUIDELINES

                                                                     MARKS: 150

                     These marking guidelines consist of 11 pages.

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Life Sciences/P2                              2                                         DBE/2023
                                  SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

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/2023
                                  SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

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 learner's
    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. The provincial internal moderator
    must be consulted, 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/2023
                                 SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1       1.1.1      B
          1.1.2      C
          1.1.3      C
          1.1.4      A
          1.1.5      D
          1.1.6      C
          1.1.7      B
          1.1.8      D
          1.1.9      B                                                   (9 x 2)       (18)

1.2       1.2.1      Incomplete dominance
          1.2.2      Chiasma/chiasmata
          1.2.3      Transcription
          1.2.4      Deoxyribose
          1.2.5      Hydrogen (bond)
          1.2.6      Genetic engineering
          1.2.7      Karyotype                                            (7 x 1)       (7)

1.3       1.3.1      Both A and B
          1.3.2      None
          1.3.3      B only                                             (3 x 2)        (6)

1.4       1.4.1      (a) Prophase I                                                     (1)

                     (b) Twelve/12                                                      (1)

                     (c) Three/3                                                        (1)

          1.4.2      (a) Nuclear membrane                                               (1)

                     (b) Cell membrane/plasmalemma/plasma membrane                      (1)

                     (c) Nucleoplasm                                                    (1)

          1.4.3      - Testes                                                           (1)
                     - Ovaries                                                          (1)
                     (Mark first TWO only)
                                                                                         (8)

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Life Sciences/P2                              5                           DBE/2023
                                  SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
          1.5.1      Dihybrid cross                                                    (1)

          1.5.2      (a)   Smooth stem                                                 (1)

                     (b)   Elongated fruit                                             (1)

          1.5.3      (a)   nnrr/nrnr/ rrnn                                            (2)

                     (b)   Smooth stem round fruit                                    (2)
                                                                                        (7)

1.6       1.6.1      Karabo                                                            (1)

          1.6.2      Australopithecus africanus                                        (1)

          1.6.3      (a)   (Lee) Berger                                                (1)

                     (b)   (Raymond) Dart                                              (1)
                                                                                        (4)

                                                                TOTAL SECTION A: 50

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Life Sciences/P2                              6                                    DBE/2023
                                  SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1       2.1.1      (a)   Amino acid                                                           (1)

                     (b)   mRNA                                                                 (1)

          2.1.2      (a)   TAC                                                                 (2)

                     (b)   GUA                                                                  (1)

          2.1.3      Translation*
                     - Each tRNA carries a specific amino acid
                     - When the anticodon on the tRNA/GUA
                     - matches the codon on the mRNA/CAU
                     - then tRNA brings the required amino acid to the ribosome
                     - Amino acids become attached to each other by peptide bonds
                     - to form the required protein              1* compulsory + 6              (7)
                                                                                                 (12)

2.2       -   Codon GAC (on the mRNA)
          -   changed to GAU
          -   Both these codons code for the same amino acid/Aspartic acid
          -   therefore there will be no effect on the protein formed                           (4)

2.3                      DNA                                 RNA
           Has deoxyribose sugar               Has ribose sugar
           Has thymine/nitrogenous base T      Has uracil/nitrogenous base U
          (Mark first TWO only)                                       Table 1 + (2 x 2)          (5)

2.4       2.4.1      (a)   Chromosomalmutation                                                  (1)
                     (b)   Non-disjunction                                                      (1)
                     (c)   Mitosis                                                              (1)
          2.4.2      - The chromosome pair/chromatids failed to separate
                     - at position 21
                     - during anaphase(I or II)
                     - resulting in one daughter cell having an extra chromosome/
                       24 chromosomes
                     - Fusion of a gamete with 24 chromosomes
                     - and a normal gamete/gamete with 23 chromosomes
                     - results in a zygote with 47 chromosomes/extra chromosome
                        at position 21                                           Any             (5)

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Life Sciences/P2                              7                                  DBE/2023
                                  SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

          2.4.3      -   In Trisomy 21 there is an extra chromosome/three copies of
                         chromosome 21 in each somatic cell
                         In Mosaic Down syndrome there is an extra chromosome only
                         in some cells
                     -   Trisomy 21 occurs during meiosis/before fertilisation
                         Mosaic Down syndrome occurs during mitosis/after
                         fertilisation                                          (2 x 2)        (4)
                         (Mark first TWO only)
                                                                                               (12)

2.5       2.5.1      - The disorder is controlled by alleles/genes that
                     - are located on the autosomes                                           (2)

          2.5.2      - One/1                                                                  (1)

          2.5.3      - Individuals 3 and 4 are both without Tay-Sachs disease
                     - The child has Tay-Sachs/Individual 7 has Tay-Sachs
                     - which is only expressed in the phenotype in a homozygous
                       condition
                     - Each parent must carry a recessive allele/be heterozygous
                     - The child has two recessive alleles
                     - One was received from each parent

                                                 OR

                     - Individuals 3 and 4 are both without Tay-Sachs disease
                     - If it was caused by a dominant allele
                     - then individual 3 or 4 would have Tay Sachs
                     - and still have a child with Tay-Sachs/individual 7 has Tay-
                       Sachs
                     - who could be heterozygous                                   Any        (5)

          2.5.4      TT
                     tt                                                                       (2)
                                                                                               (10)

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Life Sciences/P2                              8                                               DBE/2023
                                  SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

2.6        P1              Phenotype    Woman without                        Man with
                                                                x
                                         haemophilia                         haemophilia
                           Genotype         XHXh                x              XhY
           Meiosis
                           G/gametes       XH,     Xh           x           Xh,     Y

           Fertilisation

           F1              Genotype        XHXh,        XHY,        XhXh,     XhY

                           Phenotype    1 daughter without haemophilia, 1 daughter
                                        with haemophilia, 1 son without haemophilia,
                                        1 son with haemophilia

                                        0%*chance of a daughter homozygous for
                                        normal blood clotting

           P1 and F1
           Meiosis and fertilisation
                                                         *1 compulsory mark + any 6

                                                   OR

           P1              Phenotype    Woman without                         Man with
                                                                x
                                         haemophilia                         haemophilia
                           Genotype         XHXh                x              XhY

           Meiosis
                                         Gametes                XH                 Xh
           Fertilisation                    Xh                 XHXh               XhXh
                                            Y                  XHY                XhY

                                          1 mark for correct gametes
                                          1 mark for correct genotypes

           F1              Phenotype    1 daughter without haemophilia, 1 daughter
                                        with haemophilia, 1 son without
                                        haemophilia, 1 son with haemophilia

                                        0%* chance of a daughter homozygous
                                        for normal blood clotting

           P1 and F1
           Meiosis and fertilisation
                                                         *1 compulsory mark+ any 6                          (7)

                                                                                                            [50]

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Life Sciences/P2                                9                                 DBE/2023
                                    SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 3

3.1       3.1.1      To determine which blood group was the most common in their
                     community                                                                (2)
          3.1.2      (a)   - Obtain permission from the school/clinic to conduct the
                             investigation
                           - Decide on the sample size
                           - Decide on the method for recording results
                           - Decide on time/date to collect data from the clinic               (3)
                           (Mark first THREE only)

                     (b)   - Sampled 3/all blood donor clinics in the community
                           - 200 donors per clinic sampled/600 donors           Any            (1)
                           (Mark first ONE only)

                     (c)   First time donors’ blood groups are not known yet/
                           not in the database                                                  (1)

          3.1.3                x 600= 90 participants
                                                                                                (3)

          3.1.4      (a)   (Blood group) O                                                     (1)

                     (b)   (Blood group) AB                                                    (1)

          3.1.5      IA IA 
                     IA i                                                                      (2)
                                                                                                (14)

3.2       3.2.1      Artificial selection/selective breeding                                   (1)

          3.2.2      - They chose dogs with desirable traits
                     - and interbred them to
                     - produce offspring with these traits                                     (3)

          3.2.3      - Allow them to interbreed with each other
                     - and see whether they produce fertile offspring
                                   OR
                     - Analysis of DNA
                     - to check for matching sequences                                         (2)
          3.2.4      - Rhodesian ridgeback
                     - is strong, athletic and fast
                     - is able to catch the prey                                   Any         (2)

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Life Sciences/P2                              10                                    DBE/2023
                                   SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
          3.2.5      -   Due to reduction in gene pool/variation
                     -   they will not be able to hunt/find shelter/defend themselves
                     -   as well as wolves are able to
                     -   therefore unable to survive in the wild
                                                                                                  (3)
                                                                                                  (11)

3.3       - If a population of a single species becomes separated by a geographical
             barrier (sea, river, mountain, lake)
          - then the population splits into two
          - There is now no gene flow between the two populations
          - Since each population may be exposed to different environmental
            conditions/the selection pressure may be different
          - natural selection occurs independently in each of the two populations
          - such that the individuals of the two populations become (very) different
            from each other
          - genotypically and phenotypically
          - Even if the two populations were to mix again
          - they will not be able to interbreed
          - The two populations are now different species                          Any           (7)

3.4       3.4.1      Phylogenetic tree/cladogram                                                 (1)

          3.4.2      (a) P                                                                       (1)
                     (b) R                                                                       (1)

          3.4.3      (a) Bonobo
                         Chimpanzee                                                              (2)
                         (Mark first TWO only)
                     (b) Orang-utan
                         Gorilla
                         Bonobo
                         Chimpanzee                                                 Any          (2)
                         (Mark first TWO only)

          3.4.4      -   Foramen magnum at a more backward position
                     -   C-shaped spine
                     -   Pelvis long and narrow                                                  (3)
                     (Mark first THREE only)
                                                                                                  (10)

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Life Sciences/P2                            11                                  DBE/2023
                                 SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines

3.5       3.5.1      (Modern) humans originated in Africa and migrated to other parts
                     of the world                                                            (2)
          3.5.2      - Fossils of Ardipithecus were found in Africa only
                     - Fossils of Australopithecus were found in Africa only
                     - Fossils of Homo habilis were found in Africa only
                     - The oldest fossils of Homo erectus were found in Africawhile
                        the younger fossils of Homo erectus were found in other parts
                        of the world
                     - The oldest fossils of Homo sapiens were found in Africawhile
                     - the younger fossils of Homo sapiens were found in other parts
                       of the world                                               Any        (6)
                                                                                              (8)
                                                                                              [50]

                                                                 TOTAL SECTION B:             100
                                                                    GRAND TOTAL:              150

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