Downloaded from hlayiso.com
NATIONAL SENIOR
CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
LIFE SCIENCES P2
NOVEMBER 2023
MARKING GUIDELINE
MARKS: 150
These marking guidelines consist of 10 pages.
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Skip to contentAll 2023 papers 





View all





Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2023 Memo (English)
Grade 12 Life Sciences Paper 2 memorandum from the NSC November Exam 2023 (English), 11 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
Life Sciences · Grade 12 · NSC November Exam · 2023. Memorandum. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- Life Sciences
- Grade
- Grade 12
- Document type
- Memorandum
- Year
- 2023
- Exam period
- NSC November Exam
- Paper
- 2
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 11
- File size
- 474.3 KB
Free to read online, no sign-up needed
Loading document…
Loading document…
1 of 11
This exam
NSC November Exam 2023
Questions in this paper
- Question 1.1GENETICS AND INHERITANCE18 marks
- Question 1.2DNA: THE CODE OF LIFE6 marks
- Question 1.3GENETICS AND INHERITANCE
- Question 1.4GENETICS AND INHERITANCE8 marks
- Question 1.5DNA: THE CODE OF LIFE8 marks
- Question 2.1MEIOSIS15 marks
Show all 15 questions
- Question 2.2DNA: THE CODE OF LIFE6 marks
- Question 2.3GENETICS AND INHERITANCE14 marks
- Question 2.4GENETICS AND INHERITANCE6 marks
- Question 2.5GENETICS AND INHERITANCE9 marks
- Question 3.1EVOLUTION8 marks
- Question 3.2EVOLUTION7 marks
- Question 3.3EVOLUTION10 marks
- Question 3.4EVOLUTION11 marks
- Question 3.5EVOLUTION12 marks
Document textSearch extracted text and jump to a page.
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 2 DBE/November 2023
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.
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 3 DBE/November 2023
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.
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 4 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 5 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1.1 1.1.1 D
1.1.2 D
1.1.3 D
1.1.4 B
1.1.5 A
1.1.6 C
1.1.7 A
1.1.8 C
1.1.9 C (9 x 2) (18)
1.2 1.2.1 Locus
1.2.2 Punctuated equilibrium
1.2.3 Double helix
1.2.4 Peptidebond
1.2.5 Stereoscopic / binocular vision
1.2.6 Incompletedominance
1.2.7 Nucleoplasm
1.2.8 Chromatin network
1.2.9 Cytokinesis
1.2.10 Gonosomes (10 x 1) (10)
1.3 1.3.1 None
1.3.2 Both A and B
1.3.3 Both A and B (3 x 2) (6)
1.4 1.4.1 Pedigreediagram (1)
1.4.2 3/Three (1)
1.4.3 3/Three (1)
1.4.4 IA i
IBi
ii (2)
1.4.5 ii (1)
1.4.6 Ann (2)
(8)
1.5 1.5.1 (a) Transcription (1)
(b) mRNA/messenger RNA (1)
(c) Ribosome (1)
1.5.2 Anticodon (1)
1.5.3 AGT (1)
1.5.4 1 (1)
1.5.5 4 (1)
1.5.6 Ribose (1)
(8)
TOTAL SECTION A: 50
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 6 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
SECTION B
QUESTION 2
2.1 2.1.1 (a) Centriole/centrosome (1)
(b) Spindle fibre (1)
2.1.2 Prophase I (1)
2.1.3 - Pairing of homologous chromosomes is visible/ bivalents
are visible
- Development of spindle fibres
- Crossing over is taking place
- Centriole/ centrosome moved to opposite poles
- Disintegration of the nuclear membrane Any (3)
(Mark first THREE only)
2.1.4 - Parts of the homologous chromosomes overlap and
- DNA/genetic material is exchanged
- at points called chiasmata/chiasma (3)
2.1.5 (a) Metaphase I (1)
(b) - In Metaphase I/Meiosis I chromosomes are arranged in
pairs at the equator
- In mitosis the chromosomes are arranged singly at the
equator (2)
2.1.6 - Four (daughter) cells will be formedof which
- two will each have five chromosomes and
- the other two will each have three chromosomes (3)
(15)
2.2 - The (DNA) double helix unwindsand
- unzips/hydrogen bonds break
- to form two separate strands
- Both (DNA) strands serve as templates
- to build a complementary (DNA) strand/ A pairs with T and C
pairs with G
- using free (DNA) nucleotides from the nucleoplasm
- This results in two identical (DNA) molecules Any (6)
2.3 2.3.1 The presence of T/thymine in the original sequence (1)
2.3.2 489 (2)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 7 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
2.3.3 - A form of a gene
- that is carried on chromosome 1 to 22 and
- is always expressed in the phenotype of an individual
- in the heterozygous condition Any (3)
2.3.4 (a) - The codon changed from GAC to GUC
- resulting in amino acid Leu replaced by Gln
- The other codon changed from AUA to AGA
- resulting in amino acid Try replaced by Arg
- This changed the sequence of amino acids
- A different protein was formed Any (5)
(b) - Harmful effect
- The blood clot is not broken down
- Leading to blockage of arteries /oxygen and
nutrients are not transported to cells (3)
(14)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 8 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
2.4 P1 Phenotype With polydactyly x Without polydactyly
Genotype Rr x rr
Meiosis
G/gametes R , r x r, r
Fertilisation
F1 Genotype Rr, Rr, rr, rr
Phenotype 2 polydactyly ; 2 without polydactyly
50*% chance of polydactyl child
P1 and F1
Meiosis and fertilisation
*1 compulsory mark + Any 5
OR
P1 Phenotype With polydactyly x Without polydactyly
Genotype Rr x rr
Meiosis
Gametes R r
Fertilisation r Rr rr
r Rr rr
1 mark for correct gametes
1 mark for correct genotypes
F1 Phenotype 2 polydactyly ; 2 without polydactyly
50*% chance of polydactyl child
P1 and F1
Meiosis and fertilisation
*1 compulsory mark + Any 5 (6)
2.5 2.5.1 (a) BBDD
bbdd (2)
(b) White, round fruit (2)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 9 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
2.5.2 (a) BD
bD
Bd
bd (2)
(b) One/1 (1)
2.5.3 BBdd and BBdd
OR
BBdd and Bbdd
OR
BBdd and bbdd (2)
(9)
[50]
QUESTION 3
3.1 3.1.1 - The farmer interbred
- mealie plants with a high protein content
- over 50/many generations (3)
3.1.2 12,8 % (Accept 12,7 - 12,9%) (1)
3.1.3 20 = 1,43 times
14 (2)
3.1.4 - Artificial selection: organisms with a desired characteristic are
interbred
- Genetic engineering: genes coding for the desired characteristic
are inserted into an organism (2)
(Mark first ONE only) (8)
3.2 - There is variation amongst the offspring in a population
- Some have favourable characteristics and some do not
- When there is a change in the environmental conditions/there is
competition
- organisms with a favourable characteristic survive
- whilst organisms with an unfavourable characteristic die
- The organisms that survive, reproduce
- and pass on the allele for the favourable characteristic to their offspring
- The next generation will therefore have a higher proportion of
individuals with the favourable characteristic Any (7)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 10 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
3.3 3.3.1 (a) Height of the head (1)
(b) Bite force (1)
3.3.2 - Similar characteristics
- (Same) reproductive age
- (Same) measuring tool/ for bite force/ Kistler force used to
measure bite force
- Each species kept in environmental conditions similar to their
habitats
- Lizards of the same species in each group Any (2)
(Mark first TWO only)
3.3.3 Five measurements of the bite force (1)
(Mark first ONE only)
3.3.4 Continuous variation (1)
3.3.5 Lizards with an increased head height have a stronger bite
force
OR
Lizards with a decreased head height have a weaker bite force (2)
3.3.6 C (1)
3.3.7 - Has the strongest bite force/20,4 N
- to break down tough fibrous plant material (2)
3.3.8 A (1)
(12)
3.4 3.4.1 H. erectus (1)
3.4.2 3,2 – 2,7 = 0,5 my (2)
3.4.3 H. habilis (1)
3.4.4 - Scraping
- Pounding
- Chopping Any (2)
(Mark first TWO only)
3.4.5 - H. sapiens
- H. neanderthalensis (2)
(Mark first TWO only)
3.4.6 - Increased brain sizeled to
- increased intelligence leading to
- the development of complex tools (3)
(11)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Downloaded from hlayiso.com
Life Sciences/P2 11 DBE/November 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines
3.5 3.5.1 Australopithecus (1)
3.5.2 S-shaped spine (1)
3.5.3 - An organism that has intermediate/common characteristics
- between two genera/species (2)
3.5.4 A (1)
3.5.5 - A has a pelvis that is intermediate/ transitional
between B and C
OR
- A has a shorter and wider pelvis than B
but not as short and wide as C
OR
- A has a longer and narrower pelvis than C
but not as long and narrow as B (2)
3.5.6 - A. sediba was prognathous/ more prognathous while
- H. sapiens are non-prognathous/ less prognathous
- This is due to a smaller jaw
- with smaller teeth and
- reduced chewing muscles
- caused by a changed diet to eating soft/cooked food (5)
Any (12)
[50]
TOTAL SECTION B: 100
GRAND TOTAL: 150
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Study this subject
Recommended for this subject

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2019 Memo (English)

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2019 Memo (Afrikaans)

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2018 Memo (Afrikaans)

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2016 Memo (English)

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2014 Memo (English)

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 P2 NSC November 2013 Memo (English)
More from Grade 12 Life Sciences

Question paper
Life Sciences Grade 12 Eastern Cape June 2025 QP (Eng)

Question paper
Life Sciences Grade 12 KZN March Test 2025 Question Paper

Memorandum
Life Sciences Grade 12 Paper 2 Mpumalanga Mock 2025 Memo

Question paper
Life Sciences Grade 12 P1 Mpumalanga Mock 2025 QP

Question paper
Life Sciences Grade 12 P1 North West Mock 2025 QP

Question paper