NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

LIFE SCIENCES P2
SEPTEMBER 2023
MARKING GUIDELINES

MARKS: 150

These marking guidelines consists of 12 pages.

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 2 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

PRINCIPLES RELATED TO MARKING LIFE SCIENCES

1. If more information than marks allocated is given

Stop marking when maximum marks are 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the answer fits into the correct sequence of questions, but the wrong number
is given, it is acceptable.

11. If the 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

Life Science/P2 3 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

15. If units are not given in measurements

Candidates will lose marks. Marking guidelines will allocate marks for units
separately.

16. Be sensitive to the sense of an answer, which may be stated differently.

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 memorandum. The provincial internal
moderator must be consulted.

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 4 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

SECTION A
QUESTION 1

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

1.2 1.2.1 Quadrupedalism

1.2.2 Peptide
1.2.3 Cranium
1.2.4 Gene mutation
1.2.5 Trisomy 21/Down Syndrome
1.2.6 Mitochondrial DNA/mt-DNA
1.2.7 Cloning
1.2.8 Co-Dominance
1.2.9 Homologous structures (9 x 1) (9)

1.3 1.3.1 Both A and B

1.3.2 A only
1.3.3 None (3 x 2) (6)

1.4 1.4.1 DNA profiling (1)

1.4.2 Baby 3 (2)

1.4.3  Identifying suspects in a crime

 Tracing missing persons
 Identifying genetic disorders
 Matching tissues for organ transplants
 Identifying dead persons
(Mark first TWO only) Any (2)
(5)

1.5. 1.5.1 (a) Bacterial resistance (1)

(b) Effect of antibiotics (1)

1.5.2 Natural Selection/Punctuated Equilibrium (1)

1.5.3 Antibiotics (1)

1.5.4 Resistant Bacteria (1)

1.5.5 25% (1)

(6)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 5 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

1.6 1.6.1 (a) 5 (1)

(b) 3 (1)
(c) 3 (1)

1.6.2 (a) Aa/AA (2)

(b) Affected female (1)
(6)

TOTAL SECTION A: 50

SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 2.1.1 (a) Homologous chromosomes/bivalent (1)

(b) Centromere (1)

(c) Chromatid (1)

2.1.2 Crossing over (1)

2.1.3 Prophase I (1)

2.1.4 Ensures genetic variation (1)

2.1.5  Chromosomes/chromatids arrange themselves randomly

 on either side of the equator
 during metaphase I/II (3)
(9)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 6 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

2.2 Meiosis I Meiosis II

Crossing over takes place No crossing over takes
place
In metaphase, the (In metaphase)
chromosomes align on the chromosomes align singly
equator in homologous on the equator
pairs
During anaphase, During anaphase,
chromosomes move chromatids move towards
towards the poles the poles

Homologous chromosomes Chromosomes occur singly

in prophase I  in prophase II 
The chromosome number is The chromosome number
halved/changes from remains the same
diploid to haploid
Results in two daughter Results in four daughter
cells cells
(Mark first THREE only) Any 3 x 2 + 1 for table (7)

2.3 2.3.1 'Law' of use and disuse

'Law' of the inheritance of acquired characteristics (2)

2.3.2  Acquired characteristics

 are not inherited/do not cause any change to the DNA of
an organism's gametes (2)
(4)

2.4  The blood the of mother, possible father and the child must be
compared
 If this shows that it is not possible that these parents can produce a
child with his/her blood group
 then this man is not the father
 If this shows that it is possible that these parents can produce a
child with his/her blood group
 then he may/ may not be the father
 because other males have the same blood group (5)
Any (5)

2.5 2.5.1 The mapping of the exact position of all the genes in all the
chromosomes of an organism/human (2)

2.5.2 The breed of the dogs

(Mark first ONE only) (1)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 7 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

2.5.3 Calculations

Total: 71 + 11 + 10 + 8 = 100
Autosomal recessive: 71/100 x 360 = 255,6°
Autosomal dominant: 11/100 x 360 = 39,6°
Sex-linked: 10/100 x 360 = 36°
Other: 8/100 x 360 = 28,8°

PER C EN T A G E G EN ET I C D I SO R D E R S C AU S ED B Y
DIFFERENT TYPES OF INHERITANCE IN DOGS
Other
8%
Sex -linked
10%

Autosomal
dominant
11%

Autosomal
recessive
71%

Criteria for marking graph

CRITERIA MARK
Pie chart drawn (T) 1
Caption showing the relationship between
the two variables(H) 1
Correct calculation (C) to determine the
proportions for the labelled sectors 2
Plotting of Sectors (P)
Correct proportions for labelled sectors

1–3 sectors drawn and labelled correctly 1

All 4 sectors of the graph are drawn and

labelled correctly 2
(6)
(9)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 8 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

2.6 2.6.1 (a) DNA (1)

(b) Nucleolus (1)

(c) tRNA (1)

(d) 3 (1)

2.6.2 UCC (2)

2.6.3 DNA Replication*

 The DNA (double helix) unwinds and
 unzips/hydrogen bonds break
 to form two separate strands
 Both DNA strands serve as the templates
 to build a complementary DNA/(A to T and C to G)
 using free (DNA) nucleotides from the nucleoplasm
 This results in two identical (DNA) molecules
 Each molecule consists of one original strand and one
new strand *1 Compulsory + Any 5 (6)

2.6.4  mRNA forms during transcription

 by copying the coded message from DNA
 and moves out of the nucleus
 and attaches to the ribosome
 the anticodons on the tRNA match the codons on the
mRNA
Any (4)
(16)
[50]

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 9 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

QUESTION 3

3.1  The common ancestor of the original baobab

population/the baobab population of Gondwanaland was
separated into two populations
 by the ocean/sea*
 There was no gene flow between the African baobab and
Australian baobab/two baobab populations.
 Each baobab population were exposed to different
environmental conditions/other selection pressures.
 Natural selections occur independently in each of the
two baobab populations.
 Such that the individuals of the two baobab populations
become very different from each other.
 genotypically and phenotypically
 even if the two baobab populations were to mix again
 they will not be able to interbreed.
The two baobab populations are now different baobab
species (in the question) (No marks for this statement)
*1 Compulsory + Any 5 (6)

3.2 3.2.1  They use species-specific courtship behaviour*

 Males sing songs to attract female mates
 and females do not respond/recognise songs from other
males *1 Compulsory + 2 (3)

3.2.2  Breeding at different times of the year

 Plant adaptations to different pollinators
 Producing infertile offspring
 Prevention of fertilisation
(Mark first TWO only) Any (2)
(5)

3.3 3.3.1 B (1)

3.3.2  The pelvis is short and wide

 to support the body weight of the upper body
(Mark first ONE only) (2)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 10 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

3.3.3  Frees the arms

so that they could carry offspring/tools/food/manipulate
things
 Allows the ability to see further
to spot danger/food
 Reduces the surface area exposed to the sun,
so, less heat is absorbed/less heat lost/improved
thermoregulation
 Expose the genitals
to attract the opposite sex
 Efficient locomotion
allows travelling longer distances
(Mark first TWO only) Any 2 x 2 (4)
(7)

3.4 3.4.1 Hominidae (1)

3.4.2 Diagram III (1)

3.4.3  The foramen magnum is in a more forward position 

 The palate is more rounded
(Mark first TWO only) (2)

3.4.4  The jaw/palate is rectangular in Diagram II and rounded in

Diagram III
 Large spaces between the teeth in Diagram II and small/
no spaces between the teeth in Diagram III
 Large canines/teeth in Diagram II  and small canines/
teeth in Diagram III  
(Mark first THREE only) Any 3 x 2 (6)

3.4.5  This organism in Diagram II had a diet of hard, raw food

 and the organism in Diagram IIl has a diet of softer/
cooked food (2)
(12)

3.5 3.5.1 Phenotype Black short fur x White long fur (2)

3.5.2 Gametes BH, Bh, bH, bh (2)

3.5.3 (a) Black Short fur; Black Long fur; White Short fur; White
Long fur (2)

(b) Black fur (1)

Copyright reserved Please turn over

Life Science/P2 11 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

3.5.4  Because of the random arrangement of chromosomes at the

equator during meiosis/any one of two alleles of a
characteristic can sort with any two of another characteristic
 the alleles of different genes move independently of each
other into the gametes
 They can therefore appear in the gametes in different
combinations (3)
(10)
3.6 3.6.1  Females lay many eggs which will ensure that the ratios
obtained will be reliable
 The eggs develop very quickly/7 to 14 days
therefore, results will be obtained fast
 Can clearly differentiate between male and female
making it easy to breed
 Fruit flies survive and breed in small flasks
making it easy to observe and work with
 The food medium required is simple/cheap
making it easy/cheap to conduct the investigation
(Mark first TWO only) (Any 2 x 2) (4)

3.6.2
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Life Science/P2 12 NW/September 2023
NSC – Marking Guidelines

P1 Phenotype: White-eyed male x red-eyed female

Genotype: XrY x XRXR 

Meiosis
G/gametes Xr , Y XR , XR 

Fertilisation
F1 Genotype XRXr XRXr XRY XRY 

Phenotype: 2 red-eyed males : 2 red-eyed females

1 red eyed male : 1 red-eyed female*

P1 and F1 
Meiosis and fertilisation 
(*1 Compulsory + Any 5)

OR

P1 Phenotype: White-eyed male x Red-eyed female

Genotype: XrY x XRXR 

Meiosis
Gametes XR XR
Xr XR Xr XR Xr
Fertilisation
Y XR Y XR Y

1 mark for correct gametes

1 mark for correct genotypes

F1 Phenotype: 2 red-eyed males: 2 red-eyed females

1 red-eyed male: 1 red-eyed female*

P1 and F1 
Meiosis and fertilisation  (6)
(*1 Compulsory + Any 5) (10)
[50]

TOTAL SECTION B: 100

GRAND TOTAL: 150

Copyright reserved Please turn over