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Date November 2017 Marks available 6 Reference code 17N.3.HL.TZ0.13
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone TZ0 / no time zone
Command term Discuss Question number 13 Adapted from N/A

Question

Discuss biopharming.

Markscheme

a. produces useful pharmaceuticals/drugs/proteins

b. inserts genetic material/genes into host plants/animals

c. produces more complex drugs/proteins than prokaryotic organisms

    OR

    no post-translation modification with prokaryotes «so no complex proteins»

d. valid example

Allow verifiable examples, eg: antithrombin/coagulation factors «in goats», development of Norwalk virus/
cholera toxin vaccines «in tomatoes»

e. issues regarding contamination of other organisms

    OR

    possible ecological effects

f. plants process proteins differently than humans

g. proteins produced by plants may cause allergic reaction

h. some proteins are intellectual property

i. example of ethical issue

[Max 6 Marks]

Examiners report

[N/A]

Syllabus sections

Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics » Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics (Additional higher level topics) » B.4 Medicine
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Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics » Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics (Additional higher level topics)
Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics

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