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Date May 2021 Marks available 1 Reference code 21M.1.HL.TZ2.36
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 2
Command term Question number 36 Adapted from N/A

Question

Which cell is a polyploid zygote produced by fusion of one haploid and one diploid gamete?

Markscheme

A

Examiners report

This question proved difficult and few candidates, including those scoring well on the examination, selected the correct response. The great majority of students opted for response D, presumably by thinking haploid = 1, diploid = 2 and when fused you get a cell with 3 chromosomes. For answer D to be correct the original diploid number would need to have been 2 and, in that case, the 3 chromosomes in the cell would be identical in size. Answer A is the only possible response with the original cell having 2n = 4.

Syllabus sections

Additional higher level » Topic 10: Genetics and evolution » 10.3 Gene pools and speciation
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Additional higher level » Topic 10: Genetics and evolution
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