Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Passage of information from parents to offspring

Passage of information from parents to offspring — practice question

(a)[2]

In in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), several oocytes are taken from a woman receiving treatment. Each oocyte is examined under a microscope. Explain why oocytes with a first polar body are selected for the fertilisation process.

(b)

Embryos produced by IVF can be frozen in a solution containing sucrose and various salts, and may later be thawed and implanted. A trial was done to compare the success of freezing oocytes in solution A, the same solution used for freezing embryos, with solution B, a different solution containing different concentrations of sucrose and salts. The oocytes were placed in either solution A or solution B. They were then frozen and kept at $-33^{\circ}\text{C}$. Afterwards, the oocytes were thawed and then fertilised using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

(b(i))[2]

When the oocytes were added to solution A or solution B, they rapidly became smaller. Explain why this happened.

(b(ii))[2]

Table 5.1 gives the trial results. Using Table 5.1, explain which solution is the better one to use.

(b(iii))[1]

Suggest one advantage of being able to freeze and then thaw oocytes as part of the IVF procedure.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 7-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: Have completed meiosis I

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