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IB Biology HL A3.1 Diversity of Organisms Question Bank

Practise IB Biology HL A3.1 with classification and data questions on domains, kingdoms, shared characteristics and genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Course
Biology HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • classify organisms using domains, kingdoms and shared characteristics in evidence-based comparisons
  • distinguish genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity using examples and data
  • analyse classification evidence to infer relationships and levels of biodiversity

Covered syllabus points

A3.1.1—Variation as defining feature of lifeA3.1.2—Species as groups with shared traitsA3.1.3—Binomial systemA3.1.4—Biological species conceptA3.1.5—Difficulties in distinguishing speciesA3.1.6—Diversity in chromosome numbersA3.1.7—Karyotyping and karyogramsA3.1.8—Unity and diversity of genomes within speciesA3.1.9—Diversity of eukaryote genomesA3.1.10—Comparison of genome sizesA3.1.11—Whole genome sequencingA3.1.12 (HL)—Difficulties with biological species conceptA3.1.13 (HL)—Chromosome number as shared traitA3.1.14 (HL)—Dichotomous key developmentA3.1.15 (HL)—Environmental DNA barcodes

A3.1 Diversity of organisms question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

Which population group has the greatest variation in height?

Age group

Age group

A3.1 Diversity of organisms question 2

[Maximum number: 4]

The diagram shows the range of heights and brain sizes found in four groups of hominids.

Figure for Question A3.1 Diversity of organisms question 2 — IB Biology HL

Question (a)

(a)

Distinguish between the characteristics of the Australopithecus and H. erectus using the data.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

State two ways, apart from brain volume, by which the skulls of the Australopithecus and H. erectus would differ in appearance.
1.
2.

[ 2 ]

A3.1 Diversity of organisms question 3

[Maximum number: 5]

The table shows the number of amino acids that are different in the sequences of the protein FOXP2 from a human compared with four other primate species.

Table for Question A3.1 Diversity of organisms question 3 — IB Biology HL

Question (a)

(a)

Identify the total number of different genera named in the table.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Using evidence from the diagrams, justify the hypothesis that chromosome 2 in humans arose from the fusion of chromosomes 12 and 13 with a shared primate ancestor.

[ 4 ]
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