LIFE SCIENCES /P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMINATION

LIFE SCIENCES PAPER 2

PREPARATION FOR FINAL EXAMINATION
LAST PUSH
GRADE 12
EVOLUTION – VERSION 3 MARKING GUIDELINES
3.1.1 - Freely rotating arms
- Long upper arms 
- Five digits per limb 
- Flat nails instead of claws /bare, sensitive finger tips
- Opposable thumbs /precision grip
(Mark first THREE only) (Any 3) (3)

3.1.2 The pelvis changes from long and narrow to short and
wider to support the greater weight of the upper body
due to upright posture (3)

3.1.3 - Taung child 

- Mrs Ples 
- Karabo/Australopithecus sediba 
- Little Foot 
(Mark first TWO only) (Any 2) (2)

3.1.4 - Mitochondrial DNA  is passed down from mother to

child /Is inherited only from the maternal line - Analysis of
mutations  on this mitochondrial DNA
- were traced to an ancestral female that existed in
Africa 
- and shows that all humans descended from
her /mitochondrial Eve (Any 4) (4)
(12)
3.2.1 M (1)

3.2.2 Foramen magnum is in a (more) forward position (2)

3.2.3 It is long and narrow (2)

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3.2.4 Jaw of skull K is less prognathous/less protruding/nonprognathous, that

of skull L is more prognathous/more protruding/prognathous

The palate of skull K is short and semi-circular/more

rounded, that of skull L Is long and rectangular/U-shaped

The canines of skull K is short/small, those of skull L

is long/ large and pointed

There are no spaces between the teeth/diastema in skull

K, in skull L there are spaces between the
teeth/diastema
(Mark the first TWO only) Any (2 x 2)
(4)
(9)
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)

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
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 LIFE SCIENCES /P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMINATION

− Efficient locomotion allows travelling longer distances

(Mark first TWO only) Any 2 x 2 (4)

(7)

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)
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.✓
3

The two baobab populations are now different baobab

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 LIFE SCIENCES /P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMINATION

species (in the question) (No marks for this statement)

*1 Compulsory + Any 5 (6)

3.5.1 Modern humans originated in Africa ✓ and then migrated to other

continents ✓ (2)

- Fossil evidence ✓
- mitochondrial DNA ✓/ mtDNA
Mark first TWO only (2)

3.5.2 Americas √ (1)

3.5.3 (200 000 – 45 000) ✓ years = 155 000 years √√ (2)

2.6.1 Homo naledi  (1)

2.6.2 It belongs to the same genus as modern humans/The presence (1) of smaller
canines in Homo naledi 
2.6.3 - Australopithecus sediba would be bipedal if
It had and S-shape spine
The hips were wider and shorter 
The foramen magnum was in a forward position (2)
(Mark first TWO only)
2.6.4 Australopithecus africanus  (1)
2.6.5 -the site has produced a large number of hominin fossils in the
human linage (1)
2.6.6 -mtDNA is passed from mother to child -By
following mutations in mtDNA
-we can trace our female line of descent
-which leads to an ancestral female who live in East Africa
about 150000 years ago
(Mark any 3) (3)
2.7.1 Biological evolution is the change in the characteristics of species
over time
(1)
2.7.2 Theory of Evolution is regarded as a scientific theory
since - Various hypotheses related to evolution have
been tested and verified over time
(1)
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 LIFE SCIENCES /P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMINATION

2.7.3 HYPOTHESIS THEORY

Possible prediction/ Scientific explanation of
explanation of phenomena events supported by results
after observation
Base on limited data It is supported by a lot of
evidence
Hypothesis can either be Theories are reliable and the
accepted or rejected basic ideas persist in
sciences
(Mark first TWO only) + 1 mark for table (5)
(7)
3.5.1 − Evolution takes long periods of time ✓
− where very little ✓/gradual/no change occurs (known as
equilibrium).
− This alternates with (is punctuated by) short periods of time ✓
− where rapid change occurs. ✓
− through natural selection ✓*

1 compulsory mark + any 3 points (4)

3.5.2 B to C ✓ (1)

3.5.3 No ✓ (1)
(6)

3.5.1 Punctuated equilibrium  (1)

3.5.2 - Evolution involves longer periods time where species do not

change /or change gradually (known as equilibrium) through natural
selection 
- This alternates with (is punctuated by) short periods of time where rapid
changes occur through natural selection  (4)
(5)

3.4.1 - As the wings were used less

- they became reduced in size/less developed
- and could not be used for flying
- This acquired characteristic was passed on to the offspring (4)

3.4.2 - Breeding at different times of the year -

Species-specific courtship behaviour
- Adaptation to different pollinators
- Infertile offspring
- Prevention of fertilization
5

Any 3 (3)
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 LIFE SCIENCES /P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMINATION

(Mark first THREE only) (7)

N.B!!
 3.2.1- 3.2.5 [15]
N.B!! GP LFSC P2 SEPT 2020
3.6.1 (a) Larger ✓ (temporal muscle attaches to a larger jaw) which increases
the ability to chew harder food✓/bite power (2)
(b) Larger teeth ✓/Canines increase the ability to rip and tear tough
raw food ✓ (2)

3.6.2 (Skull) B ✓ (1)

3.6.3 Large brain ✓

Eyes in front ✓
Binocular vision ✓ /stereoscopic vision
Eyes with cones ✓ / colour vision
Freely rotating arms ✓
Long/er upper arms ✓
Rotation around elbow joints ✓
Five fingers ✓ per hand
Bare fingertips or nails instead of claws ✓
Opposable thumb ✓
Upright posture ✓
Sexual dimorphism ✓
Two mammary glands ✓

Mark FIRST THREE only (3)

(8)
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