Here are the answers to your Biology questions:
4. Fig 1 shows a plant tissue obtained from a stem. Use it to answer the questions that follow.
a) Name the part labelled A and B.
b) Explain function of part labelled C.
Part C represents the epidermis or cortex cells. The epidermis provides protection to the underlying tissues and helps regulate water loss and gas exchange. The cortex stores food and water.
c) Describe one adaptation of the structure to its function.
- Xylem vessels (part A) are hollow, continuous tubes with lignified walls, which allows for efficient transport of water and mineral salts from the roots to the rest of the plant and provides structural support.
- Phloem sieve tubes (part B) have sieve plates with pores and are associated with companion cells, which facilitates the efficient transport of manufactured food (sugars) from leaves to other parts of the plant.
5. a) Mention any two causes of maternal death.
• Postpartum hemorrhage (severe bleeding after childbirth).
• Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy leading to seizures).
• Infections (e.g., puerperal sepsis).
• Unsafe abortion.
b) Explain how HPV vaccine can protect women from cervical cancer.
The HPV vaccine protects women from cervical cancer by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against specific types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). These HPV types are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases. By preventing infection with these high-risk HPV strains, the vaccine significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer.
6. a) What is speciation?
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new and distinct species arise from an ancestral species. This typically occurs when populations become reproductively isolated, leading to genetic divergence over time until they can no longer interbreed.