Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals Extended Diploma
Supervised period: 6 hours
Paper
reference 31629H
Applied Science
UNIT 7: Contemporary Issues in Science
Part A
You do not need any other materials.
Instructions
• Part A contains material for the completion of the preparatory work for the
set task.
• scheduled.
Part A is given to learners during the supervised window before Part B is
Learners are advised to spend no more than 6 hours on Part A.
• prepare in thebewaygivenspecified.
Part A must to learners on the specified date so that learners can
• Part A is specific to each series and this material must only be issued to learners
who have been entered to undertake the task in the relevant series.
• Part B materials must be issued to learners on the date specified by Pearson.
Turn over
*P73243A*
P73243A
©2022 Pearson Education Ltd.
1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
, Instructions to Teachers/Tutors
This paper must be read in conjunction with the unit information in the specification and the
BTEC Nationals Instructions for Conducting External Assessments (ICEA) document. See the Pearson
website for details.
This set task has a preparatory period. Part A sets out how learners should prepare for the completion
of the Part B task under supervised conditions.
Part A is given to learners during the specified window before Part B is scheduled. Learners are
advised to spend no more than six hours on Part A.
Learners should undertake independent research on the case study given in this Part A booklet.
Centres must issue this booklet at the appropriate time and advise learners of the timetabled sessions
during which they can prepare. It is expected that scheduled lessons or other timetabled slots will be
used for the preparation.
Learners should familiarise themselves with the specific concepts and terminology used in
the articles.
Learners may prepare summary notes on the articles. Learners may take up to four sides of A4 notes,
which may be handwritten or word processed, into the supervised assessment (Part B booklet).
These notes should only include information about scientific terminology, quantities and concepts
used in the articles and a summary of the scientific issue discussed. This will enable learners to
interpret, analyse and evaluate the articles in Part B. Other content is not permitted.
Part B must be completed under supervision in a single session of 2 hours and 30 minutes timetabled
by Pearson.
The supervised assessment should be completed in the Part B task and answer booklet.
Teachers/tutors should note that:
• learners should not be given any direct guidance or prepared materials
• learners should not be given any support in writing or editing notes
• all work must be completed independently by the learner
• learner notes must be retained securely by the centre after Part B and may be requested by
Pearson if there is suspected malpractice.
Refer carefully to the instructions in this taskbook and the BTEC Nationals Instructions for Conducting
External Assessments (ICEA) document to ensure that the preparatory period is conducted correctly
and that learners have the opportunity to carry out the required activities independently.
2 P73243A
, Instructions for Learners
Read the set task information carefully.
This is Part A of the set task and gives information you need to use to prepare for Part B of the
set task.
In Part B you will be asked to carry out specific activities using the information in this Part A booklet
and your preparatory notes.
In your preparation for Part B, using this Part A booklet, you may prepare short notes to refer to
when completing the set task. Your notes may be up to four sides of A4 and may be handwritten or
word processed. Your notes should only include information about scientific terminology, quantities
and concepts used in the articles and a summary of the scientific issue discussed. This will enable you
to interpret, analyse and evaluate the articles in Part B. Other content is not permitted.
You will complete Part B under supervised conditions.
You must work independently throughout the supervised assessment and must not share your work
with other learners.
Your teacher/tutor may give guidance on when you can complete the preparation.
Your teacher/tutor cannot give you feedback during the preparation period.
You must not take your preparatory notes out of the classroom at any time and you must hand them
in to your teacher/tutor on completion.
Your notes will be made available to you at the beginning of the supervised assessment.
Set Task Brief
You are provided with the following adapted articles:
Article 1: How stem cell research could help repair heart attack damage
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/
stem‑cell‑research
Article 2: Why stem cells could be the medical innovation of the century
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-will-stem‑cells-impact-the-future-of-
medicine/
Article 3: Current state of stem cell‑based therapies: an overview
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7367472/
Your notes should only include information about scientific terminology, quantities and concepts
used in the articles and a summary of the scientific issue discussed.
You should spend up to a maximum of six hours to complete your preparatory notes. You may take
up to four sides of A4 notes into the supervised assessment.
P73243A 3
, Part A Set Task Information
Article 1
How stem cell research could help repair heart attack damage
This is an edited version of an article published on the British Heart Foundation website on May 2021.
Professor Ian Wilmut stands beside Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned animal.
(Source: © PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo)
Stem cell research could reveal new ways to help us mend broken hearts,
as Sarah Kidner discovers.
Chances are you’ve heard of stem cells. Even if you haven’t, you’ll know of Dolly the cloned sheep –
the original ‘poster girl’ of this sensational field of scientific research.
Twenty-five years ago, Dolly’s creation saw scientists accused of ‘playing God’, but while stem cell
research does raise ethical questions, it may also hold the answer to mending hearts damaged by
a heart attack and has many other potential uses.
Two professors working in the newest areas of stem cell research tell us how their work could affect
people’s lives in the future.
“It’s an amazing breakthrough.” says Chris Denning, Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the University
of Nottingham. “Ten years ago, we couldn’t have conceived of these studies, but what was once
impossible is now possible.”
He’s referring to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Their development won Shinya Yamanaka and
John Gurdon the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2012. But what are iPS cells, and why is
this type of research so important?
4 P73243A
Supervised period: 6 hours
Paper
reference 31629H
Applied Science
UNIT 7: Contemporary Issues in Science
Part A
You do not need any other materials.
Instructions
• Part A contains material for the completion of the preparatory work for the
set task.
• scheduled.
Part A is given to learners during the supervised window before Part B is
Learners are advised to spend no more than 6 hours on Part A.
• prepare in thebewaygivenspecified.
Part A must to learners on the specified date so that learners can
• Part A is specific to each series and this material must only be issued to learners
who have been entered to undertake the task in the relevant series.
• Part B materials must be issued to learners on the date specified by Pearson.
Turn over
*P73243A*
P73243A
©2022 Pearson Education Ltd.
1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
, Instructions to Teachers/Tutors
This paper must be read in conjunction with the unit information in the specification and the
BTEC Nationals Instructions for Conducting External Assessments (ICEA) document. See the Pearson
website for details.
This set task has a preparatory period. Part A sets out how learners should prepare for the completion
of the Part B task under supervised conditions.
Part A is given to learners during the specified window before Part B is scheduled. Learners are
advised to spend no more than six hours on Part A.
Learners should undertake independent research on the case study given in this Part A booklet.
Centres must issue this booklet at the appropriate time and advise learners of the timetabled sessions
during which they can prepare. It is expected that scheduled lessons or other timetabled slots will be
used for the preparation.
Learners should familiarise themselves with the specific concepts and terminology used in
the articles.
Learners may prepare summary notes on the articles. Learners may take up to four sides of A4 notes,
which may be handwritten or word processed, into the supervised assessment (Part B booklet).
These notes should only include information about scientific terminology, quantities and concepts
used in the articles and a summary of the scientific issue discussed. This will enable learners to
interpret, analyse and evaluate the articles in Part B. Other content is not permitted.
Part B must be completed under supervision in a single session of 2 hours and 30 minutes timetabled
by Pearson.
The supervised assessment should be completed in the Part B task and answer booklet.
Teachers/tutors should note that:
• learners should not be given any direct guidance or prepared materials
• learners should not be given any support in writing or editing notes
• all work must be completed independently by the learner
• learner notes must be retained securely by the centre after Part B and may be requested by
Pearson if there is suspected malpractice.
Refer carefully to the instructions in this taskbook and the BTEC Nationals Instructions for Conducting
External Assessments (ICEA) document to ensure that the preparatory period is conducted correctly
and that learners have the opportunity to carry out the required activities independently.
2 P73243A
, Instructions for Learners
Read the set task information carefully.
This is Part A of the set task and gives information you need to use to prepare for Part B of the
set task.
In Part B you will be asked to carry out specific activities using the information in this Part A booklet
and your preparatory notes.
In your preparation for Part B, using this Part A booklet, you may prepare short notes to refer to
when completing the set task. Your notes may be up to four sides of A4 and may be handwritten or
word processed. Your notes should only include information about scientific terminology, quantities
and concepts used in the articles and a summary of the scientific issue discussed. This will enable you
to interpret, analyse and evaluate the articles in Part B. Other content is not permitted.
You will complete Part B under supervised conditions.
You must work independently throughout the supervised assessment and must not share your work
with other learners.
Your teacher/tutor may give guidance on when you can complete the preparation.
Your teacher/tutor cannot give you feedback during the preparation period.
You must not take your preparatory notes out of the classroom at any time and you must hand them
in to your teacher/tutor on completion.
Your notes will be made available to you at the beginning of the supervised assessment.
Set Task Brief
You are provided with the following adapted articles:
Article 1: How stem cell research could help repair heart attack damage
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/research/
stem‑cell‑research
Article 2: Why stem cells could be the medical innovation of the century
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-will-stem‑cells-impact-the-future-of-
medicine/
Article 3: Current state of stem cell‑based therapies: an overview
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7367472/
Your notes should only include information about scientific terminology, quantities and concepts
used in the articles and a summary of the scientific issue discussed.
You should spend up to a maximum of six hours to complete your preparatory notes. You may take
up to four sides of A4 notes into the supervised assessment.
P73243A 3
, Part A Set Task Information
Article 1
How stem cell research could help repair heart attack damage
This is an edited version of an article published on the British Heart Foundation website on May 2021.
Professor Ian Wilmut stands beside Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned animal.
(Source: © PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo)
Stem cell research could reveal new ways to help us mend broken hearts,
as Sarah Kidner discovers.
Chances are you’ve heard of stem cells. Even if you haven’t, you’ll know of Dolly the cloned sheep –
the original ‘poster girl’ of this sensational field of scientific research.
Twenty-five years ago, Dolly’s creation saw scientists accused of ‘playing God’, but while stem cell
research does raise ethical questions, it may also hold the answer to mending hearts damaged by
a heart attack and has many other potential uses.
Two professors working in the newest areas of stem cell research tell us how their work could affect
people’s lives in the future.
“It’s an amazing breakthrough.” says Chris Denning, Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the University
of Nottingham. “Ten years ago, we couldn’t have conceived of these studies, but what was once
impossible is now possible.”
He’s referring to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Their development won Shinya Yamanaka and
John Gurdon the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2012. But what are iPS cells, and why is
this type of research so important?
4 P73243A
