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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science

Topic questions Genetics and inheritance DNA structure

DNA structure

9 questions · 93 marks · about 2 hours

DNA structure questions

TopicDNA structure

Edexcel 1SC0 DNA structure 9 questions

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2025 Foundation tier, Question 2 7 marks

(a)

Figure 3 shows a sperm cell.

Figure for question 2
(a)(i)

Name the part labelled R.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Draw one straight line from each part of the sperm cell to its function.

Figure for question 2
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(ii)
(b)

Animal cells and plants cells are both eukaryotic cells.

State one structure found in a plant cell that is not found in an animal cell.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)
(c)

DNA is found in cells.

Figure 4 shows part of a DNA molecule.

Figure for question 2
(c)(i)

Which type of large molecule is DNA?

Question 2, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Describe how the bases of a DNA molecule are held together.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(ii)

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2025 Higher tier, Question 6 13 marks

Genetic disorders can be caused by mutations in the DNA of genes.

(a)

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disorder.

Figure 10 shows a family pedigree for the inheritance of cystic fibrosis.

Figure for question 6
(a)(i)

Which row is correct for the mother, father and son?

Figure for question 6
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Cystic fibrosis causes the build‑up of thick, sticky mucus.

Describe how the build-up of thick, sticky mucus affects the airways of a person.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(ii)
(b)

Huntington’s disease is a condition caused by a dominant allele.

Explain the phenotypes of the offspring of a genetic cross between a person who is heterozygous for the Huntington’s allele and a person who is not affected.

Use the Punnett square as part of your answer.

Figure for question 6
[4]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)
(c)

*(c) Explain how DNA is extracted from strawberries.

Include in your answer:

• the reasons for each stage of the extraction process

• the structure of a DNA molecule.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(c)

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2022 Foundation tier, Question 5 11 marks

(a)

DNA molecules contain base pairs.

Describe how the base pairs are bonded together in a DNA molecule.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(a)
(b)

Figure 9 shows part of a DNA molecule.

Figure for question 5
(b)(i)

Write the code for the complementary DNA strand in Figure 9.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Three bases code for each amino acid.

Which is the maximum number of amino acids coded for by this strand of DNA?

Question 5, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

What is the shape of a DNA molecule?

Question 5, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)(iii)
(c)

A student wanted to extract the DNA from fresh peas.

The student crushed the peas and added washing up liquid and water.

The enzyme protease was then added to this mixture.

(c)(i)

Explain why the enzyme protease was added to the mixture.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

The mixture was then heated and filtered.

Finally, the student poured the filtrate into a test tube and ice‑cold ethanol was poured down the side of the test tube into the filtrate.

State why ice‑cold ethanol was poured into the filtrate.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(ii)
(c)(iii)

The student wanted to compare the mass of DNA found in fresh peas with the mass of DNA found in fresh beans.

Give two variables the student would need to control to make this a valid comparison.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(iii)

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2022 Higher tier, Question 1 9 marks

(a)

DNA molecules contain base pairs.

Describe how the base pairs are bonded together in a DNA molecule.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(a)
(b)

Figure 1 shows part of a DNA molecule.

Figure for question 1
(b)(i)

Write the code for the complementary DNA strand in Figure 1.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Three bases code for each amino acid.

Which is the maximum number of amino acids coded for by this strand of DNA?

Question 1, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

What is the shape of a DNA molecule?

Question 1, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(b)(iii)
(c)

A student wanted to extract the DNA from fresh peas.

The student crushed the peas and added washing up liquid and water.

The enzyme protease was then added to this mixture.

(c)(i)

Explain why the enzyme protease was added to the mixture.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

The mixture was then heated and filtered.

Finally, the student poured the filtrate into a test tube and ice cold ethanol was poured down the side of the test tube into the filtrate.

State why ice cold ethanol was poured into the filtrate.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 1(c)(ii)

Paper 1: Biology 1 November 2020 Foundation tier, Question 6 13 marks

Figure 8 shows a banana plantation.

Figure for question 6

After the bananas have been harvested, the old plants are cut down.

The suckers then develop into mature plants producing the next crop of bananas.

The tip of each sucker contains a group of cells called a meristem.

(a)(i)

Describe the function of a meristem in the growth of a plant.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

A student took a sample of cells from a meristem to view under a light microscope.

Describe how the student would prepare a microscope slide using these cells.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(ii)
(b)

Figure 9 is a drawing of a eukaryotic cell.

Structure Z is found in plant leaf cells.

Figure for question 6
(b)(i)

Name structure Z.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Give one function of the mitochondrion.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(ii)
(c)

*(c) DNA is found in the nucleus of cells.

Describe the structure of DNA and how it can be extracted from plant cells.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(c)

Paper 1: Biology 1 November 2020 Higher tier, Question 3 9 marks

Figure 4 shows a great tit on a bird feeder.

Figure for question 3

Scientists have found that great tits living now have longer beaks than great tits living 50 years ago.

Genetic analysis shows changes in the sequence of the bird’s DNA.

(a)(i)

Give the complementary strand sequence for this DNA template.

Figure for question 3
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Which statement correctly describes a DNA molecule?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(ii)
(a)(iii)

State the term used to describe a change in the sequence of DNA bases.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(iii)
(b)

Scientists think that great tits living now have longer beaks because of the increased use of bird feeders during the last 50 years.

Explain how natural selection could have caused an increase in beak length because of the use of bird feeders.

[4]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)
(c)

Birds are classified in the domain Eukarya.

(c)(i)

Why are the cells from birds described as eukaryotic?

Question 3, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Give one reason why the three domain classification system was proposed.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(c)(ii)

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2019 Foundation tier, Question 5 12 marks

(a)

James Watson and Francis Crick built a model that showed that DNA has a double helix structure.

(a)(i)

Which statement about DNA is correct?

Question 5, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Figure 6 shows the percentage of each base in human DNA.

Figure for question 5

Describe how this data provides evidence for base pairing in DNA.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(a)(ii)
(b)

A scientist obtained a mass of 0.0062 nanograms of DNA from a diploid human cell.

Calculate the mass of DNA the scientist should obtain from a haploid human cell.

Give your answer in picograms.

(1 nanogram = 1000 picograms)

........ picograms

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(b)
(c)

A student used the method shown in Figure 7 to compare the mass of DNA extracted from strawberry fruit cells and from kiwi fruit cells.

Figure for question 5
(c)(i)

State why ethanol is used.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

State two variables the student needs to control when using this method to compare the mass of DNA from these two fruits.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(ii)
(c)(iii)

The student repeated the experiment.

Give one reason why.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(c)(iii)
(d)

Mitosis and meiosis are processes that produce new cells.

Compare the outcomes of mitosis and meiosis.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5(d)

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2018 Foundation tier, Question 2 7 marks

Figure 2 shows part of a DNA molecule.

Figure for question 2
(a)(i)

What is the shape of a DNA molecule?

Question 2, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Which molecules are present in the DNA backbone?

Question 2, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(ii)
(a)(iii)

State the type of bond that joins the bases together in the DNA molecule.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)(iii)
(b)

DNA can be extracted from fruit.

Describe how cells are broken down to release DNA.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)
(c)

In 2003, scientists finished sequencing the 3 billion base pairs in the human genome.

State two benefits that the Human Genome Project could have for medicine.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)

Paper 1: Biology 1 June 2018 Higher tier, Question 6 12 marks

(a) Yeast cells can be genetically modified to produce a painkiller.

This painkiller is usually obtained from opium poppies.

One method for genetically modifying a yeast cell uses a plasmid containing the desired gene.

(a)
(a)(i)

Explain how a gene can be inserted into a plasmid.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Discuss the possible benefits and risks of producing painkillers from genetically modified yeast cells rather than extracting the painkillers from poppies.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)(ii)
(b)

Figure 12 shows the structure of a DNA nucleotide.

Figure for question 6
(b)(i)

Structure A is a

Question 6, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

*(ii) In 2003, the first complete human genome was sequenced.

The genomes of different people have small changes in the sequence of the DNA bases.

Describe how these changes in DNA sequence can affect the individuals and how sequencing a person’s genome could influence their medical treatments.

[6]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(ii)

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