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DNA and protein synthesis: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q02.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 02.1: Describe how mRNA is obtained from pre-mRNA. [1 mark]

  2. Q02.2

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 02.2: Describe how RNA polymerase joins RNA nucleotides. [2 marks]

  3. Q10.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 10.1: Describe the roles of ribosomes, tRNA and ATP in the process of translation. [6 marks]

  4. Q04.2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 04.2: Table 2 shows the amino acids coded for by each mRNA codon. Table 2 Use Table 2 to complete Table 3 to show: • the mRNA base sequence transcribed from the DNA b

  5. Q06.1

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 06.1: Give three structural differences between an mRNA molecule and a tRNA molecule. [3 marks] mRNA tRNA

  6. Q06.2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 06.2: Table 3 shows mRNA codons and the amino acid coded by each codon. Table 3 Figure 5 shows the mRNA base sequence produced when part of a gene coding for an enzym

  7. Q04.1

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 04.1: Where does transcription occur in a eukaryotic cell? [1 mark]

  8. Q04.2

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 04.2: The genome of an adenovirus is a single, linear molecule of double-stranded DNA. Adenoviruses use eukaryotic host cells to transcribe their genes in protein syn

  9. Q04.3

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 04.3: Describe and explain how the results of the experiment in Figure 4 would differ if the scientists had used prokaryotic DNA. [2 marks]

  10. Q09.2

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    5 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 09.2: Describe how a polypeptide is produced by translation of mRNA. [5 marks]

  11. Q06.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 06.1: Define genome and proteome. [2 marks] Genome Proteome

  12. Q01.2

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 01.2: This question is about the genetic code. Define universal, non-overlapping and degenerate. [3 marks] Universal Non-overlapping Degenerate

  13. Q04.4

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 04.4: The rate of translation is increased in T cells activated by antigens. Describe the role of tRNA in translation. [2 marks]

  14. Q07.1

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 07.1: Complete Table 3 to give three differences between DNA molecules and tRNA molecules. [3 marks] Table 3 DNA molecules tRNA molecules

  15. Q04.1

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 04.1: Complete the following definitions. [2 marks] The genome is The proteome is

  16. Q01.2

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 01.2: Describe how the production of messenger RNA (mRNA) in a eukaryote cell is different from the production of mRNA in a prokaryote cell. [2 marks]

  17. Q01.3

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 01.3: Scientists produced a short, single-stranded, artificial nucleic acid, called PNA. The PNA binds to a small section of DNA. The scientists introduced PNA into c

  18. Q01.4

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 01.4: Describe the role of ATP in the process of translation in protein synthesis. [2 marks]

  19. Q03.1

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 03.1: Describe how one amino acid is added to a polypeptide that is being formed at a ribosome during translation. [3 marks] Table 2 shows: • mRNA codons and the amin

  20. Q01.3

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.2 DNA and protein synthesis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 01.3: Describe two differences between the structure of a tRNA molecule and the structure of an mRNA molecule. [2 marks] 1 2
All 29 questions on DNA and protein synthesis, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q02.1 (1 mark): Describe how mRNA is obtained from pre-mRNA. [1 mark]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q02.2 (2 marks): Describe how RNA polymerase joins RNA nucleotides. [2 marks]
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q10.1 (6 marks): Describe the roles of ribosomes, tRNA and ATP in the process of translation. [6 marks]
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q04.2 (2 marks): Table 2 shows the amino acids coded for by each mRNA codon. Table 2 Use Table 2 to complete Table 3 to show: • the mRNA base sequence transcribed from the DNA b
  5. June 2024, Paper 1, Q06.1 (3 marks): Give three structural differences between an mRNA molecule and a tRNA molecule. [3 marks] mRNA tRNA
  6. June 2024, Paper 1, Q06.2 (1 mark): Table 3 shows mRNA codons and the amino acid coded by each codon. Table 3 Figure 5 shows the mRNA base sequence produced when part of a gene coding for an enzym
  7. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q04.1 (1 mark): Where does transcription occur in a eukaryotic cell? [1 mark]
  8. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q04.2 (3 marks): The genome of an adenovirus is a single, linear molecule of double-stranded DNA. Adenoviruses use eukaryotic host cells to transcribe their genes in protein syn
  9. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q04.3 (2 marks): Describe and explain how the results of the experiment in Figure 4 would differ if the scientists had used prokaryotic DNA. [2 marks]
  10. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q09.2 (5 marks): Describe how a polypeptide is produced by translation of mRNA. [5 marks]
  11. June 2023, Paper 1, Q06.1 (2 marks): Define genome and proteome. [2 marks] Genome Proteome
  12. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (3 marks): This question is about the genetic code. Define universal, non-overlapping and degenerate. [3 marks] Universal Non-overlapping Degenerate
  13. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q04.4 (2 marks): The rate of translation is increased in T cells activated by antigens. Describe the role of tRNA in translation. [2 marks]
  14. June 2022, Paper 1, Q07.1 (3 marks): Complete Table 3 to give three differences between DNA molecules and tRNA molecules. [3 marks] Table 3 DNA molecules tRNA molecules
  15. June 2022, Paper 3, Q04.1 (2 marks): Complete the following definitions. [2 marks] The genome is The proteome is
  16. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q01.2 (2 marks): Describe how the production of messenger RNA (mRNA) in a eukaryote cell is different from the production of mRNA in a prokaryote cell. [2 marks]
  17. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (2 marks): Scientists produced a short, single-stranded, artificial nucleic acid, called PNA. The PNA binds to a small section of DNA. The scientists introduced PNA into c
  18. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q01.4 (2 marks): Describe the role of ATP in the process of translation in protein synthesis. [2 marks]
  19. November 2021, Paper 1, Q03.1 (3 marks): Describe how one amino acid is added to a polypeptide that is being formed at a ribosome during translation. [3 marks] Table 2 shows: • mRNA codons and the amin
  20. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (2 marks): Describe two differences between the structure of a tRNA molecule and the structure of an mRNA molecule. [2 marks] 1 2
  21. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (2 marks): In a eukaryotic cell, the structure of the mRNA used in translation is different from the structure of the pre-mRNA produced by transcription. Describe and expl
  22. November 2020, Paper 1, Q10.1 (5 marks): Describe how mRNA is formed by transcription in eukaryotes. [5 marks]
  23. November 2020, Paper 1, Q10.2 (6 marks): Describe how a polypeptide is formed by translation of mRNA. [6 marks]
  24. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q06.1 (3 marks): Describe how mRNA is produced from an exposed template strand of DNA. Do not include DNA helicase or splicing in your answer. [3 marks]
  25. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q06.3 (1 mark): Figure 6 shows the DNA template nucleotide base sequence that determines the sequence of four amino acids. Figure 6 AGG CGT CCT GGA Use information from Table 3
  26. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q09.1 (2 marks): Explain how the proteome of a cell from a genetically modified tobacco plant (lines 5–7) differs from that of a cell from an unmodified control tobacco plant. [
  27. June 2019, Paper 3, Q04.3 (2 marks): The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region is an area of mtDNA that is non-coding. This region stimulates the synthesis of both mtDNA and mitochondrial messen
  28. Specimen, Paper 1, Q11.1 (6 marks): [ ] 3
  29. Specimen, Paper 2, Q10.3 (3 marks): Read the following passage carefully. A large and growing number of disorders are now known to be due to types of mitochondrial disease (MD). MD often affects s

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