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Genetic diversity and adaptation: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q08.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 08.1: Strains of bacteria with antibiotic resistance are common in hospitals. Use your knowledge of selection to explain why. [3 marks]

  2. Q09.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 09.3: Many antibiotics have a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure, which inhibits synthesis of bacterial cell walls (lines 5–6). Suggest two reasons why this

  3. Q09.4

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 09.4: In 2022, the population of England was 5.644 ×107 In 2023, the population of England was 5.672 ×107 Use information in lines 10–12 to calculate the increase in

  4. Q09.5

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 09.5: Patients in hospitals are at greater risk from MRSA infections than the general population (lines 12–13). Suggest and explain two reasons why. [2 marks] 1 2

  5. Q04.2

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 04.2: Using Figure 5, a student calculated that out of all the people who died when antibiotic-resistant E. coli were present, 25% of those deaths involved causal E.

  6. Q04.3

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 04.3: Which method is most likely to be successful in decreasing the frequency of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in populations of people? Tick () one box. [1 mark]

  7. Q02.1

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 02.1: Clostridium difficile is a bacterial species that causes disease in humans. Antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficile have become a common cause of infection

  8. Q02.4

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 02.4: Use Figure 2 to evaluate whether more trehalose in the diet could be a factor in the increased number of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infections. [3 marks]

  9. Q07.2

    November 2020 · Paper 3

    25 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation3.4.3 Genetic diversity can arise as a result of mutation or during meiosis
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3, question 07.2: The causes and importance of variation and diversity in organisms. [25 marks]

  10. Q01.1

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 01.1: Littorina littorea is a species of snail found on rocky sea shores. A student investigated variation in snail shell height in two populations of snails. Give tw

  11. Q01.2

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 01.2: The student could determine the median, mode and range from his measurement of shell heights in these populations. Give two other statistical values the student

  12. Q01.4

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 01.4: The student noticed there was a difference in shell height between these populations of snails. He wanted to investigate if the difference was significant. Give

  13. Q05.4

    June 2016 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2016 AS Paper 2, question 05.4: The chilling requirement of seeds of certain plant species is considered to be an adaptation for survival in countries with seasonal changes in environmental co
All 13 questions on Genetic diversity and adaptation, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q08.1 (3 marks): Strains of bacteria with antibiotic resistance are common in hospitals. Use your knowledge of selection to explain why. [3 marks]
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q09.3 (2 marks): Many antibiotics have a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure, which inhibits synthesis of bacterial cell walls (lines 5–6). Suggest two reasons why this
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q09.4 (2 marks): In 2022, the population of England was 5.644 ×107 In 2023, the population of England was 5.672 ×107 Use information in lines 10–12 to calculate the increase in
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q09.5 (2 marks): Patients in hospitals are at greater risk from MRSA infections than the general population (lines 12–13). Suggest and explain two reasons why. [2 marks] 1 2
  5. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q04.2 (3 marks): Using Figure 5, a student calculated that out of all the people who died when antibiotic-resistant E. coli were present, 25% of those deaths involved causal E.
  6. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q04.3 (1 mark): Which method is most likely to be successful in decreasing the frequency of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in populations of people? Tick () one box. [1 mark]
  7. June 2022, Paper 1, Q02.1 (3 marks): Clostridium difficile is a bacterial species that causes disease in humans. Antibiotic-resistant strains of C. difficile have become a common cause of infection
  8. June 2022, Paper 1, Q02.4 (3 marks): Use Figure 2 to evaluate whether more trehalose in the diet could be a factor in the increased number of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infections. [3 marks]
  9. November 2020, Paper 3, Q07.2 (25 marks): The causes and importance of variation and diversity in organisms. [25 marks]
  10. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q01.1 (2 marks): Littorina littorea is a species of snail found on rocky sea shores. A student investigated variation in snail shell height in two populations of snails. Give tw
  11. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q01.2 (1 mark): The student could determine the median, mode and range from his measurement of shell heights in these populations. Give two other statistical values the student
  12. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q01.4 (2 marks): The student noticed there was a difference in shell height between these populations of snails. He wanted to investigate if the difference was significant. Give
  13. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q05.4 (3 marks): The chilling requirement of seeds of certain plant species is considered to be an adaptation for survival in countries with seasonal changes in environmental co

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