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Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q03.1

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    5 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 03.1: Describe the semi-conservative replication of DNA. [5 marks]

  2. Q03.2

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 03.2: Explain the position of the DNA band in sample 2 in Figure 5. [2 marks]

  3. Q03.3

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 03.3: Complete sample 3 in Figure 5 to show the result you would expect after two divisions. [1 mark]

  4. Q07.1

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    25 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules3.1.6 ATP
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 07.1: Phosphorus-containing substances and their importance in biological systems. [25 marks] Or

  5. Q09.1

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 09.1: Give one similarity in structure between a guanine–cytosine nucleotide pair and a guanine–uracil nucleotide pair in a DNA molecule (lines 3–5). Do not refer to

  6. Q10.2

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    6 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules3.4.1 DNA, genes and chromosomes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 10.2: Describe the structure of DNA and the structure of a chromosome. [6 marks]

  7. Q06.2

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 06.2: The DNA-replication enzymes of a human cell make copies of the human papilloma virus genome. Name two enzymes that are involved in replicating the DNA of the hu

  8. Q10.1

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    6 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 10.1: Outline the similarities in, and the differences between, the structures of DNA and RNA molecules. [6 marks]

  9. Q01.2

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 01.2: Table 2 shows three statements and names of four biological molecules. Put a tick () in each box where the statement is true for the biological molecule. [3 ma

  10. Q02.2

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 02.2: Complete Table 2 to give four structural differences between a DNA molecule and an mRNA molecule. [4 marks] Table 2 DNA structure mRNA structure 1 2 3 4

  11. Q09.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 09.3: Which of these models, P, Q or R, is supported by the results shown in Figure 12? Give the letter and name of the model supported and explain why the results do

  12. Q10.1

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    5 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 10.1: Describe the structure of DNA. [5 marks]

  13. Q01.1

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 01.1: Name the type of bond between: [2 marks] complementary base pairs adjacent nucleotides in a DNA strand

  14. Q01.2

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 01.2: The length of a gene is described as the number of nucleotide base pairs it contains. Use information in Figure 1 to calculate the length of a gene containing 4

  15. Q04.2

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 04.2: Scientists have found that the rate of plasmid replication is faster in cells growing in a culture with a high concentration of amino acids than in a culture wi

  16. Q04.4

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 04.4: What can you conclude from Figure 6 about the effect of antibiotic X on plasmid replication and on circular DNA replication? Explain your answer. [2 marks]

  17. Q09.2

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    5 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 09.2: Describe the process of semi-conservative replication of DNA. [5 marks]

  18. Q05.1

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 05.1: Describe the role of DNA polymerase in the semi-conservative replication of DNA. [2 marks] Figure 5 shows the percentage of rat cells undergoing DNA replication

  19. Q02.1

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 02.1: Describe how a phosphodiester bond is formed between two nucleotides within a DNA molecule. [2 marks]

  20. Q02.2

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.5 Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 02.2: The two DNA strands of a particular gene contain 168 guanine bases between them. The relationship between the numbers of guanine bases (G), adenine bases (A), t
All 36 questions on Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules, as a list
  1. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (5 marks): Describe the semi-conservative replication of DNA. [5 marks]
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): Explain the position of the DNA band in sample 2 in Figure 5. [2 marks]
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (1 mark): Complete sample 3 in Figure 5 to show the result you would expect after two divisions. [1 mark]
  4. June 2024, Paper 3, Q07.1 (25 marks): Phosphorus-containing substances and their importance in biological systems. [25 marks] Or
  5. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q09.1 (1 mark): Give one similarity in structure between a guanine–cytosine nucleotide pair and a guanine–uracil nucleotide pair in a DNA molecule (lines 3–5). Do not refer to
  6. June 2023, Paper 1, Q10.2 (6 marks): Describe the structure of DNA and the structure of a chromosome. [6 marks]
  7. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q06.2 (3 marks): The DNA-replication enzymes of a human cell make copies of the human papilloma virus genome. Name two enzymes that are involved in replicating the DNA of the hu
  8. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q10.1 (6 marks): Outline the similarities in, and the differences between, the structures of DNA and RNA molecules. [6 marks]
  9. June 2022, Paper 3, Q01.2 (3 marks): Table 2 shows three statements and names of four biological molecules. Put a tick () in each box where the statement is true for the biological molecule. [3 ma
  10. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q02.2 (4 marks): Complete Table 2 to give four structural differences between a DNA molecule and an mRNA molecule. [4 marks] Table 2 DNA structure mRNA structure 1 2 3 4
  11. November 2021, Paper 1, Q09.3 (3 marks): Which of these models, P, Q or R, is supported by the results shown in Figure 12? Give the letter and name of the model supported and explain why the results do
  12. November 2021, Paper 1, Q10.1 (5 marks): Describe the structure of DNA. [5 marks]
  13. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (2 marks): Name the type of bond between: [2 marks] complementary base pairs adjacent nucleotides in a DNA strand
  14. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (2 marks): The length of a gene is described as the number of nucleotide base pairs it contains. Use information in Figure 1 to calculate the length of a gene containing 4
  15. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q04.2 (2 marks): Scientists have found that the rate of plasmid replication is faster in cells growing in a culture with a high concentration of amino acids than in a culture wi
  16. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q04.4 (2 marks): What can you conclude from Figure 6 about the effect of antibiotic X on plasmid replication and on circular DNA replication? Explain your answer. [2 marks]
  17. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q09.2 (5 marks): Describe the process of semi-conservative replication of DNA. [5 marks]
  18. November 2020, Paper 1, Q05.1 (2 marks): Describe the role of DNA polymerase in the semi-conservative replication of DNA. [2 marks] Figure 5 shows the percentage of rat cells undergoing DNA replication
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q02.1 (2 marks): Describe how a phosphodiester bond is formed between two nucleotides within a DNA molecule. [2 marks]
  20. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q02.2 (2 marks): The two DNA strands of a particular gene contain 168 guanine bases between them. The relationship between the numbers of guanine bases (G), adenine bases (A), t
  21. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q02.4 (2 marks): In the process of semi-conservative DNA replication, the two strands within a DNA molecule are separated. Each then acts as a template for the formation of a ne
  22. June 2019, Paper 2, Q05.2 (2 marks): The gene that codes for glucagon is 9.531 kilobases in length. The DNA helix makes one complete turn every 10 base pairs. Every complete turn is 3.4 nm in lengt
  23. June 2019, Paper 3, Q07.1 (25 marks): The importance of DNA as an information-carrying molecule and its use in gene technologies. [25 marks] OR
  24. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (1 mark): Name the two scientists who proposed models of the chemical structure of DNA and of DNA replication. [1 mark]
  25. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q03.2 (1 mark): Name the enzyme used in this DNA replication. [1 mark]
  26. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q03.3 (3 marks): Use your knowledge of semi-conservative replication of DNA to suggest: [3 marks] 1. the role of the single-stranded DNA fragments 2. the role of the DNA nucleot
  27. June 2017, Paper 3, Q03.1 (2 marks): Artificial fertiliser is used to replace mineral ions removed from the land when crops are harvested. One of the mineral ions is nitrate. Give two examples of b
  28. June 2017, Paper 3, Q05.1 (2 marks): Name two enzymes involved in the semi-conservative replication of DNA. [2 marks] 1 2
  29. June 2017, Paper 3, Q07.1 (25 marks): The importance of nitrogen-containing substances in biological systems. [25 marks] OR
  30. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (1 mark): How many nucleotides are shown in Figure 1? [1 mark]
  31. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): Name the type of bond labelled X in Figure 1. [1 mark]
  32. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (2 marks): The enzymes DNA helicase and DNA polymerase are involved in DNA replication. Describe the function of each of these enzymes. [2 marks] DNA helicase DNA polymera
  33. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (2 marks): Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleotide derivative. Contrast the structures of ATP and a nucleotide found in DNA to give two differences. [2 marks] 1 2
  34. Specimen, Paper 1, Q08.1 (1 mark): Figure 6 represents part of a DNA molecule. 8 Draw a box around a single nucleotide. [1 mark] 0 8 . 1
  35. Specimen, Paper 1, Q08.2 (2 marks): Table 4 shows the percentage of bases in each of the strands of a DNA molecule. Table 4 DNA strand Percentage of each base A C G T Strand 1 16 Strand 2 21 34 Co
  36. Specimen, Paper 1, Q08.3 (4 marks): [ ] 8

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