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The development of understanding of genetics and evolution: AQA GCSE Combined Science questions

Every AQA GCSE Combined Science exam question on 4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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3,069 questions

  1. Q05.2

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.2: Give two biotic factors that may have caused the extinction of plesiosaurs. [2 marks] 1 2

  2. Q05.3

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.3: Describe how the plesiosaur fossil in Figure 5 could have been formed. [3 marks]

  3. Q05.4

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 05.4: Scientists use fossils to study evolution. Suggest two reasons why scientists cannot study the mutations involved in the evolution of plesiosaurs. Do not refer

  4. Q04.1

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.1: Scientists think that the plesiosaur had smooth skin. Suggest why the scientists cannot be certain what the skin of the plesiosaur was like. [1 mark]

  5. Q04.4

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.4: When did plesiosaur A first evolve? Use Figure 6. [1 mark] million years ago

  6. Q04.5

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.5: Determine how many million years plesiosaur B existed for. Use Figure 6. [2 marks] Time = million years

  7. Q04.6

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.6: The exact year of extinction of all plesiosaur species can only be estimated. Which are two reasons why? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. All plesiosaurs will have

  8. Q04.7

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.7: What evidence from Figure 6 shows that plesiosaur C might have evolved from plesiosaur B? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Plesiosaur B and plesiosaur C did not exist

  9. Q04.8

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.8: Evolution can be studied using evidence from: • fossils • antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Suggest two reasons why it is easier to study evolution in bacteria tha

  10. Q04.9

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.9: Give one reason why doctors are concerned about antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [1 mark]

  11. Q04.2

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.2: The size of a rat population can increase quickly. One female rat and one male rat can produce 20 offspring every 2 months. Warfarin is a poison that has been u

  12. Q04.4

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.4: Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] classification homeostasis natural selection Evolution occurs by the process of .

  13. Q04.5

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.5: Species can become extinct. Give two possible causes of extinction. [2 marks] 1 2

  14. Q04.6

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.4 Classification of living organisms4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.6: Fossils are used to study the evolution of some species. Suggest one reason why fossils are used to study evolution. [1 mark]

  15. Q04.7

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.7: How has the process of evolution produced bacteria that are resistant to penicillin? Write the stages, A, B, C, D and E in the correct order. The first stage ha

  16. Q04.8

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.8: New antibiotics are not likely to control the spread of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. What are two reasons why? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Anti

  17. Q02.1

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 02.1: Why is the percentage of species that are extinct only an estimate? [1 mark] Tick () one box. All individuals of one species have the same genes. Extinction is

  18. Q02.2

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 02.2: What evidence is used to study species that have become extinct? [1 mark]

  19. Q02.3

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 02.3: A bacterium called Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) can infect the human digestive system. C. difficile can multiply and produce toxins. The toxins cause

  20. Q07.1

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 07.1: Why is the percentage of species that are extinct only an estimate? [1 mark] Tick () one box. All individuals of one species have the same genes. Extinction is
All 49 questions on The development of understanding of genetics and evolution, as a list
  1. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.2 (2 marks): Give two biotic factors that may have caused the extinction of plesiosaurs. [2 marks] 1 2
  2. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.3 (3 marks): Describe how the plesiosaur fossil in Figure 5 could have been formed. [3 marks]
  3. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.4 (2 marks): Scientists use fossils to study evolution. Suggest two reasons why scientists cannot study the mutations involved in the evolution of plesiosaurs. Do not refer
  4. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.1 (1 mark): Scientists think that the plesiosaur had smooth skin. Suggest why the scientists cannot be certain what the skin of the plesiosaur was like. [1 mark]
  5. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): When did plesiosaur A first evolve? Use Figure 6. [1 mark] million years ago
  6. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (2 marks): Determine how many million years plesiosaur B existed for. Use Figure 6. [2 marks] Time = million years
  7. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.6 (2 marks): The exact year of extinction of all plesiosaur species can only be estimated. Which are two reasons why? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. All plesiosaurs will have
  8. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.7 (1 mark): What evidence from Figure 6 shows that plesiosaur C might have evolved from plesiosaur B? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Plesiosaur B and plesiosaur C did not exist
  9. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.8 (2 marks): Evolution can be studied using evidence from: • fossils • antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Suggest two reasons why it is easier to study evolution in bacteria tha
  10. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.9 (1 mark): Give one reason why doctors are concerned about antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [1 mark]
  11. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (6 marks): The size of a rat population can increase quickly. One female rat and one male rat can produce 20 offspring every 2 months. Warfarin is a poison that has been u
  12. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. Choose the answer from the box. [1 mark] classification homeostasis natural selection Evolution occurs by the process of .
  13. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (2 marks): Species can become extinct. Give two possible causes of extinction. [2 marks] 1 2
  14. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.6 (1 mark): Fossils are used to study the evolution of some species. Suggest one reason why fossils are used to study evolution. [1 mark]
  15. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.7 (3 marks): How has the process of evolution produced bacteria that are resistant to penicillin? Write the stages, A, B, C, D and E in the correct order. The first stage ha
  16. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.8 (2 marks): New antibiotics are not likely to control the spread of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. What are two reasons why? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Anti
  17. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q02.1 (1 mark): Why is the percentage of species that are extinct only an estimate? [1 mark] Tick () one box. All individuals of one species have the same genes. Extinction is
  18. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q02.2 (1 mark): What evidence is used to study species that have become extinct? [1 mark]
  19. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q02.3 (6 marks): A bacterium called Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) can infect the human digestive system. C. difficile can multiply and produce toxins. The toxins cause
  20. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.1 (1 mark): Why is the percentage of species that are extinct only an estimate? [1 mark] Tick () one box. All individuals of one species have the same genes. Extinction is
  21. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.2 (1 mark): What evidence is used to study species that have become extinct? [1 mark]
  22. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q07.3 (6 marks): A bacterium called Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) can infect the human digestive system. C. difficile can multiply and produce toxins. The toxins cause
  23. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.1 (1 mark): What evidence supports the theory of evolution by natural selection? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Knowledge of how DNA controls inheritance Knowledge of how the d
  24. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.2 (1 mark): Figure 3 shows a fossil fly preserved in amber. The fossil formed when the amber solidified with the fly trapped inside. Figure 3 Why has the fly been preserved
  25. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.3 (1 mark): Which present day insect evolved first? [1 mark]
  26. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.4 (1 mark): Animals A, B, C and D were ancestors of present day insects. Which animal is the most recent ancestor of both grasshoppers and beetles? [1 mark] Tick () one bo
  27. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.5 (1 mark): Name the group of present day insects which have wings which do not fold. [1 mark]
  28. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (1 mark): Why was the mud important during the formation of the fossil? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The fungus completely decayed in the mud. The mud stopped oxygen reachi
  29. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): Calculate the size of the range of the estimated age of the fossil. [1 mark] Size of range = years
  30. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.4 (1 mark): Humans did not exist when the fungus was alive. Suggest one other reason why an accurate estimation of when this species of fungus existed is not known. [1 mark
  31. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (3 marks): Birds of this species: • live for about 3 years • produce up to 24 eggs every year. Explain why evolution is easier to study in this species of bird than in hum
  32. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.4 (3 marks): Birds of this species are found in different parts of the world. Describe evidence that would show two individual birds are the same species. [3 marks]
  33. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.7 (1 mark): Birds of this species: • live for about 3 years • produce up to 24 eggs every year. Why is evolution easier to study in birds than in humans? [1 mark] Tick ()
  34. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.8 (1 mark): Bacteria also provide evidence for evolution. Which statement describes evidence for evolution? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Bacteria can become resistant to anti
  35. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.2 (1 mark): The mud around the fungus did not contain oxygen. Which process did the mud around the fungus prevent? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Decay Geological activity Phot
  36. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.3 (1 mark): The fossilised fungus is estimated to be 890 000 000 years old. What is 890 000 000 in standard form? [1 mark] Tick () one box. 8.9 × 106 8.9 × 107 8.9 × 108 8
  37. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.7 (2 marks): The fungus Ourasphaira giraldae is now extinct. Give two possible causes of extinction. [2 marks] 1 2
  38. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.5 (4 marks): Most of the world’s production of antibiotics is used in farming. Antibiotics are given to animals to prevent the spread of disease. Explain how the widespread
  39. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q06.2 (1 mark): Ammonites were organisms that first appeared in the oceans 415 million years ago. Ammonites disappeared in the 5th mass extinction. Draw a horizontal line on Fi
  40. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q06.3 (2 marks): Another type of organism that existed in the oceans was called trilobites. Trilobites existed from 544 million years ago until 278 million years ago. How many m
  41. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q06.4 (3 marks): There was an increase in the percentage of species which became extinct in the third mass extinction compared to the first mass extinction. Calculate the percen
  42. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1 (1 mark): How was the fossil in Figure 2 formed? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The ammonite left traces where it moved. The ammonite shell was replaced by minerals. The ammo
  43. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.2 (1 mark): Suggest why scientists are not certain what living ammonites looked like. [1 mark]
  44. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.3 (1 mark): How many millions of years ago did ammonites become extinct? Use Figure 4. [1 mark] million years
  45. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.4 (2 marks): Trilobites lived on Earth for 270 million years. Calculate how much longer ammonites lived on Earth than trilobites. Use Figure 4. [2 marks] million years
  46. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.5 (2 marks): Suggest two factors which may have caused ammonites to become extinct. [2 marks] 1 2 The fossil record provides evidence for the theory of evolution by natural
  47. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.6 (1 mark): Which scientist proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Carl Linnaeus Carl Woese Charles Darwin
  48. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.7 (1 mark): Figure 5 shows ammonite fossils from three different time periods. Figure 5 How do the fossils in Figure 5 give evidence for the theory of evolution by natural
  49. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q02 (6 marks): Pseudomonas bacteria cause infections in hospital patients. A new strain of Pseudomonas bacteria has evolved. This new strain can only be killed by one antibiot

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