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Variation and evolution: AQA GCSE Combined Science questions

Every AQA GCSE Combined Science exam question on 4.6.2 Variation and evolution, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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3,069 questions

  1. Q04.1

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks4.4.1 Photosynthesis4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.1: Maize is a crop plant. A variety of maize has been genetically modified (GM) to be resistant to a herbicide. Explain how growing GM herbicide-resistant maize ca

  2. Q04.2

    June 2025 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution4.7.3 Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.2: Explain how growing a GM herbicide-resistant crop can decrease the biodiversity of animals. [2 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. Q02.5

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 02.5: Scientists have collected and stored seeds from species in the same genus as potatoes. In the future, these seeds may be used for genetic modification of potato

  5. 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

  6. Q01.7

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.7: Inherited disorders can be caused by changes in DNA. What is the name of a change in DNA? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Genome Helix Mutation

  7. Q01.8

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.8: Inheritance is one cause of variation in a population. Environmental factors also cause variation in a population. Suggest one environmental cause of variation

  8. 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 .

  9. Q06.5

    June 2024 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    6 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.5: Scientists have collected and stored seeds from species in the same genus as potatoes. In the future, these seeds may be used for genetic modification of potato

  10. 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

  11. Q04.3

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.3: Some salmon have genes that result in fewer sea lice attaching to the skin. Describe how fish farmers can selectively breed salmon that sea lice cannot attach t

  12. Q04.4

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.4: Explain the advantages to salmon farmers of producing salmon that do not have sea lice attached to their skin. [3 marks]

  13. Q04.5

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Higher

    2 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Higher, question 04.5: Explain the disadvantage of selectively breeding salmon. Do not refer to cost or to time in your answer. [2 marks]

  14. Q04.4

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.4: Salmon farmers select salmon that are most resistant to sea lice and breed these salmon together. What is the next stage in selectively breeding salmon that are

  15. Q04.5

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.5: When is the process of selective breeding finished? [1 mark] Tick () one box. After one generation have produced offspring When all offspring are resistant to

  16. Q04.6

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.6: Salmon that do not have sea lice are more profitable for the salmon farmer. Suggest one reason why. [1 mark]

  17. Q04.7

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.7: What is a disadvantage of selectively breeding salmon? [1 mark] Tick () one box. All the salmon may suffer from the same diseases. Fewer sea lice will infect t

  18. Q04.8

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.8: Suggest two advantages of farming GM salmon instead of farming non-GM salmon. [2 marks] 1 2

  19. Q04.9

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark4.6.2 Variation and evolution
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Biology Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.9: GM salmon are often farmed a long distance from where wild, non-GM salmon live. What is an advantage of farming GM salmon a long distance from where wild salmon

  20. Q07.3

    June 2023 · Biology Paper 2 Foundation

    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 Foundation, question 07.3: A bacterium called Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) can infect the human digestive system. C. difficile can multiply and produce toxins. The toxins cause
All 40 questions on Variation and evolution, as a list
  1. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (4 marks): Maize is a crop plant. A variety of maize has been genetically modified (GM) to be resistant to a herbicide. Explain how growing GM herbicide-resistant maize ca
  2. June 2025, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (2 marks): Explain how growing a GM herbicide-resistant crop can decrease the biodiversity of animals. [2 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 2024, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q02.5 (6 marks): Scientists have collected and stored seeds from species in the same genus as potatoes. In the future, these seeds may be used for genetic modification of potato
  5. 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
  6. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.7 (1 mark): Inherited disorders can be caused by changes in DNA. What is the name of a change in DNA? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Genome Helix Mutation
  7. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.8 (1 mark): Inheritance is one cause of variation in a population. Environmental factors also cause variation in a population. Suggest one environmental cause of variation
  8. 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 .
  9. June 2024, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.5 (6 marks): Scientists have collected and stored seeds from species in the same genus as potatoes. In the future, these seeds may be used for genetic modification of potato
  10. 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
  11. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.3 (3 marks): Some salmon have genes that result in fewer sea lice attaching to the skin. Describe how fish farmers can selectively breed salmon that sea lice cannot attach t
  12. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.4 (3 marks): Explain the advantages to salmon farmers of producing salmon that do not have sea lice attached to their skin. [3 marks]
  13. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.5 (2 marks): Explain the disadvantage of selectively breeding salmon. Do not refer to cost or to time in your answer. [2 marks]
  14. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): Salmon farmers select salmon that are most resistant to sea lice and breed these salmon together. What is the next stage in selectively breeding salmon that are
  15. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (1 mark): When is the process of selective breeding finished? [1 mark] Tick () one box. After one generation have produced offspring When all offspring are resistant to
  16. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.6 (1 mark): Salmon that do not have sea lice are more profitable for the salmon farmer. Suggest one reason why. [1 mark]
  17. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.7 (1 mark): What is a disadvantage of selectively breeding salmon? [1 mark] Tick () one box. All the salmon may suffer from the same diseases. Fewer sea lice will infect t
  18. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.8 (2 marks): Suggest two advantages of farming GM salmon instead of farming non-GM salmon. [2 marks] 1 2
  19. June 2023, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.9 (1 mark): GM salmon are often farmed a long distance from where wild, non-GM salmon live. What is an advantage of farming GM salmon a long distance from where wild salmon
  20. 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
  21. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (1 mark): Crop plants are genetically modified (GM) for useful characteristics. Which useful characteristic are crops genetically modified for? [1 mark] Tick () one box.
  22. June 2022, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.2 (1 mark): What is one concern about GM crops? [1 mark] Tick () one box. GM crops will add to global warming. GM crops will cause air pollution. GM crops will harm wildli
  23. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.1 (3 marks): Determine the rate of change in beak length from 1984 to 2000. Use Figure 4. [3 marks] Rate of change = mm/year
  24. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.2 (6 marks): Explain the process of evolution that could cause the trend in Figure 4. [6 marks]
  25. 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
  26. 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]
  27. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q06.3 (4 marks): Polydactyly is a different inherited disorder. Two parents do not have any alleles for polydactyly in their ordinary body cells. These parents produced a child
  28. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.4 (1 mark): What was the mean beak length in 2000? [1 mark] Mean beak length = mm
  29. November 2021, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q03.6 (4 marks): Scientists have concluded that beak length in this species of bird is increasing. Complete the sentences about the evolution of this species of bird. Choose ans
  30. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q01.6 (1 mark): All the snails are different. What scientific term describes differences in characteristics between individuals of a species? [1 mark]
  31. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q01.7 (2 marks): A change in DNA has caused snail P to be very different from the other five snails. Suggest why there might be an increasing number of snails similar to snail P
  32. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q04.5 (2 marks): Suggest two disadvantages for garden centres of growing geraniums by asexual reproduction compared with sexual reproduction. [2 marks] 1 2
  33. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.6 (1 mark): All the snails are different. What scientific term describes differences in characteristics between individuals of a species? [1 mark]
  34. November 2020, Biology Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.7 (2 marks): A change in DNA has caused snail P to be very different from the other five snails. Suggest why there might be an increasing number of snails similar to snail P
  35. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (2 marks): Vectors are used in the process of genetic engineering. Which two statements are correct? [2 marks] Tick () two boxes. Vectors are enzymes used to ‘cut open’ t
  36. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.2 (3 marks): Scientists have genetically engineered a variety of wheat to be resistant to herbicides. The herbicide resistant variety of wheat will give a higher yield than
  37. June 2019, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q03.3 (2 marks): Give two examples of genetic engineering in use today. Do not refer to herbicide resistance in your answer. [2 marks] 1 2
  38. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.1 (4 marks): The IR8 variety of rice was produced by selective breeding. Describe the steps the scientists would have taken to produce IR8 [4 marks]
  39. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q05.2 (4 marks): The IRRI has now developed several new varieties of genetically modified (GM) rice plants. Some people in India agree and some people disagree with GM varieties
  40. June 2018, Biology Paper 2 Higher, Q07.6 (6 marks): Oyster farmers grow the triploid oysters from young seed oysters. The production of seed oysters involves the use of a chemical called cytochalasin B. Cytochala

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