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Principles of genetic technology: CAIE A‑Level Biology questions

Every CAIE A-Level Biology exam question on 19.1 Principles of genetic technology, June 2024 and the specimen papers, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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240 questions

  1. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 4

    4 marks19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 4, question 4(b)(i): Outline and explain the steps that occur in PCR. [4]

  2. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 4

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 4, question 4(b)(ii): Suggest how the researchers were able to discover suitable sequences for the primers. [1]

  3. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 4

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 4, question 4(c)(i): State the letter of the curve with the highest starting concentration of DNA. [1]

  4. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 4

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 4, question 4(c)(ii): The quantity of A. pallipes DNA reaches a threshold (marked as a horizontal line on Fig. 4.1) at 28 cycles. The DNA in curve C reaches the threshold after 25 cy

  5. Q4(d)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 4

    3 marks19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 4, question 4(d)(i): Identify the component that is taken up by normal bacteria to produce the genetically modified bacteria in Fig. 4.2 and state what this component contains to al

  6. Q4(d)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 4

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 4, question 4(d)(ii): Suggest why the gene for green fluorescent protein is sometimes transferred in addition to the desired gene in genetic engineering. [1] [Total: 15]

  7. Q4(a)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 4

    2 marks19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 4, question 4(a)(i): Explain why it is necessary to heat the mixture to 95 °C (step 1). [2]

  8. Q4(a)(ii)

    Specimen · Paper 4

    2 marks19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 4, question 4(a)(ii): Explain why primers are included in the mixture. [2]

  9. Q4(a)(iii)

    Specimen · Paper 4

    2 marks19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 4, question 4(a)(iii): Explain why the enzyme Taq polymerase, rather than any other type of DNA polymerase, is used in PCR. [2]

  10. Q4(b)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 4

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 4, question 4(b)(i): State the meaning of the term genome. [1]

  11. Q4(b)(iii)

    Specimen · Paper 4

    4 marks19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 4, question 4(b)(iii): Outline how faulty alleles of the BRCA2 gene can be detected using the microarray. [4]

  12. Q1(d)(i)

    Specimen · Paper 5

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 5, question 1(d)(i): Using an internet search the student found that: •• electrophoresis can also be used to separate the products of enzyme hydrolysis of proteins •• a combination

  13. Q1(d)(ii)

    Specimen · Paper 5

    1 mark19.1 Principles of genetic technology
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 5, question 1(d)(ii): Explain your answer to (i). [1] [Total: 18]
All 13 questions on Principles of genetic technology, as a list
  1. June 2024, Paper 4, Q4(b)(i) (4 marks): Outline and explain the steps that occur in PCR. [4]
  2. June 2024, Paper 4, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest how the researchers were able to discover suitable sequences for the primers. [1]
  3. June 2024, Paper 4, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): State the letter of the curve with the highest starting concentration of DNA. [1]
  4. June 2024, Paper 4, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): The quantity of A. pallipes DNA reaches a threshold (marked as a horizontal line on Fig. 4.1) at 28 cycles. The DNA in curve C reaches the threshold after 25 cy
  5. June 2024, Paper 4, Q4(d)(i) (3 marks): Identify the component that is taken up by normal bacteria to produce the genetically modified bacteria in Fig. 4.2 and state what this component contains to al
  6. June 2024, Paper 4, Q4(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why the gene for green fluorescent protein is sometimes transferred in addition to the desired gene in genetic engineering. [1] [Total: 15]
  7. Specimen, Paper 4, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why it is necessary to heat the mixture to 95 °C (step 1). [2]
  8. Specimen, Paper 4, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why primers are included in the mixture. [2]
  9. Specimen, Paper 4, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the enzyme Taq polymerase, rather than any other type of DNA polymerase, is used in PCR. [2]
  10. Specimen, Paper 4, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State the meaning of the term genome. [1]
  11. Specimen, Paper 4, Q4(b)(iii) (4 marks): Outline how faulty alleles of the BRCA2 gene can be detected using the microarray. [4]
  12. Specimen, Paper 5, Q1(d)(i) (1 mark): Using an internet search the student found that: •• electrophoresis can also be used to separate the products of enzyme hydrolysis of proteins •• a combination
  13. Specimen, Paper 5, Q1(d)(ii) (1 mark): Explain your answer to (i). [1] [Total: 18]

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