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Genes, environment and phenotype: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Genes, environment and phenotype (specification points 3.14–3.15), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 5(a)(i): Describe what is meant by the term continuous variation. (2)

  2. Q5(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    4 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 5(a)(ii): Explain how polygenic inheritance can give rise to continuous variation in characteristics such as eye colour in humans. (4)

  3. Q5(b)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    4 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 5(b): Canine hip dysplasia affects the hip joint of dogs causing pain and difficulty walking. Canine hip dysplasia is more common in larger dogs. A study of the incid

  4. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 markGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 6(a)(i): Which of the following is the definition of the term phenotype? (1) A the alleles inherited by an organism B the characteristics shown by an organism C the gene

  5. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    1 markGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 6(a)(ii): The photograph shows a Siamese cat. (Source: © DK IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) This breed of cat has darker fur on the face, tail and feet. If a Siamese cat sp

  6. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 6(b)(ii): Deduce why armadillos have been used to investigate the effects of the environment on phenotype. (2)

  7. Q6(c)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    3 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 6(c): Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation, can affect the phenotype of an organism. Explain how DNA methylation can affect the activation of a gene. (3)

  8. Q6(d)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    3 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 6(d)(i): Deduce the effect of methyl groups in the diet on the features of the offspring of these mice. (3)

  9. Q6(d)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 6(d)(ii): Epigenetic changes to the DNA of the offspring happen during their development inside the mother. Explain how the results of this investigation support this sta

  10. Q4(a)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    1 markGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 4(a): State what is meant by the term loci. (1)

  11. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    1 markGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 4(b)(i): Deduce which three genotypes would give phenotype 6. (1)

  12. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 4(b)(ii): Explain why the frequency of phenotype 7 is different from the frequency of phenotype 3. (2)

  13. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    1 markGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 4(c)(i): State the mode for height in males. (1)

  14. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    3 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 4(c)(ii): The data show that there are more adults at the lower end of the range for height than at the higher end of the range for both females and males. Explain how th

  15. Q5(a)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    3 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 5(a): Explain how DNA methylation can modify the activation of a gene. (3)

  16. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    3 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 5(b)(ii): Deduce the reasons why reduced DNA methylation of the AHRR gene can increase the risk of lung cancer. (3)

  17. Q4(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 4(c): Factors such as the diet of the mother during pregnancy can cause epigenetic changes in the embryo. Explain how epigenetic changes affect the development of tis

  18. Q1(b)(iii)

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksMeiosis, mitosis and the cell cycleGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 1(b)(iii): Explain how large numbers of cells with the same phenotype can be produced in a tissue. (2)

  19. Q5(b)(i)

    November 2021 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 2, question 5(b)(i): Give the meaning of the term polygenic. (2)

  20. Q10(b)(i)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    1 markGenes, environment and phenotype
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 10(b)(i): Draw a line of best fit on the graph to identify any correlation between the independent variable and the dependent variable. (1)
All 37 questions on Genes, environment and phenotype, as a list
  1. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by the term continuous variation. (2)
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (4 marks): Explain how polygenic inheritance can give rise to continuous variation in characteristics such as eye colour in humans. (4)
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q5(b) (4 marks): Canine hip dysplasia affects the hip joint of dogs causing pain and difficulty walking. Canine hip dysplasia is more common in larger dogs. A study of the incid
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following is the definition of the term phenotype? (1) A the alleles inherited by an organism B the characteristics shown by an organism C the gene
  5. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): The photograph shows a Siamese cat. (Source: © DK IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) This breed of cat has darker fur on the face, tail and feet. If a Siamese cat sp
  6. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Deduce why armadillos have been used to investigate the effects of the environment on phenotype. (2)
  7. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q6(c) (3 marks): Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation, can affect the phenotype of an organism. Explain how DNA methylation can affect the activation of a gene. (3)
  8. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q6(d)(i) (3 marks): Deduce the effect of methyl groups in the diet on the features of the offspring of these mice. (3)
  9. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q6(d)(ii) (2 marks): Epigenetic changes to the DNA of the offspring happen during their development inside the mother. Explain how the results of this investigation support this sta
  10. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term loci. (1)
  11. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Deduce which three genotypes would give phenotype 6. (1)
  12. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the frequency of phenotype 7 is different from the frequency of phenotype 3. (2)
  13. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): State the mode for height in males. (1)
  14. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): The data show that there are more adults at the lower end of the range for height than at the higher end of the range for both females and males. Explain how th
  15. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q5(a) (3 marks): Explain how DNA methylation can modify the activation of a gene. (3)
  16. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Deduce the reasons why reduced DNA methylation of the AHRR gene can increase the risk of lung cancer. (3)
  17. November 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): Factors such as the diet of the mother during pregnancy can cause epigenetic changes in the embryo. Explain how epigenetic changes affect the development of tis
  18. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain how large numbers of cells with the same phenotype can be produced in a tissue. (2)
  19. November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Give the meaning of the term polygenic. (2)
  20. October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(b)(i) (1 mark): Draw a line of best fit on the graph to identify any correlation between the independent variable and the dependent variable. (1)
  21. October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(b)(ii) (2 marks): An investigation studied the effect of age on the mean level of DNA methylation. In this investigation, the null hypothesis was rejected at the 5% significance
  22. October 2020, Paper 2, Q10(b)(iii) (6 marks): Scientists have found that a high level of succinate leads to the inhibition of an enzyme called TET. The function of TET is to remove methyl groups from DNA. E
  23. October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q6(b) (1 mark): Body mass in humans is a polygenic characteristic. The best definition of a polygenic characteristic is one that involves (1) A a single allele at a single locu
  24. October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q6(c) (4 marks): The body mass of a group of monozygotic (MZ) twins was studied for 19 years. The correlation between the body masses of each set of twins was calculated. This w
  25. October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q6(d) (3 marks): Epigenetic changes can cause monozygotic twins to have different body masses. Explain how epigenetic changes can cause differences in a characteristic. (3)
  26. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): The peak of the curve in the graph is the (1) A mean B median C mode D standard deviation
  27. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which one of these phenotypes shows a pattern of continuous variation? (1) A blood group B body mass C eye colour D gender
  28. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q1(b) (4 marks): Explain why an individual may have a greater adult height than their biological parents. (4)
  29. June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q8(c) (3 marks): As pluripotent stem cells divide, epigenetic changes are passed on. Explain how epigenetic changes affect the activation of genes in daughter cells. (3)
  30. June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(b) (3 marks): The effects of saturated fats in the diet on the BMI in individuals with different FTO genotypes are shown in the graph. 34 – 33 – Key 32 – Unsaturated fat diet
  31. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(c) (2 marks): The hormone ghrelin may cause epigenetic changes to the FTO gene leading to weight gain (paragraph 9). Describe how ghrelin could cause epigenetic changes. (2)
  32. June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): State how the graph provides evidence that this characteristic shows polygenic inheritance. (1)
  33. June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (1 mark): Height in animals is determined by polygenic inheritance. Which is a description of polygenic inheritance of height? (1) A controlled by a large number of allel
  34. June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): State and justify the mode for height of the saiga antelope. (2)
  35. June 2017, Paper 3, Q5(c)(ii) (5 marks): As altitude increases on a mountain, the temperature decreases and the UV-B radiation increases. Scientists have found that a rise in temperature decreases flav
  36. June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): What is the term that refers to the pattern of inheritance where a single characteristic is determined by more than one gene? (1) A epigenetic B monogenic C pol
  37. June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of the following is another environmental factor that could affect the development of lupus? (1) A age B diet C gender D height

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