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Genomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Genomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture (specification points 8.16–8.19), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q7(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    1 markGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 7(b)(i): A student made three statements about this treatment: • ligase would be used to cut open the viral plasmid • a restriction enzyme would be used to add the funct

  2. Q7(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    3 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 7(b)(iii): Explain why a person successfully treated using a genetically modified virus may still have a child with this recessive condition. (3)

  3. Q7(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    1 markGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 7(c): The ability to produce personalised medicines is one outcome of the human genome project (HGP). Which one of the following allows the development of personalise

  4. Q5(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 5(c): Scientists are using fruit fly habituation to investigate the role of genes associated with human autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Before they can do this, the

  5. Q6(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    3 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(a)(i): Explain how an enzyme is involved in joining the two different genes together in stage 1. (3)

  6. Q6(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 markGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(a)(ii): Which one of the following enzymes can be used to cut open the plasmids in stage 2? (1) A DNA polymerase B RNA ligase C RNA polymerase D restriction endonucleas

  7. Q6(a)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(a)(iii): Explain why antibiotic A is used in stage 3. (2)

  8. Q6(a)(v)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    3 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(a)(v): The table shows the mass of spider silk produced from the genetically modified alfalfa in stage 6. It also shows the mass of spider silk produced from the genet

  9. Q6(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 6(b): Give two reasons why some people may be concerned about the use of genetically modified alfalfa as a source of spider silk. (2)

  10. Q6(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    4 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(a): Describe how Drosophila flies could be genetically modified to produce one form of the human TAU protein. (4)

  11. Q6(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    3 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(b): In one investigation, the effect of ageing on Drosophila making different human TAU proteins was studied. Flies making different forms of human TAU protein were

  12. Q8(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    3 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 8(c): Describe how plant biologists could demonstrate the effect of deleting genes that attract pests to crops (paragraph 8). (3)

  13. Q8(d)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 8(d): Explain why the editing of the germ line of a human embryo would result in the changes being inherited by the next generation (paragraph 9). (2)

  14. Q8(e)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 8(e): Explain why an RNA guide can be used to identify the precise nucleotides that Cas9 has been sent to cut (paragraph 12). (2)

  15. Q1(a)(i)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    1 markGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 1(a)(i): Which of the following correctly describes the genome of an adult male? (1) A all of his alleles plus all of his genes B all of his exons minus all of his intro

  16. Q1(a)(ii)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    1 markGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 1(a)(ii): Which row correctly identifies all the types of organism that can be both genetically modified and be a source of a gene to be used in GM? (1) Animal Bacterium

  17. Q1(b)

    October 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 2, question 1(b): Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can synthesise personalised proteins for use as medicines. Describe the role of enzymes involved in the synthesis of perso

  18. Q7(k)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    4 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 7(k): Describe how bacteria can be genetically modified to produce a cytokine for the treatment of neurological and mental disorders (paragraph 24). (4)

  19. Q8(c)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 8(c)(i): Explain why identical twins were included in this investigation. (2)

  20. Q8(c)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    6 marksGenomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurtureRisk factors and health data
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 8(c)(ii): The graph shows the results of this investigation. Key 0.8 identical twins 0.6 non-identical twins 0.4 0.2 0.0 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Age at diagnosis / years
All 26 questions on Genomes, GM organisms and nature versus nurture, as a list
  1. June 2023, Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): A student made three statements about this treatment: • ligase would be used to cut open the viral plasmid • a restriction enzyme would be used to add the funct
  2. June 2023, Paper 2, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why a person successfully treated using a genetically modified virus may still have a child with this recessive condition. (3)
  3. June 2023, Paper 2, Q7(c) (1 mark): The ability to produce personalised medicines is one outcome of the human genome project (HGP). Which one of the following allows the development of personalise
  4. June 2022, Paper 3, Q5(c) (2 marks): Scientists are using fruit fly habituation to investigate the role of genes associated with human autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Before they can do this, the
  5. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Explain how an enzyme is involved in joining the two different genes together in stage 1. (3)
  6. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which one of the following enzymes can be used to cut open the plasmids in stage 2? (1) A DNA polymerase B RNA ligase C RNA polymerase D restriction endonucleas
  7. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why antibiotic A is used in stage 3. (2)
  8. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a)(v) (3 marks): The table shows the mass of spider silk produced from the genetically modified alfalfa in stage 6. It also shows the mass of spider silk produced from the genet
  9. November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(b) (2 marks): Give two reasons why some people may be concerned about the use of genetically modified alfalfa as a source of spider silk. (2)
  10. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(a) (4 marks): Describe how Drosophila flies could be genetically modified to produce one form of the human TAU protein. (4)
  11. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(b) (3 marks): In one investigation, the effect of ageing on Drosophila making different human TAU proteins was studied. Flies making different forms of human TAU protein were
  12. November 2021, Paper 3, Q8(c) (3 marks): Describe how plant biologists could demonstrate the effect of deleting genes that attract pests to crops (paragraph 8). (3)
  13. November 2021, Paper 3, Q8(d) (2 marks): Explain why the editing of the germ line of a human embryo would result in the changes being inherited by the next generation (paragraph 9). (2)
  14. November 2021, Paper 3, Q8(e) (2 marks): Explain why an RNA guide can be used to identify the precise nucleotides that Cas9 has been sent to cut (paragraph 12). (2)
  15. October 2020, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following correctly describes the genome of an adult male? (1) A all of his alleles plus all of his genes B all of his exons minus all of his intro
  16. October 2020, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row correctly identifies all the types of organism that can be both genetically modified and be a source of a gene to be used in GM? (1) Animal Bacterium
  17. October 2020, Paper 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can synthesise personalised proteins for use as medicines. Describe the role of enzymes involved in the synthesis of perso
  18. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(k) (4 marks): Describe how bacteria can be genetically modified to produce a cytokine for the treatment of neurological and mental disorders (paragraph 24). (4)
  19. June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why identical twins were included in this investigation. (2)
  20. June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(c)(ii) (6 marks): The graph shows the results of this investigation. Key 0.8 identical twins 0.6 non-identical twins 0.4 0.2 0.0 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Age at diagnosis / years
  21. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how human genome sequencing can be used to identify the mutations associated with MPS I. (3)
  22. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(d)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology can be described as personalised medicine. (2)
  23. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(e) (4 marks): Tabor used enzymes to genetically modify a ‘harmless species of Escherichia coli’ (paragraph 26). Describe the functions of the enzymes used to genetically modi
  24. June 2018, Paper 3, Q7(h) (2 marks): Explain why genetically modified bacteria delivering drugs ‘to the exact tissue in the body where they’re needed and nowhere else’ would decrease side effects (
  25. June 2017, Paper 2, Q10(e) (6 marks): New varieties of plants with desirable combinations of characteristics can be produced using the methods shown in the table. Method Example In wheat, genome D i
  26. June 2017, Paper 3, Q7(f) (1 mark): State what is meant by the genome of a thermophile (paragraph 14). (1)

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