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Transfer of genetic information: Edexcel A‑Level Biology B questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology B exam question on 8.2 Transfer of genetic information, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,826 questions

  1. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 4(b)(ii): There is only one known allele that causes sickle cell anaemia. State how the graph suggests that other genes affect the phenotype of people affected by sickle

  2. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 4(a)(i): State all the possible genotypes of females. (1)

  3. Q4(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 4(a)(ii): State all the possible genotypes of males. (1)

  4. Q4(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    4 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 4(a)(iii): The diagram shows a family tree for a family where some individuals have this condition. Key: Female with red-green vision Female with colour blindness Male wit

  5. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): A female monkey able to see both red and green is mated with a male monkey able to see only green. Determine the ratio of phenotypes you would expect in their o

  6. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    3 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 4(b)(ii): In separate crosses two monkeys were mated. Half of the offspring were females with the ability to see both red and green colours and half were males able to se

  7. Q2(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 2(c)(i): Which are the possible genotypes for a yellow-coloured tomato? (1) A RrTT only B rrTt only C rrtt only D rrTt and rrTT

  8. Q2(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    4 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 2(c)(ii): A tomato breeder crosses a yellow tomato plant with a red tomato plant that is heterozygous for both genes. Some of the F1 generation tomatoes are white. Determ

  9. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 5(b)(i): How many of the individuals in the family must have a genotype of XRXr? (1) A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5

  10. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 5(b)(ii): Explain how this pedigree diagram demonstrates that red-green colour blindness is caused by a recessive allele. (2)

  11. Q5(c)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    3 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 5(c)(i): The pedigree diagram shows the people who are and are not affected with achromatopsia in a family. 1 2 Key: male without achromatopsia male with achromatopsia 3

  12. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 8(b)(i): State the probability that two parents who are heterozygous for this condition would have a child who has beta thalassaemia. (1)

  13. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    2 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 8(b)(ii): Explain why a person who is heterozygous does not show the symptoms of beta thalassaemia. (2)

  14. Q7(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 7(a)(i): State what is meant by a dominant allele. (1)

  15. Q7(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    2 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 7(a)(ii): Explain the range of feather colours, shown in the graph, in this population of owls. (2)

  16. Q4(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 4(a): Give one feature, visible in the diagrams, that you could use to distinguish between male and female flies and state how it differs between them. (1) Feature Di

  17. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    2 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): A grey-bodied fly was crossed with a black-bodied fly. All the offspring in the F1 generation were grey-bodied. Two of the grey-bodied flies from the F1 generat

  18. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 4(b)(ii): Normal fruit flies have long wings but some flies have very short wings called vestigial wings. The allele for long wing (L) is dominant to the allele for vesti

  19. Q4(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    4 marks8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 4(b)(iii): The allele for red eyes (R) is dominant to the allele for white eyes (r). The scientist investigated the inheritance of eye colour. The crosses used were: cross

  20. Q8(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark8.2 Transfer of genetic information
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 8(a)(i): What are the genotypes of individuals 1 and 2? (1) A XHY and XHXH B XhY and XHXh C XhY and XHXH D XHY and XHXh
All 45 questions on Transfer of genetic information, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): There is only one known allele that causes sickle cell anaemia. State how the graph suggests that other genes affect the phenotype of people affected by sickle
  2. June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State all the possible genotypes of females. (1)
  3. June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): State all the possible genotypes of males. (1)
  4. June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(a)(iii) (4 marks): The diagram shows a family tree for a family where some individuals have this condition. Key: Female with red-green vision Female with colour blindness Male wit
  5. June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): A female monkey able to see both red and green is mated with a male monkey able to see only green. Determine the ratio of phenotypes you would expect in their o
  6. June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): In separate crosses two monkeys were mated. Half of the offspring were females with the ability to see both red and green colours and half were males able to se
  7. June 2024, Paper 2, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Which are the possible genotypes for a yellow-coloured tomato? (1) A RrTT only B rrTt only C rrtt only D rrTt and rrTT
  8. June 2024, Paper 2, Q2(c)(ii) (4 marks): A tomato breeder crosses a yellow tomato plant with a red tomato plant that is heterozygous for both genes. Some of the F1 generation tomatoes are white. Determ
  9. June 2023, Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): How many of the individuals in the family must have a genotype of XRXr? (1) A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5
  10. June 2023, Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how this pedigree diagram demonstrates that red-green colour blindness is caused by a recessive allele. (2)
  11. June 2023, Paper 2, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): The pedigree diagram shows the people who are and are not affected with achromatopsia in a family. 1 2 Key: male without achromatopsia male with achromatopsia 3
  12. June 2023, Paper 3, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): State the probability that two parents who are heterozygous for this condition would have a child who has beta thalassaemia. (1)
  13. June 2023, Paper 3, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why a person who is heterozygous does not show the symptoms of beta thalassaemia. (2)
  14. June 2022, Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by a dominant allele. (1)
  15. June 2022, Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the range of feather colours, shown in the graph, in this population of owls. (2)
  16. June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(a) (1 mark): Give one feature, visible in the diagrams, that you could use to distinguish between male and female flies and state how it differs between them. (1) Feature Di
  17. June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): A grey-bodied fly was crossed with a black-bodied fly. All the offspring in the F1 generation were grey-bodied. Two of the grey-bodied flies from the F1 generat
  18. June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Normal fruit flies have long wings but some flies have very short wings called vestigial wings. The allele for long wing (L) is dominant to the allele for vesti
  19. June 2022, Paper 3, Q4(b)(iii) (4 marks): The allele for red eyes (R) is dominant to the allele for white eyes (r). The scientist investigated the inheritance of eye colour. The crosses used were: cross
  20. November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): What are the genotypes of individuals 1 and 2? (1) A XHY and XHXH B XhY and XHXh C XhY and XHXH D XHY and XHXh
  21. November 2021, Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use a genetic diagram to determine the probability that the next child of individuals 4 and 5 will be a boy without haemophilia. (3) Answer
  22. November 2021, Paper 3, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): State the genotype of the F1 generation. (1)
  23. November 2021, Paper 3, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): The F1 generation was then self‑fertilised to produce the F2 generation. The numbers observed (O) in the F2 generation were: 31 white cauliflowers, 52 light pur
  24. November 2021, Paper 3, Q3(c)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the value for Chi squared using these results. Use the formula for Chi squared: − 2 ( O E ) = ∑ χ 2 E (3) Answer
  25. November 2021, Paper 3, Q3(c)(iv) (3 marks): The table shows some critical values for Chi squared. p value Degrees of freedom 0.900 0.500 0.100 0.050 0.010 1 0.016 0.455 2.706 3.841 6.635 2 0.211 1.386 4.6
  26. October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): Explain how one piece of evidence from the diagram shows that the allele for short fur is dominant to the allele for long fur. (2)
  27. October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Give all the possible genotypes of a male, black cat with short fur. (1)
  28. October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why all tortoiseshell cats are female. (2)
  29. October 2020, Paper 2, Q4(b)(iii) (4 marks): In a genetic cross, a tortoiseshell cat with long fur was mated with an orange male cat, heterozygous for fur length. Deduce the probability of producing a tort
  30. June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(a) (1 mark): State all the possible genotypes of a smooth, purple grain. (1)
  31. June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(b) (1 mark): Two maize plants, grown from grains that were both wrinkled and purple, were cross-pollinated. In the F1 generation, some grains were wrinkled and purple and so
  32. June 2019, Paper 2, Q4(c) (4 marks): A student cross-pollinated a maize plant grown from a smooth, purple grain (heterozygous for both pairs of alleles) with a maize plant grown from a wrinkled, ye
  33. June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the Chi squared value using the formula shown. (2) O − 2 ( E ) ∑ χ2 = E Answer
  34. June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(a)(ii) (4 marks): The table shows some critical values of Chi squared at different degrees of freedom. p value Degrees of freedom 0.900 0.500 0.100 0.050 0.010 1 0.016 0.455 2.70
  35. June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(b) (3 marks): The method used by the student had limitations. Justify how the student could modify the investigation to address these limitations. (3)
  36. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): State a null hypothesis for this investigation. (1)
  37. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(a)(ii) (1 mark): A Chi squared test was carried out to test this hypothesis. Complete the table. (1) (O − E)2 Expected Observed Expected Phenotype (O − E) (O − E)2 ratio results
  38. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(a)(iii) (1 mark): Calculate the value of Chi squared using the formula (1) 2χ Σ − 2 (O E) = E Answer
  39. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(a)(iv) (3 marks): The table shows some critical values of Chi squared at different degrees of freedom. p value Degrees of freedom 0.900 0.500 0.100 0.050 0.010 1 0.016 0.455 2.70
  40. June 2018, Paper 2, Q10(b) (6 marks): In Drosophila, the allele for grey bodies (G) is dominant to the allele for black bodies (g). In a second investigation, students crossed homozygous parent flie
  41. June 2017, Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the diagram shows that red-green colour blindness is caused by a recessive allele. (2)
  42. June 2017, Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Use a genetic diagram to determine the probability that the next child of individuals 6 and 7 is a male who is colour blind. (3) Answer
  43. June 2017, Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): State all the possible genotypes of a rabbit with brown fur. (1)
  44. June 2017, Paper 2, Q7(a)(iii) (3 marks): Two parent rabbits with brown fur were mated. Two of the F1 offspring had chinchilla fur. The F1 rabbit offspring with chinchilla fur were mated. The F2 generat
  45. June 2017, Paper 3, Q7(b) (4 marks): A woman is a carrier of the cystic fibrosis allele. Her partner does not have cystic fibrosis and is not a carrier. Use a genetic cross to determine the probabi

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