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Genetic engineering: Edexcel GCSE Biology questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Biology exam question on Genetic engineering (specification points 4.10–4.14), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,834 questions

  1. Q7(d)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    6 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(d): Figure 15 shows corn damaged by an insect pest. © Tomasz Klejdysz/Shutterstock Figure 15 Scientists have genetically modified (GM) corn plants to be • resistant

  2. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(i): State why the embryo of the pig must be engineered so it does not grow pig kidneys. (1)

  3. Q9(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(b)(i): Compare the number of donors available with the number of organ transplants needed from 1991 to 2018. Use information from the graph to support your answer. (3)

  4. Q9(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(b)(ii): State why scientists are genetically engineering animals for organ transplants. (1)

  5. Q9(c)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(c): Bacteria have been genetically engineered to produce human insulin since 1978. Explain how bacteria can be genetically engineered to produce human insulin. (6)

  6. Q8(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(b): Chymosin can be produced by genetically modified bacteria. Figure 12 shows a bacterial cell. Figure 12 Explain how to genetically modify a bacterial cell to pro

  7. Q7(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    6 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(c): Some crop plants have been genetically modified to be resistant to insect pests. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of producing genetically modified crop

  8. Q7(b)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(b)(i): What method is used to insert the gene from the bacteria into the crop plant? (1) A selective breeding B asexual reproduction C genetic engineering D tissue cul

  9. Q7(b)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(b)(ii): Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of growing crop plants that produce a toxin that can kill insects. (6)

  10. Q3(a)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(a)(i): In 2009, the area of land used was 134 million hectares and in 2010 the area of land was 147 million hectares. Complete Figure 5 by drawing bars to show the are

  11. Q3(a)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(a)(ii): Describe the trend shown by the data in Figure 5. (2)

  12. Q3(b)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(b): GM crops often produce a larger yield than non-GM crops. Give one reason why this could reduce the destruction of forests. (1)

  13. Q3(d)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 3(d): Some crop plants are genetically modified to make them resistant to attack by insect pests. State one disadvantage of genetically modified crop plants. (1)

  14. Q5(c)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(c): Figure 8 shows a plasmid containing the human insulin gene. human insulin gene Figure 8 Explain how the human insulin gene can be inserted into a plasmid. (3)

  15. Q4(d)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(d): Some crop plants have been genetically engineered to produce toxic chemicals in their leaves. Explain one advantage of producing these genetically modified crop

  16. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(i): Explain how a gene can be inserted into a plasmid. (2)

  17. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(ii): Discuss the possible benefits and risks of producing painkillers from genetically modified yeast cells rather than extracting the painkillers from poppies. (3)

  18. Q9(b)

    Specimen · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksGenetic engineering
    The whole paper ↗
    Specimen Paper 1 Higher, question 9(b): Penicillin, isolated from a fungus, was the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and is still widely used today. Scientists have genetically engi
All 18 questions on Genetic engineering, as a list
  1. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(d) (6 marks): Figure 15 shows corn damaged by an insect pest. © Tomasz Klejdysz/Shutterstock Figure 15 Scientists have genetically modified (GM) corn plants to be • resistant
  2. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): State why the embryo of the pig must be engineered so it does not grow pig kidneys. (1)
  3. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b)(i) (3 marks): Compare the number of donors available with the number of organ transplants needed from 1991 to 2018. Use information from the graph to support your answer. (3)
  4. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b)(ii) (1 mark): State why scientists are genetically engineering animals for organ transplants. (1)
  5. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (6 marks): Bacteria have been genetically engineered to produce human insulin since 1978. Explain how bacteria can be genetically engineered to produce human insulin. (6)
  6. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b) (3 marks): Chymosin can be produced by genetically modified bacteria. Figure 12 shows a bacterial cell. Figure 12 Explain how to genetically modify a bacterial cell to pro
  7. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c) (6 marks): Some crop plants have been genetically modified to be resistant to insect pests. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of producing genetically modified crop
  8. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): What method is used to insert the gene from the bacteria into the crop plant? (1) A selective breeding B asexual reproduction C genetic engineering D tissue cul
  9. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b)(ii) (6 marks): Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of growing crop plants that produce a toxin that can kill insects. (6)
  10. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): In 2009, the area of land used was 134 million hectares and in 2010 the area of land was 147 million hectares. Complete Figure 5 by drawing bars to show the are
  11. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the trend shown by the data in Figure 5. (2)
  12. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b) (1 mark): GM crops often produce a larger yield than non-GM crops. Give one reason why this could reduce the destruction of forests. (1)
  13. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(d) (1 mark): Some crop plants are genetically modified to make them resistant to attack by insect pests. State one disadvantage of genetically modified crop plants. (1)
  14. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (3 marks): Figure 8 shows a plasmid containing the human insulin gene. human insulin gene Figure 8 Explain how the human insulin gene can be inserted into a plasmid. (3)
  15. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(d) (2 marks): Some crop plants have been genetically engineered to produce toxic chemicals in their leaves. Explain one advantage of producing these genetically modified crop
  16. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain how a gene can be inserted into a plasmid. (2)
  17. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (3 marks): Discuss the possible benefits and risks of producing painkillers from genetically modified yeast cells rather than extracting the painkillers from poppies. (3)
  18. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b) (4 marks): Penicillin, isolated from a fungus, was the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and is still widely used today. Scientists have genetically engi

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