plumiGenetic modification (genetic engineering): Edexcel International GCSE Biology questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Biology exam question on Genetic modification (genetic engineering) (specification points 5.12–5.16), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q9(a)
The whole paper ↗Q9(b)
The whole paper ↗Q8(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q8(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q8(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q8(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(b)(v)
The whole paper ↗Q9(a)
The whole paper ↗Q9(a)
The whole paper ↗Q9(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q9(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q11(a)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)
The whole paper ↗Your answerQ2(b)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗
All 36 questions on Genetic modification (genetic engineering), as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(a) (4 marks): Describe how two named enzymes are used in genetic modification. (4)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q9(b) (2 marks): Scientists can also produce new varieties of plants by selective breeding. Give two differences between the use of genetic modification and selective breeding t
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): State the term for a genetically modified organism that has been given a gene from a different species. (1)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): Describe how named enzymes are used to transfer a gene from one species to another species. (3)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Vitamin A deficiency is common in some countries. Explain why growing golden rice may benefit people in these countries. (2)
- June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why some people may not agree with growing genetically modified crops such as golden rice. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): The mean rate of increase in mass of the non-GM tilapia during the seven months is 226 g per month. Calculate the mean rate of increase in mass, in g per month,
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest why the GM tilapia have a lower feed conversion index than the non-GM tilapia. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(b)(v) (5 marks): The scientists conclude that farming GM tilapia is better for the environment than farming non-GM tilapia. This is because the GM tilapia would result in less n
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a) (3 marks): To make the transgenic tomato plants, a gene is inserted into a vector that is then placed into tomato plant cells. Describe how a recombinant vector containing
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q9(a) (4 marks): Explain how these genetically modified bacteria are produced. (4)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term transgenic. (1)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest why growing herbicide‑resistant crop plants is beneficial to farmers. (2)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a) (2 marks): Describe how named enzymes are used to produce a recombinant plasmid containing a gene for a protease. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. Supercharging plants to reduce global war
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (2 marks): A species of yeast is genetically modified to produce a protein found on the outside of a hepatitis B virus. This protein is used to make vaccines to prevent pe
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): The scientist claims that the GM fungus will be better for large‑scale production of mycoprotein than the non-GM fungus. Comment on the scientist’s claim. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q5(a) (2 marks): Describe the role of a named vector in the process of genetic modification. (2)
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name an enzyme used by scientists to genetically modify the yeast. (1)
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): The GM yeast is a recombinant strain. State what is meant by the term recombinant. (1)
- June 2021, Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage increase in the mass of ethanol produced by GM yeast compared to normal yeast after 1 day. (2) percentage increase = %
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): Some GM crops are described as transgenic. Explain what is meant by the term transgenic. (2)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Give the role of two named enzymes in the production of GM organisms. (2) 1 2
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q6(b) (4 marks): Some GM crops that are available to farmers are resistant to herbicides (weedkillers). Other GM crops are resistant to diseases caused by viruses and to damage
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q5(a) (3 marks): Describe how the plasmid is modified to contain recombinant DNA. (3)
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q5(b) (6 marks): A farmer can use either of these methods to improve his crop yield. ● grow GM plants that produce the insect poison ● grow non-GM plants and use pesticides The
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q1(f) (1 mark): Read the passage below. Use the information in the passage and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is an inf
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why these mammals are described as transgenic. (2)
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which part of a bacterium is used in genetic modification? (1) A cell wall B nucleoid C plasmid D RNA
- November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (6 marks): The passage describes the use of an industrial fermenter to grow genetically modified bacteria. Complete the passage by writing a suitable word in each blank sp
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q2(d) (3 marks): The insulin now used for injections is obtained from bacteria that have been genetically modified. Describe how these bacteria are genetically modified to produ
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q2(e) (3 marks): An industrial fermenter is used to grow the genetically modified bacteria. Explain why the fermenter is cleaned using steam before the genetically modified bact
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(c)(ii) (6 marks): The student concludes that his results show that genetically modified (GM) salmon are useful in providing a balanced diet. Discuss the student’s conclusion. (6)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(d) (3 marks): The passage describes the role of enzymes involved in the genetic modification of salmon. Complete the passage by writing a suitable word in each space. (3) All
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (4 marks): Some people catch fish from rivers near farm land. Discuss why these people might support the genetic modification of farm animals. (4)
- June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the role of enzymes in genetic modification. (2)
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