plumiCellular control: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
Every OCR A-Level Biology A exam question on 6.1.1 Cellular control, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q16(c)
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Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 3, question 4(b): Outline how gene expression is regulated within cells at the post‑transcriptional level. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h42003-jun25-04-b-qp.webp?v=3)
Q6(a)(i)
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Q6(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 3, question 6(a)(ii): State and explain the effect of mutation 2 on the structure of the β‑chain of haemoglobin. [1] 19 U G A C C A G U G U U C A C G U A G A C G U C C A C A A U G Cy](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h42003-jun25-06-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q16(b)(iv)
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Q22(a)
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Q22(b)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 22(b): State the name of the type of gene responsible for controlling body plan in multicellular organisms. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h42002-jun22-22-b-qp.webp?v=3)
Q16(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗![November 2021 Paper 2, question 16(c)(i): Explain why some regions of DNA can be described as ‘non-coding’. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h42002-nov21-16-ci-qp.webp?v=3)
Q16(c)(ii)
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Q16(a)
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All 29 questions on Cellular control, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q9 (1 mark): Mutations during DNA replication can involve a single nucleotide base being deleted from the genetic code. Which term describes this mutation? A Frameshift muta
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q16(c) (6 marks): Microscopy can be used to examine the structure of stem cells. (c)* The development of body form begins in embryonic stem cells. Using examples, explain the imp
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q4(b) (2 marks): Outline how gene expression is regulated within cells at the post‑transcriptional level. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): The diagram on the opposite page is a representation of the genetic code. It shows the amino acid encoded by each mRNA codon. The letters in the centre of the d
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State and explain the effect of mutation 2 on the structure of the β‑chain of haemoglobin. [1] 19 U G A C C A G U G U U C A C G U A G A C G U C C A C A A U G Cy
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q6 (1 mark): What is a direct consequence of the genetic code being degenerate? A It is possible that a mutation could change the sequence of amino acids but leave the funct
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q7 (1 mark): Which of the statements describe(s) control of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level? 1 binding of a repressor protein to an operator sequence 2 the
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q7 (1 mark): Lactose metabolism in E. coli is controlled by the lac operon. Which of the structures associated with the lac operon contain nucleic acids? 1: the operator 2:
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q8 (1 mark): Homeobox genes control body plan in eukaryotes. Which of the statements about homeobox genes are correct? 1: they bind to transcription factors 2: they contain
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q6 (6 marks): 6* Homeobox genes, including Hox genes, code for transcription factors and regulate the expression of structural genes. Describe the general roles of homeobox g
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q16(b)(iv) (6 marks): Haemoglobin is a globular protein. Fig. 16.1 shows the structure of haemoglobin. X Fig. 16.1 (iv)* In sickle cell disease, the mutated haemoglobin has a reduced
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q22(a) (5 marks): Complete the following sentences about control of body plan using the most appropriate terms. Body plan is under genetic and control. Internal and external can
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q22(b) (1 mark): State the name of the type of gene responsible for controlling body plan in multicellular organisms. [1]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the following processes is important in determining the overall body plan of an organism? A endocytosis B exocytosis C meiosis D mitosis Your answer [1
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): Genes are not expressed during cell division because chromosomes are more tightly wound around histone proteins than during interphase. Which of the following s
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q16(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain why some regions of DNA can be described as ‘non-coding’. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q16(c)(ii) (1 mark): Non-coding regions of DNA show more variation than coding regions. This makes non-coding regions useful in DNA profiling. Suggest why non-coding regions of DNA
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): A student used Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to test for correlation between radiation dose and cell damage. Which of the following statements, A to D
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Which of the following statements, A to D, about the graph is correct? A The data for the ‘with extract’ group is more variable than the data for the ‘without e
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q16(a) (5 marks): Complete the passage below using the most appropriate words from the list. development DNA domains analogous archaea homozygous kingdoms homeobox homologous ope
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q16(b)(i) (2 marks): the development of body plan. 1 2 [2]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q16(b)(ii) (2 marks): There are some public concerns about the ethics of using mice in these investigations. Suggest two reasons why mice are chosen as a suitable species for investi
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): Hox genes contribute to the overall body plan of an animal. Which of the following rows correctly describes Hox genes? Base sequence Product Mutations varies be
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): Hox genes contain a homeobox sequence of 180 base pairs. Two species have a homeobox sequence of 180 base pairs where 1.7% of the base pairs are different. Whic
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q1(c)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest how allele B inhibits the expression of allele A. [2]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): Below are three processes that occur within living organisms. 1 apoptosis 2 mitosis 3 meiosis Which of these processes is important in determining the body plan
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q19(b)(iv) (1 mark): One type of gene is known as a homeobox gene. The base sequences of homeobox genes in humans and chimpanzees are almost identical. What conclusions about the ev
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q20(b)(iii) (2 marks): In order for lactose to enter the cytoplasm of E. coli a protein is required. The E. coli living in the digestive system of young mammals are more likely to con
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q3(a)(ii) (6 marks): Tigers, Panthera tigris, are predatory mammals. They have evolved striped patterns on their fur (as shown in Fig. 3.1a on the insert), which provide camouflage
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