plumiClassification and phylogeny: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
OCR A-Level Biology A past-paper questions on 4.2.2.3 Classification and phylogeny, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q4(c)
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All 14 questions on Classification and phylogeny, as a list
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q4(c) (1 mark): State the relationship between classification and phylogeny. [1]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q18(a)(ii) (3 marks): Using the information in the table, describe the evolutionary and genetic relationships between the species that are listed. [3]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q18(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why it is difficult to decide which of the other species would be the most appropriate to use as a source of DNA for constructing a thylacine genome. [2
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q24(b) (3 marks): A student analyses the estimated ages of 16 species of diatom. The estimated ages show how long ago the species evolved from an ancestor. The student compares e
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): Evolutionary relationships can be determined by comparing certain biological molecules between species. Which option is commonly used to determine evolutionary
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q16(d) (3 marks): DNA sequencing has allowed scientists to create a strain of Escherichia coli bacteria with an entirely artificial genome. Complete the passage using the most ap
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q21(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one piece of evidence not given above that could be used to provide strong support for the classification of algae in a particular kingdom. [1]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q26(b) (2 marks): Explain how a specific molecule is used to show that two different species have evolved from a recent common ancestor. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q20(c)(i) (1 mark): The mongoose is a smaller mammal and also has proportionally longer fur. State one other difference, visible in Fig. 20.2, between a fossa and a mongoose. [1]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q19(a) (2 marks): Humans and chimpanzees are currently classified within the same family. Chimpanzees were once classified separately from humans in the Family Pongidae along wit
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q19(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the rate of DNA change using the data in Fig. 19.3. Give your answer to three significant figures. Answer % per million years [2]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q19(b)(ii) (2 marks): The mutation rate in mammals can vary by as much as 20% between species. Use Fig. 19.3 to calculate the time since the phylogeny of humans diverged from chimpan
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q19(b)(iii) (6 marks): Two species of chimpanzees, the chimpanzee and the bonobo, are the closest living relatives of humans. Fig. 19.1 is a diagram representing the current classific
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): Biologists use both phylogeny and classification to understand how different species are related. Which of the options, A to D, is a statement about phylogeny?
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