plumiStem cells: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
OCR A-Level Biology A past-paper questions on 2.1.6.5 Stem cells, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q16(b)(i)
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All 33 questions on Stem cells, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q16(b)(i) (2 marks): State two features of stem cells, not visible under the microscope, that distinguish them from specialised cells. 1 2 [2]
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q16(b)(ii) (2 marks): Stem cells have a number of uses in medicine. Explain why stem cells are useful tools in medical research. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): State the location of the stem cells that differentiate into neutrophils. [1]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which type of stem cell can become specialised into more than one cell type but is limited to a range of cell types? A Embryonic B Multipotent C Pluripotent D T
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q26(a) (2 marks): Bone marrow contains stem cells which can only differentiate into blood cell types including erythrocytes and neutrophils. Complete the table to show which stat
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q26(c) (1 mark): One area of potential use for stem cells is in medicine, for example, to repair damaged tissues and to treat neurological conditions. State one other potential
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q3(a) (2 marks): The sentences describe the role of meristems in producing xylem vessels. Complete the sentences using the most appropriate words or phrases. Meristem cells are
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q5(f)(i) (1 mark): State a feature of stem cells that allows them to be used to produce pancreatic β-cells. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): Bone marrow stem cells are a source of erythrocytes. Which statement about bone marrow stem cells and their role in the production of erythrocytes is correct? A
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q19 (1 mark): Which statement is true of stem cells? A All stem cells can naturally divide to produce a new organism. B Stem cells are differentiated and specialised cells. C
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q5(b)(iii) (1 mark): Neutrophils are produced by stem cells. State where in the body these stem cells are found. [1]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q5(c) (2 marks): Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition which results in problems with co-ordination of body movements. • It can be caused by the death of dopamine prod
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(d)(i) (2 marks): The ESCs are described as pluripotent. Explain what is meant by pluripotent. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(d)(ii) (3 marks): The scientists concluded that growing the ESCs with growth factors caused them to differentiate into functional thyroid tissue. Evaluate this conclusion. [3]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(d)(iii) (2 marks): The scientists then repeated their experiments with adult stem cells taken from the skin of patients with hypothyroidism. These cells were artificially transfor
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q25(b)(i) (2 marks): On the photomicrograph, label the location of meristem tissue. [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q25(c) (2 marks): Explain the role of meristem tissue in a stem. [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q25(d) (1 mark): Name one potential use of stem cells in medicine. [1]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q20(d) (2 marks): Plant growth requires the production of new xylem cells. Describe how new xylem cells are produced. [2]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the following statements, A to D, is not true of human erythrocytes? A They are produced from stem cells. B They are produced in bone marrow. C They ar
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): Which of the following, A to D, is not true about adult stem cells? A They are found in bone marrow. B They are not specialised. C They are totipotent. D They c
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q21(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain the role of embryonic stem cells in the development of the embryo. [2]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q21(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the cells of the inner cell mass are not totipotent stem cells. [2]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q1(c)(i) (3 marks): A student wrote the following passage about cells: ƇErythrocytes and neutrophils are formed in the spleen. One of the places ciliated epithelial cells are found
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): A man with a body mass of 73 kg was admitted to hospital with an infection. His neutrophil production was measured at approximately 3804 billion cells in a 24h
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Which of the following, A to D, explains why stem cells ar
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): Both of the cell types P and Q develop from haematopoetic stem cells in the bone marrow. Which of the following statements, A to D, correctly describes haematop
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q6 (1 mark): Which of the following statements, A to D, correctly explains why meristems can differentiate into xylem vessels in plant stems? A Meristems are living and unsp
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the cell labelled B. [1]
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q23(c) (1 mark): The tissues labelled Q and S in Fig. 23 are produced by mitosis from the tissue labelled R on Fig. 23. Identify the tissue labelled R. R [1]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q22(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain why podocytes are usually unable to undergo mitosis. [3]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q22(c)(ii) (2 marks): Studies show that after damage by infection or injury, it is possible for nephron tissues to be regenerated. Adult stem cells are involved in this process. What
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q1(c) (4 marks): The use of stem cells is being evaluated for the treatment of certain human diseases. Name two potential sources of human stem cells and for one source, describ
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