AQA GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE: TRILOGY
8464/B/2F BIOLOGY PAPER 2F 8464/B/2F
PAPER & MARK SCHEME ACTUAL
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Explain how/why the cell produced by gamete fusion replicates itself (3).
Answer: 1) After 2 gametes fused during fertilisation-resulting new cell
divides by mitosis to make copy of itself2)Mitosis repeats many times to
make lots of new cells in an EMBRYO3)As embryo develops-cells
differentiate into diff types of specialised cell that MAKE UP WHOLE
ORGANISM
◍ Biodiversity.
Answer: The variety of all the different species of organisms on earth, or
within an ecosystem
◍ Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
Answer: Those individuals that are best adapted to the environment will
survive and reproduce; those traits that help them, become more common in
a species and maladaptive traits die out. This is called natural Selection.
◍ what is the purpose of the pituitary gland?.
Answer: it is the master gland that sends signals to other glands.
◍ What does it mean if an organism is Homozygous?.
Answer: If its 2 alleles for a particular gene are the same.E.g BB is
Heterozygous , Bb is heterozygous
◍ What does insulin do?.
, Answer: It makes the liver convert glucose into glycogen. This causes blood
glucose levels to decrease.
◍ What happens during vasodilation?.
Answer: The blood vessels supplying the skin dilate (widen). This helps to
transfer energy to the environment.
◍ Lamarck's Theory of Evolution.
Answer: the idea that acquired traits, like a stretched neck in a giraffe from
eating from trees, is passed on to offspring
◍ what is the purpose of the ovaries?.
Answer: releases eggs and secretes hormones
◍ sexual reproduction.
Answer: A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their
genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents
(most animals)
◍ what is the purpose of the adrenal glands?.
Answer: releases adrenaline (causing the fight or flight)
◍ punnet square.
Answer: diagram that can be used to predict the genotype and phenotype
combinations of a genetic cross
◍ what is oestrogen?.
Answer: causes uterus lining to thicken and inhibits FSH so no more eggs
mature until the next cylce. also causes pituitary gland to secrete.
◍ What is inbreeding? + cons.
Answer: Where the farmer only breeds from the 'best' of animals/plants-
more chance of the organisms inheriting harmful GENETIC DISORDERS
when the gene pool is limited-lack of variation in population=if one dies of
a disease, the rest are likely to die too
◍ selective breeding.
Answer: the process of selecting organisms with desired traits to be parents
, of the next generation
◍ forms of contraception.
Answer: FSH-inhibiting pills (so no eggs can mature.)progesterone implant
(to stop eggs being released.)condom (used as a physical barrier.)IUD (stops
egg embedding in lining.)avoiding intercourse.
◍ What is reaction time?.
Answer: The time it takes to respond to a stimulus
◍ food security.
Answer: Physical, social, and economic access at all times to safe and
nutritious food sufficient to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an
active and healthy life.
◍ domain.
Answer: a level above kindom which consists of;archaea (primitive bacteria)
, bacteria (true bacteria) and eukaryota (everything else - DNA contained in
nucleus)
◍ How do biogas generators work?.
Answer: Anaerobic decay of biomass produces methane gas as a fuel
◍ Cause of cystic fibrosis?.
Answer: Caused by a Recessive Allele -'f'Alleles-'Ff'-unaffected but is a
carrier Alleles- 'ff'- has cystic fibrosis
◍ Abiotic factors.
Answer: Non-living factors
◍ biodiversity.
Answer: the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or
ecosystem.
◍ What is the brain made from?.
Answer: Millions of interconnected neurones
◍ Eaxmple of extremophiles.
Answer: bacteria living in deep sea vents (at very high pressure, no light,
, acid pH)
◍ These environmental changes may be....
Answer: ...seasonal, geographic or cuased by human interaction
◍ genotype.
Answer: a specific genetic code
◍ How do you interpret a family tree diagram/pedigree diagram?.
Answer: square-malecircle-femalecoloured square/circle-affected blank
square/circle-unaffectedhalf coloured square/circle-carriers
◍ genetic engineering.
Answer: Process of making changes in the DNA code of living organisms
◍ Describe how you could clone a plant. (Tissue Culture).
Answer: Tissue culture- A few plant cells are put in a growth medium with
hormones and they grow into new plants. Plants can be made quickly and
cheaply in very little space.
◍ What is the binomial system?.
Answer: Organisms are named according to this system.2 part Latin
namepart one:GENUS the organism belongs topart two:the species
◍ What does it mean if an organism is Heterozygous?.
Answer: If its 2 alleles for a particular gene are the different.e.g Bb is
heterozygous , BB is homozygous dominant, bb homozygous recessive
◍ Homeostasis.
Answer: an organisms ability to maintain regular internal conditions so
crucial reactions can take place in optimum rates
◍ The role of microorganisms in cycling.
Answer: Decay by microorganisms returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
by respiration and mineral ions to the soil.
◍ type 1 diabetes.
Answer: when the pancreas cant produce insulin so injections are needed
(usually genetic)
8464/B/2F BIOLOGY PAPER 2F 8464/B/2F
PAPER & MARK SCHEME ACTUAL
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Explain how/why the cell produced by gamete fusion replicates itself (3).
Answer: 1) After 2 gametes fused during fertilisation-resulting new cell
divides by mitosis to make copy of itself2)Mitosis repeats many times to
make lots of new cells in an EMBRYO3)As embryo develops-cells
differentiate into diff types of specialised cell that MAKE UP WHOLE
ORGANISM
◍ Biodiversity.
Answer: The variety of all the different species of organisms on earth, or
within an ecosystem
◍ Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
Answer: Those individuals that are best adapted to the environment will
survive and reproduce; those traits that help them, become more common in
a species and maladaptive traits die out. This is called natural Selection.
◍ what is the purpose of the pituitary gland?.
Answer: it is the master gland that sends signals to other glands.
◍ What does it mean if an organism is Homozygous?.
Answer: If its 2 alleles for a particular gene are the same.E.g BB is
Heterozygous , Bb is heterozygous
◍ What does insulin do?.
, Answer: It makes the liver convert glucose into glycogen. This causes blood
glucose levels to decrease.
◍ What happens during vasodilation?.
Answer: The blood vessels supplying the skin dilate (widen). This helps to
transfer energy to the environment.
◍ Lamarck's Theory of Evolution.
Answer: the idea that acquired traits, like a stretched neck in a giraffe from
eating from trees, is passed on to offspring
◍ what is the purpose of the ovaries?.
Answer: releases eggs and secretes hormones
◍ sexual reproduction.
Answer: A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their
genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents
(most animals)
◍ what is the purpose of the adrenal glands?.
Answer: releases adrenaline (causing the fight or flight)
◍ punnet square.
Answer: diagram that can be used to predict the genotype and phenotype
combinations of a genetic cross
◍ what is oestrogen?.
Answer: causes uterus lining to thicken and inhibits FSH so no more eggs
mature until the next cylce. also causes pituitary gland to secrete.
◍ What is inbreeding? + cons.
Answer: Where the farmer only breeds from the 'best' of animals/plants-
more chance of the organisms inheriting harmful GENETIC DISORDERS
when the gene pool is limited-lack of variation in population=if one dies of
a disease, the rest are likely to die too
◍ selective breeding.
Answer: the process of selecting organisms with desired traits to be parents
, of the next generation
◍ forms of contraception.
Answer: FSH-inhibiting pills (so no eggs can mature.)progesterone implant
(to stop eggs being released.)condom (used as a physical barrier.)IUD (stops
egg embedding in lining.)avoiding intercourse.
◍ What is reaction time?.
Answer: The time it takes to respond to a stimulus
◍ food security.
Answer: Physical, social, and economic access at all times to safe and
nutritious food sufficient to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an
active and healthy life.
◍ domain.
Answer: a level above kindom which consists of;archaea (primitive bacteria)
, bacteria (true bacteria) and eukaryota (everything else - DNA contained in
nucleus)
◍ How do biogas generators work?.
Answer: Anaerobic decay of biomass produces methane gas as a fuel
◍ Cause of cystic fibrosis?.
Answer: Caused by a Recessive Allele -'f'Alleles-'Ff'-unaffected but is a
carrier Alleles- 'ff'- has cystic fibrosis
◍ Abiotic factors.
Answer: Non-living factors
◍ biodiversity.
Answer: the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or
ecosystem.
◍ What is the brain made from?.
Answer: Millions of interconnected neurones
◍ Eaxmple of extremophiles.
Answer: bacteria living in deep sea vents (at very high pressure, no light,
, acid pH)
◍ These environmental changes may be....
Answer: ...seasonal, geographic or cuased by human interaction
◍ genotype.
Answer: a specific genetic code
◍ How do you interpret a family tree diagram/pedigree diagram?.
Answer: square-malecircle-femalecoloured square/circle-affected blank
square/circle-unaffectedhalf coloured square/circle-carriers
◍ genetic engineering.
Answer: Process of making changes in the DNA code of living organisms
◍ Describe how you could clone a plant. (Tissue Culture).
Answer: Tissue culture- A few plant cells are put in a growth medium with
hormones and they grow into new plants. Plants can be made quickly and
cheaply in very little space.
◍ What is the binomial system?.
Answer: Organisms are named according to this system.2 part Latin
namepart one:GENUS the organism belongs topart two:the species
◍ What does it mean if an organism is Heterozygous?.
Answer: If its 2 alleles for a particular gene are the different.e.g Bb is
heterozygous , BB is homozygous dominant, bb homozygous recessive
◍ Homeostasis.
Answer: an organisms ability to maintain regular internal conditions so
crucial reactions can take place in optimum rates
◍ The role of microorganisms in cycling.
Answer: Decay by microorganisms returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
by respiration and mineral ions to the soil.
◍ type 1 diabetes.
Answer: when the pancreas cant produce insulin so injections are needed
(usually genetic)
