AQA A-level Biology Exam 1 (marking
scheme)
Describe eukaryotic cells - Answer They are complex cells and include all animal and
plant cells, as well as all algae and fungi cells.
What does it mean if a organism is eukaryotic? - Answer It is a multi-cellular organism
that is made up of eukaryotic cells.
What is an organelle? - Answer A part of a cell that plays a specific role.
Name the organelles you might find in an animal cell - Answer 1)Plasma cell surface
membrane
2)Rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
3)nucleus (nucleolus)
4)lysosome
5)ribosome
6)Golgi apparatus
7)cytoplasm
8)mitochondrion
Name the organelles you might find in a plant cell - Answer 1)Plasma cell surface
membrane
2)cellulose wall
3)chloroplast
4)rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
5)mitochondrion
6)Golgi apparatus
7)vacuole
8)cytoplasm
9)nucleus
,10) ribosome
How are algal cells similar to plant cells? - Answer They have the same organelles.
How are fungal cells different to plant cells? - Answer Their cell walls are made of chitin,
not cellulose.
They don't have chloroplasts because they don't need to photosynthesise
Describe the cell surface plasma membrane.
Outline the functions. - Answer It is found on the inside of cells that also have a cell wall
(plants), and is mainly made up of lipids and proteins.
It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It also has receptor
molecules on it, to allow it to respond to chemicals like hormones.
Name the components of the nucleus - Answer 1)nucleolus
2)nuclear envelope
3)nucleoplasm
4)nuclear pores
5)chromatin
Describe the nucleus.
Outline the functions. - Answer A large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope
which contains many pores. The nucleus contains chromosomes.
The nucleus controls the cell's activities by controlling the transcription of DNA. The
pores allow substances to move between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The nucleolus
makes ribosomes.
Describe mitochondrion.
Outline the functions. - Answer They are usually oval-shaped and have a double
membrane. The inner membrane is folded to form structures called cristae. Inside is the
matrix, which contains enzymes involved in respiration.
The site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced. They are found in large numbers
in cells that are very active and require a lot of energy.
Describe the structure of chloroplasts.
Outline the functions. - Answer A small, flattened structure found in plant and algal cells.
It is surrounded by a double membrane, and has membrane inside called thylakoid
membranes. They are stacked up in some parts to form grana. Grana are linked together
by lamellae.
, The site where photosynthesis takes place. Some parts happen in the grana, and other
parts happen in the stroma. (thick fluid found in chloroplasts)
Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus.
Outline the functions. - Answer A group of fluid-filled, membrane-bound, flattened sacs.
Vesicles are often seen at the edges of the sacs.
It processes and packages new lipids and proteins. It also makes lysosomes.
Describe the structure of a Golgi vesicle.
Outline the functions. - Answer A small fluid-filled sac in the cytoplasm, surrounded by a
membrane, and produced by the Golgi apparatus.
Stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus and transports them out of the
cell via the cell surface membrane.
Describe the structure of a lysosome.
Outline the functions. - Answer A round organelle surrounded by a membrane, with no
clear internal structure. It's a type of Golgi vesicle.
Contains digestive enzymes called lysozymes, that are kept separate from the cytoplasm
by the membrane. They can be used to digest invading cells or the break down worn out
components of the cell.
Describe the structure of a ribosome.
Outline the functions. - Answer A very small organelle that either floats free in the
cytoplasm or is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. It is made up of proteins
and RNA, and is not surrounded by a membrane.
It is the site where proteins are made.
Describe the structure of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. (RER)
Outline the functions. - Answer A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space.
The surface is covered with ribosomes.
They fold and process proteins that have been made at the ribosomes.
Describe the structure of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. (SER)
Outline the functions. - Answer A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space.
The surface is completely smooth.
Synthesises and processes lipids.
Describe the structure of the cell wall.
Outline the functions. - Answer A rigid structure that surrounds cells in plants, algae and
scheme)
Describe eukaryotic cells - Answer They are complex cells and include all animal and
plant cells, as well as all algae and fungi cells.
What does it mean if a organism is eukaryotic? - Answer It is a multi-cellular organism
that is made up of eukaryotic cells.
What is an organelle? - Answer A part of a cell that plays a specific role.
Name the organelles you might find in an animal cell - Answer 1)Plasma cell surface
membrane
2)Rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
3)nucleus (nucleolus)
4)lysosome
5)ribosome
6)Golgi apparatus
7)cytoplasm
8)mitochondrion
Name the organelles you might find in a plant cell - Answer 1)Plasma cell surface
membrane
2)cellulose wall
3)chloroplast
4)rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
5)mitochondrion
6)Golgi apparatus
7)vacuole
8)cytoplasm
9)nucleus
,10) ribosome
How are algal cells similar to plant cells? - Answer They have the same organelles.
How are fungal cells different to plant cells? - Answer Their cell walls are made of chitin,
not cellulose.
They don't have chloroplasts because they don't need to photosynthesise
Describe the cell surface plasma membrane.
Outline the functions. - Answer It is found on the inside of cells that also have a cell wall
(plants), and is mainly made up of lipids and proteins.
It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It also has receptor
molecules on it, to allow it to respond to chemicals like hormones.
Name the components of the nucleus - Answer 1)nucleolus
2)nuclear envelope
3)nucleoplasm
4)nuclear pores
5)chromatin
Describe the nucleus.
Outline the functions. - Answer A large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope
which contains many pores. The nucleus contains chromosomes.
The nucleus controls the cell's activities by controlling the transcription of DNA. The
pores allow substances to move between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The nucleolus
makes ribosomes.
Describe mitochondrion.
Outline the functions. - Answer They are usually oval-shaped and have a double
membrane. The inner membrane is folded to form structures called cristae. Inside is the
matrix, which contains enzymes involved in respiration.
The site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced. They are found in large numbers
in cells that are very active and require a lot of energy.
Describe the structure of chloroplasts.
Outline the functions. - Answer A small, flattened structure found in plant and algal cells.
It is surrounded by a double membrane, and has membrane inside called thylakoid
membranes. They are stacked up in some parts to form grana. Grana are linked together
by lamellae.
, The site where photosynthesis takes place. Some parts happen in the grana, and other
parts happen in the stroma. (thick fluid found in chloroplasts)
Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus.
Outline the functions. - Answer A group of fluid-filled, membrane-bound, flattened sacs.
Vesicles are often seen at the edges of the sacs.
It processes and packages new lipids and proteins. It also makes lysosomes.
Describe the structure of a Golgi vesicle.
Outline the functions. - Answer A small fluid-filled sac in the cytoplasm, surrounded by a
membrane, and produced by the Golgi apparatus.
Stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus and transports them out of the
cell via the cell surface membrane.
Describe the structure of a lysosome.
Outline the functions. - Answer A round organelle surrounded by a membrane, with no
clear internal structure. It's a type of Golgi vesicle.
Contains digestive enzymes called lysozymes, that are kept separate from the cytoplasm
by the membrane. They can be used to digest invading cells or the break down worn out
components of the cell.
Describe the structure of a ribosome.
Outline the functions. - Answer A very small organelle that either floats free in the
cytoplasm or is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. It is made up of proteins
and RNA, and is not surrounded by a membrane.
It is the site where proteins are made.
Describe the structure of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. (RER)
Outline the functions. - Answer A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space.
The surface is covered with ribosomes.
They fold and process proteins that have been made at the ribosomes.
Describe the structure of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. (SER)
Outline the functions. - Answer A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space.
The surface is completely smooth.
Synthesises and processes lipids.
Describe the structure of the cell wall.
Outline the functions. - Answer A rigid structure that surrounds cells in plants, algae and
