1. AQA GCSE Biology: Cell Biology
Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Solved
Eukaryotic cells - ✔✔Plant and animal cells
What characterises eukaryotic cells? (3) - ✔✔Cell membrane, cytoplasm
and genetic material enclosed in a nucleus
Prokaryotic cells - ✔✔Bacterial cells
What characterises prokaryotic cells? (4) - ✔✔1. much smaller in
comparison
2. have a cytoplasm and cell membrane surrounded by cell wall
3. genetic material is a single DNA loop not enclosed in a nucleus
4. may be 1 or more small rings of DNA called plasmids
Millimetre - ✔✔mm, thousandth of a metre, 10^-3m
Micrometre - ✔✔μm, millionth of a metre, 10^-6m
Nanometre - ✔✔nm, billionth of a metre, 10^-9m
Nucleus - ✔✔Contains genetic information and controls cell's activities
1
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
,Cell membrane - ✔✔Controls the passage of substances in and out of the
cell e.g. glucose and ions
Cytoplasm - ✔✔Where most chemical reactions take place
Ribosomes - ✔✔Where protein synthesis takes place
Mitochondria - ✔✔Where aerobic respiration takes place
Chloroplasts - ✔✔Where photosynthesis occurs because contain
chlorophyll (in plant cells)
Plasmids - ✔✔Small rings of DNA which code for very specific features
such as antibiotic resistance (in bacterial cells)
Most animal cells have... (5) - ✔✔1. Nucleus
2. Cytoplasm
3. Cell membrane
4. Mitochondria
5. Ribosomes
In addition to the parts found in animal cells, plant cells often have... - ✔✔1.
Chloroplasts
2. Permanent vacuole filled with cell sap
Plant and algal cells also have... - ✔✔...a cell wall made of cellulose which
strengthens the cell
2
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
, Equipment for microscopy practical (6) - ✔✔1. Microscope
2. Onion
3. Scalpel
4. Forceps
5. Slide and cover slip
6. Iodine
What must you remember when you are drawing cells from a microscope?
(2) - ✔✔1. Draw in neat pencil lines
2. Note down what magnification you are using
Microscopy practical - ✔✔1. Cut a thin sample of onion with the scalpel and
place it on the slide
2. Add a few drops of iodine
3. Carefully place a cover slip on top, avoiding air bubbles
4. Place the slide onto the stage
5. Select the lowest-powered objective lens
6. Use the coarse adjustment (/focus?) and then fine adjustment knob to
focus your image
7. If necessary, select a higher-powered objective lens and refocus
3
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Solved
Eukaryotic cells - ✔✔Plant and animal cells
What characterises eukaryotic cells? (3) - ✔✔Cell membrane, cytoplasm
and genetic material enclosed in a nucleus
Prokaryotic cells - ✔✔Bacterial cells
What characterises prokaryotic cells? (4) - ✔✔1. much smaller in
comparison
2. have a cytoplasm and cell membrane surrounded by cell wall
3. genetic material is a single DNA loop not enclosed in a nucleus
4. may be 1 or more small rings of DNA called plasmids
Millimetre - ✔✔mm, thousandth of a metre, 10^-3m
Micrometre - ✔✔μm, millionth of a metre, 10^-6m
Nanometre - ✔✔nm, billionth of a metre, 10^-9m
Nucleus - ✔✔Contains genetic information and controls cell's activities
1
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
,Cell membrane - ✔✔Controls the passage of substances in and out of the
cell e.g. glucose and ions
Cytoplasm - ✔✔Where most chemical reactions take place
Ribosomes - ✔✔Where protein synthesis takes place
Mitochondria - ✔✔Where aerobic respiration takes place
Chloroplasts - ✔✔Where photosynthesis occurs because contain
chlorophyll (in plant cells)
Plasmids - ✔✔Small rings of DNA which code for very specific features
such as antibiotic resistance (in bacterial cells)
Most animal cells have... (5) - ✔✔1. Nucleus
2. Cytoplasm
3. Cell membrane
4. Mitochondria
5. Ribosomes
In addition to the parts found in animal cells, plant cells often have... - ✔✔1.
Chloroplasts
2. Permanent vacuole filled with cell sap
Plant and algal cells also have... - ✔✔...a cell wall made of cellulose which
strengthens the cell
2
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
, Equipment for microscopy practical (6) - ✔✔1. Microscope
2. Onion
3. Scalpel
4. Forceps
5. Slide and cover slip
6. Iodine
What must you remember when you are drawing cells from a microscope?
(2) - ✔✔1. Draw in neat pencil lines
2. Note down what magnification you are using
Microscopy practical - ✔✔1. Cut a thin sample of onion with the scalpel and
place it on the slide
2. Add a few drops of iodine
3. Carefully place a cover slip on top, avoiding air bubbles
4. Place the slide onto the stage
5. Select the lowest-powered objective lens
6. Use the coarse adjustment (/focus?) and then fine adjustment knob to
focus your image
7. If necessary, select a higher-powered objective lens and refocus
3
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
