2024 AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 Exam QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ( A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED)

2024
AQA
GCSE
Biology
Paper
1
What
are
the
two
types
of
cells?
-
ANS
●
Eukaryotic
(plant
and
animal)
●
Prokaryotic
(bacteria)
What
are
the
differences
between
eukaryotic
and
prokaryotic
cells?
-
ANS
Prokaryotic
cells
are
much
smaller
than
eukaryotic
cells.
Eukaryotic
cells
contain
membrane
bound-organelles
and
a
nucleus
containing
genetic
material,
while
prokaryotes
do
not.
How
is
genetic
information
stored
in
a
prokaryotic
cell?
-
ANS
Found
free
within
the
cytoplasm
as:
●
Chromosomal
DNA
(single
large
loop
of
circular
DNA)
●
Plasmid
DNA
What
are
plasmids
?
-
ANS
●
Small,
circular
loops
of
DNA
found
free
in
the
cytoplasm
and
separate
from
the
main
DNA.
●
Carry
genes
that
provide
genetic
advantages
e.g.
antibiotic
resistance.
List
the
components
of
both
plant
and
animal
cells
(5)
-
ANS
●
Nucleus
●
Cytoplasm
●
Cell
membrane
●
Mitochondria
●
Ribosomes
List
the
additional
cell
components
found
in
plant
cells
(3)
-
ANS
●
Chloroplasts
●
Permanent
vacuole
●
Cell
wall
Other
than
storing
genetic
information,
what
is
the
function
of
the
nucleus
?
-
ANS
Controls
cellular
activities
Describe
the
structure
of
the
cytoplasm
-
ANS
●
Fluid
component
of
the
cell.
●
Contains
organelles,
enzymes
and
dissolved
ions
and
nutrients.
What
is
the
function
of
the
cytoplasm?
-
ANS
Site
of
cellular
reactions
e.g.
first
stage
of
respiration. Transport
medium.
What
is
the
function
of
the
cell
membrane?
-
ANS
Controls
the
entry
and
exit
of
materials
into
and
out
of
the
cell.
What
is
the
function
of
the
mitochondria?
-
ANS
Site
of
later
stages
of
aerobic
respiration
in
which
ATP
is
produced.
What
is
the
function
of
the
ribosomes?
-
ANS
Joins
amino
acids
in
a
specific
order
during
translation
for
the
synthesis
of
proteins.
What
is
the
plant
cell
wall
made
of?
-
ANS
Cellulose
What
is
the
function
of
the
plant
cell
wall?
-
ANS
●
Provides
strength.
●
Prevents
the
cell
bursting
when
water
enters
by
osmosis.
What
does
the
permanent
vacuole
contain?
-
ANS
Cell
sap
(a
solution
of
salts,
sugars
and
organic
acids).
What
is
the
function
of
the
permanent
vacuole?
-
ANS
Supports
the
cell,
maintaining
its
turgidity.
What
is
the
function
of
chloroplasts?
-
ANS
Site
of
photosynthesis
Describe
how
sperm
cells
in
animals
are
adapted
to
their
function
-
ANS
●
Haploid
nucleus
contains
genetic
information.
●
Tail
enables
movement.
●
Mitochondria
provide
energy
for
tail
movement.
●
Acrosome
contains
enzymes
that
digest
the
egg
cell
membrane.
Describe
how
nerve
cells
in
animals
are
adapted
to
their
function
-
ANS
●
Long
axon
allows
electrical
impulses
to
be
transmitted
all
over
the
body
from
the
central
nervous
system.
●
Dendrites
from
the
cell
body
connect
to
and
receive
impulses
from
other
nerve
cells,
muscles
and
glands.
●
Myelin
sheath
insulates
the
axon
and
speeds
up
the
transmission
of
impulses
along
the
nerve
cell. Describe
how
muscle
cells
are
adapted
to
their
function
-
ANS
●
Arrangement
of
protein
filaments
allows
them
to
slide
over
each
other
to
produce
muscle
contraction.
●
Mitochondria
to
provide
energy
for
muscle
contraction.
Describe
how
root
hair
cells
in
plants
are
adapted
to
their
function
-
ANS
●
Large
surface
area
to
absorb
nutrients
and
water
from
surrounding
soil.
●
Thin
walls
that
do
not
restrict
water
absorption.
Describe
how
xylem
cells
in
plants
are
adapted
to
their
function
-
ANS
They
lose
their
end
walls
so
the
xylem
forms
a
continuous,
hollow
tube.
They
become
strengthened
by
a
substance
called
lignin.
Lignin
gives
strength
and
support
to
the
plant.
We
call
lignified
cells
wood.
Describe
how
phloem
cells
in
plants
are
adapted
to
their
function
-
ANS
●
Sieve
plates
let
dissolved
amino
acids
and
sugars
be
transported
up
and
down
the
stem.
●
Companion
cells
provide
energy
needed
for
active
transport
of
substances
along
the
phloem.
What
is
cell
differentiation?
-
ANS
The
process
by
which
cells
become
specialised.
Why
is
cell
differentiation
important?
-
ANS
Allows
production
of
different
tissues
and
organs
that
perform
various
vital
functions
in
the
human
body.
At
what
point
in
their
life
cycle
do
most
animal
cells
differentiate?
-
ANS
Early
in
their
life
cycle
For
how
long
do
plant
cells
retain
the
ability
to
differentiate?
-
ANS
Throughout
their
entire
life
cycle
What
is
the
purpose
of
cell
division
in
mature
animals?
-
ANS
Repair
and
replacement
of
cells What
changes
does
a
cell
go
through
as
it
differentiates?
-
ANS
Becomes
specialised
through
acquisition
of
different
sub-cellular
structures
to
enable
a
specific
function
to
be
performed
by
the
cell.
Define
magnification
-
ANS
The
number
of
times
bigger
an
image
appears
compared
to
the
size
of
the
real
object.
Define
resolution
-
ANS
The
smallest
distance
between
two
objects
that
can
be
distinguished.
How
does
a
light
microscope
work?
-
ANS
Passes
a
beam
of
light
through
a
specimen
which
travels
through
the
eyepiece
lens,
allowing
the
specimen
to
be
observed.
What
are
the
advantages
of
light
microscopes?
(4)
-
ANS
●
Inexpensive
●
Easy
to
use
●
Portable
●
Observe
both
dead
and
living
specimens
What
is
the
disadvantage
of
light
microscopes?
-
ANS
Limited
resolution
How
does
an
electron
microscope
work?
-
ANS
It
uses
a
beam
of
electrons
which
are
focused
using
magnets.
The
electrons
hit
a
fluorescent
screen
which
emits
visible
light,
producing
an
image.
Name
the
two
types
of
electron
microscope
-
ANS
Transmission
electron
microscope
(TEM)
Scanning
electron
microscope
(SEM)
What
is
the
advantage
of
electron
microscopes?
-
ANS
Greater
magnification
and
resolution.
Why
do
electron
microscopes
have
a
greater
magnification
and
resolution?
-
ANS
They
use
a
beam
of
electrons
which
has
a
shorter
wavelength
than
photons
of
light.