AQA GCSE Biology - Paper 1
It contains genetic material and controls the activities of the cell - questions and
answersWhat does a nucleus do?
It's a gel-like substance where most of the chemical reactions happen. It contains
enzymes that control these chemical reactions - questions and answersWhat does
cytoplasm do?
It holds the cell together and controls what goes in and out - questions and
answersWhat does a cell membrane do?
These are where most of the reactions for aerobic respiration occur. Respiration
transfers energy that the cell needs to work - questions and answersWhat do
mitochondria do?
This is where protein synthesis takes place - where proteins are made in the cell -
questions and answersWhat do ribosomes do?
They are made of cellulose and they support and strengthen the cell - questions and
answersWhat do cell walls do?
It contains cell sap and helps maintain the shape of the cell - questions and
answersWhat does a vacuole do?
This is where photosynthesis occurs, which makes food for the plant. They contain
chlorophyll - a green pigment - which absorbs light needed for photosynthesis -
questions and answersWhat do chloroplasts do?
Cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, flagella, ribosomes, mitochondria, slime capsule,
plasmids (small rings of DNA) and a single circular strand of DNA that floats freely in the
cytoplasm - questions and answersWhat do bacterial cells contain?
A nucleus - questions and answersWhat do bacterial cells NOT contain?
Image size divided by actual size - questions and answersWhat is the equation for
magnification?
,The process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job - questions and
answersWhat is differentiation?
Stem cells - questions and answersWhat are undifferentiated cells called?
Reproduction - they transport the male DNA to the female DNA
-It has a flagella and a streamlined head to help it swim towards the egg
-There are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell membranes -
questions and answersWhat are sperm cells specialised for and how are they
specialised?
Rapid signalling - they carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
-They are long to cover more distance
-They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form
a network throughout the body - questions and answersWhat are nerve cells specialised
for and how are they specialised?
Contraction - they need to contract quickly
-They are long so they have space to contract
-They contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction -
questions and answersWhat are muscle cells specialised for and how are they
specialised?
Absorbing water and minerals
-They are cells on the surface of plant roots which grow into long hairs that stick out into
the soil
-They have a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil -
questions and answersWhat are root hair cells specialised for and how are they
specialised?
Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules that are found in the nuclei - questions and
answersWhat are chromosomes?
To grow or replace cells that have been damaged - questions and answersWhat do
multicellular organisms use mitosis for?
They are undifferentiated cells that divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells.
They then differentiate into different types of cell - questions and answersWhat are stem
cells?
, In early human embryos or the bone marrow of adults - questions and answersWhere
are stem cells found?
1) Used to replace faulty cells in sick people - insulin-producing cells for diabetes and
nerve cells for paralysed spinal injuries
2) Used to replace faulty blood cells - questions and answersWhat do embryonic stem
cells do?
Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration - questions and answersWhat is diffusion?
Glucose, water, oxygen and amino acids - questions and answersName the substances
that can diffuse through cell membranes
Protein and starch - questions and answersName two substances that can't diffuse
through cell membranes
Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules through a partially permeable cell
membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water
concentration - questions and answersWhat is osmosis?
Active transport uses energy whereas diffusion doesn't. Active transport goes against
the concentration gradient whereas diffusion goes along it - questions and
answersWhat are the two main differences between active transport and diffusion?
1) Large surface area - lots of substances can diffuse at once
2) Lots of blood vessels - to get stuff into and out of the blood quickly
3) Thin membrane - short distance for substances to diffuse
4) Often ventilated - air moves in & out - questions and answersAdaptations of
Exchange Surfaces
1) A single layer of surface cells
2) A very good blood supply to assist quick absorption - questions and answersGive two
ways that the villi in the small intestine are adapted for absorbing digested food
1) The exchange surface in a leaf is covered in stomata which the carbon dioxide
diffuses through
2) The leaf has a flattened shape which increases the area of its exchange surface,
therefore it's more effective
It contains genetic material and controls the activities of the cell - questions and
answersWhat does a nucleus do?
It's a gel-like substance where most of the chemical reactions happen. It contains
enzymes that control these chemical reactions - questions and answersWhat does
cytoplasm do?
It holds the cell together and controls what goes in and out - questions and
answersWhat does a cell membrane do?
These are where most of the reactions for aerobic respiration occur. Respiration
transfers energy that the cell needs to work - questions and answersWhat do
mitochondria do?
This is where protein synthesis takes place - where proteins are made in the cell -
questions and answersWhat do ribosomes do?
They are made of cellulose and they support and strengthen the cell - questions and
answersWhat do cell walls do?
It contains cell sap and helps maintain the shape of the cell - questions and
answersWhat does a vacuole do?
This is where photosynthesis occurs, which makes food for the plant. They contain
chlorophyll - a green pigment - which absorbs light needed for photosynthesis -
questions and answersWhat do chloroplasts do?
Cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, flagella, ribosomes, mitochondria, slime capsule,
plasmids (small rings of DNA) and a single circular strand of DNA that floats freely in the
cytoplasm - questions and answersWhat do bacterial cells contain?
A nucleus - questions and answersWhat do bacterial cells NOT contain?
Image size divided by actual size - questions and answersWhat is the equation for
magnification?
,The process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job - questions and
answersWhat is differentiation?
Stem cells - questions and answersWhat are undifferentiated cells called?
Reproduction - they transport the male DNA to the female DNA
-It has a flagella and a streamlined head to help it swim towards the egg
-There are lots of mitochondria in the cell to provide the energy needed
-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell membranes -
questions and answersWhat are sperm cells specialised for and how are they
specialised?
Rapid signalling - they carry electrical signals from one part of the body to another
-They are long to cover more distance
-They have branched connections at their ends to connect to other nerve cells and form
a network throughout the body - questions and answersWhat are nerve cells specialised
for and how are they specialised?
Contraction - they need to contract quickly
-They are long so they have space to contract
-They contain lots of mitochondria to generate the energy needed for contraction -
questions and answersWhat are muscle cells specialised for and how are they
specialised?
Absorbing water and minerals
-They are cells on the surface of plant roots which grow into long hairs that stick out into
the soil
-They have a large surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil -
questions and answersWhat are root hair cells specialised for and how are they
specialised?
Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules that are found in the nuclei - questions and
answersWhat are chromosomes?
To grow or replace cells that have been damaged - questions and answersWhat do
multicellular organisms use mitosis for?
They are undifferentiated cells that divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells.
They then differentiate into different types of cell - questions and answersWhat are stem
cells?
, In early human embryos or the bone marrow of adults - questions and answersWhere
are stem cells found?
1) Used to replace faulty cells in sick people - insulin-producing cells for diabetes and
nerve cells for paralysed spinal injuries
2) Used to replace faulty blood cells - questions and answersWhat do embryonic stem
cells do?
Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration - questions and answersWhat is diffusion?
Glucose, water, oxygen and amino acids - questions and answersName the substances
that can diffuse through cell membranes
Protein and starch - questions and answersName two substances that can't diffuse
through cell membranes
Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules through a partially permeable cell
membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water
concentration - questions and answersWhat is osmosis?
Active transport uses energy whereas diffusion doesn't. Active transport goes against
the concentration gradient whereas diffusion goes along it - questions and
answersWhat are the two main differences between active transport and diffusion?
1) Large surface area - lots of substances can diffuse at once
2) Lots of blood vessels - to get stuff into and out of the blood quickly
3) Thin membrane - short distance for substances to diffuse
4) Often ventilated - air moves in & out - questions and answersAdaptations of
Exchange Surfaces
1) A single layer of surface cells
2) A very good blood supply to assist quick absorption - questions and answersGive two
ways that the villi in the small intestine are adapted for absorbing digested food
1) The exchange surface in a leaf is covered in stomata which the carbon dioxide
diffuses through
2) The leaf has a flattened shape which increases the area of its exchange surface,
therefore it's more effective
