AQA GCSE Biology - Paper 1 EXAM
Questions and Answers 100% Solved
What does a nucleus do? - ✔✔It contains genetic material and controls the
activities of the cell
What does cytoplasm do? - ✔✔It's a gel-like substance where most of the
chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes that control these
chemical reactions
What does a cell membrane do? - ✔✔It holds the cell together and controls
what goes in and out
What do mitochondria do? - ✔✔These are where most of the reactions for
aerobic respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy that the cell needs
to work
What do ribosomes do? - ✔✔This is where protein synthesis takes place -
where proteins are made in the cell
What do cell walls do? - ✔✔They are made of cellulose and they support
and strengthen the cell
1
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
,What does a vacuole do? - ✔✔It contains cell sap and helps maintain the
shape of the cell
What do chloroplasts do? - ✔✔This is where photosynthesis occurs, which
makes food for the plant. They contain chlorophyll - a green pigment -
which absorbs light needed for photosynthesis
What do bacterial cells contain? - ✔✔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
What do bacterial cells NOT contain? - ✔✔A nucleus
What is the equation for magnification? - ✔✔Image size divided by actual
size
What is differentiation? - ✔✔The process by which a cell changes to
become specialised for its job
What are undifferentiated cells called? - ✔✔Stem cells
What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised? -
✔✔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
2
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
,-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell
membranes
What are nerve 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
What are muscle 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
What are root hair 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
3
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
, What are chromosomes? - ✔✔Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules that are
found in the nuclei
What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for? - ✔✔To grow or replace
cells that have been damaged
What are stem cells? - ✔✔They are undifferentiated cells that divide to
produce lots more undifferentiated cells. They then differentiate into
different types of cell
Where are stem cells found? - ✔✔In early human embryos or the bone
marrow of adults
What do embryonic stem cells do? - ✔✔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
What is diffusion? - ✔✔Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area
of high concentration to an area of low concentration
Name the substances that can diffuse through cell membranes -
✔✔Glucose, water, oxygen and amino acids
Name two substances that can't diffuse through cell membranes -
✔✔Protein and starch
4
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
Questions and Answers 100% Solved
What does a nucleus do? - ✔✔It contains genetic material and controls the
activities of the cell
What does cytoplasm do? - ✔✔It's a gel-like substance where most of the
chemical reactions happen. It contains enzymes that control these
chemical reactions
What does a cell membrane do? - ✔✔It holds the cell together and controls
what goes in and out
What do mitochondria do? - ✔✔These are where most of the reactions for
aerobic respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy that the cell needs
to work
What do ribosomes do? - ✔✔This is where protein synthesis takes place -
where proteins are made in the cell
What do cell walls do? - ✔✔They are made of cellulose and they support
and strengthen the cell
1
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
,What does a vacuole do? - ✔✔It contains cell sap and helps maintain the
shape of the cell
What do chloroplasts do? - ✔✔This is where photosynthesis occurs, which
makes food for the plant. They contain chlorophyll - a green pigment -
which absorbs light needed for photosynthesis
What do bacterial cells contain? - ✔✔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
What do bacterial cells NOT contain? - ✔✔A nucleus
What is the equation for magnification? - ✔✔Image size divided by actual
size
What is differentiation? - ✔✔The process by which a cell changes to
become specialised for its job
What are undifferentiated cells called? - ✔✔Stem cells
What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised? -
✔✔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
2
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
,-It carries enzymes in its head to help digest through the egg cell
membranes
What are nerve 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
What are muscle 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
What are root hair 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
3
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
, What are chromosomes? - ✔✔Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules that are
found in the nuclei
What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for? - ✔✔To grow or replace
cells that have been damaged
What are stem cells? - ✔✔They are undifferentiated cells that divide to
produce lots more undifferentiated cells. They then differentiate into
different types of cell
Where are stem cells found? - ✔✔In early human embryos or the bone
marrow of adults
What do embryonic stem cells do? - ✔✔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
What is diffusion? - ✔✔Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area
of high concentration to an area of low concentration
Name the substances that can diffuse through cell membranes -
✔✔Glucose, water, oxygen and amino acids
Name two substances that can't diffuse through cell membranes -
✔✔Protein and starch
4
©JOSHCLAY 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
