This exam focus covers Exam Focus within DNA Genome for GCSE Biology. DNA structure, function, and the human genome It is section 10 of 12 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 10 of 12
Practice
25 questions
Recall
25 flashcards
Exam Focus
Frequently ExaminedDNA and the genome are tested in almost every AQA Biology Paper 2 series. The most common question formats are:
- 1-mark recall: "What is a gene?" or "State the bases that pair together in DNA." Know definitions precisely.
- 2-mark explain: "Explain how the base sequence of DNA determines the structure of a protein." Always mention amino acid sequence and protein shape.
- Application questions: Given a DNA base sequence, identify the complementary strand using A-T and C-G pairing rules.
- 6-mark extended response: Less common for this topic, but a "describe the structure of DNA" question requires: double helix, nucleotides, four bases, complementary base pairing, sugar-phosphate backbone.
Key command words: "State" (give without explanation), "Describe" (list features), "Explain" (give reasons). For base pairing questions, always write both pairs: A-T and C-G.