Genetic technology: past paper questions
Real questions on genetic technology
The newest 20 of 101 written questions, plus 4 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9700/41 · October/November 2025 · Q8a[4]
Explain how the modification made to produce LibertyLink® soybean may help to solve the global demand for food.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2025 · Q8c[3]
Suggest reasons why LibertyLink® soybean is used in food products in 21 countries but only grown in 6 countries.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · October/November 2025 · Q8a[4]
Explain how the modification made to produce LibertyLink® soybean may help to solve the global demand for food.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · October/November 2025 · Q8c[3]
Suggest reasons why LibertyLink® soybean is used in food products in 21 countries but only grown in 6 countries.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · May/June 2025 · Q3c[4]
Microarrays can be used to detect various forms of porphyria caused by mutant alleles. Describe how microarrays can be used to detect a disease by analysing gene expression.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · May/June 2025 · Q3d[1]
The nucleotide sequences of alleles that cause rare genetic diseases, such as the various forms of porphyria, are stored in a database. State one benefit of having a database of nucleotide sequences for alleles that cause rare diseases.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · May/June 2025 · Q3e[3]
Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) is caused by a substitution mutation in a gene coding for an enzyme. The mutant CEP allele codes for an enzyme with little or no function. Scientists used gene editing in the laboratory to correct the nucleotide sequence of the mutant allele in cultured human cells. an enzyme c...
See it on the paper → - 9700/42 · May/June 2025 · Q5a[4]
To produce a human protein for treatment of a disease, recombinant DNA technology needs a gene coding for the particular human protein. Outline the different ways that can be used to obtain a gene that codes for a human protein.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2024 · Q8a[3]
Sometimes the gene for genetic engineering cannot be extracted from the donor organism. Instead, the gene is synthesised using one of two different methods. Outline the two methods for synthesising a gene for use in genetic engineering.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2024 · Q8b[3]
Table 8.1 role in genetic engineering DNA ligase DNA polymerase joins two sections of sugar phosphate backbone in DNA adds a gene to a plasmid adds free activated DNA nucleotides to a polynucleotide Use a tick (✓) if the enzyme has the role or a cross (✗) if the enzyme does not have the role. Complete Table 8.1 to show...
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2024 · Q8c[3]
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to make many copies of a gene. Three temperatures are used in a PCR cycle. State the three temperatures that are used, and outline what happens at each temperature during a PCR cycle.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · October/November 2024 · Q7b[3]
Fig. 7.3 shows the evolutionary relationships between three species of American spadefoot toad. Spea multiplicata Spea hammondii Spea bombifrons 60 40 20 0 time / millions of years ago Fig. 7.3 Explain how analysis of DNA allowed the evolutionary relationships shown in Fig. 7.3 to be determined.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · October/November 2024 · Q8a[3]
Sometimes the gene for genetic engineering cannot be extracted from the donor organism. Instead, the gene is synthesised using one of two different methods. Outline the two methods for synthesising a gene for use in genetic engineering.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · October/November 2024 · Q8b[3]
Table 8.1 role in genetic engineering DNA ligase DNA polymerase joins two sections of sugar phosphate backbone in DNA adds a gene to a plasmid adds free activated DNA nucleotides to a polynucleotide Use a tick (✓) if the enzyme has the role or a cross (✗) if the enzyme does not have the role. Complete Table 8.1 to show...
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · October/November 2024 · Q8c[3]
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to make many copies of a gene. Three temperatures are used in a PCR cycle. State the three temperatures that are used, and outline what happens at each temperature during a PCR cycle.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · May/June 2024 · Q5c(i)[2]
Suggest how DNA editing stopped Lcn2 from being expressed in cancer cells.
See it on the paper → - 9700/43 · May/June 2024 · Q5c(ii)[1]
Suggest why the expression of only Lcn2 was affected.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2023 · Q4a(i)[2]
Suggest what is meant by recombinant DNA technology.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2023 · Q4a(ii)[1]
Suggest why the scientists created two different types of GM potato plant.
See it on the paper → - 9700/41 · October/November 2023 · Q4a(iii)[1]
State why the scientists also performed the test on non-GM potato plants.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Strong candidates had no problem defining recombinant DNA and giving some detail of the technology that produces this, e.g. joining a gene to a vector to produce DNA that originates from two sources. Weak answers wrote about placing genes in a nucleus, cell or body with no suggestion that one piece of DNA has become physically joined to another. Others described one ‘strand’ of DNA joining to ano...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9700/41 Q4(a)(i) (Cambridge)
Most candidates scored for suggesting that the purpose of creating two different types of GM potato plants was to compare the effectiveness of each or to see which one worked best in killing insects.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9700/41 Q4(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
The test on non-GM potato plants was correctly explained by most candidates as being a control experiment. Some candidates negated their answer by stating ‘as a control variable’.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9700/41 Q4(a)(iii) (Cambridge)
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