AQA GCSE Biology - Paper 1
Exam Questions and Answers
100% PASS
What does a nucleus do?—ANSWER-It contains genetic material and
controls the activities of the cell
What does cytoplasm do?—ANSWER-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?—ANSWER-It holds the cell together and
controls what goes in and out
What do mitochondria do?—ANSWER-These are where most of the reactions
for aerobic respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy that the cell
needs to work
What do ribosomes do?—ANSWER-This is where protein synthesis takes
place - where proteins are made in the cell
What do cell walls do?—ANSWER-They are made of cellulose and they
support and strengthen the cell
,What does a vacuole do?—ANSWER-It contains cell sap and helps maintain
the shape of the cell
What do chloroplasts do?—ANSWER-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?—ANSWER-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?—ANSWER-A nucleus
What is the equation for magnification?—ANSWER-Image size divided by
actual size
What is differentiation?—ANSWER-The process by which a cell changes to
become specialised for its job
What are undifferentiated cells called?—ANSWER-Stem cells
What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised?—
ANSWER-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
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Katelyn Whitman
, What are nerve cells specialised for and how are they specialised?—
ANSWER-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?—
ANSWER-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?—
ANSWER-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
What are chromosomes?—ANSWER-Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules
that are found in the nuclei
What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for?—ANSWER-To grow or
replace cells that have been damaged
Exam Questions and Answers
100% PASS
What does a nucleus do?—ANSWER-It contains genetic material and
controls the activities of the cell
What does cytoplasm do?—ANSWER-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?—ANSWER-It holds the cell together and
controls what goes in and out
What do mitochondria do?—ANSWER-These are where most of the reactions
for aerobic respiration occur. Respiration transfers energy that the cell
needs to work
What do ribosomes do?—ANSWER-This is where protein synthesis takes
place - where proteins are made in the cell
What do cell walls do?—ANSWER-They are made of cellulose and they
support and strengthen the cell
,What does a vacuole do?—ANSWER-It contains cell sap and helps maintain
the shape of the cell
What do chloroplasts do?—ANSWER-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?—ANSWER-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?—ANSWER-A nucleus
What is the equation for magnification?—ANSWER-Image size divided by
actual size
What is differentiation?—ANSWER-The process by which a cell changes to
become specialised for its job
What are undifferentiated cells called?—ANSWER-Stem cells
What are sperm cells specialised for and how are they specialised?—
ANSWER-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
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Katelyn Whitman
, What are nerve cells specialised for and how are they specialised?—
ANSWER-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?—
ANSWER-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?—
ANSWER-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
What are chromosomes?—ANSWER-Coiled up lengths of DNA molecules
that are found in the nuclei
What do multicellular organisms use mitosis for?—ANSWER-To grow or
replace cells that have been damaged
