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AQA A-LEVEL BIOLOGY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATED 2025
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS WITH TERMS
All answers are in RED
Describe eukaryotic cells
They are complex cells and include all animal and plant cells, as well as all algae and fungi cells.
What does it mean if a organism is eukaryotic?
It is a multi-cellular organism that is made up of eukaryotic cells.
What is an organelle?
A part of a cell that plays a specific role.
Name the organelles you might find in an animal cell
1)Plasma cell surface membrane
2)Rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
3)nucleus (nucleolus)
4)lysosome
5)ribosome
6)Golgi apparatus
7)cytoplasm
8)mitochondrion
Name the organelles you might find in a plant cell
1)Plasma cell surface membrane
2)cellulose wall
3)chloroplast
4)rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
5)mitochondrion
6)Golgi apparatus
7)vacuole
8)cytoplasm
9)nucleus
10) ribosome
How are algal cells similar to plant cells?
They have the same organelles.
How are fungal cells different to plant cells?
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Their cell walls are made of chitin, not cellulose.
They don't have chloroplasts because they don't need to photosynthesise
Describe the cell surface plasma membrane.
Outline the functions.
It is found on the inside of cells that also have a cell wall (plants), and is mainly made up of lipids and proteins.
It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It also has receptor molecules on it, to allow it to
respond to chemicals like hormones.
Name the components of the nucleus
1)nucleolus
2)nuclear envelope
3)nucleoplasm
4)nuclear pores
5)chromatin
Describe the nucleus.
Outline the functions.
A large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope which contains many pores. The nucleus contains
chromosomes.
The nucleus controls the cell's activities by controlling the transcription of DNA. The pores allow substances to
move between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The nucleolus makes ribosomes.
Describe mitochondrion.
Outline the functions.
They are usually oval-shaped and have a double membrane. The inner membrane is folded to form structures
called cristae. Inside is the matrix, which contains enzymes involved in respiration.
The site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced. They are found in large numbers in cells that are very
active and require a lot of energy.
Describe the structure of chloroplasts.
Outline the functions.
A small, flattened structure found in plant and algal cells. It is surrounded by a double membrane, and has
membrane inside called thylakoid membranes. They are stacked up in some parts to form grana. Grana are
linked together by lamellae.
The site where photosynthesis takes place. Some parts happen in the grana, and other parts happen in the
stroma. (thick fluid found in chloroplasts)
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Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus.
Outline the functions.
A group of fluid-filled, membrane-bound, flattened sacs. Vesicles are often seen at the edges of the sacs.
It processes and packages new lipids and proteins. It also makes lysosomes.
Describe the structure of a Golgi vesicle.
Outline the functions.
A small fluid-filled sac in the cytoplasm, surrounded by a membrane, and produced by the Golgi apparatus.
Stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus and transports them out of the cell via the cell surface
membrane.
Describe the structure of a lysosome.
Outline the functions.
A round organelle surrounded by a membrane, with no clear internal structure. It's a type of Golgi vesicle.
Contains digestive enzymes called lysozymes, that are kept separate from the cytoplasm by the membrane. They
can be used to digest invading cells or the break down worn out components of the cell.
Describe the structure of a ribosome.
Outline the functions.
A very small organelle that either floats free in the cytoplasm or is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
It is made up of proteins and RNA, and is not surrounded by a membrane.
It is the site where proteins are made.
Describe the structure of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. (RER)
Outline the functions.
A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. The surface is covered with ribosomes.
They fold and process proteins that have been made at the ribosomes.
Describe the structure of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. (SER)
Outline the functions.
A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. The surface is completely smooth.
Synthesises and processes lipids.
Describe the structure of the cell wall.
Outline the functions.
AQA A-LEVEL BIOLOGY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATED 2025
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS WITH TERMS
All answers are in RED
Describe eukaryotic cells
They are complex cells and include all animal and plant cells, as well as all algae and fungi cells.
What does it mean if a organism is eukaryotic?
It is a multi-cellular organism that is made up of eukaryotic cells.
What is an organelle?
A part of a cell that plays a specific role.
Name the organelles you might find in an animal cell
1)Plasma cell surface membrane
2)Rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
3)nucleus (nucleolus)
4)lysosome
5)ribosome
6)Golgi apparatus
7)cytoplasm
8)mitochondrion
Name the organelles you might find in a plant cell
1)Plasma cell surface membrane
2)cellulose wall
3)chloroplast
4)rough/smooth endoplasmic reticulum
5)mitochondrion
6)Golgi apparatus
7)vacuole
8)cytoplasm
9)nucleus
10) ribosome
How are algal cells similar to plant cells?
They have the same organelles.
How are fungal cells different to plant cells?
,2|Page
Their cell walls are made of chitin, not cellulose.
They don't have chloroplasts because they don't need to photosynthesise
Describe the cell surface plasma membrane.
Outline the functions.
It is found on the inside of cells that also have a cell wall (plants), and is mainly made up of lipids and proteins.
It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It also has receptor molecules on it, to allow it to
respond to chemicals like hormones.
Name the components of the nucleus
1)nucleolus
2)nuclear envelope
3)nucleoplasm
4)nuclear pores
5)chromatin
Describe the nucleus.
Outline the functions.
A large organelle surrounded by a nuclear envelope which contains many pores. The nucleus contains
chromosomes.
The nucleus controls the cell's activities by controlling the transcription of DNA. The pores allow substances to
move between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The nucleolus makes ribosomes.
Describe mitochondrion.
Outline the functions.
They are usually oval-shaped and have a double membrane. The inner membrane is folded to form structures
called cristae. Inside is the matrix, which contains enzymes involved in respiration.
The site of aerobic respiration, where ATP is produced. They are found in large numbers in cells that are very
active and require a lot of energy.
Describe the structure of chloroplasts.
Outline the functions.
A small, flattened structure found in plant and algal cells. It is surrounded by a double membrane, and has
membrane inside called thylakoid membranes. They are stacked up in some parts to form grana. Grana are
linked together by lamellae.
The site where photosynthesis takes place. Some parts happen in the grana, and other parts happen in the
stroma. (thick fluid found in chloroplasts)
, 3|Page
Describe the structure of the Golgi apparatus.
Outline the functions.
A group of fluid-filled, membrane-bound, flattened sacs. Vesicles are often seen at the edges of the sacs.
It processes and packages new lipids and proteins. It also makes lysosomes.
Describe the structure of a Golgi vesicle.
Outline the functions.
A small fluid-filled sac in the cytoplasm, surrounded by a membrane, and produced by the Golgi apparatus.
Stores lipids and proteins made by the Golgi apparatus and transports them out of the cell via the cell surface
membrane.
Describe the structure of a lysosome.
Outline the functions.
A round organelle surrounded by a membrane, with no clear internal structure. It's a type of Golgi vesicle.
Contains digestive enzymes called lysozymes, that are kept separate from the cytoplasm by the membrane. They
can be used to digest invading cells or the break down worn out components of the cell.
Describe the structure of a ribosome.
Outline the functions.
A very small organelle that either floats free in the cytoplasm or is attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
It is made up of proteins and RNA, and is not surrounded by a membrane.
It is the site where proteins are made.
Describe the structure of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. (RER)
Outline the functions.
A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. The surface is covered with ribosomes.
They fold and process proteins that have been made at the ribosomes.
Describe the structure of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. (SER)
Outline the functions.
A system of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. The surface is completely smooth.
Synthesises and processes lipids.
Describe the structure of the cell wall.
Outline the functions.
