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CAIE A-Level Biology 6.1 Nucleic Acids and DNA Replication Question Bank

Practise nucleic-acid and replication questions by identifying nucleotide parts, DNA bonds and base pairs, then sequencing polymerase or ligase roles.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Biology 9700
Level
AS

Exam points

  • identify nucleotide sugar, phosphate and base parts and classify purines or pyrimidines
  • draw or count complementary base pairs, hydrogen bonds and phosphodiester bonds in DNA
  • sequence semi-conservative replication using polymerase, ligase, leading and lagging strands

Covered syllabus points

6.1.1—Nucleotide structure6.1.2—Purines (adenine, guanine)6.1.3—Pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, uracil)6.1.4—DNA double helix structure6.1.5—Semi-conservative DNA replication6.1.6—RNA (mRNA) structure

6.1 Structure of Nucleic Acids and DNA Replication question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The diagrams show the chemical structure of four bases.

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Which diagrams show thymine and cytosine?

A

1 and 2

B

1 and 4

C

2 and 3

D

3 and 4

6.1 Structure of Nucleic Acids and DNA Replication question 2

[Maximum number: 6]

DNA and RNA are polynucleotides.

Question (a)

(a)

Describe three ways in which the structure of messenger RNA (mRNA) differs from the structure of DNA.

In each of your answers, include information about the structure of mRNA and the structure of DNA.

1.

2.

3

[ 3 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Scientists have synthesised four synthetic bases, Z, P, S and B . The base pairings of the synthetic bases are shown in Fig. 6.1.

Fig. 6.1

Fig. 6.1

[ 3 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State the letters that represent the two purine synthetic bases in Fig. 6.1.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State and explain which DNA base pair is most similar to the synthetic base pairs in Fig. 6.1.

[ 2 ]
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