First exams in 2025

IB Style Test - Topic A1.2 Nucleic acids

Theme A - Unity and diversity Level of Organisation: Molecules

Name ___________________ Time allowed: 30 mins SL / 40 mins HL

Mark: / 22(SL) 29(HL)

Multiple choice questions (3 marks)

1. As they do not have all the characteristics of living things, viruses are not considered to be living
organisms. Therefore which is the best evaluation of the statement, “One universal property of
living things is that they use DNA as the genetic material?”

A. Correct, as all living organisms have DNA as their genetic material.

B. Not correct, some viruses have RNA as their genetic material.
C. Correct as DNA base sequences are the same in all organisms.
D. Not correct because the genetic code is different in all organisms.

2. Which is the most accurate description of a nucleotide?

A. The centre of a chromosome.
B. A combination of DNA and histone protein.
C. A monomer unit of nucleic acids.
D. A nitrogenous base.

3. Which of the following describes the backbone of DNA?

A. Covalent bonding between nitrogenous bases.
B. Hydrogen bonds between deoxyribose and phosphate molecules.
C. Complimentary base pairing.
D. Covalent bonds between deoxyribose and phosphate molecules.

© Richard Scarr & David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology

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 First exams in 2025
IB Style Test - Topic A1.2 Nucleic acids
Theme A - Unity and diversity Level of Organisation: Molecules

Structured answer questions

4. Label the following parts of DNA on the diagram of DNA shown below. (5 marks)

a) Hydrogen bond
b) Covalent bond
c) Nitrogenous base
d) Deoxyribose sugar
e) A single nucleotide (by drawing a circle encompassing a single nucleotide)

5. Explain, using the DNA diagram, the meaning of complimentary base pairing. (2 marks).

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© Richard Scarr & David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology

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 First exams in 2025
IB Style Test - Topic A1.2 Nucleic acids
Theme A - Unity and diversity Level of Organisation: Molecules

6. Outline how complimentary base pairing is important in the replication of DNA as the
genetic material. (3 marks)

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7. Complete the table to outline the differences between the structure of RNA and DNA
(3 marks).

RNA structure DNA structure

Double stranded molecule

Backbone contains ribose sugar

Thymine is one of the four bases

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© Richard Scarr & David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology

3
 First exams in 2025
IB Style Test - Topic A1.2 Nucleic acids
Theme A - Unity and diversity Level of Organisation: Molecules

Extended response questions

8. DNA is the genetic material of all living organisms. Outline how it is possible for these
universal DNA molecules to store varied genetic information both within species and
between species.

. (6 marks)

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© Richard Scarr & David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology

4
 First exams in 2025
IB Style Test - Topic A1.2 Nucleic acids
Theme A - Unity and diversity Level of Organisation: Molecules

Additional Higher Level only (7 marks)

9. Hershey and Chase used viral bacteriophages to demonstrate that DNA, not protein, is the
genetic material. This investigation used radioactive phosphorus to label DNA.

Outline how radioactive labelling was used in this investigation. (4 marks)

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10. A nucleosome is a structural unit of a chromosome. Describe the structure of a nucleosome.

(3 marks)

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© Richard Scarr & David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology

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