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A-LevelBiologySelection and evolutionMay/June 2021Paper 4 Q311 Marks

In 2014, scientists published a phylogenetic (evolutionary) tree diagram showing how and when different groups of insects developed from ancestral groups. To construct the diagram, the scientists compared nucleotide and amino acid sequence data for 1478 genes from each of 103 different insect species. The 103 species represented all 32 orders of the class Insecta. The data were used to arrange the species in related groups according to their degree of molecular similarity and to track how sequences changed over time.

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This A-Level Biology Question

Topic

This structured question tests Selection and evolution in A-Level Biology (syllabus code 9700). It is worth 11 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology May/June 2021 examination, Paper 4 Variant 1.

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