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Date November 2013 Marks available 1 Reference code 13N.1.SL.TZ0.15
Level Standard level Paper Paper 1 Time zone TZ0
Command term Question number 15 Adapted from N/A

Question

What happens to DNA fragments in electrophoresis?
A. They move in a magnetic field and are separated according to their size.
B. They move in an electric field and are separated according to their size.
C. They move in a magnetic field and are separated according to their bases.
D. They move in an electric field and are separated according to their bases.

Markscheme

B

Examiners report

This question was a good discriminator with the majority of those getting this wrong incorrectly choosing D. Almost all understood that fragments of DNA moved in an electric field (B and D) during electrophoresis but the weaker candidates did not know what was the basis for their separation, which is size.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 3: Genetics » 3.5 Genetic modification and biotechnology
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