AQA GCSE · Question 01.7 · Inheritance Variation and Evolution
Alleles are found in the nucleus of a cell. What chemical substance are alleles made from?
How to approach this question
Recall the basic structure of chromosomes and genes. Alleles are different versions of a gene. Genes are sections of a larger molecule found in the nucleus. What is this molecule called?
Full Answer
DNA
Alleles are different forms of a gene. Genes are sections of a long molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. DNA is coiled up to form chromosomes, which are located in the nucleus of a cell.
Common mistakes
✗ Answering "chromosomes". Alleles are part of chromosomes, but chromosomes are made of DNA.
✗ Answering "genes". Alleles are versions of genes, and both are made of DNA.
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