Grade 12 · Life Sciences · Paper 2 · CAPS
DNA: The Code of Life – Grade 12 Life Sciences (Paper 2)
What DNA: The Code of Life covers, how it is examined in Life Sciences Paper 2, the 5 sections to study and how long it takes – plus live online lessons when you get stuck.
- Study sections
- 5
- Exam-style questions
- 9
- Marks of practice
- 113
- Study time
- ≈ 4 h 40 min
What it covers
DNA: The Code of Life is a Grade 12 Life Sciences topic in the CAPS curriculum, examined in Life Sciences Paper 2 of the NSC exams. You study it in 5 sections: Nucleic acids, the structure and location of DNA; DNA replication; DNA profiling and its uses; RNA and transcription; Translation and using codon tables.
How it is examined
- Paper
- Life Sciences Paper 2 – Monday 16 November 2026, 09:00 (2½ hours, 150 marks)
- Weighting
- DNA: the code of life ≈ 27/150 marks in Paper 2 (18%)
Mark splits are typical, not fixed – they vary a little from year to year.
Sections to study
- Nucleic acids, the structure and location of DNA30 min
- DNA replication25 min
- DNA profiling and its uses25 min
- RNA and transcription25 min
- Translation and using codon tables30 min
Study time
| Notes and worked examples5 sections | 2 h 15 min |
|---|---|
| Exam-style questions9 questions · 113 marks × 1,2 min per mark | 2 h 15 min |
| Topic quiz | 10 min |
| Total | ≈ 4 h 40 min |
Life Sciences Paper 2 is written on Monday 16 November 2026 at 09:00.
What you get in the portal
- 9 exam-style questions on DNA: The Code of Life (113 marks in total), each with a full marking memo
- Worked exam-style answers, point by point, with labelled diagrams for each of the 5 sections
- Tutor notes added to sections and questions – for the whole class or just for you
- A topic quiz, mock papers and a study plan that counts down to Life Sciences Paper 2
Notes, worked examples, questions and memos open once the tutor approves your account – usually with your first confirmed lesson.
Stuck on DNA: The Code of Life? Book a one-on-one lesson.
R250 per hour – 60, 90 or 120 minutes, online from anywhere in South Africa. Pick DNA: The Code of Life as your topic; you pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms.
Related Life Sciences P2 topics
Questions about DNA: The Code of Life
How many marks is DNA: The Code of Life worth in the matric exam?
In Life Sciences Paper 2 (2½ hours, 150 marks) the usual weighting is: DNA: the code of life ≈ 27/150 marks in Paper 2 (18%). The exact marks change a little from year to year.
How long does it take to study DNA: The Code of Life?
About 4 h 40 min: 2 h 15 min for the notes and worked examples in its 5 sections, 2 h 15 min for the 9 exam-style questions (113 marks) at 1,2 minutes per mark, and a 10-minute quiz.
When is the Life Sciences Paper 2 exam in 2026?
Life Sciences Paper 2 is written on Monday 16 November 2026 at 09:00 and lasts 2½ hours (150 marks), according to the DBE’s 2026 NSC timetable. Confirm the date with your school, because the DBE can amend the timetable.
Can I get online lessons for DNA: The Code of Life?
Yes. Create a free account in the Adventuity portal, request a one-on-one online lesson of 60, 90 or 120 minutes (or a seat in a group class) and choose DNA: The Code of Life as your topic. You pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms the booking.