NEET Botany Molecular Basis of Inheritance PYQ Analysis 2020–2026: Topic-wise Trends & Practice
Molecular Basis of Inheritance (NEET Botany): 47 questions in 2020–2026, 11.6% of the subject. Topic-wise trends, difficulty split, repeated topics and PYQ practice.
Edurack Team
October 13, 2026
Molecular Basis of Inheritance gave 47 of the 405 NEET Botany questions asked between 2020 and 2026 (Re-NEET 2026 included). That is 11.6% of the subject and the #1 chapter out of 21 by weightage, about 5.9 questions per paper. It peaked at 10 in NEET 2021.
Of the 47 questions tagged for difficulty, 47% were easy, 40% medium and 13% hard, so this is a chapter where NCERT-level preparation pays off directly.
It has been asked less often lately: 4.3 questions per paper across 2025, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026, against 7 per paper in 2020–2022.
Year-wise questions from Molecular Basis of Inheritance
| Paper | Questions |
|---|---|
| NEET 2020 | 5 |
| NEET 2021 | 10 |
| NEET 2022 | 6 |
| NEET 2023 | 7 |
| NEET 2024 | 6 |
| NEET 2025 | 7 |
| NEET 2026 | 4 |
| Re-NEET 2026 | 2 |
Difficulty split
| Level | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 22 | 47% |
| Medium | 19 | 40% |
| Hard | 6 | 13% |
Topic-wise analysis
Every topic tagged under Molecular Basis of Inheritance, most-asked first. "Papers" is the number of the 8 papers in which the topic appeared.
| Topic | Total Qs | Easy | Medium | Hard | Papers | Asked in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging of the DNA Helix (Nucleosome, Histone Proteins etc.) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026 |
| Regulation of Gene Expression (Lac-Operon) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2023, 2024, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026 |
| Transcription (Initiation, Elongation and Termination Process, etc.) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025 |
| DNA Fingerprinting | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2021, 2022 and 2026 |
| Human Genome Project (Methodologies/Salient Features of Human Genome) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2022, 2023 and 2025 |
| RNA World | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2021, 2023 and 2025 |
| Transcription (Process of Transcription) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2023, 2024 and 2026 |
| Genetic Code (Salient Features of Genetic Code) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2020 and 2021 |
| The Search For Genetic Material (Hershey-Chase Experiment) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2022 and 2025 |
| Transcription (Post Transcriptional Process) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2021 and 2025 |
| Transcription (RNA Polymerases) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2021 and 2023 |
| Translation (Process of Translation) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2020 and 2022 |
| DNA Replication (The Machinery and Enzymes for DNA Replication, Mech…) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2024 |
| Genetic Code (Genetic Code/tRNA -The Adapter Molecule) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2025 |
| Genetic Code (Mutations and the Genetic Code) r– | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
| Replication (The Experimental Proof) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The DNA (Chargaff's Rule) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
| The DNA (Derivation of DNA Structure and Central Dogma) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
| The DNA (Nitrogen Base) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2020 |
| The DNA (Nucleotide) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Search For Genetic Material (Properties of Genetic Material e(DNA Versus RNA)) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2023 |
| Transcription (Transcription Unit) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2024 |
| Transcription (Types of RNA) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Re-NEET 2026 |
| Transposons | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2022 |
Which topics matter most
Most-tested topics
- Packaging of the DNA Helix (Nucleosome, Histone Proteins etc.): 5 Qs
- Regulation of Gene Expression (Lac-Operon): 4 Qs
- Transcription (Initiation, Elongation and Termination Process, etc.): 4 Qs
- DNA Fingerprinting: 3 Qs
- Human Genome Project (Methodologies/Salient Features of Human Genome): 3 Qs
Topics that keep coming back
These appeared in three or more different papers:
- Packaging of the DNA Helix (Nucleosome, Histone Proteins etc.): 5 papers (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026)
- Regulation of Gene Expression (Lac-Operon): 4 papers (2023, 2024, 2026 and Re-NEET 2026)
- Transcription (Initiation, Elongation and Termination Process, etc.): 4 papers (2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025)
- DNA Fingerprinting: 3 papers (2021, 2022 and 2026)
- Human Genome Project (Methodologies/Salient Features of Human Genome): 3 papers (2022, 2023 and 2025)
- RNA World: 3 papers (2021, 2023 and 2025)
- Transcription (Process of Transcription): 3 papers (2023, 2024 and 2026)
What the latest papers asked
Topics from NEET 2026 and Re-NEET 2026:
- Packaging of the DNA Helix (Nucleosome, Histone Proteins etc.)
- Regulation of Gene Expression (Lac-Operon)
- DNA Fingerprinting
- Transcription (Process of Transcription)
- Transcription (Types of RNA)
Where the hard questions came from
- Regulation of Gene Expression (Lac-Operon): 1 hard of 4
- Transcription (Initiation, Elongation and Termination Process, etc.): 1 hard of 4
- DNA Fingerprinting: 1 hard of 3
- Transcription (Process of Transcription): 1 hard of 3
- Transcription (Post Transcriptional Process): 1 hard of 2
- Replication (The Experimental Proof): 1 hard of 1
How to use this data
- Start with the 7 recurring topics above. They account for 25 of the chapter's 47 questions (53%).
- 47% of tagged questions were easy, so NCERT lines, definitions and standard examples are worth locking in first.
- Re-solve the 5 topics from NEET 2026 and Re-NEET 2026, since they show the current style of questions.
- Then attempt the chapter's past questions under a timer and note which topics cost you marks.
Practise Molecular Basis of Inheritance PYQs
Solve every Molecular Basis of Inheritance question from 2020–2026 with solutions on Edurack:
- Practise Molecular Basis of Inheritance PYQs
- See the full Molecular Basis of Inheritance blueprint page
- NEET Botany PYQ analysis: all chapters
Related chapters
- Principles of Inheritance and Variation: #2 in Botany, 36 questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions came from Molecular Basis of Inheritance in NEET 2020–2026?
Molecular Basis of Inheritance contributed 47 NEET Botany questions across the 8 papers from 2020–2026, which is 11.6% of the subject.
Which topics of Molecular Basis of Inheritance are asked most often?
The most-tested topics are Packaging of the DNA Helix (Nucleosome, Histone Proteins etc.): 5 Qs, Regulation of Gene Expression (Lac-Operon): 4 Qs and Transcription (Initiation, Elongation and Termination Process, etc.): 4 Qs.
Is Molecular Basis of Inheritance easy or difficult in NEET?
Of 47 difficulty-tagged questions, 47% were easy, 40% medium and 13% hard.
Was Molecular Basis of Inheritance asked in NEET 2026?
Yes. It had 4 questions in NEET 2026 and 2 questions in Re-NEET 2026.