1Topic 1
Unity & Diversity
Water, nucleic acids, cells, viruses, evolution and biodiversity
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Topic 1
Unity & Diversity
Water, nucleic acids, cells, viruses, evolution and biodiversity
Water
Hydrogen bonding, the properties of water, and the origin of water on Earth.
Nucleic Acids
DNA and RNA structure, the genetic code, nucleic acid function, nucleosomes, molecular visualisation, the Hershey–Chase experiment, and Chargaff’s data.
Origins of Cells
The formation of carbon compounds, early cell evolution, and the evidence for the origin of life.
Cell Structure
Cell theory, microscopy, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the functions of life, specialised cell structures, biological drawing, endosymbiosis, differentiation, and multicellularity.
Viruses
Virus structure, viral replication, and the origin and evolution of viruses.
Diversity of Organisms
Species concepts, chromosomes, karyograms, genomes, genome comparison, sequencing uses, cross-breeding, dichotomous keys, environmental DNA, and barcoding.
Classification & Cladistics
Biological classification, cladistics, reclassification, and classification systems.
Evolution & Speciation
Evidence for evolution, convergent evolution, speciation, adaptive radiation, and speciation in plants.
Biodiversity & Conservation
Biodiversity, extinction, habitat loss, biodiversity decline, and conservation strategies.
2Topic 2
Form & Function
Biomolecules, membranes, organelles, exchange, movement and ecology
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Topic 2
Form & Function
Biomolecules, membranes, organelles, exchange, movement and ecology
Carbohydrates & Lipids
Carbon chemistry, macromolecules, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, lipids, fatty acids, and phospholipids.
Proteins
Protein formation, amino acid diversity, protein structure, globular and fibrous proteins, and the effects of pH and temperature.
Membranes & Transport
Lipid bilayers, membrane proteins, transport across membranes, glycolipids, glycoproteins, membrane fluidity, active transport, bulk transport, adhesion, and the fluid mosaic model.
Organelles & Compartmentalisation
Cell organelles, compartmentalisation, the adaptations of mitochondria and chloroplasts, protein synthesis organelles, and vesicle formation.
Cell Specialisation
Stem cells, cell differentiation, specialised cells, and examples of cell specialisation.
Gas Exchange
Gas exchange in animals and plants, lung adaptations, ventilation, lung volumes, leaf structure, stomatal density, haemoglobin, the Bohr shift, and oxygen dissociation curves.
Transport Systems
Blood vessels, pulse rate, coronary heart disease, transpiration, xylem adaptations, tissue fluid, circulatory systems, the mammalian heart, the cardiac cycle, root water transport, and translocation.
Muscle & Movement
Movement adaptations, skeletal muscle, muscle contraction, joint movement, and locomotion in organisms.
Adaptation & Environment
Habitats, abiotic factors, species distribution, marine and terrestrial environments, and biomes.
Ecological Niches
Niches, nutrition methods, feeding adaptations, and competition between species.
3Topic 3
Interaction & Interdependence
Enzymes, respiration, photosynthesis, signalling, control and ecosystems
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Topic 3
Interaction & Interdependence
Enzymes, respiration, photosynthesis, signalling, control and ecosystems
Enzymes & Metabolism
Metabolic pathways, enzyme action, enzyme activity, reaction rates, activation energy, and enzyme inhibition.
Cell Respiration
ATP, oxidation and reduction, glycolysis, anaerobic respiration, the link reaction, the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and respiratory substrates.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis, pigment separation, absorption and action spectra, limiting factors, carbon dioxide enrichment, photosystems, the light-dependent reactions, photophosphorylation, the light-independent reactions, and reaction interdependence.
Chemical Signalling
Cell signalling, signalling molecules, receptors, epinephrine receptors, intracellular receptors, and the regulation of signalling pathways.
Neural Signalling
Neuron structure, nerve impulses, action potentials, oscilloscope traces, conduction velocity, synaptic transmission, and brain neurons.
Body Systems & Control
The integration of body systems, nervous control, reflexes, movement control, hormones, feedback mechanisms, tropic responses, phototropism, plant hormones, growth regulation, and fruit ripening.
Defence Against Disease
Pathogens, physical barriers, blood clotting, immune responses, white blood cells, HIV and AIDS, antibiotics, resistance, zoonoses, vaccines, immunity, and data evaluation.
Populations & Communities
Population size, limiting factors, growth curves, intraspecific and interspecific relationships, competition, and chi-squared testing.
Energy & Matter in Ecosystems
Energy flow, carbon compounds, trophic levels, energy pyramids, energy loss, productivity, carbon cycling, and nutrient cycling.
4Topic 4
Continuity & Change
Replication, genetics, expression, reproduction and ecological change
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Topic 4
Continuity & Change
Replication, genetics, expression, reproduction and ecological change
DNA Replication & Biotechnology
DNA replication, PCR, gel electrophoresis, the applications of biotechnology, and the mechanism of replication.
Protein Synthesis
Transcription, translation, the genetic code, protein structure, mutations, post-transcriptional modification, and the proteome.
Mutations & Gene Editing
Gene mutations, the effects of mutations, genetic variation, gene editing, and conserved sequences.
Cell & Nuclear Division
Cell division, mitosis, meiosis, the cell cycle, tumour formation, and the mitotic index.
Gene Expression
Gene expression, transcriptional and translational regulation, environmental effects on gene expression, and examples of gene–environment interaction.
Water Potential & Osmosis
Osmosis, water movement in cells, water potential, and water movement in plant tissues.
Reproduction
Asexual and sexual reproduction, the menstrual cycle, fertilisation, plant reproduction, pollination, seed dispersal, germination, puberty hormones, gametogenesis, implantation, pregnancy hormones, the placenta, and hormone replacement therapy.
Inheritance
Genetic crosses, inheritance terminology, alleles, sex determination, pedigree charts, continuous variation, dihybrid crosses, linkage, recombination, and statistical analysis.
Homeostasis
Internal regulation, blood glucose control, thermoregulation, osmoregulation, excretion, urine production, and organ blood supply.
Natural Selection
Natural selection, selection pressures, gene pools, allele frequencies, types of selection, the Hardy–Weinberg principle, and artificial selection.
Stability & Environmental Change
Ecosystem stability, keystone species, sustainability, eutrophication, pollution, ecosystem restoration, ecological succession, and human influence on succession.
Climate Change
The causes and impacts of climate change, carbon sequestration, phenology, and the evolutionary effects of climate change.
5Topic 5
Biology Tools
Practical, data-handling and maths skills for biology
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Topic 5
Biology Tools
Practical, data-handling and maths skills for biology
Experimental Skills
Safety, ethics, environmental considerations, variable measurement, and biological techniques.
Technology & Data Handling
Using technology to collect, process, and analyse biological data.
Mathematical Skills for Biology
Units, symbols, numerical values, uncertainty processing, graphing, and the mathematical methods used in biology.
Need theory or method first?
Read the Revision Notes before tackling exam questions.