1. Development of Practical Skills in Biology

1.1 Practical Skills: Written Assessment

1.1.1 Experimental Design

1.1.2 Identification of Variables

1.1.3 Evaluating Experimental Methods

1.1.4 Using Units

1.1.5 Presenting Experimental Data

1.1.6 Mathematical Analysis of Results

1.1.7 Drawing Conclusions

1.2 Practical Skills: Endorsement Assessment

1.2.1 Practical: Ethical Use of Organisms

1.2.2 Practical: Aseptic Techniques

1.2.3 Practical: Dissection of Gas Exchange Surfaces in Fish & Insects

1.2.4 Drawing Cells From Blood Smears

1.2.5 Practical: Investigating Biodiversity Using Sampling

1.2.6 Practical: Data loggers & Computer Modelling

1.2.7 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Diffusion

1.2.8 Practical: Investigating Water Potential

1.2.9 Practical: Factors Affecting Membrane Structure & Permeability

1.2.10 Biochemical Tests: Reducing Sugars & Starch

1.2.11 Biochemical Tests: Lipids

1.2.12 Biochemical Tests: Proteins

1.2.13 Chromatography

1.2.14 Serial Dilutions

1.2.15 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Transpiration

1.2.16 Practical: Using a Light Microscope

2. Foundations in Biology

2.1 Cell Structure

2.1.1 Studying Cells

2.1.2 Using a Microscope

2.1.3 Drawing Cells

2.1.4 Magnification & Resolution

2.1.5 Eukaryotic Cells

2.1.6 Eukaryotic Cells Under the Microscope

2.1.7 Organelles & the Production of Proteins

2.1.8 The Cytoskeleton

2.1.9 Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells

2.2 Biological Molecules

2.2.1 Properties of Water

2.2.2 Monomers & Polymers

2.2.3 Monosaccharides

2.2.4 The Glycosidic Bond

2.2.5 Polysaccharides

2.2.6 Biochemical Tests: Reducing Sugars & Starch

2.2.7 Lipids & Ester Bonds

2.2.8 Lipids: Structure & Function

2.2.9 Biochemical Tests: Lipids

2.2.10 Amino Acids & Peptide Bonds

2.2.11 Protein: Structure

2.2.12 Globular Proteins

2.2.13 Fibrous Proteins

2.2.14 Inorganic Ions

2.2.15 Biochemical Tests: Proteins

2.2.16 Finding the Concentration of a Substance

2.2.17 Chromatography

2.3 Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids

2.3.1 Nucleotides & Phosphodiester Bonds

2.3.2 Phosphorylated Nucleotides

2.3.3 DNA: Structure

2.3.4 DNA Purification

2.3.5 DNA Replication

2.3.6 The Genetic Code

2.3.7 Transcription

2.3.8 Translation

2.4 Enzymes

2.4.1 The Role of Enzymes

2.4.2 Enzyme Action

2.4.3 Enzyme Activity: pH

2.4.4 Enzyme Activity: Temperature

2.4.5 Enzyme Activity: Enzyme Concentration

2.4.6 Enzyme Activity: Substrate Concentration

2.4.7 Enzyme Activity: Enzyme Inhibitors

2.4.8 Coenzymes, Cofactors & Prosthetic Groups

2.4.9 Practical: Measuring Enzyme Activity

2.5 Biological Membranes

2.5.1 The Cell Surface Membrane

2.5.2 Membrane Structure & Permeability

2.5.3 Diffusion & Facilitated Diffusion

2.5.4 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Diffusion

2.5.5 Active Transport

2.5.6 Endocytosis & Exocytosis

2.5.7 Osmosis

2.5.8 Osmosis in Animal & Plant Cells

2.5.9 Practical: Investigating Water Potential

2.6 Cell Division, Cell Diversity & Cellular Organisation

2.6.1 The Cell Cycle

2.6.2 The Stages of Mitosis

2.6.3 Identifying Mitosis in Plant Cells

2.6.4 The Significance of Mitosis

2.6.5 The Stages of Meiosis

2.6.6 The Significance of Meiosis

2.6.7 Specialised Cells

2.6.8 The Organisation of Cells

2.6.9 Stem Cells

2.6.10 Stem Cells in Animals & Plants

2.6.11 The Use of Stem Cells

3. Exchange & Transport

3.1 Exchange Surfaces

3.1.1 Specialised Exchange Surfaces

3.1.2 Features of Exchange Surfaces

3.1.3 The Mammalian Gas Exchange System

3.1.4 Ventilation in Mammals

3.1.5 Spirometers

3.1.6 Gas Exchange in Fish & Insects

3.1.7 Practical: Dissection of Gas Exchange Surfaces in Fish & Insects

3.2 Transport in Animals

3.2.1 The Need for Transport Systems in Animals

3.2.2 Circulatory Systems

3.2.3 Blood Vessels

3.2.4 Tissue Fluid

3.2.5 The Mammalian Heart

3.2.6 Practical: Mammalian Heart Dissection

3.2.7 The Cardiac Cycle

3.2.8 Cardiac Output

3.2.9 Heart Action: Initiation & Control

3.2.10 Electrocardiograms (ECGs)

3.2.11 The Role of Haemoglobin

3.2.12 Adult & Fetal Haemoglobin

3.3 Transport in Plants

3.3.1 The Need for Transport Systems in Plants

3.3.2 The Xylem & Phloem

3.3.3 The Xylem

3.3.4 The Phloem

3.3.5 Transverse Sections: Stems, Roots & Leaves

3.3.6 The Process of Transpiration

3.3.7 Transpiration in Plants

3.3.8 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Transpiration

3.3.9 Translocation

3.3.10 The Mass Flow Hypothesis

3.3.11 The Adaptations of Xerophytic & Hydrophytic Plants

4. Biodiversity, Evolution & Disease

4.1 Communicable Diseases, Disease Prevention & the Immune System

4.1.1 Common Pathogens & Communicable Diseases

4.1.2 Transmission of Communicable Pathogens

4.1.3 Plant Defences Against Pathogens

4.1.4 Non-specific Immune Responses

4.1.5 Phagocytes

4.1.6 Blood Cells

4.1.7 The T Lymphocyte Response

4.1.8 The B Lymphocyte Response

4.1.9 Primary & Secondary Immune Responses

4.1.10 Antibodies

4.1.11 Opsonins, Agglutinins & Anti-toxins

4.1.12 Types of Immunity

4.1.13 Autoimmune Diseases

4.1.14 Principles of Vaccination

4.1.15 Sources of Medicine

4.1.16 Antibiotics

4.2 Biodiversity

4.2.1 Biodiversity

4.2.2 Sampling to Determine Biodiversity

4.2.3 Practical: Investigating Biodiversity Using Sampling

4.2.4 Measuring Species Richness & Species Evenness

4.2.5 Simpson's Index

4.2.6 Genetic Diversity

4.2.7 Factors Affecting Biodiversity

4.2.8 Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity

4.2.9 Methods of Maintaining Biodiversity

4.2.10 Conservation Agreements

4.3 Classification & Evolution

4.3.1 Classification of Species

4.3.2 Binomial System

4.3.3 Classification of the Three Domains

4.3.4 Classification of the Five Kingdoms

4.3.5 Classification & Phylogeny

4.3.6 Evidence of Evolution

4.3.7 Types of Variation

4.3.8 Standard Deviation

4.3.9 Variation: t-test Method

4.3.10 Variation: t-test Worked Example

4.3.11 Spearman's Rank Correlation

4.3.12 Adaptation

4.3.13 Natural Selection

4.3.14 Evolution of Resistance

4.3.15 Consequences of Resistance