GB Advance Biology

A-Level Biology

Term 1

• Practical skills & practical  specific knowledge (covered in tandem with module 2 through 6 content)

Term 2

• Cell structure: cell organelles, animals, plants, bacteria, microscopy
• Biological molecules: water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins + food tests
• Nucleotides and nucleic acids: DNA & DNA replication, protein synthesis, ATP
• Enzymes: lock & key, induced fit, cofactors, coenzymes, factors affecting function
• Biological membranes: fluid mosaic model, diffusion, osmosis, active transport
• Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation: mitosis, meiosis, stem cells

Term 3

• Exchange surfaces: mammalian lung adaptations, spirometers, ventilation in fish/insects
  
• Transport in animals: blood, blood vessels, oxygen/carbon dioxide transport, tissue fluid/lymph, structure of the heart, cardiac cycle
  
• Transport in plants: xylem/phloem, transpiration, translocation, potometers, xerophytes/hydrophytes

Term 4

• Classification & evolution: classification of five kingdoms, phylogeny, evidence for
  evolution, statistical equations (standard deviations, spearman’s rank, t-tests), natural
  selection
  
• Biodiversity: types/methods of sampling, calculating biodiversity, calculating genetic
  biodiversity, maintaining biodiversity & factors affecting it
  
  
• Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system: Animal & plant
  diseases, transmission of diseases, plant disease defence, non-specific & specific animal
  immune defences (antibodies) , preventing & treating disease (vaccines, drugs etc.)

Term 5

• Neuronal communication: types of neurones, receptors, synapses, reflex arc, organisation of nervous system, brain, muscle & muscle sliding filament theory
  
  
• Hormonal communication: cell signalling, structure & function of pancreas, blood
  glucose (insulin, glucagon), diabetes (Type 1 + Type 2) and its treatment, coordinated
  responses (flight or flight, heart rate)
  
• Homeostasis: thermoregulation in ectotherm + endotherms, excretion in the liver, kidneys & osmoregulation, urine and diagnosis, kidney failure (dialysis)
  
• Plant responses: plant hormones (auxin, gibberellin, ethene, ABA, cytokinin), abiotic
  stress, tropisms, commercial uses
  
• Photosynthesis: chemiosmosis, light dependent reaction (non-cylic
  photophosphorylation), light independent reaction (Calvin cycle), TLC, factors affecting
  photosynthesis
  
• Respiration: aerobic  glycolysis, link, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation,
  anaerobic  lactate + alcoholic fermentation, respiratory substrates/RQ

Term 6

• Genetics: mutations/variation, gene expression (transcriptional, post transcriptional,
  translational, post-translational), body plan
  
• Inheritance & Variation: Monogenic inheritance, dihybrid inheritance, phenotypic
  ratios (Chi-squared + hardy-Weinberg equations), evolution & speciation
  
• Manipulating genomes: DNA profiling, DNA sequencing, using sequencing, genetic
  engineering, gene technology & ethics
  
• Cloning & Biotechnology: Natural/artificial cloning in plants, cloning in animals,
  microorganisms & biotechnology, culturing microorganisms in a lab/industry,
  immobilised enzymes, bacterial colony calculations
  
• Ecosystems: Biotic/Abiotic, trophic levels and energy transfer, nitrogen/carbon cycle,
  Succession, measuring distribution/abundance (transects/quadrats)
  
• Population & Sustainability: competition, predator-prey, conservation vs preservation,
  sustainability in logging/fisheries