Biology

the spec, topic by topic

every section of 8461

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1. 3Working scientifically

   Scientific thinking, experimentation, evaluation and communication required throughout the course.

   • WS1Development of scientific thinking
   • WS2Experimental skills and strategies
   • WS3Analysis and evaluation
   • WS4Scientific vocabulary, quantities and units

2. 4.1Cell biology

   Cell structures, division and exchange explain how organisms grow and function.

   • 4.1.1Cell structure
     • GCSE Biology: Animal and plant cells10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Cell differentiation7 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Cell specialisation7 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Culturing microorganisms13 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Eukaryotes and prokaryotes12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Microscopy7 cards
   • 4.1.2Cell division
     • GCSE Biology: Chromosomes5 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Mitosis and the cell cycle8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Stem cells12 cards
   • 4.1.3Transport in cells
     • GCSE Biology: Active transport10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Diffusion12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Osmosis10 cards

3. 4.2Organisation

   Tissues and organ systems support nutrition, circulation and transport.

   • 4.2.1Principles of organisation
     • GCSE Biology: Principles of organisation7 cards
   • 4.2.2Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
     • GCSE Biology: Blood9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Cancer8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Coronary heart disease: a non-communicable disease10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Health issues10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The heart and blood vessels12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The human digestive system12 cards
   • 4.2.3Plant tissues, organs and systems
     • GCSE Biology: Plant organ system11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Plant tissues7 cards

4. 4.3Infection and response

   Pathogens cause infectious diseases. Plants and animals have defences. Vaccines and drugs prevent and treat them.

   • 4.3.1Communicable (infectious) diseases
     • GCSE Biology: Antibiotics and painkillers8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Bacterial diseases10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Communicable (infectious) diseases7 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Discovery and development of drugs13 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Fungal diseases6 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Human defence systems10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Protist diseases7 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Vaccination8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Viral diseases11 cards
   • 4.3.2Monoclonal antibodies (HT only)
     • GCSE Biology: Producing monoclonal antibodies8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Uses of monoclonal antibodies9 cards
   • 4.3.3Plant disease (biology only)
     • GCSE Biology: Detection and identification of plant diseases12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Plant defence responses10 cards

5. 4.4Bioenergetics

   Photosynthesis and respiration connect energy transfers with metabolism.

   • 4.4.1Photosynthesis
     • GCSE Biology: Photosynthetic reaction10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Rate of photosynthesis11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Uses of glucose from photosynthesis10 cards
   • 4.4.2Respiration
     • GCSE Biology: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Metabolism11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Response to exercise10 cards

6. 4.5Homeostasis and response

   Control systems detect changes and coordinate responses to regulate internal conditions.

   • 4.5.1Homeostasis
     • GCSE Biology: Homeostasis11 cards
   • 4.5.2The human nervous system
     • GCSE Biology: Control of body temperature11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Structure and function11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The brain9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The eye11 cards
   • 4.5.3Hormonal coordination in humans
     • GCSE Biology: Contraception9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Control of blood glucose concentration12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Hormones in human reproduction10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Human endocrine system12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Maintaining water and nitrogen balance in the body12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Negative feedback9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The use of hormones to treat infertility11 cards
   • 4.5.4Plant hormones (biology only)
     • GCSE Biology: Control and coordination9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Use of plant hormones12 cards

7. 4.6Inheritance, variation and evolution

   Reproduction, genetic variation and natural selection explain inheritance and biodiversity.

   • 4.6.1Reproduction
     • GCSE Biology: Advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: DNA and the genome9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: DNA structure13 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Genetic inheritance12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Inherited disorders7 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Meiosis11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Sex determination8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Sexual and asexual reproduction11 cards
   • 4.6.2Variation and evolution
     • GCSE Biology: Cloning10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Evolution8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Genetic engineering12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Selective breeding12 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Variation10 cards
   • 4.6.3The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
     • GCSE Biology: Evidence for evolution8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Extinction6 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Fossils10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Resistant bacteria10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Speciation9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: The understanding of genetics10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Theory of evolution12 cards
   • 4.6.4Classification of living organisms
     • GCSE Biology: Classification of living organisms12 cards

8. 4.7Ecology

   Organisms interact with their environment through feeding, competition and material cycles.

   • 4.7.1Adaptations, interdependence and competition
     • GCSE Biology: Abiotic factors8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Adaptations5 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Biotic factors8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Communities8 cards
   • 4.7.2Organisation of an ecosystem
     • GCSE Biology: Decomposition10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: How materials are cycled11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Impact of environmental change9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Levels of organisation11 cards
   • 4.7.3Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
     • GCSE Biology: Biodiversity6 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Deforestation4 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Global warming5 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Land use9 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Maintaining biodiversity10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Waste management8 cards
   • 4.7.4Trophic levels in an ecosystem (biology only)
     • GCSE Biology: Pyramids of biomass6 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Transfer of biomass10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Trophic levels11 cards
   • 4.7.5Food production (biology only)
     • GCSE Biology: Factors affecting food security10 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Farming techniques8 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Role of biotechnology11 cards
     • GCSE Biology: Sustainable fisheries6 cards

9. 4.8Key ideas

   Shared biological principles connect the specification topics.

   • 4.8-overviewKey ideas

10. 7Mathematical requirements

    The mathematical techniques explicitly required by this subject, with context-specific Higher extensions.

    • MS1Arithmetic and numerical computation
    • MS2Handling data
    • MS3Algebra
    • MS4Graphs
    • MS5Geometry and trigonometry

11. 8Practical assessment

    Required apparatus techniques and the specified practical investigations.

    • 8.1Use of apparatus and techniques
    • 8.2Required practical activities