A LEVEL BIOLOGY: REVISION SPECIFICATION
UNIT 1: BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL ORGANISATION
Topic 1.1: Chemical elements are joined together to form biological
compounds
- Uses of Mg2+, Fe2+, Ca2+, PO4 3-
- Importance of water including its polarity, ability to form hydrogen
bonds, surface tension, as a solvent, thermal properties, as a
metabolite
- Structure of carbohydrates including monosaccharides (triose, pentose,
hexose sugars), disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose),
polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)
- Properties and functions of carbohydrates including monosaccharides
(triose, pentose, hexose sugars), disaccharides (sucrose, lactose,
maltose), polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)
- Alpha and beta isomers of glucose
- Roles of alpha and beta glucose including that demonstrated by starch,
cellulose and chitin
- Chemical and physical properties of that enable starch and glycogen to
be storage compounds and cellulose and chitin as structural
compounds
- Structure of lipids including triglycerides and phospholipids
- Properties and functions of lipids including triglycerides and
phospholipids
- Implications of saturated and unsaturated fat on human health
- Structure of amino acids and proteins including primary, secondary,
tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins
- Role of amino acids and proteins
- Relationship of fibrous and globular proteins to their function
Required practical's:
- Food tests including iodine-potassium test for starch, benedicts test for
reducing and non-reducing sugars, biuret test for protein, emulsion
test for fats and oils
Topic 1.2: Cell structure and organisation
, - Structure of the following: mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (rough
and smooth), ribosomes, Golgi body, lysosomes, centrioles,
chloroplasts, vacuoles, nucleus, chromatin, nuclear envelope,
nucleolus, plasmodesmata
- Function of the following: mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (rough
and smooth), ribosomes, Golgi body, lysosomes, centrioles,
chloroplasts, vacuoles, nucleus, chromatin, nuclear envelope,
nucleolus, plasmodesmata
- Structure of prokaryotic cells
- Structure of viruses
- Definition of the cell theory
- Differences in cell structures of eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells,
including the examination of a range of electron micrographs of
prokaryote and eukaryote cells to show structure
- Levels of organisation including the aggregation of cells into tissues,
tissues into organs, and organs into organ systems
- Examination of a range of prepared slides showing examples of
epithelia, muscle and connective tissue
Required practical's:
- Calibration of a light microscope at low and high power
- Calculating actual size and the magnification of a structure in a
drawing
- Preparation and scientific drawing of a slide of living cells including
that of onion/rhubarb/Amoeba
Topic 1.3: Cell membranes and transport
- Components of the plasma membrane
- Understand the fluid mosaic model
- Factors affecting permeability of the plasma membrane
- Transport mechanisms including diffusion, osmosis, pinocytosis,
facilitated diffusion, phagocytosis, exocytosis, active transport
- Factors affecting the rate of diffusion
- Influence of cyanide on active transport
Required practical's:
- Determination of water potential by measuring changes in mass length
UNIT 1: BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL ORGANISATION
Topic 1.1: Chemical elements are joined together to form biological
compounds
- Uses of Mg2+, Fe2+, Ca2+, PO4 3-
- Importance of water including its polarity, ability to form hydrogen
bonds, surface tension, as a solvent, thermal properties, as a
metabolite
- Structure of carbohydrates including monosaccharides (triose, pentose,
hexose sugars), disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose),
polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)
- Properties and functions of carbohydrates including monosaccharides
(triose, pentose, hexose sugars), disaccharides (sucrose, lactose,
maltose), polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)
- Alpha and beta isomers of glucose
- Roles of alpha and beta glucose including that demonstrated by starch,
cellulose and chitin
- Chemical and physical properties of that enable starch and glycogen to
be storage compounds and cellulose and chitin as structural
compounds
- Structure of lipids including triglycerides and phospholipids
- Properties and functions of lipids including triglycerides and
phospholipids
- Implications of saturated and unsaturated fat on human health
- Structure of amino acids and proteins including primary, secondary,
tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins
- Role of amino acids and proteins
- Relationship of fibrous and globular proteins to their function
Required practical's:
- Food tests including iodine-potassium test for starch, benedicts test for
reducing and non-reducing sugars, biuret test for protein, emulsion
test for fats and oils
Topic 1.2: Cell structure and organisation
, - Structure of the following: mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (rough
and smooth), ribosomes, Golgi body, lysosomes, centrioles,
chloroplasts, vacuoles, nucleus, chromatin, nuclear envelope,
nucleolus, plasmodesmata
- Function of the following: mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (rough
and smooth), ribosomes, Golgi body, lysosomes, centrioles,
chloroplasts, vacuoles, nucleus, chromatin, nuclear envelope,
nucleolus, plasmodesmata
- Structure of prokaryotic cells
- Structure of viruses
- Definition of the cell theory
- Differences in cell structures of eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells,
including the examination of a range of electron micrographs of
prokaryote and eukaryote cells to show structure
- Levels of organisation including the aggregation of cells into tissues,
tissues into organs, and organs into organ systems
- Examination of a range of prepared slides showing examples of
epithelia, muscle and connective tissue
Required practical's:
- Calibration of a light microscope at low and high power
- Calculating actual size and the magnification of a structure in a
drawing
- Preparation and scientific drawing of a slide of living cells including
that of onion/rhubarb/Amoeba
Topic 1.3: Cell membranes and transport
- Components of the plasma membrane
- Understand the fluid mosaic model
- Factors affecting permeability of the plasma membrane
- Transport mechanisms including diffusion, osmosis, pinocytosis,
facilitated diffusion, phagocytosis, exocytosis, active transport
- Factors affecting the rate of diffusion
- Influence of cyanide on active transport
Required practical's:
- Determination of water potential by measuring changes in mass length
