Nature of Science
Unifying Strand
Nature of Science
Unifying Strand
How scientific knowledge evolves, the scientific method, peer review, bias, and data analysis.
Scientific Investigation
Unifying Strand
SI units, designing experiments, hypothesis testing, data collection, errors, ethics, sustainability, and form fits function.
Practical Investigations
Unifying Strand
Practical investigations across the course - method, control, expected result and the exam points for Units 1, 2 and 3 plus the new specification investigations.
Organisation of Life
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
Characteristics of Life
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
The defining features of living things, viruses, and the domains and classification of life.
Evolution
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
The theory of evolution by natural selection, evidence for evolution, and speciation.
Animal & Plant Kingdom
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
Animal features, body plans, symmetry, coelom, plant diversity, vascular vs non-vascular, bryophytes to angiosperms.
Bacteria & Fungi
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
Bacterial and fungal cell structure, nutrition types, reproduction, microbial growth curves, and factors affecting growth.
Viruses
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
Virus structure, living vs non-living debate, viral replication cycle, and economic & medical importance.
Cell Structure & Diversity
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells, organelle ultrastructure, microscopy, cell specialisation and organisation.
Information Flow in the Cell
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
DNA and RNA structure, DNA replication, protein synthesis, gene and chromosome mutations.
Genetics & Inheritance
Strand 1: Organisation of Life
Heredity, chromosomes, Mendel's laws, monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, sex linkage, epigenetics and nuclear/non-nuclear inheritance.
Structures & Processes of Life
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Cell Division & Protein Synthesis
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
The cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, DNA replication, transcription, translation, mutations, and cancer.
Response Systems
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
The musculoskeletal system, nervous system, neurotransmission, the endocrine system, and the immune system.
Reproduction
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Human and plant reproduction, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, hormonal control, contraception, fertility, and flower structure.
Transport & Transfer
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Membrane transport, the urinary system, digestion, the breathing system, the circulatory system, and transport in plants.
Biomolecules in Detail
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Detailed study of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, minerals, water and ATP - their structure, function, and importance.
Metabolism & Enzymes
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Enzymes as biological catalysts, the induced fit model, factors affecting enzyme activity, and industrial applications of enzymes.
Cell Continuity
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
The cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, binary fission and cancer.
Movement Through Cell Membranes
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Diffusion, osmosis and active transport across cell membranes.
Photosynthesis
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
How plants convert light energy to glucose - light and dark stages, chloroplast structure, and factors affecting rate.
Respiration
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Aerobic and anaerobic respiration, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and fermentation.
Plant Structure & Function
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Parts of a flowering plant, plant tissues, and structure-function relationships in roots, stems, leaves and flowers.
Plant Transport
Strand 2: Structures & Processes
Transpiration, water uptake, cohesion-tension model, mineral transport and translocation in plants.
Interactions of Life
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
Microorganisms & Nutrient Cycling
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
Bacteria, fungi, the microbiome, carbon and nitrogen cycles, climate change, and industrial uses.
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
Ecosystem structure, biotic and abiotic factors, food chains, trophic levels, energy flow, population curves, and the importance of biodiversity.
Habitat Study Techniques
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
Ecological sampling methods, quadrats, transects, identification techniques, and biodiversity indices.
Nutrient Recycling
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
The carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, decomposition, and the role of bacteria and fungi in nutrient recycling.
Human Impact on the Environment
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
Pollution, eutrophication, bioaccumulation, biodiversity loss, conservation, and sustainability.
Genetic Technologies & Genomics
Strand 3: Interactions of Life
Genetic engineering, DNA profiling, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing, stem cells and ethical issues in genetic technology.