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A-LevelAQA
Biology
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Monomers, polymers, condensation and hydrolysisCarbohydrates: structure, roles and testsLipids: triglycerides, phospholipids and testsProteins: structure (primary–quaternary) and functionsEnzymes: induced fit, factors affecting rate and inhibitionRequired practical 1: enzyme-controlled reaction ratesDNA and RNA structureDNA replication (semi-conservative)ATP and energy transferWater and inorganic ions (including pH and buffers)
Eukaryotic cells and organellesProkaryotic cells, viruses and virus replicationMicroscopes: magnification, resolution and measuring cellsCell fractionation and ultracentrifugationThe cell cycle and mitosisRequired practical 2: root tip squashes and mitotic indexCell membranes and transport (diffusion, osmosis, active transport)Required practical 3: water potential in plant tissue (calibration curve)Required practical 4: investigating membrane permeabilityCell recognition and the immune system (including HIV and monoclonal antibodies)
Surface area to volume ratio and exchange surfacesGas exchange in insects (tracheal system)Gas exchange in fish (gills and countercurrent flow)Gas exchange in plants (leaf structure and stomata)Gas exchange in mammals (lungs and ventilation)Digestion and absorption (enzymes, ileum, co-transport)Mass transport in mammals (heart, vessels, tissue fluid and lymph)Haemoglobin and oxygen dissociation curvesMass transport in plants (xylem, transpiration, phloem translocation)Required practical 5: dissection of a gas exchange or mass transport system/organ
DNA, genes, chromosomes and the genetic codeTranscription (including RNA processing)Translation and protein synthesisMutations and their effectsMeiosis and how variation is generatedGenetic diversity and natural selectionInvestigating antimicrobial substances (aseptic technique)Required practical 6: antimicrobials and microbial growthClassification and phylogenetic relationshipsBiodiversity sampling and using data to compare habitats
Photosynthesis overview and limiting factorsRequired practical 7: chromatography of photosynthetic pigmentsLight-dependent reactions and photophosphorylationLight-independent reactions (Calvin cycle)Respiration: glycolysis and anaerobic pathwaysRespiration: link reaction, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylationRequired practical 8: dehydrogenase activity in chloroplast extractsRequired practical 9: respiration rate in single-celled organismsEnergy transfer in ecosystems (trophic levels, pyramids, efficiency)Nutrient cycles and fertiliser impacts (nitrogen/phosphorus, eutrophication)
Stimuli, receptors and effectorsPlant responses: tropisms and IAA (auxin)Animal movement: taxis and kinesisRequired practical 10: investigating animal responses (choice chambers/mazes)Neurones and the nervous systemAction potentials and transmission speedSynapses and neuromuscular junctionsMuscle contraction and the sliding filament modelHomeostasis and negative feedbackBlood glucose control (insulin, glucagon and diabetes)Required practical 11: glucose calibration curve (colorimetry)Osmoregulation: kidney, nephron and ADH
Monohybrid and dihybrid inheritanceCodominance, multiple alleles and sex linkageLinkage and interpreting genetic crossesChi-squared test for genetic ratiosPopulations, gene pools and allele frequenciesHardy–Weinberg calculations and assumptionsNatural selection, genetic drift and speciationEcosystems: populations, communities and successionConservation and maintaining biodiversityRequired practical 12: distribution of organisms in a habitat (fieldwork)
Control of transcription and translationGene regulation, mutations and cancerCell differentiation and developmentStem cells and ethical considerationsEpigenetics (methylation and histone modification)RNA interference and post-transcriptional controlGenome projects, sequencing and bioinformaticsRecombinant DNA: enzymes, vectors and transformationPCR, electrophoresis and DNA probesGenetic fingerprinting: methods, uses and ethics
