Your journey to excellence in
By Revision Genie
Cell Biology
Unit 1
Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
Plant and Animal Cells
Sub-Cellular Structures and Functions
Using a Light Microscope
Cell Specialisation
Examples of Specialised Cells
Cell Differentiation
Importance of Cell Differentiation
Development of Microscopy Techniques
Light vs Electron Microscopes
Magnification Calculations
Standard Form in Microscopy
Binary Fission in Bacteria
Culturing Microorganisms Safely
Calculating Bacterial Population Growth
Zones of Inhibition and πr² Calculations
Chromosomes and DNA
The Cell Cycle
Stages of Mitosis
Functions of Mitosis
Stem Cells and Their Functions
Therapeutic Cloning
Ethical Issues of Stem Cells
Diffusion Across Cell Membranes
Factors Affecting Diffusion Rates
Surface Area to Volume Ratios
Adaptations for Exchange Surfaces
Osmosis Across Membranes
Percentage Change in Mass Calculations
Graphs for Osmosis Experiments
Active Transport in Cells
Energy Requirement for Active Transport
Comparing Diffusion, Osmosis, and Active Transport
Unit 2
Organisation
Levels of Organisation in Biology
Definition of Cells, Tissues, Organs, Systems
Structure and Function of Animal Cells
Structure and Function of Plant Cells
Organ Systems in Animals
Organ Systems in Plants
Overview of the Digestive System
Digestive Enzymes and Their Functions
The Lock and Key Theory
Amylase and Carbohydrate Digestion
Protease and Protein Digestion
Lipase and Lipid Digestion
Role of Bile in Digestion
Testing for Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids
Effect of pH on Enzyme Activity
Structure and Function of the Heart
Double Circulatory System
Blood Vessels: Arteries, Veins, Capillaries
Structure and Function of the Lungs
Components of Blood and Their Functions
Red Blood Cells and Oxygen Transport
White Blood Cells and Immunity
Platelets and Blood Clotting
Risks and Benefits of Blood Products
Coronary Heart Disease and Its Causes
Stents and Their Role in Treatment
Statins and Cholesterol Control
Heart Valve Issues and Treatments
Artificial Hearts and Heart Transplants
Definition of Health and Disease
Interactions Between Diseases
Lifestyle Factors and Non-Communicable Diseases
Smoking and Lung Cancer
Alcohol and Liver Disease
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Carcinogens and Cancer Risk
Understanding Risk Factors in Disease
Data Analysis in Disease Studies
Benign and Malignant Tumours
Genetic and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Cancer
Plant Tissues and Their Functions
Structure of Xylem and Phloem
Root Hair Cells and Water Uptake
Transpiration and Factors Affecting It
Stomata and Guard Cells
Translocation in Plants
Investigating Transpiration Rates
Measuring Stomata Distribution
Unit 3
Infection and Response
What Are Pathogens?
Types of Pathogens: Viruses
Types of Pathogens: Bacteria
Types of Pathogens: Protists
Types of Pathogens: Fungi
How Pathogens Spread
Preventing the Spread of Pathogens
Measles: Symptoms and Prevention
HIV and AIDS: Causes and Control
Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Plants
Salmonella: Causes and Symptoms
Gonorrhoea: Treatment and Prevention
Rose Black Spot in Plants
Malaria: Life Cycle and Prevention
Human Body Defences: Physical Barriers
Human Body Defences: Chemical Barriers
Role of White Blood Cells: Phagocytosis
Role of White Blood Cells: Antibodies
Role of White Blood Cells: Antitoxins
How Vaccines Work
Herd Immunity and Disease Control
Antibiotics: Uses and Limitations
Antibiotic Resistance: Causes and Concerns
Painkillers vs Antibiotics
Challenges in Treating Viral Infections
Drug Discovery: Historical Examples
Stages of Drug Development
Preclinical Testing of Drugs
Clinical Trials: Phases and Placebos
Monoclonal Antibodies: Production Process
Monoclonal Antibodies: Diagnostic Uses
Monoclonal Antibodies: Therapeutic Uses
Ethical Issues with Monoclonal Antibodies
Plant Diseases: Symptoms and Diagnosis
Plant Pathogens: Examples and Effects
Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants
Physical Defence Mechanisms in Plants
Chemical Defence Mechanisms in Plants
Mechanical Adaptations in Plants
Unit 4
Bioenergetics
Photosynthesis Equation
Photosynthesis as an Endothermic Reaction
Role of Chloroplasts in Photosynthesis
Factors Affecting Photosynthesis
Temperature and Photosynthesis Rate
Light Intensity and Photosynthesis Rate
Carbon Dioxide Concentration and Photosynthesis Rate
Chlorophyll Levels and Photosynthesis Rate
Limiting Factors in Photosynthesis
Interpreting Photosynthesis Rate Graphs
Inverse Square Law in Photosynthesis
Economic Importance of Photosynthesis Factors
Photosynthesis Practical: Light Intensity and Pondweed
Uses of Glucose in Plants
Testing for Starch, Glucose, and Proteins
Aerobic Respiration Equation
Anaerobic Respiration in Muscles
Anaerobic Respiration in Yeast
Comparing Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
Energy Uses in Organisms
Response to Exercise: Heart and Breathing Rates
Oxygen Debt and Lactic Acid
Exercise Practical: Measuring Heart and Breathing Rates
Lactic Acid Transport and Conversion in the Liver
Metabolism Overview
Glucose Conversion to Starch, Glycogen, and Cellulose
Formation of Lipids from Glycerol and Fatty Acids
Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis
Respiration and Energy Transfer in Metabolism
Breakdown of Excess Proteins into Urea
Unit 5
Homeostasis and Response
Definition of Homeostasis
Importance of Homeostasis
Internal and External Changes
Control Systems in Homeostasis
Receptors and Stimuli
Coordination Centres
Effectors and Responses
Structure of the Nervous System
Functions of the Nervous System
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Sensory Neurones
Motor Neurones
Relay Neurones and Synapses
Reflex Actions and Importance
Reaction Time Practical
Regions of the Brain
Functions of the Cerebral Cortex
Functions of the Cerebellum
Functions of the Medulla
Investigating Brain Function
Risks of Brain Procedures
Structure of the Eye
Functions of the Eye Structures
Accommodation in the Eye
Defects of Vision
Correcting Vision Defects
Control of Body Temperature
Thermoregulatory Centre
Vasodilation and Cooling Mechanisms
Vasoconstriction and Heating Mechanisms
Shivering and Energy Transfer
Human Endocrine System Overview
Hormonal Coordination Principles
Pituitary Gland Function
Adrenal Glands and Hormones
Thyroid Gland and Metabolism
Pancreas and Blood Glucose Regulation
Ovaries and Reproductive Hormones
Testes and Testosterone
Control of Blood Glucose Levels
Role of Insulin in Blood Glucose
Role of Glucagon in Blood Glucose
Type 1 Diabetes Causes and Management
Type 2 Diabetes Causes and Management
Negative Feedback Mechanisms
Adrenaline and Fight-or-Flight Response
Thyroxine and Metabolic Rate
Hormones in the Menstrual Cycle
Role of FSH and LH
Role of Oestrogen and Progesterone
Contraceptive Methods and Hormones
Fertility Treatments and Hormones
Ethical Issues in Fertility Treatments
Unit 6
Ecology
Definition of an Ecosystem
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Interdependence in Ecosystems
Competition in Ecosystems
Adaptations of Organisms
Food Chains and Food Webs
Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
Pyramids of Biomass
The Carbon Cycle
The Water Cycle
The Nitrogen Cycle
Decomposition and Decay
The Role of Microorganisms in Decay
Impact of Temperature and Moisture on Decay
Required Practical: Investigating Decay
Biodiversity and Its Importance
Measuring Biodiversity
Human Impact on Biodiversity
Deforestation and Its Effects
Pollution and Its Impacts
Global Warming and Climate Change
The Greenhouse Effect
Impact of Rising Sea Levels
Conservation of Biodiversity
Sustainable Development
Maintaining Ecosystem Balance
Recycling and Waste Management
Peat Bogs and Their Conservation
Impact of Agriculture on Ecosystems
Monoculture and Its Effects
Overfishing and Sustainable Fisheries
Reforestation and Afforestation
Impact of Urbanisation on Ecosystems
The Importance of Biogeochemical Cycles
Required Practical: Measuring Biodiversity
Trophic Levels and Energy Loss
The Role of Apex Predators in Ecosystems
Eutrophication and Its Causes
Impact of Fertilisers on Water Systems
Invasive Species and Their Effects
Sampling Techniques in Ecology
Quadrats and Transects
Required Practical: Sampling Using Quadrats
Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
Predator-Prey Relationships
Ecological Succession
Primary and Secondary Succession
Impact of Climate on Ecosystems
The Role of Keystone Species
Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
Unit 7
Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
DNA Structure and Function
The Genome
Chromosomes and Genes
Alleles and Genetic Variation
Sexual and Asexual Reproduction
Meiosis Process and Importance
Fertilisation and Genetic Variation
Inheritance of Traits
Punnett Squares and Genetic Crosses
Dominant and Recessive Alleles
Inherited Disorders
Cystic Fibrosis and Polydactyly
Sex Determination and Chromosomes
Genetic Diagrams for Sex Inheritance
Variation Types: Genetic and Environmental
Mutations and Their Effects
Natural Selection Mechanism
Survival of the Fittest Concept
Speciation Process
Selective Breeding Techniques
Risks and Benefits of Selective Breeding
Genetic Engineering Overview
Uses of Genetic Engineering
Risks and Ethical Issues of Genetic Engineering
Cloning Methods in Plants and Animals
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloning
Fossil Formation and Types
Fossils as Evidence for Evolution
Extinction Causes and Examples
Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
Development of Resistant Strains
Classification Systems Overview
The Linnaean System
Three-Domain System
Binomial Naming System
Evolutionary Relationships Between Organisms
Evidence Supporting Evolution
Darwin's Theory of Evolution
Wallace's Contributions to Evolution
Genetic Testing for Traits and Disorders
Ethical Issues in Genetic Testing
Human Genome Project Overview
Applications of Genome Research
Examining Genetic Variation in Populations
Common Exam Pitfalls in Genetics
Interpreting Pedigree Diagrams
Using Genetic Data for Predictions
Unit 8
Key Ideas
The Structure of Cells
Cell Division: Mitosis
Cell Division: Meiosis
Photosynthesis: The Essential Reaction
Aerobic Respiration: Energy Release
Anaerobic Respiration: Energy Without Oxygen
Metabolism: Building and Breaking Molecules
Recycling Molecules in Ecosystems
Linking Photosynthesis and Respiration
Why Cells Divide: Growth and Repair
Gametes and Genetic Diversity
Chemical Energy Transfer in Cells
The Role of Enzymes in Metabolism
How Materials Cycle Through the Biosphere
Energy Flow in Living Systems
The Role of Chlorophyll in Photosynthesis
Oxygen Production in Photosynthesis
Carbon Dioxide Use in Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration: ATP Production
The Importance of Nitrogen in Metabolism
Protein Synthesis in Cells
The Role of Mitochondria in Respiration
The Importance of Water in Cellular Processes
The Carbon Cycle and Photosynthesis
The Oxygen Cycle and Respiration
Energy Transfer Between Organisms
How Cells Adapt for Efficient Functioning
The Role of Light in Photosynthesis
The Role of Glucose in Cellular Energy
The Role of Starch in Energy Storage
The Role of Lipids in Energy Storage
The Role of Amino Acids in Proteins
How Organisms Use Energy for Movement
How Organisms Use Energy to Stay Warm
How Organisms Use Energy for Growth
The Role of Urea in Excretion
How Enzymes Control Metabolic Reactions
How Cells Maintain Homeostasis
The Interdependence of Photosynthesis and Respiration
The Role of DNA in Cell Division
The Role of Environmental Factors in Photosynthesis
The Role of Environmental Factors in Respiration
How Molecules Move Between Organisms and the Environment
The Role of ATP in Energy Transfer
The Role of Nitrate Ions in Plant Growth
The Role of Magnesium Ions in Chlorophyll Production
Unit 9
Archive
Turning questions into testable hypotheses
What all cells have in common
Levels of organisation: cells to tissues to organs to organ systems
Pathogens and the idea of infectious disease
Photosynthesis word equation and balanced symbol equation
Homeostasis: keeping internal conditions stable
Sexual reproduction: what it involves (animals and flowering plants)
Levels of organisation in ecosystems: organism to ecosystem (AQA)
Required practical 1: microscopy drawings of plant and animal cells (AQA)
Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems work together
Choosing independent, dependent and control variables
Animal cells: key sub-cellular structures and functions
The digestive system: organs and overall function
How communicable diseases spread (air, water, contact, vectors)
Photosynthesis as an endothermic reaction
Control systems: receptors, coordination centres and effectors
Asexual reproduction: what it is and where it happens
Interdependence: why species rely on each other
Required practical 2: antibiotics/antiseptics and zones of inhibition (AQA, biology only)
Mitosis vs meiosis as the basis of growth and inheritance
Writing a clear method with repeat measurements
Plant cells: chloroplasts, vacuole and cellulose cell wall
Digestive enzymes: lock-and-key model
Reducing disease spread: hygiene and isolation strategies
Chloroplasts and chlorophyll: what they do
Negative feedback: how homeostasis restores optimum conditions
Meiosis: halving chromosome number in gametes
Competition: resources organisms compete for
Required practical 3: osmosis in plant tissue using sugar/salt solutions (AQA)
Photosynthesis and respiration as the two key life reactions
Risk assessment: hazards, risks and control measures
Bacterial cells: features and plasmids
Amylase: where it’s made and what it does
Viral diseases: measles, HIV and tobacco mosaic virus
Limiting factors: light intensity
The nervous system: CNS and neurones
Fertilisation: restoring the full chromosome number
Abiotic factors: light, temperature, moisture, soil pH, etc.
Required practical 4: food tests for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins (AQA)
Metabolism as the sum of all chemical reactions in organisms
Precision, accuracy and improving reliability
Eukaryotic vs prokaryotic cells
Proteases: where they’re made and what they do
Bacterial diseases: salmonella and gonorrhoea
Limiting factors: carbon dioxide concentration
Reflex actions: why they are rapid and protective
Mitosis vs meiosis: identical vs non-identical cells
Biotic factors: predators, pathogens, food availability, competition
Required practical 5: effect of pH on amylase (AQA)
Cycling of materials between organisms and the environment (AQA)
Repeatability, reproducibility and spotting anomalies
Estimating and comparing sizes of sub-cellular structures
Lipases: where they’re made and what they do
Fungal diseases: rose black spot (plants)
Limiting factors: temperature
Reflex arc: sensory neurone, synapse, relay neurone, motor neurone
Advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction (biology only)
Adaptations: structural, behavioural and functional
Required practical 6: light intensity and photosynthesis rate (pondweed) (AQA)
Presenting results in tables with units and headings
Cell specialisation in animals: sperm, neurones and muscle cells
Bile: neutralising acid and emulsifying fats
Protist diseases: malaria and mosquito vectors
Limiting factors: chlorophyll amount
Synapses: why transmission is one-way
Advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction (biology only)
Communities and stable ecosystems
Required practical 7: factor affecting human reaction time (AQA)
Plotting graphs with sensible scales and best-fit lines
Cell specialisation in plants: root hair cells, xylem and phloem
Absorption in the small intestine
Non-specific human defences: skin barrier
Interpreting graphs with one limiting factor
Measuring reaction time using data and graphs
DNA, genes, alleles and chromosomes: the basics
Food chains: producers and consumers
Required practical 8: light/gravity and seedling growth (AQA, biology only)
Interpreting trends, patterns and correlations
Cell differentiation: what it means and why it matters
Villi adaptations for absorption
Non-specific human defences: nose hairs and mucus
Interpreting graphs with 2–3 limiting factors (HT)
Required practical: effect of a factor on human reaction time (AQA)
The genome and phenotype: environment interaction (AQA)
Food webs: interlinked feeding relationships
Required practical 9: field sampling to estimate population and distribution (AQA)
Calculating mean, range and percentage change
Differentiation in animals vs plants
Required practical: food tests for sugars, starch, protein and lipids (AQA)
Non-specific human defences: trachea/bronchi cilia and mucus
Using the inverse square law for light intensity (HT)
The brain regions: cerebral cortex, cerebellum, medulla (biology only)
Genetic inheritance: genotype vs phenotype
Trophic levels: numbering and definitions (biology only)
Required practical 10: temperature and milk decay rate via pH (AQA, biology only)
Rate calculations (including practical contexts)
Stem cells: what they are and why they’re useful
Required practical: effect of pH on amylase (continuous sampling) (AQA)
Non-specific human defences: stomach acid
Greenhouses: balancing cost with limiting factors (HT)
Brain investigation and treatment: difficulties and ethics (HT, biology only)
Monohybrid crosses using Punnett squares
Pyramids of biomass: constructing from data (biology only)
Using standard form in biology calculations
Stem cells in medicine: benefits and risks (including ethics)
The circulatory system: what the blood transports
White blood cells: phagocytosis
Required practical: light intensity on photosynthesis (pondweed) (AQA)
The eye structures: retina, optic nerve, sclera, cornea, iris
Dominant and recessive alleles in inheritance problems
Transfer of biomass: ~10% to next trophic level (biology only)
Using the microscope: scale bars and magnification basics
Microscopy: light vs electron microscopes
The heart: structure (atria, ventricles, valves) and function
White blood cells: antibody production
Uses of glucose: respiration
Accommodation: focusing on near vs distant objects
Inherited disorders: polydactyly and cystic fibrosis
Biomass losses: respiration, movement, waste and uneaten material
Evaluating method limitations and suggesting improvements
Magnification calculations (image size, real size, magnification)
Blood vessels: arteries, veins and capillaries
White blood cells: antitoxin production
Uses of glucose: starch storage
Pupils and light intensity: reflex control
Embryo screening: economic, social and ethical issues
How materials are cycled: abiotic and biotic components
Mitosis: why cells divide
Blood components: plasma, red cells, white cells and platelets
Vaccination: how it prevents disease
Uses of glucose: fats/oils storage
Hormones vs nerves: speed, duration and targeting
Sex determination: XX and XY chromosomes
The water cycle: processes and importance
The cell cycle and stages of mitosis (overview)
Coronary heart disease: causes and risk factors
Herd immunity: why vaccinating many people reduces spread
Uses of glucose: cellulose for cell walls
Endocrine glands: roles (pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, gonads)
Genetic cross for sex inheritance
The carbon cycle: photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, decomposition
Diffusion: movement down a concentration gradient
Treating CHD: stents and statins (and lifestyle)
Antibiotics: what they treat (and what they don’t)
Uses of glucose: making amino acids with nitrate ions
Blood glucose control: insulin and glucagon
Variation: genetic vs environmental causes
Decomposition: microorganisms and decay conditions (biology only)
Diffusion rate: surface area, temperature and concentration difference
The respiratory system: ventilation basics
Painkillers: symptom relief vs killing pathogens
Respiration as an exothermic reaction in cells
Diabetes: Type 1 basics and management
Mutations: what they are and their effects
Factors affecting decay rate: temperature, water and oxygen (biology only)
Osmosis: movement of water across a partially permeable membrane
Gas exchange in alveoli: adaptations and diffusion
Antibiotic resistance: how resistant strains increase
Aerobic respiration equation and uses of energy
Type 2 diabetes: risk factors and treatment (HT)
Evolution by natural selection: steps in the process
Anaerobic decay: biogas and methane (links to waste)
Active transport: moving substances against a concentration gradient
Non-communicable disease: examples and risk factors
Drug discovery: plant/microbe origins and modern synthesis
Anaerobic respiration in muscles: products and energy yield
Thermoregulation: core temperature and enzymes
Selective breeding: method and impacts
Required practical: temperature and milk decay rate using pH (AQA)
Exchange surfaces: what makes diffusion efficient
Cancer: benign vs malignant tumours
Preclinical testing: cells, tissues and live animals
Anaerobic respiration in plants/yeast: fermentation and uses
Skin responses: sweating, vasodilation and vasoconstriction
Genetic engineering: transferring genes for desired traits
Impact of environmental change on species distribution (HT, biology only)
Using SA:V ratio to explain diffusion limits in organisms
Plant tissues: epidermis, palisade and spongy mesophyll
Clinical trials: safety, efficacy and dosage
Exercise response: heart rate, breathing rate, breath volume
Shivering and metabolic heat production
GM crops: potential benefits and concerns
Biodiversity: what it is and why it supports stability
Xylem: structure and function
Placebos and double-blind trials
Lactic acid build-up and muscle fatigue
Kidney structure: role of nephrons (overview)
Darwin and Wallace: developing natural selection (biology only)
Measuring biodiversity: counting species in an area (overview)
Phloem: structure and function
Required practical: zones of inhibition on agar (AQA)
Oxygen debt: what it means and how it’s repaid
Filtering blood: urea, water and ions
Speciation: how new species form (biology only)
Pollution types: water, air and land
Transpiration: how water moves through a plant
Monoclonal antibodies: how they are made (HT)
Metabolism: definition and why it matters
Selective reabsorption in the kidney tubules
Mendel: why his work mattered (and why delayed recognition)
Waste management: reducing, reusing and recycling strategies
Transpiration rate: light, temperature, humidity and wind
Monoclonal antibodies: diagnosis uses (HT)
Building carbohydrates, lipids and proteins from smaller molecules
Water balance and ADH
Evidence for evolution: fossils and resistant bacteria
Land use: building, quarrying, farming and landfill impacts
Translocation: moving sugars in the phloem
Monoclonal antibodies: treatment uses (HT)
Making urea from excess proteins (link to excretion)
Kidney failure: dialysis vs transplant (pros and cons)
Fossil formation: why fossils form in some conditions
Peat bogs: habitat loss and carbon dioxide release
Monoclonal antibodies: side effects and ethical issues (HT)
Reproduction hormones: FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone (overview)
Extinction: causes and examples of factors
Deforestation: causes and environmental implications
Detecting plant disease by symptoms (HT)
The menstrual cycle: hormone changes across the cycle
Resistant bacteria (including MRSA): selection and spread
Global warming: greenhouse gases and biological consequences
Identifying plant disease: lab tests and reference sources (HT)
Contraception: barrier methods and condoms
Classification: Linnaean hierarchy (kingdom to species)
Maintaining biodiversity: conservation programmes and actions
Plant physical defences (cell walls, cuticle, bark)
Contraception: hormonal methods (pill, implant) and effects
Binomial naming: genus and species
Required practical: sampling and estimating population size (AQA)
Plant chemical defences (antibacterial chemicals and poisons)
Contraception: IUDs and other non-barrier methods
Using evidence to place organisms into groups
Food security: what it means (biology only)
Fertility treatment: IVF steps (and success factors)
Factors threatening food security (biology only)
Ethics of fertility treatment and embryo screening (HT)
Farming techniques to improve efficiency (biology only)
Plant hormones: tropisms (phototropism and gravitropism)
Ethical objections to intensive farming (biology only)
Auxin and growth responses in shoots and roots
Sustainable fisheries: quotas and net sizes (biology only)
Uses of auxins: weedkillers and rooting powder
Biotechnology in food: culturing microorganisms (biology only)
Gibberellins: seed germination and growth effects
Biotechnology and GM solutions for growing demand (biology only)
Ethene: fruit ripening and commercial control
Required practical: light/gravity on seedling growth (AQA, biology only)
the nervous system #
self-esteem
ions
nervous system vs endocrine
