Biology

The Heart and Blood Vessels

Cardiac Cycle, Cardiac Output and Blood Pressure

Blood Clotting and Cardiovascular Disease

Carbohydrates and Lipids in Diet and Health

Proteins, Enzymes and Biological Roles

Energy Budgets, BMI and Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Interpreting Risk: Correlation, Causation and Health Data

Core Practical 1: Caffeine and Daphnia Heart Rate

Core Practical 2: Vitamin C in Food and Drink

Gas Exchange Surfaces and Fick’s Law

The Mammalian Lung: Ventilation and Gas Exchange

Cell Membranes and the Fluid Mosaic Model

Transport Across Membranes: Diffusion to Active Transport

Osmosis and Water Potential

Enzymes in Living Systems (Factors Affecting Rate)

Core Practical 3: Membrane Permeability

Core Practical 4: Enzyme and Substrate Concentration

Nucleic Acids: DNA/RNA Structure and Function

DNA Replication, Mutations and Cystic Fibrosis

Inheritance, Genetic Screening and Ethics

Cell Structure, Organelles and Microscopy Skills

The Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Meiosis and Sources of Genetic Variation

Fertilisation, IVF and Stem Cells

Cell Differentiation and Tissue Organisation

Gene Expression and Cell Specialisation

Epigenetics: Environment, Gene Switching and Phenotype

Polygenic Inheritance and Continuous Variation

Core Practical 5: Root Tip Squash to Observe Mitosis

Measuring Biodiversity and Genetic Diversity

Niche, Adaptation and Natural Selection

Evolution, Speciation and Hardy–Weinberg

Classification and Molecular Phylogeny (Three Domains)

Plant Cells: Ultrastructure, Starch and Cellulose

Plant Transport Tissues and Structural Support

Core Practical 6: Plant Stem Tissues Under the Microscope

Core Practical 7: Mineral Deficiencies in Plants

Core Practical 8: Investigating Fibre Strength

Core Practical 9: Antimicrobials and Aseptic Technique

Using Biology to Manage Resources: Drug Testing, Zoos and Seed Banks

Ecosystems, Communities and Food Webs

Factors Affecting Distribution and Abundance

Core Practical 10: Ecology Fieldwork (Quadrats, Transects, Abiotic Factors)

Succession and Climax Communities

Photosynthesis: Light-Dependent and Light-Independent Reactions

Core Practical 11: Hill Reaction and Photosynthesis Rate

Energy Transfers: NPP, Biomass and Trophic Efficiency

Climate Change Evidence and Anthropogenic Causes

Climate Change Impacts, Models and Mitigation (Carbon Cycle Links)

Core Practical 12: Temperature and Enzyme Activity

Core Practical 13: Temperature and Development

Forensics: Time of Death and Decomposition

Microorganisms, Decomposition and Carbon Recycling

DNA Profiling and Genetic Relationships

PCR and DNA Analysis

Core Practical 14: Gel Electrophoresis of DNA Fragments

Pathogens: Bacteria, Viruses and Transmission

Barriers, Inflammation and Phagocytosis

Adaptive Immunity: Antibodies, Memory Cells and Vaccines

Antibiotics, Resistance and Infection Control

Core Practical 15: Testing Antibiotics on Bacteria

ATP Demand, Muscle Contraction and Performance

Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration in Muscle

Core Practical 16: Measuring Respiration Rate

Gas Exchange and Oxygen Transport During Exercise

Control of Heart Rate and Ventilation (Negative Feedback)

ECGs and the Heart’s Electrical System

Cardiac Output, Blood Pressure and Athletic Performance

Thermoregulation and Homeostasis in Exercise

Core Practical 17: Spirometer Data and Exercise Responses

Sports Science: Training, Recovery, Technology and Doping

Neurones and Action Potentials

Synapses, Neurotransmitters and Drugs

The Eye and Vision: Retina to Visual Cortex

Brain Regions and Brain Imaging

Coordinating Responses: Sensory Processing and Reflexes

Brain Development: Nature vs Nurture Evidence

Learning, Memory and Plasticity

Core Practical 18: Investigating Habituation

Brain Chemistry and Parkinson’s Disease

Human Genome Project, Genetic Engineering and Bioethics