Biology (KS5 - Post 16)

Edexcel's GCE in Biology (new specification) comprises six units and contains an Advanced Subsidiary subset of three units. This subset forms the first half of the GCE course and may be awarded as a discrete A/S qualification, or contribute 50% of a student's Advanced GCE marks. The full Advanced GCE qualification is awarded on the basis of the three AS units plus three further A2 units.

Teachers

• Mr S. Fink
• Mrs R. Baker
• Mr A. Christie
• Mrs M. Langdon
• Mrs J. Wilks

Years 12-13 (A/S & A2 levels)

Diagram of the main concepts studied in A/S and A2 level Biology

Year 12 (A/S)

Unit 1: Lifestyle, Transport, Genes and Health

Topic 1: Lifestyle, health and risk

• Circulatory system
• Lifestyle factors (role of diet, exercise, smoking) in relation to cardiovascular disease
• Correlation, causation and concept of risks to health
• Structure and function of molecules, e.g. carbohydrates

  Core practicals

• Effect of caffeine on Daphnia heart rate
• Vitamin C content of food and drink.

Topic 2: Genes and health

• Properties and transport of materials across cell membranes; osmosis, passive and active transport
• Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins; enzyme action
• Structure and role of DNA and RNA
• DNA replication; protein synthesis
• Meselson and Stahl's classic experiment
• Monohybrid inheritance
• Cystic fibrosis
• Gene mutations
• Principles of gene therapy; social and ethical issues.

  Core practicals

• Alcohol concentration or temperature on membrane permeability
• How enzyme concentration affects the rate of reactions.

Unit 2: Development, Plants and the Environment

Topic 3: The voice of the genome

• Development of multicellular organisms from single cells
• Cell structure and ultrastructure of eukaryote and prokaryote cells
• Cell differentiation
• Cell division
• Fertilisation
• Tissue organisation
• Genotype and environmental influence on phenotype
• Stem cell research and its implications

  Core practicals

• Staining root tip to observe mitosis
• Plant tissue culture to demonstrate totipotency.

Topic 4: Biodiversity and natural resources

• Biodiversity, endemism, adaptations and natural selection
• Principles of taxonomy
• Plant cell structure and relationship to function
• Structure and role of cellulose, starch, inorganic ions
• Transport of water
• Traditional and novel uses of plant products, natural resources
• Role of zoos and seed banks in conservation of endangered species

  Core practicals

• Determining tensile strength of plant fibres
• Investigating plant mineral deficiencies
• Investigating antimicrobial properties of plants.

Unit 3: Practical Biology and Research Skills

Visit or issue report (40 marks): students present a written (word-processed) report of 1,500-2,000 words based on a visit to a site of biological interest or on non-practical research into a biological topic. This is intended to bring students into contact with real-life uses of biology.

Students are assessed on their ability to:

• Describe methods and processes
• Identify questions/problems
• Identify implications and applications
• Use appropriate information sources to back up arguments
• Communicate clearly and use visuals appropriately.

Year 13 (A2)

Unit 4: The Natural Environment and Species Survival

Topic 5: On the wild side

• Photosynthesis
• How ecosystems work, energy transfer within ecosystems
• Habitats, abiotic, biotic factors
• Evidence for global warming; effects on plants and animals
• Reproductive isolation leading t
• speciation
• Will climate change lead to extinction of species or evolution by natural selection?
• Light-dependent and independent reactions
• Nutrient recycling.

  Core practicals

• Study on the ecology of a habitat
• Effects of temperature on the development of organisms.

Topic 6: Infection, immunity and forensics

• Analytical techniques in forensics - DNA profiling and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Determining time of death of an animal
• Structure of bacteria and viruses
• Infectious diseases (eg HIV and TB) and immunology
• Combating infection, developing immunity, host immunity, antigens, antibodies, antibiotics, the immune response
• Evolutionary battles between invading pathogens and hosts
• Hospital practice relating to infection prevention and control.

  Core practicals

• DNA amplification using PCR
• Gel electrophoresis
• Effect of different antibiotics on bacteria.

Unit 5: Energy, Exercise and Coordination

Topic 7: Run for your life

• Physiological adaptations of animals to undertake strenuous exercise
• Biochemical requirements - ATP, glycolysis, anaerobic/aerobic respiration
• Homeostasis (gene regulation, temperature regulation)
• Muscle physiology
• Performance-enhancing substances.

  Core practicals

• Investigating respiration
• Effects of exercise on tidal volume and breathing rate.

Topic 8: Grey matter

• The nervous system
• Development of vision and learning, response to stimuli, Hubel and Wiesel's experiments
• Brain structure and function
• Brain imaging
• Imbalances in brain chemicals, e.g. Parkinson's disease
• Ethical issues raised by the Human Genome Project and genetically modified organisms.

  Core practicals

• Investigating habituation to a stimulus.

Unit 6: Practical Biology and Investigative Skills

Students will further develop their practical skills, whichever approach (context or concept) has been taken. Students will carry out the recommended core practicals in Units 4 and 5 and their individual investigations.

Students present a written (word-processed) report of 2700-3300 words on an experimental investigation that they have devised and carried out. In this, students are assessed on the following skills:

• explaining choice of investigation
• using apparatus safely and skilfully
• observing and recording
• interpreting and evaluating
• presentation of report.

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