GCSE Biology Summary Volume One - Life Processes and Green Plants

1. Transport and Water Relations in Plants An overview of plant transport tissue Xylem Phloem Water absorption by the root Mineral absorption by the root Water loss by the leaf Passage of water through a leaf Water movement through a plant Measuring transpiration The bubble potometer Factors affecting transpiration The purpouse of transpiration The facts about Stoma Sugar transport in plants Radioactive tracing experiments Experiments with Aphids 2. Movement and Growth Control of movement and growth (overview) Tropic movements Phototropism Geotropism Hydrotropism Growth at the shoot and root tips Phototropism and Auxins Distribution of the hormone Auxin Geotropism and Auxins The commercial uses of Auxins 3. Photosynthesis An overview of the chemical process The leaf The cells involved in photosynthesis Chloroplasts The light reaction The dark reaction Photosynthesis experiments De-starching, de-colouring and testing Experiment to show chlorophyll is essential Experiment to show light is essential Experiment to show carbon dioxide is essential Experiment to show oxygen is produced Uses of the products of photosynthesis

Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis Limiting factors Photosynthesis and respiration Compensation point 4. Mineral nutrition in plants Mineral nutrition in plants overview Sachs and Knop background Water culture experiments Phosphorous deficiency Calcium deficiency Sulphur deficiency Nitrogen deficiency Iron deficiency Magnesium deficiency Potassium deficiency Farming and nutrients The effects of fertilisers Fertilisers Inorganic and organic fertilisers 5. Osmosis Substances entering and leaving plants Passive processes The cell membrane Osmosis An experiment to demonstrate osmosis Osmosis and plant cells Osmosis and animal cells Active processes The protein pump 6. Enzymes An enzyme overview Enzyme production Factors affecting enzyme action Inhibitors Temperature pH Enzyme concentration Substrate concentration

7. Cells and chromosomes Overview (a somatic cell) Chromosomes and genes Homologous chromosomes Chromosome number Diploid Haploid Cell division Stages of Mitosis Stages of meiosis

8. Life processes Generalised animal cells Generalised plant cells Energy production in the cell Characteristics of living things Specialised plant cells Specialised animal cells Tissues organs and organ systems An organ, the small intestine Organ systems The organ systems of mammals

Volume Two - Humans as Organisms

1. Nutrition and Digestion Nutrition Nutrients Malnutrition Carbohydrates Proteins and Amino acids Protein deficiencies Fats Vitamins Vitamin deficiencies Minerals Mineral deficiencies Dietary fibre Water Digestion Digestive system Mechanical Digestion Mouth and Teeth Chemical Digestion Enzymes Saliva Swallowing Stomach - peristalsis Stomach - digestive fluids Mucus Small Intestine Liver and Gall Bladder - bile Pancreas - pancreatic juice Villi Large Intestine Summaries of digestive process Tables of digestive chemicals 2. Circulation Circulatory System Capillaries Cellular requirements Heart as a pump Hearts valves Heartbeat Pulse Pulmonary circulation Summary The Heart Heart as an organ

Heart structure Atria and Ventricles Hearts muscle walls Coronary system Blood Red blood cells Haemoglobin and diffusion Platelets Blood clotting White blood cells Phagocytes Phagocytosis Lymphocytes Antibodies Antigens Antitoxins Plasma Substances within plasma Blood Vessels Aorta Arteries Regulation of blood flow Veins Vena cava 3. Respiration and Breathing Respiration Cellular requirements Conversion of food into energy Aerobic respiration Mitochondria Anaerobic respiration Lactic acid and oxygen debt Breathing - The Air Passages Lungs Bronchial structure Alveoli Protective mechanisms Cough reflex Mucous membranes and cilia Breathing - The Mechanics Ribs and diaphragm Thoracic cavity Inspiration Expiration Pleural membranes

Brains breathing centre Breathing - Diffusion and Transport of Gases Gas exchange in lungs Diffusion between alveoli and capillaries Haemoglobins role in oxygen supply to organs Effects of carbon monoxide 4. Coordination and Control Coordination and Control Introduction to Nerves and Hormones Stimulus-Response mechanism Nerves - Pathways and Reflex arc Neurones and nerve impulses Central nervous system Brain Spinal cord Peripheral nervous system Sensory and Motor nerves Neurones and their structure Synapses and Neurotransmitters Reflex Arc Nerves - Special Senses and The Eye Sensory receptors Internal receptors and homeostasis External receptors and sensations Sense organs The Ear, Nose and Tongue The Eye Eye structure Vision - role of lens in focussing light Rods and cones and optic nerve Hormones Endocrine glands Pancreas Lock and key mechanism Adrenaline Negative feedback mechanism Sex Hormones Pituitary gland Testes and ovaries Puberty Menstrual cycle Ovarian cycle Oestrogen and Progesterone Contraceptive pill Sugar Hormones

Glucose - blood sugar level Pancreas Insulin and Glucagon Diabetes 5. Movement Skeleton Bones Joints Cartilage, ligaments and tendons Muscles Antagonistic pairs Nerve impulses - stimuli to muscles 6. Reproduction Male gametes (sperm) and meiosis Female gametes (ova) and meiosis Fertilisation Zygote and mitosis Embryo Placenta and amnion Fetus Labour Birth 7. Homeostasis Homeostasis Dynamic equilibrium Normal range for internal environment Negative feedback mechanism Control centre, Sensor, Effector

Role of Skin - Body Temperature Skins sensors - monitoring external environment Skins effectors - regulating internal temperature Brains control centre for temperature regulation Vasodilation and sweating Vasoconstriction and hair erector muscles Role of Kidneys - Level of Salts in Blood Removal of waste Filtration of blood Nephrons - structure and functions Urinary system Urine extraction Concentration of Salts in Blood Dialysis Transplants 8. Health Body Defences Infections First-line defence mechanisms Role of White blood cells Immunisation Drugs Origins of drugs Medicines Antibiotics Dependence and Addiction Immediate Effects Long-term Effects

Volume Three - Variation, Inheritance and Evolution

1. Evolution An overview of evolution Special creation Evidence for evolution Fossils Homologous and vestigial structures Classification Selective breeding Geographical distribution Comparative embryology Comparative biotechnology Binomial Nomenclature 2. The Hypothesis of Evolution Development of the theory of evolution Charles Darwin Competition for resources Natural selection in action Darwins finches The example of the Peppered moth Antibiotic resistant bacteria Speciation Population structure Heritable variation Selection The example of the Hawaiian Honey creepers Extinction Adaptation 3. Inheritance Genes Dominant and recessive alleles Alleles during breeding Inheritance of characteristics Genetic diagrams The Punnet square Cross breeding Terms used in genetics Parental generation Monohybrid inheritance Back crossing The work of Gregor Mendel Analysis of Mendels numerical results 4. Human Genetics The inheritance of sex

Human blood groups Genetic diseases in humans Genetic counselling Sickle cell anaemia Haemophilia Downs syndrome Family trees 5. Populations Material Covered Factors affecting population growth Carrying capacity Changes in population size Predators and population size Population simulation exercise Competition and population size Plant communities Human population Age structure of populations Generation time 6. Energy flow and life cycles The biosphere Ecosystems Ecosystem communities Food chains Food webs Energy flow through food chains Quantitative treatment of feeding relationships Pyramids of number Pyramids of biomass Pyramids of energy Decomposers and recycling of nutrients Preventing decay The carbon cycle The nitrogen cycle Bacteria and the nitrogen cycle

7. Humans and the Environment Pollution from fossil fuels Carbon dioxide and the green house effect Acid rain Deforestation Ozone layer Damaging ecosystems Toxin accumulation Artificial fertilisers 8. Variation Sources of variation Types of variation Continuous variation Discontinuous variation Acquired characteristics Variation and evolution 9. Biotechnology Material Covered Single cell protein Industrial fermenters Mycoprotein Enzymes Enzyme production Uses of enzymes Genetic engineering Genetic engineering and agriculture Animal cloning Plant cloning Gene therapy Biosensors DNA Fingerprinting Medicine and biosensors