Biology A Level OCR 2022-2024

1. DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL SKILLS IN BIOLOGY

1.1 Practical Skills: Written Assessment
1.1.1 Experimental design
1.1.2 Identification of Variables
1.1.3 Evaluating Experimental Methods
1.1.4 Using Units
1.1.5 Presenting Experimental Data
1.1.6 Mathematical Analysis of Results
1.1.7 Drawing Conclusions
1.2 Practical Skills: Endorsement Assessment
1.2.1 Practical: Ethical Use of Organisms
1.2.2 Practical: Aseptic Techniques
1.2.3 Practical: Dissection of Gas Exchange Surfaces in Fish & Insects
1.2.4 Drawing Cells from Blood Smears
1.2.5 Practical: Investigating Biodiversity Using Sampling
1.2.6 Practical: Date Loggers & Computer Modelling
1.2.7 Practical; Investigating the Rate of Diffusion
1.2.8 Practical: Investigating Water Potential
1.2.9 Practical: Factors Affecting Membrane Structure & Permeability
1.2.10 Biochemical Tests: Reducing Sugars & Starch
1.2.11 Biochemical Tests: Lipids
1.2.12 Biochemical Tests: Proteins
1.2.13 Chromatography
1.2.14 Serial Dilutions
1.2.15 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Transpiration
1.2.16 Practical: Using a Light Microscope
2. FOUNDATIONS IN BIOLOGY
2.1 Cell Structure
2.1.1 Studying Cells
2.1.2 Using a Microscope
2.1.3 Drawing Cells
2.1.4 Magnification & Resolution
2.1.5 Eukaryotic Cells
2.1.6 Eukaryotic Cells Under the Microscope
2.1.7 Organelles & the Production of Proteins
2.1.8 The Cytoskeleton
2.1.9 Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells
2.2 Biological Molecules
2.2.1 Properties of Water
2.2.2 Monomers & Polymers
2.2.3 Monosaccharides
2.2.4 The Glycosidic Bond
2.2.5 Polysaccharides
2.2.6 Biochemical Tests: Reducing Sugars & Starch
2.2.7 Lipids & Ester Bonds
2.2.8 Lipids: Structure & Function
2.2.9 Biochemical Tests: Lipids
2.2.10 Amino Acids & Peptide Bonds
2.2.11 Protein: Structure
2.2.12 Globular Proteins
2.2.13 Fibrous Proteins
2.2.14 Inorganic Ions
2.2.15 Biochemical Tests: Proteins
2.2.16 Finding the Concentration of a Substance
2.2.17 Chromatography
2.3 Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids
2.3.1 Nucleotides & Phosphodiester Bonds
2.3.2 Phosphorylated Nucleotides
2.3.3 DNA: Structure
2.3.4 DNA: Purification
2.3.5 DNA: Replication
2.3.6 The Genetic Code
2.3.7 Transcription
2.3.8 Translation
 2.4 Enzymes
2.4.1 The Role of Enzymes
2.4.2 Enzyme Action
2.4.3 Enzyme Activity: pH
2.4.4 Enzyme Activity: Temperature
2.4.5 Enzyme Activity: Enzyme Concentration
2.4.6 Enzyme Activity: Substrate Concentration
2.4.7 Enzyme Activity: Enzyme Inhibitors
2.4.8 Coenzymes, Cofactors & Prosthetic Groups
2.4.9 Practical: Measuring Enzyme Activity
2.5 Biological Membranes
2.5.1 The Cell Surface Membrane
2.5.2 Membrane Structure & Permeability
2.5.3 Diffusion & Facilitated Diffusion
2.5.4 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Diffusion
2.5.5 Active Transport
2.5.6 Endocytosis & Exocytosis
2.5.7 Osmosis
2.5.8 Osmosis in Animal & Plant Cells
2.5.9 Practical: Investigating Water Potential
2.6 Cell Division, Cell Diversity & Cellular Organisation
2.6.1 The Cell Cycle
2.6.2 The Stages of Mitosis
2.6.3 Identifying Mitosis in Plant Cells
2.6.4 The Significance of Mitosis
2.6.5 The Stages of Meiosis
2.6.6 The Significance of Meiosis
2.6.7 Specialised Cells
2.6.8 The Organisation of Cells
2.6.9 Stem Cells
2.6.10 Stem Cells in Animals & Plants
2.6.11 The Use of Stem Cells
3. EXCHANGE & TRANSPORT
3.1 Exchange Surfaces
3.1.1 Specialised Exchange Surfaces
3.1.2 Features of Exchange Surfaces
3.1.3 The Mammalian Gas Exchange System
3.1.4 Ventilation in Mammals
3.1.5 Spirometers
3.1.6 Gas Exchange in Fish & Insects
3.1.7 Practical: Dissection of Gas Exchange Surfaces in Fish & Insects
3.2 Transport in Animals
3.2.1 The Need for Transport Systems in Animals
3.2.2 Circulatory Systems
3.2.3 Blood Vessels
3.2.4 Tissue Fluid
3.2.5 The Mammalian Heart
3.2.6 Practical: Mammalian Heart Dissection
3.2.7 The Cardiac Cycle
3.2.8 Cardiac Output
3.2.9 Heart Action: Initiation & Control
3.2.10 Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
3.2.11 The Role of Haemoglobin
3.3 Transport in Plants
3.3.1 The Need for Transport Systems in Plants
3.3.2 The Xylem & Phloem
3.3.3 The Xylem
3.3.4 The Phloem
3.3.5 Transverse Sections: Stems, Roots & Leaves
3.3.6 The Process of Transpiration
3.3.7 Transpiration in Plants
3.3.8 Practical: Investigating the Rate of Transpiration
3.3.9 Translocation
3.3.10 The Mass Flow Hypothesis
3.3.11 The Adaptations of Xerophytic & Hydrophytic Plants
4. BIODIVERSITY, EVOLUTION & DISEASE
 4.1 Communicable Diseases, Disease Prevention & the Immune System
4.1.1 Common Pathogens & Communicable Diseases
4.1.2 Transmission of Communicable Pathogens
4.1.3 Plant Defences Against Pathogens
4.1.4 Non-specific Immune Responses
4.1.5 Phagocytes
4.1.6 Blood Cells
4.1.7 The T Lymphocyte Response
4.1.8 The B Lymphocyte Response
4.1.9 Primary & Secondary Immune Responses
4.1.10 Antibodies
4.1.11 Opsonin’s, Agglutinins & Anti-toxins
4.1.12 Types of Immunity
4.1.13 Autoimmune Diseases
4.1.14 Principles of Vaccination
4.1.15 Sources of Medicine
4.1.16 Antibiotics
4.2 Biodiversity
4.2.1 Biodiversity
4.2.2 Sampling to Determine Biodiversity
4.2.3 Practical: Investigating Biodiversity Using Sampling
4.2.4 Measuring Species Richness & Species Evenness
4.2.5 Simpsons Index
4.2.6 Genetic Diversity
4.2.7 Factors Affecting Biodiversity
4.2.8 Reasons for Maintaining Biodiversity
4.2.9 Methods of Maintaining Biodiversity
4.2.10 Conservation Agreements
4.3 Classification & Evolution
4.3.1 Classification of Species
4.3.2 Binomial System
4.3.3 Classification of the Three Domains
4.3.4 Classification of the Five Kingdoms
4.3.5 Classification & Phylogeny
4.3.6 Evidence of Evolution
4.3.7 Types of Variation
4.3.8 Standard Deviation
4.3.9 Variation: t-test Method
4.3.10 Variation: t-test Worked Example
4.3.11 Spearman’s Rank Correlation
4.3.12 Adaptation
4.3.13 Natural Selection
4.3.14 Evolution of Resistance
4.3.15 Consequences of Resistance
5. COMMUNICATION, HOMEOSTASIS & ENERGY
5.1 Communication & Homeostasis
5.1.1 The Need for Homeostasis
5.1.2 The Principles of Homeostasis
5.1.3 Cell Signalling
5.1.4 Thermoregulation
5.2 Excretion
5.2.1 The Importance of Excretion
5.2.2 The Mammalian Liver: Structure
5.2.3 The Mammalian Liver: Function
5.2.4 The Liver Under the Microscope
5.2.5 The Mammalian Kidney: Structure
5.2.6 The Mammalian Kidney: Function
5.2.7 The Kidney Under the Microscope
5.2.8 Osmoregulation
5.2.9 Kidney Failure
5.2.10 Excretory Products & Medical Diagnosis
5.3 Neuronal Communication
5.3.1 Neurones
5.3.2 Mammalian Sensory Receptors
5.3.3 Resting Potentials
5.3.4 Action Potentials
 5.3.5 Transmission of Nerve Impulses
5.3.6 The Refractory Period
5.3.7 Factors that Affect the Speed of Conduction
5.3.8 The Role of Synapses
5.3.9 Transmission Across a Cholinergic Synapse
5.4 Hormonal Communication
5.4.1 The Endocrine System
5.4.2 The Pancreas under the Microscope
5.4.3 Controlling Blood Glucose Concentration
5.4.4 Diabetes
5.5 Plant & Animal Responses
5.5.1 Plant Responses
5.5.2 Investigating Phototropism & Geotropism
5.5.3 Plant Hormones
5.5.4 Auxins & Apical Dominance
5.5.5 Gibberellin
5.5.6 Practical: Effect of Plant Hormones on Growth
5.5.7 Commercial Use of Plant Hormones
5.5.8 Mammalian Nervous System
5.5.9 The Human Brain
5.5.10 Reflex Actions
5.5.11 Coordination of Responses
5.5.12 Factors Affecting Heart Rate
5.5.13 Investigating Factors Affecting Heart Rate
5.5.14 Mammalian Muscle Structure
5.5.15 Transmission Across a Neuromuscular Junction
5.5.16 The Sliding Filament Model
5.5.17 Practical: Investigating Muscle Fatigue
5.6 Photosynthesis
5.6.1 Photosynthesis & Respiration
5.6.2 Chloroplast Structure & Function
5.6.3 Photosynthetic Pigments
5.6.4 Practical: Investigating Photosynthetic Pigments with Chromatography
5.6.5 The Light-Dependent Stage
5.6.6 Using the Products of the Light Dependent Reaction
5.6.7 The Light-Independent Stage
5.6.8 Uses of Triose Phosphate
5.6.9 Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis
5.6.10 Practical: Investigating Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis
5.7 Respiration
5.7.1 The Need for Cellular Respiration
5.7.2 Structure of the Mitochondrion
5.7.3 The Four Stages in Aerobic Respiration
5.7.4 Glycolysis
5.7.5 The Link Reaction
5.7.6 The Krebs Cycle
5.7.7 The Role of Coenzymes
5.7.8 Oxidative Phosphorylation
5.7.9 Anaerobic Respiration
 5.7.10 Energy Yield of Aerobic vs Anaerobic Respiration
5.7.11 Respiratory Substrates
5.7.12 Respiratory Quotient (RQ)
5.7.13 Practical: Respirometer
6. GENETICS, EVOLUTION & ECOSYSTEMS
6.1 Cellular Control
6.1.1 Gene Mutations
6.1.2 Gene Control
6.1.3 Gene Control: Lac Operon
6.1.4 Gene Control: Transcription Factors
6.1.5 Gene Control: Post-Transcriptional Modification
6.1.6 Gene Control: Body Plans
6.1.7 The Importance of Mitosis & Apoptosis
6.2 Patterns of Inheritance
6.2.1 Key Terms in Genetics
6.2.2 Variation: Phenotype
6.2.3 Variation: Sexual Reproduction
6.2.4 Predicting Inheritance: Monohybrid Crosses
6.2.5 Predicting Inheritance: Dihybrid Crosses
6.2.6 Predicting Inheritance: Identifying Linkage
6.2.7 Predicting Inheritance: Identifying Epistasis
6.2.8 Predicting Inheritance: Chi-squared Test
6.2.9 Continuous & Discontinuous Variation
6.2.10 Factors Affecting Evolution
6.2.11 The Hardy-Weinberg Principle
6.2.12 Isolation & Speciation
6.2.13 Artificial Selection
6.3 Manipulating Genomes
6.3.1 DNA Sequencing
6.3.2 Comparing Genomes
6.3.3 Non-Coding DNA & Regulatory Genes
6.3.4 Synthetic Biology
6.3.5 Polymerase Chain Reaction
6.3.6 Electrophoresis
6.3.7 DNA Profiling
6.3.8 Genetic Engineering
6.3.9 Genetic Engineering Techniques
6.3.10 Uses of Genetic Engineering
6.3.11 Gene Therapy
6.4 Cloning & Biotechnology
6.4.1 Natural Clones in Plants
6.4.2 Producing Cuttings
6.4.3 Production of Artificial Clones in Plants
6.4.4 Uses of Plant Cloning
6.4.5 Natural Clones in Animals
6.4.6 Production of Artificial Clones in Animals
6.4.7 Uses of Animal Cloning
6.4.8 Microorganisms & Biotechnology
 6.4.9 Microorganisms & Food Production
6.4.10 Culturing Microorganisms
6.4.11 Batch & Continuous Fermentation
6.4.12 Standard Growth Curve of Microorganisms
6.4.13 Factors Affecting the Growth of Microorganisms
6.4.14 Immobilised Enzymes in Biotechnology
6.5 Ecosystems
6.5.1 Ecosystems
6.5.2 The Transfer of Biomass
6.5.3 Efficiency of Energy Transfers
6.5.4 The Nitrogen Cycle
6.5.5 The Carbon Cycle
6.5.6 Succession
6.5.7 Testing for Distribution & Abundance
6.6 Populations & Sustainability
6.6.1 Carrying Capacity
6.6.2 Interactions Between Populations
6.6.3 Conservation & Preservation
6.6.4 Managing Ecosystems Sustainably
6.6.5 Human Impact on the Environment
6.6.6 Balancing Human Need & Conservation