1. Living organisms and the environment.
2. Life processes.
3. Heredity and variation.
4. Disease and its impact on humans.
5. The impact of health practices on the environment
1. Living Organisms and the Environment
a) Characteristics of Living Organisms
● MRSGREN: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion,
Nutrition.
● All living organisms exhibit these features, distinguishing them from non-living things.
b) Cell Structure and Function
● Cell Theory: All living things are made up of cells.
● Organelles:
○ Nucleus: Controls activities, stores DNA.
○ Mitochondria: Powerhouse of the cell.
○ Cell membrane: Controls entry/exit.
○ Chloroplast (plants): Photosynthesis.
○ Vacuole: Stores water and nutrients.
● Types:
○ Plant cells: Rigid cell wall, chloroplast, large vacuole.
○ Animal cells: Flexible membrane, small/no vacuole.
c) Classification of Living Organisms
● Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
● Five Kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Monera.
● Binomial Nomenclature: Scientific names use Genus and species (e.g., Homo sapiens).
d) Ecology: Relationships in the Environment
● Ecosystem: Community of organisms + physical environment.
● Abiotic factors: Light, temperature, water, soil.
● Biotic factors: Producers, consumers, decomposers.
● Food chain/web: Flow of energy; trophic levels.
● Habitat: Natural environment where an organism lives.
● Adaptation: Structural or behavioral traits that aid survival.
e) Human Impact on the Environment
● Deforestation, pollution, climate change, habitat destruction.
● Positive actions: Recycling, reforestation, pollution control.
2. Life Processes
a) Nutrition
● Autotrophs: Make own food (e.g., plants).
● Heterotrophs: Eat others (e.g., animals).
● Balanced diet: Carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, water.
● Malnutrition: Deficiency diseases like rickets (vitamin D), anemia (iron).
b) Respiration
● Aerobic: With oxygen → glucose + O2 → CO2 + water + energy.
● Anaerobic: Without oxygen → less energy, produces lactic acid or ethanol.
● Occurs in mitochondria.
c) Excretion
● Removal of metabolic waste (not undigested food).
● Organs:
○ Kidneys (urine: urea, salts, water),
○ Lungs (CO2),
○ Skin (sweat).
● Homeostasis: Maintaining stable internal environment.
d) Movement and Locomotion
● Skeleton: Support, protection, movement (bones, joints).
● Muscles: Work in pairs (antagonistic), contract and relax to move limbs.
e) Reproduction
● Asexual: One parent (e.g., binary fission).
● Sexual: Two parents, gametes involved, genetic variation.
● Human reproductive systems:
○ Male: Testes, sperm, penis.
○ Female: Ovaries, eggs, uterus, vagina.
f) Growth and Development
● Mitosis: Cell division for growth/repair (identical cells).
● Meiosis: Produces gametes (half chromosomes).
g) Coordination and Control
● Nervous system: Brain, spinal cord, nerves. Fast response.
● Endocrine system: Hormones (chemical messengers). Slower but long-lasting.
○ e.g., Insulin controls blood sugar.
3. Heredity and Variation
a) Basic Genetics
● Gene: Unit of heredity on DNA.
● Allele: Different forms of a gene.
● Dominant: Expressed if present (capital letter).
● Recessive: Expressed only if both alleles are recessive.
b) Inheritance
● Mendel’s laws:
○ Law of Segregation
○ Law of Independent Assortment
● Punnett Squares: Show probability of offspring genotypes.
c) Variation
● Inherited: Eye color, blood type.
● Environmental: Language, scars.
● Continuous (height, weight) vs Discontinuous (blood type).
d) Genetic Disorders
● Sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia.
● Caused by mutations or inheritance.
4. Disease and Its Impact on Humans (Detailed with
Diseases)
a) Types of Diseases
● Communicable (Infectious): Caused by pathogens and can spread.
● Non-communicable: Not spreadable; may be genetic or lifestyle-related.
b) Common Communicable Diseases
Disease Type Description
Tuberculosis (TB) Bacterial Affects lungs; spread through
air via coughing or sneezing.
Causes coughing, fever,
weight loss.
Influenza (Flu) Viral Highly contagious respiratory
illness. Causes fever, sore
throat, fatigue.
HIV/AIDS Viral Attacks immune system;
transmitted via blood, sex, or
childbirth. Weakens immunity.
Malaria Parasitic Caused by Plasmodium,
spread by Anopheles
mosquitoes. Causes fever,
chills.
Cholera Bacterial Waterborne disease; severe
diarrhea and dehydration.
Common in poor sanitation
areas.
COVID-19 Viral Respiratory illness caused by
coronavirus. Spread by
droplets; symptoms range
from mild to severe.
Hepatitis B Viral Affects the liver; spread
through blood and bodily
fluids. Can cause liver
damage.
c) Common Non-communicable Diseases
Disease Type Description
Diabetes (Type 1 & 2) Metabolic Type 1: autoimmune, Type 2:
lifestyle-related. High blood
sugar levels.
Hypertension Cardiovascular High blood pressure;
increases risk of heart
disease and stroke.
Cancer Genetic/Lifestyle Uncontrolled cell growth in
the body. Types include lung,
breast, prostate.
Asthma Respiratory Chronic inflammation of
airways; triggers include
allergens, cold air.
Sickle Cell Anemia Genetic Red blood cells become
sickle-shaped; block blood
flow, cause pain.
Obesity Lifestyle-related Excess body fat from poor
diet/lack of exercise. Risk
factor for other diseases.
d) Disease Transmission & Prevention
● Transmission: Contact, air, water, food, vectors.
● Prevention: Vaccination, hygiene, vector control, safe sex, clean water.
e) Body’s Defense Mechanisms
● First Line: Skin, mucous membranes.
● Second Line: White blood cells, inflammation.
● Third Line: Immune response – antibodies from lymphocytes.
● Vaccination: Stimulates production of antibodies for long-term protection.
5. The Impact of Health Practices on the Environment
a) Positive Practices
● Sanitation: Clean water, waste disposal prevent disease.
● Vaccination programs: Reduce disease outbreaks.
b) Negative Practices
● Medical waste: Improper disposal (needles, chemicals) pollutes.
● Drug overuse: Antibiotic resistance.
c) Pollution
● From hospitals: Chemicals, plastic waste.
● From communities: Littering, poor waste disposal.
d) Environmental Health
● Safe food, clean air and water essential for preventing disease.
● Role of public health: Educating people, enforcing health laws.
e) Sustainable Practices
● Recycling, renewable energy, biodegradable materials in healthcare.
