Unit 1: Basic Biochemistry and Cell Organisation
| # | Learning Objective | Spec | R/A/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can you distinguish between the terms: atom, molecule, element, compound, organic and inorganic? | 1.1(a) | |
| 2 | Can you describe the role of magnesium, iron, phosphate and calcium ions in cell metabolism? | 1.1(a) | |
| 3 | Can you explain the specific roles of Mg²⁺ in chlorophyll, Fe²⁺ in haemoglobin, PO₄³⁻ in nucleic acids and phospholipids, and Ca²⁺ in strengthening bones, teeth and cell walls? | 1.1(a) | |
| 4 | Can you draw the structure of a water molecule? | 1.1(b) | |
| 5 | Can you state the name of the intermolecular bond that holds water molecules together and explain why water is a polar molecule? | 1.1(b) | |
| 6 | Can you explain the biological importance of water in terms of its polarity, ability to form hydrogen bonds, surface tension, as a solvent, thermal properties and as a metabolite? | 1.1(b) | |
| 7 | Can you explain the importance of high specific heat capacity and high latent heat of vaporisation? Can you explain how water provides support and buoyancy? | 1.1(b) | |
| 8 | Can you name at least 4 monosaccharides and classify them based on number of carbon atoms and functional group? | 1.1(c) | |
| 9 | Can you name specific examples: glyceraldehyde (triose), ribose/deoxyribose (pentose), α-glucose/β-glucose/fructose/galactose (hexose)? | 1.1(c) | |
| 10 | Can you recognise the structure of monosaccharides? | 1.1(c) | |
| 11 | Can you state the functions, chemical and physical properties of monosaccharides? | 1.1(c) | |
| 12 | Can you state the general formula of a monosaccharide (Cₙ(H₂O)ₙ)? | 1.1(c) | |
| 13 | Can you define what an isomer is using glucose as an example? | 1.1(d) | |
| 14 | Can you identify α and β glucose from molecular structure diagrams? | 1.1(d) | |
| 15 | Do you know what elements make up a carbohydrate? | 1.1(c) | |
| 16 | Can you name three disaccharides? | 1.1(c) | |
| 17 | Can you name the two monosaccharides that make up each disaccharide (sucrose=glucose+fructose, maltose=α-glucose+α-glucose, lactose=glucose+galactose)? | 1.1(c) | |
| 18 | Can you name the bond that joins the two monosaccharides together (glycosidic bond)? | 1.1(c) | |
| 19 | Can you name and describe the condensation reaction when monosaccharides join together? | 1.1(c) | |
| 20 | Can you state the function of the three disaccharides and where each is found? | 1.1(c) | |
| 21 | Can you name and describe the structure and function of 5 polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)? | 1.1(c) | |
| 22 | Can you describe how chitin differs from cellulose (β monomers with nitrogen-containing acetylamine groups replacing some -OH groups)? | 1.1(c) | |
| 23 | Do you know the role of hydrogen bonds in polysaccharides and microfibril formation? | 1.1(c-e) | |
| 24 | Can you explain how solubility, osmotic effect, energy content and strength relate to storage (starch/glycogen) vs structural (cellulose/chitin) polysaccharides? | 1.1(e) | |
| 25 | Can you describe the biological test for reducing and non-reducing sugars and for starch? | 1.1 Prac | |
| 26 | Do you understand the quantitative Benedicts test and the use of standard solutions to calibrate a colorimeter? | 1.1 Prac | |
| 27 | Can you determine the concentration of an unknown glucose solution from a calibration curve? | 1.1 Prac | |
| 28 | Do you know the name of the hydrolysis reaction that can break glycosidic bonds? | 1.1(c) | |
| 29 | Can you name the elements that make up a lipid and a phospholipid? | 1.1(f) | |
| 30 | Can you name the components (monomers) of a lipid and phospholipid (glycerol and fatty acids)? | 1.1(f) | |
| 31 | Can you name and describe the condensation reaction and ester bond formation in lipids? | 1.1(f) | |
| 32 | Can you describe the hydrolysis reaction that breaks ester bonds in lipids? | 1.1(f) | |
| 33 | Can you describe the functions of lipids/phospholipids? | 1.1(f) | |
| 34 | Can you describe how lipids function in insulation, energy storage and protection of organs? | 1.1(f) | |
| 35 | Can you explain the difference between saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acids? | 1.1(f) | |
| 36 | Can you explain why an animal fat is solid at room temperature but a plant oil is liquid? | 1.1(f) | |
| 37 | Can you state the differences between lipids and phospholipids? | 1.1(f) | |
| 38 | Can you relate hydrophobic and hydrophilic to the structure of lipids and phospholipids? | 1.1(f) | |
| 39 | Can you describe the implications of saturated fat on human health? | 1.1(g) | |
| 40 | Can you explain how saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol levels, increasing atheroma formation in coronary arteries? | 1.1(g) | |
| 41 | Can you describe the emulsion test for lipids? | 1.1 Prac | |
| 42 | Can you draw the structure of a general amino acid and identify the amino group, carboxylic acid group and R group? | 1.1(h) | |
| 43 | Can you state the names and definitions of the 4 levels of protein structure? | 1.1(i) | |
| 44 | Can you describe condensation and hydrolysis reactions forming/breaking peptide bonds? | 1.1(h) | |
| 45 | Can you identify a peptide bond and dipeptide from a diagram? | 1.1(h) | |
| 46 | Can you state how many different amino acids there are (20) and explain how they differ (R group)? | 1.1(h) | |
| 47 | Can you name the bonds that hold protein structure together (peptide, hydrogen, disulphide, ionic, hydrophobic interactions)? | 1.1(i) | |
| 48 | Can you identify peptide bonds (primary), hydrogen bonds (secondary), and disulphide/ionic/hydrophobic interactions (tertiary) in protein structures? | 1.1(i) | |
| 49 | Can you recognise and interpret ribbon diagrams showing α helices and β pleated sheets? | 1.1(i) | |
| 50 | Can you compare the structure and functions of haemoglobin with collagen? | 1.1(j) | |
| 51 | Can you explain how the fibrous structure of collagen relates to its structural function, and how the globular structure of haemoglobin relates to its metabolic function? | 1.1(j) | |
| 52 | Can you describe the Biuret test for proteins? | 1.1 Prac |
| # | Learning Objective | Spec | R/A/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can you identify the following organelles from electron micrographs and drawings: mitochondria, chloroplast, rough ER, smooth ER, Golgi body, ribosome, vacuole, plasma membrane, centrioles, cilia, nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear envelope, nuclear pores, lysosomes, plasmodesmata and vesicles? | 1.2(a) | |
| 2 | Can you state the functions of all the organelles listed above? | 1.2(a) | |
| 3 | Do you know the relative sizes of the organelles? | 1.2(a) | |
| 4 | Do you understand the term organelles provide membrane-bound compartments within the cell? | 1.2(a) | |
| 5 | Can you describe how organelles work together in the synthesis and transport of glycoproteins? | 1.2(a) | |
| 6 | Can you draw a fully labelled diagram of a mitochondrion and a chloroplast? | 1.2(a) | |
| 7 | Can you state the similarities and differences between a chloroplast and a mitochondrion? | 1.2(a) | |
| 8 | Can you explain why mitochondria can look different in electron micrographs (plane of section)? | 1.2(a) | |
| 9 | Can you explain why most organelles can only be seen by electron microscopy? | 1.2(a) | |
| 10 | Can you compare the structure of a plant cell with that of an animal cell? | 1.2(c) | |
| 11 | Can you fully describe the fate of amino acids from entry into cell to leaving as proteins (nucleus → ribosome → RER → Golgi → vesicle → exocytosis)? | 1.2(a) | |
| 12 | Can you compare and contrast a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell? | 1.2(b-c) | |
| 13 | Can you recognise a prokaryotic cell from a diagram and electron micrograph? | 1.2(b) | |
| 14 | Can you draw and fully label a prokaryotic cell? | 1.2(b) | |
| 15 | Can you describe key prokaryotic features: 70S ribosomes, circular DNA without histones, murein/peptidoglycan cell wall, mesosomes as sites of respiration? | 1.2(b) | |
| 16 | Can you describe the basic structure of a virus? | 1.2(b) | |
| 17 | Can you describe the basic life cycle of a virus? | 1.2(b) | |
| 18 | Can you state the cell theory: new cells form from existing cells; the cell is the fundamental unit of structure, function and organisation? | 1.2(c) | |
| 19 | Can you explain why viruses are not considered cells (they do not show typical cell structure)? | 1.2(c) | |
| 20 | Can you define a tissue and an organ? | 1.2(d) | |
| 21 | Can you name several different tissues and organs? | 1.2(d) | |
| 22 | Can you describe the function of several tissues in relation to their structure? | 1.2(d) | |
| 23 | Can you recognise tissues from a diagram? | 1.2(d) | |
| 24 | Can you identify ciliated, columnar and squamous epithelia from prepared slides? | 1.2(d) | |
| 25 | Can you identify striated, smooth and cardiac muscle from prepared slides? | 1.2(d) | |
| 26 | Can you identify connective tissue from prepared slides? | 1.2(d) | |
| 27 | Can you calibrate the light microscope at low and high power using a graticule? | 1.2 Prac | |
| 28 | Can you calculate actual size using: Actual size = Image size ÷ Magnification? | 1.2 Prac | |
| 29 | Can you calculate magnification using: Magnification = Image size ÷ Actual size? | 1.2 Prac | |
| 30 | Can you prepare and produce scientific drawings of living cells with appropriate annotations? | 1.2 Prac |
| # | Learning Objective | Spec | R/A/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can you draw and fully label the cell membrane as shown by the fluid mosaic model? | 1.3(a) | |
| 2 | Can you explain why the cell membrane is described as the fluid mosaic model? | 1.3(a) | |
| 3 | Do you know the thickness of the cell membrane (7-10nm)? | 1.3(a) | |
| 4 | Can you explain the functions of all the components of the cell membrane? | 1.3(a) | |
| 5 | Can you describe the roles of intrinsic proteins (channel/carrier), extrinsic proteins, glycoproteins, glycocalyx, phospholipids and cholesterol? | 1.3(a) | |
| 6 | Can you describe the function of the cell membrane? | 1.3(a) | |
| 7 | Can you name the scientists that first described the fluid mosaic model (Singer and Nicolson)? | 1.3(a) | |
| 8 | Can you explain how temperature and organic solvents affect membrane permeability? | 1.3(b) | |
| 9 | Can you define: Diffusion, Facilitated Diffusion, Active Transport and Osmosis? | 1.3(c) | |
| 10 | Can you relate the structure of the cell membrane to the transport of polar and non-polar substances? | 1.3(c) | |
| 11 | Can you name specific substances that are polar and non-polar? | 1.3(c) | |
| 12 | Can you state other names that mean polar (hydrophilic) and non-polar (hydrophobic)? | 1.3(c) | |
| 13 | Can you calculate rate and percentage change of rate from a graph? | 1.3(c) | |
| 14 | Can you state the factors that affect the rate of diffusion (surface area, concentration gradient, temperature, molecule size, lipid solubility, membrane thickness)? | 1.3(c) | |
| 15 | Can you relate the structure of the cell membrane to the size and lipid solubility of substances diffusing through it? | 1.3(c) | |
| 16 | Can you recognise a graph that shows diffusion occurring? | 1.3(c) | |
| 17 | Can you state the factors that affect the rate of facilitated diffusion? | 1.3(c) | |
| 18 | Can you relate the structure of the cell membrane to facilitated diffusion? | 1.3(c) | |
| 19 | Can you recognise a graph showing facilitated diffusion? | 1.3(c) | |
| 20 | Do you understand the term saturation effect and where this occurs on a graph? | 1.3(c) | |
| 21 | Can you explain saturation in terms of limited number of carrier/channel proteins being occupied? | 1.3(c) | |
| 22 | Can you draw a diagram to show facilitated diffusion occurring? | 1.3(c) | |
| 23 | Can you describe co-transport as a type of facilitated diffusion where two substances are transported simultaneously by a carrier protein? | 1.3(c) | |
| 24 | Can you state the conditions needed for active transport to occur (ATP, carrier proteins)? | 1.3(c) | |
| 25 | Can you relate the structure of the cell membrane to active transport? | 1.3(c) | |
| 26 | Can you recognise a graph showing active transport? | 1.3(c) | |
| 27 | Can you draw a diagram showing active transport? | 1.3(c) | |
| 28 | Do you know how the Na⁺/K⁺ pump works and its importance to cellular function? | 1.3(c) | |
| 29 | Can you explain how cyanide affects active transport by inhibiting ATP production in respiration? | 1.3(c) | |
| 30 | Do you understand the terms: Water Potential (ψw), Solute Potential (ψs) and Pressure Potential (ψp)? | 1.3(c) | |
| 31 | Can you use the equation: ψw = ψs + ψp? | 1.3(c) | |
| 32 | Do you understand the terms: Isotonic, Hypotonic and Hypertonic? | 1.3(c) | |
| 33 | Can you describe and explain the effects of osmosis on animal cells (e.g. red blood cells)? | 1.3(c) | |
| 34 | Can you draw a red blood cell to show the effects of isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions? | 1.3(c) | |
| 35 | Do you know what haemolysis and crenation mean in animal cells? | 1.3(c) | |
| 36 | Can you describe the effects of isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solutions on plant cells? | 1.3(c) | |
| 37 | Do you understand the terms: turgid, plasmolysed and incipient plasmolysis? | 1.3(c) | |
| 38 | Do you know the important relationships between ψw, ψs and ψp when a plant cell is plasmolysed (ψp=0, so ψs=ψw), turgid (ψw=0, so ψs=ψp) and at incipient plasmolysis? | 1.3(c) | |
| 39 | Can you describe how to carry out plasmolysis of plant cells using a range of concentrations? | 1.3 Prac | |
| 40 | Can you determine the water potential of a plant tissue using the change in mass/length method? | 1.3 Prac |
| # | Learning Objective | Spec | R/A/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Do you know that enzymes are globular proteins that act as catalysts? | 1.4(a) | |
| 2 | Can you explain that enzymes have a specific tertiary structure with an active site? | 1.4(b) | |
| 3 | Can you explain what happens in the active site when an enzyme-substrate complex forms? | 1.4(b) | |
| 4 | Can you explain activation energy and how enzymes lower it? | 1.4(a) | |
| 5 | Can you describe and explain the lock and key model? | 1.4(c) | |
| 6 | Can you describe and explain the induced fit model? | 1.4(c) | |
| 7 | Do you know the advantages and disadvantages of the two enzyme models? | 1.4(c) | |
| 8 | Can you use the terms: active site, substrate, enzyme, enzyme-substrate complex, product? | 1.4(b) | |
| 9 | Do you know that enzymes are intracellular or extracellular? | 1.4(a) | |
| 10 | Do you know how temperature affects enzyme activity? | 1.4(d) | |
| 11 | Do you know the Q₁₀ temperature coefficient? | 1.4(d) | |
| 12 | Can you explain why the graph of temperature vs rate of reaction has the shape it does? | 1.4(d) | |
| 13 | Can you explain that enzymes denature at high temperatures (and extreme pH)? | 1.4(d) | |
| 14 | Can you interpret enzyme-temperature graphs when enzymes are exposed to heat for different lengths of time? | 1.4(d) | |
| 15 | Do you know how pH affects enzyme activity? | 1.4(e) | |
| 16 | Can you explain why the graph of pH vs rate of reaction has the shape it does? | 1.4(e) | |
| 17 | Can you explain that different enzymes have different pH optima? | 1.4(e) | |
| 18 | Do you know how substrate concentration affects enzyme activity? | 1.4(f) | |
| 19 | Can you explain why the graph of substrate concentration vs rate of reaction has the shape it does? | 1.4(f) | |
| 20 | Can you explain the term Vmax (maximum velocity)? | 1.4(f) | |
| 21 | Can you explain the term Km (Michaelis constant)? | 1.4(f) | |
| 22 | Do you know how enzyme concentration affects enzyme activity? | 1.4(f) | |
| 23 | Can you explain why the graph of enzyme concentration vs rate of reaction has the shape it does? | 1.4(f) | |
| 24 | Can you recognise and explain that competitive inhibitors compete with substrate for the active site? | 1.4(g) | |
| 25 | Can you recognise and explain that non-competitive inhibitors bind to a different site (allosteric site)? | 1.4(g) | |
| 26 | Do you know the effect of competitive and non-competitive inhibitors on Km and Vmax? | 1.4(g) | |
| 27 | Can you recognise enzyme/inhibitor graphs and identify inhibitor types? | 1.4(g) | |
| 28 | Can you explain end-product inhibition as an example of negative feedback? | 1.4(h) | |
| 29 | Can you give examples of enzyme inhibitors: cyanide (cytochrome oxidase), heavy metal ions (many enzymes), organophosphates (acetylcholinesterase)? | 1.4(g) | |
| 30 | Can you explain what is meant by immobilised enzymes? | 1.4(i) | |
| 31 | Do you know the commercial and industrial advantages of using immobilised enzymes? | 1.4(i) | |
| 32 | Can you describe different techniques to immobilise enzymes (alginate beads, adsorption, covalent bonding, entrapment)? | 1.4(i) | |
| 33 | Can you describe the industrial production of lactose-free milk using immobilised enzymes? | 1.4(i) | |
| 34 | Can you explain the effects of bead size and flow rate on product formation? | 1.4(i) | |
| 35 | Can you explain the effect of increasing temperature on immobilised vs free enzymes? | 1.4(i) | |
| 36 | Can you describe the investigation into the effect of temperature or pH on enzyme activity? | 1.4 Prac | |
| 37 | Can you describe the investigation into the effect of enzyme or substrate concentration on enzyme activity? | 1.4 Prac |
| # | Learning Objective | Spec | R/A/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can you list the components of a nucleotide (pentose sugar, phosphate, organic base)? | 1.5(a) | |
| 2 | Can you draw and recognise a nucleotide? | 1.5(a) | |
| 3 | Can you state the name of the phosphodiester bond formed between nucleotides? | 1.5(a) | |
| 4 | Can you describe the structure of the ATP molecule? | 1.5(b) | |
| 5 | Do you know the functions of ATP? | 1.5(d) | |
| 6 | Do you know the meaning of Universal Energy Currency? | 1.5(d) | |
| 7 | Can you explain that 30.6 kJ mol⁻¹ of energy is released when ATP is hydrolysed to ADP and phosphate? | 1.5(c) | |
| 8 | Do you know what endergonic and exergonic reactions are and can you give examples? | 1.5(c) | |
| 9 | Can you explain that ATP is formed in an endergonic reaction, with energy coming from exergonic reactions like respiration? | 1.5(c) | |
| 10 | Can you describe how energy is released from the ATP molecule? | 1.5(d) | |
| 11 | Can you describe how ATP is formed? | 1.5(d) | |
| 12 | Do you know the names of the 4 nitrogenous bases in DNA (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine)? | 1.5(e) | |
| 13 | Do you know which nitrogenous base is different in RNA (uracil instead of thymine)? | 1.5(f) | |
| 14 | Can you place the 4 nitrogenous bases into purines (adenine, guanine) and pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine)? | 1.5(e) | |
| 15 | Can you differentiate between purine and pyrimidine bases when given structural formulae? | 1.5(e) | |
| 16 | Do you know the base pairing rule and Chargaffs ratio? | 1.5(e) | |
| 17 | Can you fully describe the structure of DNA? | 1.5(e) | |
| 18 | Can you describe antiparallel strands running 5 to 3 and 3 to 5? | 1.5(e) | |
| 19 | Can you compare the structure of DNA with that of RNA? | 1.5(f) | |
| 20 | Can you describe differences between mRNA, tRNA (cloverleaf with anticodon) and rRNA? | 1.5(f) | |
| 21 | Can you state the two major functions of DNA (replication and protein synthesis)? | 1.5(g) | |
| 22 | Can you explain how DNA replicates by semi-conservative replication? | 1.5(h) | |
| 23 | Can you describe the steps in DNA replication including the names and functions of DNA helicase and DNA polymerase? | 1.5(h) | |
| 24 | Can you draw a representative diagram of the replication fork? | 1.5(h) | |
| 25 | Can you interpret and explain the results of the Meselson and Stahl experiment? | 1.5(h) | |
| 26 | Do you know the structure of a gene in terms of exons and introns? | 1.5(k) | |
| 27 | Can you distinguish between discontinuous genes (with introns) in eukaryotes and continuous genes (without introns) in prokaryotes? | 1.5(k) | |
| 28 | Can you describe the genetic code as triplet, degenerate and non-overlapping? | 1.5(i-j) | |
| 29 | Can you describe the genetic code as also linear, unambiguous and universal? | 1.5(i) | |
| 30 | Do you know the one gene one polypeptide hypothesis? | 1.5(n) | |
| 31 | Can you describe the process of transcription? | 1.5(l) | |
| 32 | Can you describe the role of RNA polymerase linking to the template strand and inserting mRNA nucleotides according to complementary base pairing? | 1.5(l) | |
| 33 | Can you explain that the molecule produced is pre-mRNA containing exons and introns? | 1.5(l) | |
| 34 | Do you know what post-transcriptional modification (splicing) of mRNA is? | 1.5(l) | |
| 35 | Can you explain that splicing removes introns to produce functional mRNA? | 1.5(l) | |
| 36 | Can you describe the process of translation, including the function of mRNA, tRNA and rRNA? | 1.5(m) | |
| 37 | Can you describe that ribosomes have two attachment sites for tRNA on the large subunit and one for mRNA on the small subunit? | 1.5(m) | |
| 38 | Can you explain codon-anticodon interactions and peptide bond formation between amino acids? | 1.5(m) | |
| 39 | Can you describe how polypeptides can be modified by addition of carbohydrates, lipids or phosphate? | 1.5(o) | |
| 40 | Can you describe how polypeptides can be combined as exemplified by haemoglobin? | 1.5(o) | |
| 41 | Can you describe the simple extraction of DNA from living material (e.g. strawberries)? | 1.5 Prac |
| # | Learning Objective | Spec | R/A/G |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can you describe the stages of the cell cycle (interphase, mitosis, cytokinesis)? | 1.6(a) | |
| 2 | Can you recognise the cell cycle as shown on a pie graph and an X-Y (line) graph? | 1.6(a) | |
| 3 | Can you state the stages of mitosis in the correct order (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase)? | 1.6(a) | |
| 4 | Can you describe what occurs during each stage of the cell cycle? | 1.6(a) | |
| 5 | Can you recognise a cell in each stage of mitosis from drawings and microscope images? | 1.6(a) | |
| 6 | Do you know the significance of mitosis? | 1.6(b) | |
| 7 | Can you explain that mitosis produces daughter cells with identical copies of genes (genetically identical)? | 1.6(b) | |
| 8 | Can you state where mitosis occurs in plants and animals? | 1.6(a) | |
| 9 | Can you describe cytokinesis in plant cells (cell plate formation) vs animal cells (cleavage furrow)? | 1.6(b) | |
| 10 | Can you explain the significance of mitosis in repeated cell renewal? | 1.6(c) | |
| 11 | Can you explain the significance of mitosis in damage repair and healing? | 1.6(c) | |
| 12 | Can you explain how unrestricted cell division leads to cancerous growth? | 1.6(c) | |
| 13 | Do you know the significance of meiosis? | 1.6(d-e) | |
| 14 | Do you know how genetic variation occurs during meiosis? | 1.6(e) | |
| 15 | Can you describe pairing of homologous chromosomes, crossing over, segregation of homologous chromosomes and independent assortment? | 1.6(d-e) | |
| 16 | Can you compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis? | 1.6(e) | |
| 17 | Can you compare: number of divisions, number of cells formed, ploidy of daughter cells, genetic nature of daughter cells? | 1.6(e) | |
| 18 | Do you know the meaning of haploid and diploid? | 1.6(d) | |
| 19 | Can you recognise cells in each stage of meiosis from drawings and microscope images? | 1.6(d) | |
| 20 | Can you describe what events occur during each stage of meiosis I and II? | 1.6(d) | |
| 21 | Do you know when a cell becomes haploid and when DNA content halves during meiosis? | 1.6(d) | |
| 22 | Do you know the difference between a replicated and a non-replicated chromosome? | 1.6(d) | |
| 23 | Can you state where meiosis occurs in plants and animals? | 1.6(d) | |
| 24 | Can you explain that meiosis produces non-identical daughter cells (genetically different)? | 1.6(e) | |
| 25 | Can you prepare and produce scientific drawings of root tip cells showing stages of mitosis? | 1.6 Prac | |
| 26 | Can you prepare and produce scientific drawings of developing anther cells showing stages of meiosis? | 1.6 Prac | |
| 27 | Can you calculate the mitotic index (number of cells in mitosis ÷ total number of cells)? | 1.6 Prac |
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Unit 1: Past Paper Topic Analysis (2016-2024)
| Sub-topic | Freq | Marks | Papers & Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate structure (α/β glucose, starch, cellulose, glycogen) | 5 | 2-6 | 2016 Q42018 Q72019 Q22022 Q32024 Q4 |
| Isomers (structural isomers, α and β glucose) | 4 | 1-2 | 2016 Q42019 Q22022 Q32024 Q4 |
| Condensation & hydrolysis reactions | 5 | 1-3 | 2016 Q42018 Q42019 Q42022 Q32024 Q4 |
| Lipids: triglycerides & phospholipids | 4 | 2-7 | 2017 Q52018 Q72022 Q22022 Q4 |
| Saturated vs unsaturated fatty acids | 3 | 1-4 | 2017 Q52022 Q22022 Q4 |
| Health implications of saturated fat | 2 | 1-2 | 2017 Q52022 Q2 |
| Protein structure (1°, 2°, 3°, 4°) | 6 | 2-5 | 2016 Q22018 Q42019 Q42022 Q62023 Q12024 Q1 |
| Peptide bond formation | 4 | 1-2 | 2018 Q42019 Q42022 Q62024 Q1 |
| Haemoglobin vs collagen (fibrous/globular) | 3 | 2-4 | 2018 Q42022 Q62023 Q3 |
| Food tests (Benedict's, Biuret, Emulsion) | 3 | 2-4 | 2016 Q42019 Q32022 Q3 |
| Sub-topic | Freq | Marks | Papers & Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organelle identification (EM/diagrams) | 6 | 2-4 | 2016 Q32018 Q12019 Q22022 Q12023 Q22024 Q1 |
| Organelle functions (RER, Golgi, mitochondria) | 6 | 2-5 | 2016 Q22018 Q12019 Q22022 Q62023 Q32024 Q1 |
| Protein synthesis pathway (secretory pathway) | 5 | 3-5 | 2016 Q22018 Q12022 Q62023 Q32024 Q7 |
| Prokaryote vs Eukaryote comparison | 4 | 2-4 | 2016 Q32023 Q12024 Q12024 Q6 |
| Virus structure & replication | 2 | 4-10 | 2016 Q22024 Q5 |
| Tissue types (epithelial, muscle) | 3 | 1-3 | 2016 Q32022 Q12023 Q2 |
| Magnification & actual size calculations | 4 | 2-3 | 2017 Q32019 Q12024 Q22024 Q5 |
| Sub-topic | Freq | Marks | Papers & Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluid mosaic model structure | 5 | 2-4 | 2016 Q52017 Q52022 Q22023 Q32024 Q1 |
| Membrane components & functions | 6 | 2-5 | 2016 Q52017 Q52019 Q22022 Q22023 Q32024 Q1 |
| Diffusion vs facilitated diffusion | 6 | 2-4 | 2016 Q52017 Q52019 Q22022 Q42023 Q32024 Q1 |
| Active transport (inc. Na⁺/K⁺ pump) | 4 | 2-4 | 2016 Q52019 Q22023 Q32024 Q1 |
| Osmosis & water potential | 7 | 2-6 | 2016 Q52017 Q32018 Q52019 Q22022 Q42023 Q12024 Q3 |
| Membrane permeability (beetroot practical) | 4 | 3-6 | 2017 Q52018 Q52022 Q42023 Q4 |
| Endocytosis & exocytosis | 4 | 1-3 | 2016 Q22018 Q12019 Q22024 Q5 |
| Saturation effect (graphs) | 3 | 2-4 | 2019 Q32023 Q32024 Q3 |
| Sub-topic | Freq | Marks | Papers & Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lock and key / Induced fit models | 5 | 1-4 | 2016 Q62017 Q42019 Q52023 Q12024 Q3 |
| Competitive inhibition | 5 | 3-9 | 2016 Q6 (QER)2018 Q62019 Q52023 Q42024 Q3 |
| Non-competitive inhibition | 4 | 2-9 | 2016 Q6 (QER)2019 Q52023 Q42024 Q3 |
| Effect of temperature on enzymes | 5 | 2-5 | 2017 Q42018 Q52019 Q32022 Q42024 Q3 |
| Effect of pH on enzymes | 4 | 2-4 | 2017 Q42019 Q32023 Q12024 Q3 |
| Substrate/enzyme concentration effects | 4 | 2-4 | 2017 Q42019 Q32023 Q42024 Q3 |
| Rate calculations from graphs | 5 | 2-3 | 2017 Q42019 Q32022 Q52023 Q42024 Q2 |
| Immobilised enzymes / Biosensors | 2 | 3-5 | 2019 Q52023 Q4 |
| Denaturation vs inactivation | 3 | 1-2 | 2018 Q52022 Q42024 Q3 |
| Sub-topic | Freq | Marks | Papers & Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATP structure and function | 4 | 2-6 | 2018 Q22019 Q22023 Q22024 Q2 |
| Nucleotide structure | 4 | 1-3 | 2018 Q22022 Q32023 Q22024 Q2 |
| DNA structure (double helix, base pairing) | 4 | 2-4 | 2016 Q22017 Q22022 Q32024 Q2 |
| DNA vs RNA comparison | 3 | 2-4 | 2016 Q22018 Q22024 Q2 |
| Semi-conservative replication | 3 | 3-6 | 2017 Q22022 Q32024 Q2 |
| Meselson-Stahl experiment | 2 | 3-5 | 2017 Q22024 Q2 |
| Transcription | 5 | 2-5 | 2016 Q22018 Q42019 Q42022 Q32024 Q7 |
| Translation | 6 | 3-5 | 2016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42022 Q62023 Q32024 Q7 |
| mRNA, tRNA, rRNA functions | 5 | 1-4 | 2016 Q22019 Q42022 Q62024 Q12024 Q7 |
| Genetic code properties (triplet, degenerate) | 3 | 2-4 | 2018 Q42019 Q42024 Q7 |
| Post-transcriptional modification (splicing) | 2 | 2-5 | 2018 Q42024 Q7 |
| Sub-topic | Freq | Marks | Papers & Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell cycle stages (interphase, mitosis) | 6 | 2-9 | 2016 Q12017 Q7 (QER)2018 Q32019 Q12022 Q7 (QER)2024 Q6 |
| Mitosis stages identification | 5 | 2-4 | 2016 Q12018 Q32019 Q12022 Q72024 Q6 |
| DNA/cell mass changes during cell cycle | 4 | 3-9 | 2017 Q7 (QER)2018 Q32022 Q72024 Q6 |
| Significance of mitosis | 4 | 2-4 | 2016 Q12018 Q62022 Q72024 Q6 |
| Cancer / uncontrolled cell division | 3 | 2-4 | 2016 Q12018 Q62022 Q7 |
| Meiosis stages identification | 4 | 2-5 | 2018 Q32019 Q12022 Q52024 Q2 |
| Mitosis vs meiosis comparison | 4 | 2-4 | 2018 Q32019 Q12022 Q52024 Q2 |
| Genetic variation in meiosis | 3 | 2-3 | 2018 Q32019 Q12024 Q2 |
| Mitotic index calculation | 2 | 2-3 | 2019 Q12024 Q2 |
| Haploid/diploid concepts | 3 | 1-2 | 2019 Q12022 Q52024 Q2 |
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