Notesale: Turn your study into money

Document Preview

Extracts from the notes are below, to see the PDF you'll receive please use the links above

---

OCR A A-Level Biology Revision Plan
OCR

OCR A-LEVEL BIOLOGY REVISION PLAN
AREA
MODULE 1
–
PRACTICAL
SKILLS
1
...
2]

MODULE 2
–

FOUNDATIONS
IN BIOLOGY
2
...
1

2
...
2

SPECIFICATION POINTS
Experimental design, including solve problems set in practical context, selection of suitable apparatus, equipment
and techniques
...

Evaluation that an experimental method is appropriate to meet expected outcomes
...

Appropriate units for measurements
...

Processing, analysing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative results, valid conclusions where appropriate
...

Appropriate use of significant figures
...

To evaluate results and draw conclusions
...

[practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement]
Cell Structure
Use microscopy to observe and investigate different types of cells and cell structure in a range of eukaryotic
organisms, include appreciation of images produced by light, transmission electron and scanning electron
microscopes
...

Use differential staining to identify different cellular components and cell types in light microscopy
...

Use and manipulate magnification formula
...

Outline the functions of the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells and components
...

Understand and apply the interrelationship of organelles involved in production and secretion of proteins
...

Similarities and differences in ultra/structure of prokaryotic/eukaryotic cells
...

The concept of monomers, polymers and importance of condensation & hydrolysis reactions in a range of
biological molecules
...

The structure and properties of glucose [hexose monosaccharide] and ribose [pentose monosaccharide],
including their differences and the differences between alpha & beta glucose
...

The structure and functions of the starches, glycogen and cellulose molecules
...

The synthesis and breakdown of triglycerides via ester bonds between fatty acids and glycerol
...

The general structure of an amino acid
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
1
...

The levels of protein structure including the four types of interactions
...

The properties and functions of fibrous proteins
...

Carry out and interpret chemical tests including, biuret’s, Benedict’s, iodine, emulsion
...

Know the principles of paper chromatography and TLC, to calculate Rf values and context of separating different
biological molecules
...

Synthesis and breakdown of polynucleotides via phosphodiester bonds
...

The structure of DNA and investigations into purification by precipitation
...

The triplet, non-overlapping, degenerate, universal nature of genetic code
...

Enzymes
The role of enzymes in catalysing reactions affecting metabolism at a cellular and whole organism level,
intracellular and extracellular reactions
...
g
...

The mechanism of enzyme action, including lock & key and induced fit hypothesis
...
and substrate conc
...
coefficient
...

The need for coenzymes and cofactors in some enzyme-controlled reactions
...
etc
...

Biological membranes
The rolls of membranes within cells and at the surface of cells
...

Factors affecting membrane structure and permeability, including practical investigations
...

The movement of water across membranes by osmosis and the effects of different water potentials in animal and
plant cells, including practical investigations
...

The main stages of mitosis, and sections of plant tissue showing these
...

The main stages of meiosis
...

The organisation of cells, tissues, organs, organ systems
...

The production of specialised cells from a common stem cell in bone marrow [animal cells] and the production of
differentiated plant cells from meristems a common stem cell in plants
...


Exchange Surfaces
The need for specialised exchange surfaces, including SA:VOL ratio
...

The structure and function of components of the mammalian gaseous exchange system
...

The relationship between vital capacity, tidal volume, breathing rate and oxygen uptake, including interpretation
forma spirometer/secondary trace
...

The examination of microscope slides to show histology of exchange surfaces
...

The different types of circulatory system including, single, double, open and closed
...

The formation of tissue fluid from plasma, with reference to hydrostatic/oncotic pressure, and an explanation of
differences in composition of blood, lymph, tissue fluid
...

The cardiac cycle, roles of valves and pressure changes associated with vessels
...

The use and interpretation of ECG traces, tachycardia, bradycardia, fibrillation, ectopic heartbeat
...

The oxygen dissociation curve for foetal and adult haemoglobin including the Bohr effect
...

The structure and function of vascular system in the roots, stems and leaves of herbaceous dicotyledonous plants,
including examination and drawing of cross sections of the xylem and phloem
...

Use of the potometer to estimate transpiration rates in practical investigations
...

Adaptations of plants to the availability of water in their environment
...


MODULE 4
–

Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system
The different types of pathogens that can cause communicable diseases in plants and animals
...

Plant defences against pathogens
...

The structure and mode of action of phagocytes, including examination and drawing of blood smears
...

The primary and secondary immune responses that include T and B memory cells
...

An outline of the action of opsonin, agglutinins and antitoxins
...

Appreciate the term autoimmune diseases, lupus SLE and rheumatoid arthritis
...

The possible sources of medicines, including microorganisms and plants and the potential for personalised
medicine
...

Biodiversity
How biodiversity is considered at different levels
...

How sampling is used in measuring the biodiversity of a habitat and the importance of sampling
...

Know how to measure species richness and species evenness within a habitat
...

Now and understand how genetic biodiversity can be assessed including calculations, for example the percentage
of alleles in a genome
...

The ecological, economic and aesthetic reasons for maintaining biodiversity
...
g
...

Historic and/or current and local and international conservation agreements made to protect species &habitats
...
Including the taxonomical hierarchy, [K-P-C-O-F-G-S]
...

The features used to classify organisms into the five kingdoms, Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
...

The relationship between classification and phylogeny
...

The different types of variation including intraspecific/interspecific, and the differences between continuous and
discontinuous variation, and both genetic and environmental causes of variation
...

The mechanisms by which natural selection can affect the characteristics of a population over time including
appreciation of genetic variation and selection pressures
...


1ST APRIL

Communication and Homeostasis
Organisms use both chemical and electrical systems to monitor and respond to any deviations of the body’s
steady state
...

The communication of cells by cell signalling
...

The physiological and behavioural responses involved in temperature control in both endotherms and exotherms
...

The structure and function of the mammalian liver, and the histology of its tissues under a microscope
...
1
...
2
...
2
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
1
...
2
...
2
...
1
...
1
...
1
...

The control of water potential of the blood
...

How excretory products can be useful in medical diagnosis including the use of urine samples and monoclonal
antibodies in pregnancy tests
...

The structure and function of sensory relay and motor neurones
...

The structure and roles of synapses in neurotransmission
...

The structure and function of adrenal glands
...

How blood glucose is regulated
Know the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including causes and treatments for each
...

Plant and Animal responses
The types of plant responses, including practical investigations into geotropisms and phototropism
...

Experimental evidence for the role of auxins in the control of apical dominance
...

The commercial uses of plant hormones
...

The structure and function of the human brain
...

The coordination of responses by the nervous and endocrine systems
...

The structure of mammalian muscle and the mechanisms of muscular contraction
...

Photosynthesis
The interrelationship between the process of photosynthesis and respiration, including between the raw
materials and products of the processes
...

The importance of photosynthetic pigments in photosynthesis
...

The fixation of carbon in the light independent stage of photosynthesis
...

Respiration
The need for cellular respiration, including examples for both plants and animals
...

The process and site of glycolysis
...

The process and site of the Krebs cycle
...

The process and site of oxidative phosphorylation
...

The process of anaerobic respiration in eukaryotes
...
[RQ values]
...

Practical investigation into the effect of factors such as temperature substrate concentration and substrates on
the rate of respiration
...
1
...

How sexual reproduction can lead to genetic variation within a species – meiosis, random fusion of gametes at
fertilisation
...

The use of phenotypic rations to identify linkage; autosomal, sex linkage and epistasis, including explanations
...

The genetic basis of continuous and discontinuous variation
...

The use of Hardy Weinberg principle to calculate frequencies in populations
...

The principles of artificial selection and its uses, and the ethical considerations
...
2
...
3
...
3
...

How gene sequencing has allowed for genome-wide comparisons between individuals of the same species
...

How gene sequencing has allowed for the development of synthetic biology
...

The principles of PCR and its application in DNA analysis
...

The ethical issues relating to genetic manipulation of animals, plants and microorganisms
...

Cloning and Biotechnology
Natural clones in plants and the production of natural clones for its use in horticulture, including examples
...

The production of artificial clones of plants by micropropagation and tissue culture
...

Natural clones in animal species
...

The arguments for and against artificial cloning in animals
...

The advantages and disadvantages of using microorganisms to make food for human consumption
...

The importance of manipulating the growing conditions in batch and continuous fermentation to maximise
product yield
...

The use of immobilised enzymes in biotechnology and the different methods of immobilisation, including
methods and evaluation
...

Biomass transfers through ecosystems
...

The process of primary succession in the development of an ecosystem
...

Populations and sustainability
The factors that determine size of a population
...

The reasons for and differences between conservation and preservation
...

The management of environmental resources and the effects of human activities

---