1. Molecules, Transport & Health

Biological Molecules

The Importance of Water

Saccharides

Core Practical 1: Estimating the Concentration of Sugars & Starch

Condensation & Hydrolysis

Triglycerides & Ester Bonds

The Circulatory System

The Need for a Circulatory System

Blood Vessels: Structure & Function

The Cardiac Cycle

The Role of Haemoglobin

Atherosclerosis

Blood Clotting

Diet & Health

Reducing Risk Factors of CVD

Dietary Antioxidants & CVD

Core Practical 2: Investigate the Vitamin C Content of Food & Drink

Interpreting Data on Risk Factors

Designing Studies into the Effects of Risk Factors

Perception of Risk vs Actual Risk

Data on Cholesterol & Lipoproteins

Data on Effect of Diet

Treatments for CVD: Benefits & Risks

2. Membranes, Proteins, DNA & Gene Expression

Gas Exchange, Cell Membranes & Transport

Properties of Gas Exchange Surfaces

Cell Membranes

Core Practical 3: Investigating Membrane Structure & Permeability

Osmosis

Diffusion, Facilitated Diffusion & Active Transport

Proteins

Amino Acids, Proteins & Protein Structure

Enzymes: Roles & Modes of Action

Core Practical 4: Investigating the Rate of Enzyme Reactions

Nucleotides, DNA & RNA, Base Pairing

DNA & Gene Expression

DNA Replication

The Nature of the Genetic Code

How Bases Code for a Polypeptide Chain

Transcription & Translation

Inheritance

Mutations

Patterns of Inheritance & Sex Linkage

Cystic Fibrosis

Genetic Screening

Ethical & Social Issues of Genetic Screening

3. Cell Structure, Reproduction & Development

Cell Structure & Organisation

Cell Theory

Levels of Organisation of Cells

Eukaryotic Cells

The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum & Golgi

Prokaryotic Cells

Electron Microscopy of Animal Cells

Microscopy: Magnification & Resolution

Core Practical 5: Light Microscopy

Reproduction & Inheritance

Gene Locus

Meiosis & Variation

Mammalian Gametes

Fertilisation: Mammals

Fertilisation: Flowering Plants

The Cell Cycle & Mitosis

Core Practical 6: Observing the Stages of Mitosis

Calculation of Mitotic Index

Stem Cells & Cell Potency

Cell Specialisation

Post-Transcriptional Changes to mRNA

Gene Interaction & Epigenetics

Polygenic Inheritance & Continuous Variation

4. Plant Structure & Function, Biodiversity & Conservation

Plant Structure & Function

Plant Cell Structure

Electron Microscopy of Plant Cells

Starch & Cellulose: Structure & Function

Properties of Cellulose

The Vascular Structure of Plants

Core Practical 7: Identifying Tissue Types Within Stems

Plants & Conservation

Plant-Based Products for Sustainability

Water & Inorganic Ions in Plants

Core Practical 8: Determining the Tensile Strength of Plant Fibres

Plants & Bacterial Growth

Bacterial Growth Conditions

Plant Products with Antimicrobial Properties

Core Practical 9: Antimicrobial Properties of Plants

Development of Drugs & Drug Testing

Classification & Biodiversity

The Three Domains of Life

The Variety of Life

Biodiversity & Endemism

Species Richness & Heterozygosity Index

Index of Biodiversity

Ecological Niches & Adaptations

Hardy-Weinberg Equation

Roles of Seed Banks & Zoos in Conservation

5. Energy Flow, Ecosystems & the Environment

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis: Overview

The Role of ATP in Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis: Light-Dependent Stage

Photosynthesis: Light-Independent Stage

Chloroplasts

Absorption & Action Spectra

Separation of Photosynthetic Pigments with Chromatography

Core Practical 10: Rate of Photosynthesis

Ecosystems

Ecological Productivity

Energy & Biomass Transfers

Ecology: Key Terms

Factors Affecting Populations

Niche

Core Practical 11: Quadrat & Transect Study

Ecological Succession

Environmental Biology

Evidence for Climate Change

Anthropogenic Climate Change

Carbon Cycle & Environmental Management

Models for Predicting Climate Change

How Climate Change Affects Species

The Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Reactions

Core Practical 12: Effect of Temperature on Development

Mutation, Natural Selection & Evolution

Isolation & Speciation

Contentious Issues in Environmental Science

Examples of Sustainable Conservation

6. Microbiology, Immunity & Forensics

Microbiology

Culturing Microorganisms

Measuring the Growth of Microorganisms

The Bacterial Growth Curve

Core Practical 13: Rate of Growth of Microorganisms

Comparison of Bacterial & Viral Structure

Immunity

Tuberculosis & HIV

Pathogens: Routes of Entry

Non-Specific Immune Responses

Specific Immune Responses

Lymphocytes: Types & Roles

Developing Immunity

Pathogens vs Hosts: An Evolutionary Race

Antibiotics

Antibiotics

Core Practical 14: The Effects of Different Antibiotics

Current Usage of Antibiotics

Decomposition & Decay

The Role of Microorganisms

Forensics

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Gel Electrophoresis in Forensics

DNA Profiling

Types of Data Provided by Forensic Analysis

7. Respiration, Muscles & the Internal Environment

Respiration

Overview of Respiration

Glycolysis

Link Reaction & Krebs Cycle

The Electron Transport Chain

Anaerobic Respiration

Respiratory Quotient

Core Practical 15: Investigation of Respiration in Yeast

Core Practical 16: Respirometer to Calculate RQ

Muscular Movement

The Musculoskeletal System

The Muscle Fibre

The Process of Skeletal Muscle Contraction

The Role of Muscle in the Cardiac Cycle

Calculation of Cardiac Output

The Role of Adrenaline

Core Practical 17: The Effects of Exercise

The Internal Environment

Negative & Positive Feedback

Homeostasis

The Kidney: Structure

Urea as a Waste Product

Selective Reabsorption in the Kidney

Hormones in Osmoregulation

Control of Gene Expression

8. Coordination, Response & Gene Technology

The Nervous System

Neurones: Types and Functions

How a Response is Generated by Effectors

The Reflex Arc

The Nerve Impulse

Myelination & Saltatory Conduction

Synapses & Neurotransmitters

The Effects of Drugs on Nervous Transmission

Detection of Stimuli

Habituation

Central & Peripheral Nervous System

Plant Hormones

Effects of Plant Hormones

Core Practical 18: Amylase in Germinating Cereal Grains

Nervous & Hormonal Coordination

The Brain

Human Brain Structures & Functions

Techniques to Investigate the Brain

Brain Disease

Gene Technology

Drug Production from Genetically Modified Organisms

Recombinant DNA

Transfer of Recombinant DNA into Other Cells

Identification of Active Genes

Bioinformatics

Risks & Benefits of Using GMOs

Study tools

• Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Biology · Exam Questions
• Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Biology · Past Papers

Related links

• International A Level (IAL) Biology · Revision Notes
• International A Level (IAL) Biology · Exam Questions
• International A Level (IAL) Biology · Past Papers