Topic 1
Control systems

What does cell metabolism lead to?

How is urea produced?

What are the possible treatments for kidney failure?

Describe the structure of the urinary system?

Describe the structure of a nephron?

Explain how the structure of the nephron is related to its function in filtering the blood and forming urine?

How is the water content controlled by a negative feedback system?

What hormones are the menstrual cycle controlled by?

Describe the stages of the menstrual cycle?

Explain why the uterus lining is maintained if fertilisation occurs

How does FSH, oestrogen, LH and progesterone control the menstrual cycle?

How is the menstrual cycle controlled by a negative feedback system mechanism?

Explain how the structure of an egg is adapted to its function?

Explain how the structure of a sperm cell is adapted to its function?

What is the advantages and disadvantages of donation of eggs?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of in vitro fetilisation (IVF treatment)?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of surrogate mothers?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of hormones?

What is the sex of a person controlled by?

Describe Edward Jenner’s contribution to the development of vaccines?

Explain the process of immunisation?

What are the advantages of Immunisation?

What are the disadvantages of immunisation?

Describe the role of memory lymphocytes?

Describe the production of monoclonal antibodies?

What are the use of monoclonal antibodies?

Describe how the exponential growth of a population of bacteria can lead to rapid development of an infection?

What was Louis Pasteur’s contribution to
the development of aseptic techniques?

Investigate the conditions affecting growth of micro-organisms
(using resazurin dye)

How do plants defend themselves
against attack from pests and pathogens?

Demonstrate an understanding of the impact that attack by
pests and pathogens on plants has on human food supply

Explain the importance of photoperiodicity in plants?

What is circadian rhythms?

Topic 2
Behaviour

What does sexual reproduction require?

Describe how animals have different mating strategies?

What have birds and mammals,
developed?

Why can parental care be a
successful evolutionary strategy?

Explain how, within the animal kingdom, parental care may involve risks to the parents?

Describe the different behaviours exhibited by animals?

Explain how humans can make use of conditioning when training
captive animals for specific purposes?

Investigate animal behaviour using choice chambers

What do some animal behaviour require?

Explain how animals use sound signals to communicate?

Explain how animals use chemical signals to communicate?

Explain how animals use visual signals to communicate?

Describe how plants can communicate using chemicals?

What is the work of ethologists?

How have plants and animals co-evolved?

Describe the evidence for human evolution, based on fossils?

Describe the evidence for human evolution, based on stone tools?

Describe why mitochondrial DNA provides evidence for the African Eve theory for non-Africans?

Why is mitochondrial DNA more useful than nuclear DNA for tracking human migration and evolution?

What are the impacts of climate change
on human behaviour?

Topic 3
Biotechnology

What is biotechnology?

What is a fermenter?

Explain the need to supply suitable conditions in fermenters, and the effect they have on growth rates?
aseptic precautions
b nutrients
c optimum temperature
d pH
e oxygenation
f agitation

Investigate the effect of factors on the growth of yeast, including pH?

Explain the advantages of using micro organisms for food production?

Describe how mycoprotein is manufactured?

Explain the advantages of using mycoprotein as a food source?

how are bacteria used in the production of yogurt from milk?

Investigate the effect of different factors on yogurt making?

Describe the use of enzyme technology?

Investigate the use of immobilised lactase to produce lactose free milk?

Investigate the use of enzymes in food production?

Explain recombinant DNA technology using insulin?

What is the impact of human
population growth on global food security?

Explain how Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used as a vector in creating transgenic plants?

The advantages and disadvantages of introducing genes for insect resistance from Bacillus thuringiensis into crop plants?

What are the costs and benefits of
genetic modification of crop plants in the developing countries?

What are the costs and benefits of genetic modification of crop plants in developed countries?

Explain the increased food production for humans?

What are the advantages of replacing fossil fuels with biofuels?

What are the disadvantages of replacing fossil fuels with biofuels?