AQA GCSE Biology

4.1.1 Cell Structure

• 4.1.1.1 Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
• 4.1.1.2 Animal and Plant Cells 2 notes
  • Animal and Plant Cell Structure
  • Microscopy Practical and Size Estimation
• 4.1.1.3 Cell Specialisation
• 4.1.1.4 Cell Differentiation
• 4.1.1.5 Microscopy Techniques
• 4.1.1.6 Culturing Microorganisms 3 notes
  • Binary Fission & Bacterial Growth Calculations
  • Aseptic Techniques & Culturing
  • Investigating Antiseptics & Antibiotics

4.1.2 Cell Division

• 4.1.2.1 Chromosomes
• 4.1.2.2 Mitosis and Cell Cycle
• 4.1.2.3 Stem Cells 3 notes
  • Types and Functions of Stem Cells
  • Medical Uses and Therapeutic Cloning
  • Risks, Ethics and Plant Cloning Benefits

4.1.3 Cell Transport

• 4.1.3.1 Diffusion 3 notes
  • Principles and Factors of Diffusion
  • Surface Area to Volume Ratio and Exchange Systems
  • Adaptations of Exchange Surfaces in Plants and Animals
• 4.1.3.2 Osmosis
• 4.1.3.3 Active Transport

• 4.2.1 Organisational Principles

4.2.2 Animal Systems

• 4.2.2.1 Digestive System 3 notes
  • The Human Digestive System and Enzymes
  • The Mechanism and Factors of Enzyme Action
  • Required Practicals: Food Tests and Amylase Activity
• 4.2.2.2 Heart and Blood Vessels 2 notes
  • The Heart, Double Circulation and the Pacemaker
  • Blood Vessel Structure and Rate of Flow
• 4.2.2.3 Blood Composition
• 4.2.2.4 Coronary Heart Disease 2 notes
  • Coronary Heart Disease: Pathology, Stents and Statins
  • Heart Valves, Transplants and Evaluating Treatments
• 4.2.2.5 Health and Disease
• 4.2.2.6 Lifestyle and Disease 3 notes
  • The Impact and Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Disease
  • Lifestyle Factors and Chronic Disease Mechanisms
  • Effects of Lifestyle on Unborn Babies
• 4.2.2.7 Cancer

4.2.3 Plant Systems

• 4.2.3.1 Plant Tissues
• 4.2.3.2 Plant Organ Systems 3 notes
  • Plant Transport Tissues: Xylem, Phloem and Root Hair Cells
  • The Mechanisms of Transpiration and Translocation
  • Factors and Calculations of Transpiration Rate

4.3.1 Communicable Diseases

• 4.3.1.1 Infectious Disease Spread
• 4.3.1.2 Viral Diseases
• 4.3.1.3 Bacterial Diseases
• 4.3.1.4 Fungal Diseases
• 4.3.1.5 Protist Diseases
• 4.3.1.6 Human Defence Systems
• 4.3.1.7 Vaccination
• 4.3.1.8 Antibiotics and Medicines
• 4.3.1.9 Drug Development

4.3.2 Monoclonal Antibodies

• 4.3.2.1 Antibody Production
• 4.3.2.2 Antibody Applications

4.3.3 Plant Diseases

• 4.3.3.1 Disease Detection in Plants
• 4.3.3.2 Plant Defences

4.4.1 Photosynthesis

• 4.4.1.1 Photosynthesis Reaction
• 4.4.1.2 Rate of Photosynthesis 3 notes
  • Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis
  • Limiting Factors, Inverse Square Law & Greenhouse Economics (HT)
  • Required Practical: Investigating Light Intensity and Photosynthesis
• 4.4.1.3 Glucose Utilization

4.4.2 Respiration

• 4.4.2.1 Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
• 4.4.2.2 Exercise Response
• 4.4.2.3 Metabolism

• 4.5.1 Homeostasis Principles

4.5.2 Nervous System

• 4.5.2.1 Nervous System Structure 3 notes
  • Nervous System Structure & Coordination
  • Structure & Function of Reflex Arcs
  • Investigating Factors Affecting Reaction Time
• 4.5.2.2 The Brain
• 4.5.2.3 The Eye 3 notes
  • Structure and Function of the Eye
  • Accommodation for Near and Distant Objects
  • Vision Defects and Corrections
• 4.5.2.4 Thermoregulation

4.5.3 Hormonal Coordination

• 4.5.3.1 Endocrine System
• 4.5.3.2 Blood Glucose Control
• 4.5.3.3 Water and Nitrogen Balance 3 notes
  • Excretion and the Formation of Urea
  • Kidney Function and Water Control
  • Treating Kidney Failure: Dialysis and Transplants
• 4.5.3.4 Reproductive Hormones 2 notes
  • Hormones in Puberty and Reproduction
  • The Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Control
• 4.5.3.5 Contraception Methods
• 4.5.3.6 Infertility Treatments
• 4.5.3.7 Negative Feedback

4.5.4 Plant Hormones

• 4.5.4.1 Plant Control and Coordination
• 4.5.4.2 Plant Hormone Uses

4.6.1 Reproduction Types

• 4.6.1.1 Sexual vs Asexual Reproduction
• 4.6.1.2 Meiosis
• 4.6.1.3 Reproduction Pros and Cons
• 4.6.1.4 DNA and Genome
• 4.6.1.5 DNA Structure 3 notes
  • DNA Structure and the Genetic Code
  • Protein Synthesis (Higher Tier)
  • Mutations and Gene Expression (Higher Tier)
• 4.6.1.6 Genetic Inheritance 3 notes
  • Key Vocabulary and Principles of Genetic Inheritance
  • Predicting Inheritance: Punnett Squares and Probability
  • Analysing Inheritance using Family Trees
• 4.6.1.7 Inherited Disorders
• 4.6.1.8 Sex Determination

4.6.2 Variation and Natural Selection

• 4.6.2.1 Variation
• 4.6.2.2 Evolution
• 4.6.2.3 Selective Breeding
• 4.6.2.4 Genetic Engineering
• 4.6.2.5 Cloning

4.6.3 History of Genetics

• 4.6.3.1 Evolutionary Theory
• 4.6.3.2 Speciation
• 4.6.3.3 Understanding Genetics
• 4.6.3.4 Evidence for Evolution
• 4.6.3.5 Fossils
• 4.6.3.6 Extinction
• 4.6.3.7 Antibiotic Resistance

• 4.6.4 Classification

4.7.1 Interactions in Ecosystems

• 4.7.1.1 Communities
• 4.7.1.2 Abiotic Factors
• 4.7.1.3 Biotic Factors
• 4.7.1.4 Adaptations

4.7.2 Ecosystem Organisation

• 4.7.2.1 Food Chains and Populations 2 notes
  • Food Chains and Predator-Prey Relationships
  • Sampling Techniques and Species Abundance
• 4.7.2.2 Material Cycling
• 4.7.2.3 Decomposition
• 4.7.2.4 Environmental Change Impact

4.7.3 Biodiversity and Humans

• 4.7.3.1 Biodiversity Basics
• 4.7.3.2 Waste Management
• 4.7.3.3 Land Use
• 4.7.3.4 Deforestation
• 4.7.3.5 Global Warming
• 4.7.3.6 Biodiversity Conservation

4.7.4 Trophic Levels

• 4.7.4.1 Trophic Levels
• 4.7.4.2 Biomass Pyramids
• 4.7.4.3 Biomass Transfer

4.7.5 Food Production

• 4.7.5.1 Food Security Factors
• 4.7.5.2 Farming Techniques
• 4.7.5.3 Sustainable Fisheries
• 4.7.5.4 Biotechnology in Food

• 4.8 Core Concepts 3 notes
  • Molecular Structure and Cellular Organization
  • Ecosystems, Bioenergetics and Nutrient Cycling
  • Genetics, Environment and Evolution