Biology — A-Level
All 257 specification statements from the official Cambridge International specification, as printed.
1. The microscope in cell
2. Cells as the basic units of
recognise organelles and other cell structures found in eukaryotic cells and outline their structures and functions, limited to: and mitochondria) continued:
outline key structural features of a prokaryotic cell as found in a typical bacterium, including:
1. Testing for biological
2. Carbohydrates and lipids
3. Proteins
describe the types of interaction that hold protein molecules in shape:
4. Water
1. Mode of action of enzymes
2. Factors that affect enzyme
investigate and explain the effects of the following factors on the rate of enzyme-catalysed reactions:
1. Fluid mosaic membranes
outline the main stages in the process of cell signalling leading to specific responses:
2. Movement into and out of
1. Replication and division of
describe the structure of a chromosome, limited to:
2 replication in S phase) 4 outline the role of telomeres in preventing the loss of genes from the ends of chromosomes during DNA replication 5 outline the role of stem cells in cell replacement and tissue repair by mitosis 6 explain how uncontrolled cell division can result in the formation of a tumour:
explain the importance of mitosis in the production of genetically identical daughter cells during:
outline the mitotic cell cycle, including:
2. Chromosome behaviour in
1. Structure of nucleic acids
describe the structure of a DNA molecule as a double helix, including: the 5 ′ to 3 ′ strand and the 3 ′ to 5 ′ strand (antiparallel strands) base pairs:
describe the semi-conservative replication of DNA during the S phase of the cell cycle, including: of other enzymes in DNA replication in cells and different types of DNA polymerase is not expected) replication as a consequence of DNA polymerase adding nucleotides only in a 5 ′ to 3 ′ direction:
2. Protein synthesis
describe how the information in DNA is used during transcription and translation to construct polypeptides, including the roles of:
1. Structure of transport tissues
2. Transport mechanisms
describe the transport of water from the soil to the xylem through the: cellulose Casparian strip and suberin:
1. The circulatory system
2. Transport of oxygen and
describe the role of red blood cells in transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide with reference to the roles of:
3. The heart
explain the differences in the thickness of the walls of the:
1. The gas exchange system
describe the structure of the human gas exchange system, limited to:
1. Infectious diseases
state the name and type of pathogen that causes each of the following diseases: falciparum , Plasmodium malariae , Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium vivax tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis (HIV):
2. Antibiotics
1. The immune system
describe the sequence of events that occurs during a primary immune response with reference to the roles of:
2. Antibodies and vaccination
1. Energy
state that ATP is synthesised by: chloroplasts:
2. Respiration
State where each of the four stages in aerobic respiration occurs in eukaryotic cells: mitochondria:
explain that during oxidative phosphorylation: the electron transport chain (details of carriers are not expected) inner mitochondrial membrane diffusion through ATP synthase, providing energy for ATP synthesis (details of ATP synthase are not expected):
1. Photosynthesis as an
explain that in cyclic photophosphorylation:
explain that in non-cyclic photophosphorylation: involved water continued:
explain that during photophosphorylation: the electron transport chain (details of carriers are not expected) thylakoid membrane by facilitated diffusion through ATP synthase, providing energy for ATP synthesis (details of ATP synthase are not expected):
outline the three main stages of the Calvin cycle: by combination with a molecule of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP), a 5C compound, to yield two molecules of glycerate 3-phosphate (GP), a 3C compound involving reduced NADP and ATP:
2. Investigation of limiting
1. Homeostasis in mammals
describe the structure of the human kidney, limited to:
Identify, in diagrams, photomicrographs and electron micrographs, the parts of a nephron and its associated blood vessels and structures, limited to:
describe and explain the formation of urine in the nephron, limited to: Bowman’s capsule:
describe the principles of cell signalling using the example of the control of blood glucose concentration by glucagon, limited to: conformational change cyclase of an enzyme cascade as a result of activation of more and more enzymes by phosphorylation is activated, catalysing the breakdown of glycogen:
2. Homeostasis in plants
1. Control and coordination in
describe and explain changes to the membrane potential of neurones, including: period:
2. Control and coordination in (15.2)
1. Passage of information
2. The roles of genes in
explain the relationship between genes, proteins and phenotype with respect to the:
3. Gene control
1. Variation
2. Natural and artificial
outline the following examples of selective breeding: and rice varieties of maize:
3. Evolution
explain how speciation may occur as a result of genetic isolation by: speciation):
1. Classification
2. Biodiversity
explain that biodiversity can be assessed at different levels, including: habitats:
3. Conservation
explain why populations and species can become extinct as a result of:
1. Principles of genetic
explain that genes to be transferred into an organism may be:
2. Genetic technology applied
3. Genetically modified