England · Pearson EdexcelQ&A
BiologyQ&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every England Biology syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Topic 4: Biodiversity and natural resources
- The meaning and measurement of biodiversity at species, genetic and habitat levels, the use of the index of diversity, and the classification and naming of organisms.2Q&A pairs
- The reasons for conserving biodiversity, the methods of in-situ and ex-situ conservation, the use of seed banks and zoos, and the balance between conservation and human needs.2Q&A pairs
- The process of natural selection, the types of adaptation, how natural selection leads to evolution and speciation, and the evidence for evolution.2Q&A pairs
- The structure of plant cells and tissues, plant fibres and their properties, the transport of water in the xylem, and the economic and sustainable use of plants and their products.2Q&A pairs
Topic 5: Energy, exercise and coordination
- The principle of homeostasis and negative feedback, the control of body temperature and blood glucose, and the structure and function of the kidney in osmoregulation and excretion.2Q&A pairs
- The structure of skeletal muscle and the sliding filament model of contraction, the role of ATP and calcium ions, and the difference between slow and fast twitch fibres.2Q&A pairs
- The structure of a neurone and the transmission of a nerve impulse, the events at a synapse, the action of hormones, and the differences between nervous and hormonal coordination.2Q&A pairs
- The light-dependent and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, the role of chloroplast structure, the products of each stage, and the factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis.2Q&A pairs
- The stages of aerobic respiration (glycolysis, the link reaction, the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation), the role of ATP and the mitochondrion, and anaerobic respiration in animals and yeast.2Q&A pairs
Topic 2: Genes and health
- The structure of DNA and RNA, semi-conservative DNA replication, the genetic code, and the processes of transcription and translation that make proteins.3Q&A pairs
- Enzymes as biological catalysts, the lock-and-key and induced-fit models, the effects of temperature, pH, substrate and enzyme concentration on rate, and the action of inhibitors.3Q&A pairs
- The nature of gene mutations, the effect of the CFTR mutation on the chloride ion channel, how cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, digestion and reproduction, and the inheritance of the condition.2Q&A pairs
- The principles of gene therapy and gene technology, genetic screening and prenatal testing, and the social and ethical issues raised by using genetic information.2Q&A pairs
Topic 6: Microbiology, immunity and ecosystems
- The structure of ecosystems, the flow of energy through food chains and webs, the recycling of nutrients, and the process of ecological succession.2Q&A pairs
- The structure of bacteria and viruses, how pathogens cause disease, the culture and growth of microorganisms, and the action and resistance of antibiotics.2Q&A pairs
- The factors that limit population size, predator-prey relationships and carrying capacity, the sampling of populations, and the principles of sustainable management of ecosystems.2Q&A pairs
- The non-specific and specific immune responses, the roles of phagocytes, B and T lymphocytes, the action of antibodies, immunological memory, and the principles of vaccination.2Q&A pairs
Topic 1: Molecules, diet, transport and health
- The structure of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, the formation of triglycerides and phospholipids, and the levels of protein structure, linking each molecule's structure to its function.2Q&A pairs
- The development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, the roles of cholesterol, lipoproteins and blood pressure as risk factors, and how diet, lifestyle and treatments reduce risk.2Q&A pairs
- The fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane, diffusion, osmosis and active transport, the role of water as a solvent and its properties, and the features of efficient exchange surfaces.2Q&A pairs
- The structure of the mammalian heart and the cardiac cycle, the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries, and the role of the circulatory system in transporting substances around the body.2Q&A pairs
Topic 3: The voice of the genome
- The ultrastructure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, the functions of the main organelles, and the events of the cell cycle and mitosis.3Q&A pairs
- The control of gene expression by transcription factors, the role of epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modification, and how the environment can affect the phenotype.2Q&A pairs
- The events of meiosis, how crossing over and independent assortment generate genetic variation, the role of gametes and fertilisation, and the difference between meiosis and mitosis.2Q&A pairs
- The nature and types of stem cells, how cells become specialised and organised into tissues and organs, and the potential uses and ethical issues of stem cells.2Q&A pairs