England · AQASyllabus
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the England Biologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
4.4 Bioenergetics
Module overview →- What is photosynthesis, where does it happen, and what happens to the glucose that plants make?Photosynthesis as an endothermic reaction, the word and symbol equations, the site of photosynthesis, and the uses of the glucose produced by the plant.9 min answer →
- How do cells release energy by respiration, and how does aerobic differ from anaerobic respiration?Respiration as an exothermic reaction occurring continuously in living cells, the equations for aerobic and anaerobic respiration, the differences between them, and the uses of the energy released.9 min answer →
- How does the body respond to exercise, and what is oxygen debt?The effect of exercise on heart rate, breathing rate and breath volume, why anaerobic respiration occurs during hard exercise, the build-up of lactic acid, and the concept of oxygen debt and its repayment.9 min answer →
- What factors affect the rate of photosynthesis, and how are limiting factors used in greenhouses?The limiting factors of photosynthesis (light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and chlorophyll), the inverse square law for light, and the economics of controlling these factors in greenhouses.10 min answer →
4.1 Cell biology
Module overview →- How do cells divide by mitosis, and why are stem cells so important in growth, repair and medicine?Chromosomes, the cell cycle and mitosis, the role of mitosis in growth and repair, stem cells in embryos, adult tissue and plant meristems, and the uses and issues of therapeutic cloning and stem cell treatments.9 min answer →
- What are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and what does each sub-cellular structure do?Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, the sub-cellular structures of animal, plant and bacterial cells, and the functions of the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes, cell wall, chloroplasts and permanent vacuole.9 min answer →
- How have microscopes improved our understanding of cells, and how do you calculate magnification and real size?The differences between light and electron microscopes, how electron microscopy has increased understanding of sub-cellular structures, the magnification equation, and converting between units when calculating real size.9 min answer →
- How do substances move in and out of cells by diffusion, osmosis and active transport, and how does surface area affect this?Diffusion of gases and solutes, osmosis as the movement of water across a partially permeable membrane, active transport against a concentration gradient, the factors affecting these, and the importance of surface area to volume ratio and exchange surfaces.10 min answer →
4.7 Ecology
Module overview →- How are organisms adapted to their environment, and what do they compete for?The factors organisms compete for, the difference between abiotic and biotic factors, structural, behavioural and functional adaptations, and the meaning of extremophiles.9 min answer →
- What is biodiversity, and how are human activities affecting it?The meaning of biodiversity, the effects of human population growth and resource use, pollution of land, water and air, the impact of deforestation and global warming, and the methods used to maintain biodiversity.9 min answer →
- How is an ecosystem organised, and how do materials cycle through it?The levels of organisation in an ecosystem, feeding relationships and food chains, predator-prey cycles, the carbon and water cycles, and the role of decomposers, with the required practical on sampling.10 min answer →
- How is energy transferred through trophic levels, and how can food production be made sustainable?Trophic levels and the transfer of biomass, the calculation of efficiency of biomass transfer, pyramids of biomass, the impact of food security, and methods of sustainable food production including fish stocks and biotechnology.10 min answer →
4.5 Homeostasis and response
Module overview →- How is blood glucose concentration controlled, and what goes wrong in diabetes?The control of blood glucose by insulin and glucagon, the role of the pancreas and liver, the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and how each is treated.9 min answer →
- How does the hormonal system coordinate the body, and how does it differ from the nervous system?Hormones as chemical messengers, the comparison of nervous and hormonal coordination, the role of the pituitary as the master gland, and how hormones travel in the blood to target organs.8 min answer →
- How do hormones control the menstrual cycle, and how can fertility be controlled?The hormones of reproduction, the role of oestrogen and testosterone in puberty, the four hormones of the menstrual cycle (FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone), and methods of hormonal and non-hormonal contraception and fertility treatment.10 min answer →
- What is homeostasis, and why is it important for the body to keep its internal conditions stable?Homeostasis as the regulation of internal conditions, the conditions controlled (blood glucose, temperature and water levels), and the general structure of a control system: receptors, coordination centres and effectors with negative feedback.8 min answer →
- What are the main endocrine glands, and which hormones do they produce?The principal glands of the endocrine system (pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes), the hormones they release, and the role of thyroxine and adrenaline.8 min answer →
- How does the nervous system detect stimuli and produce responses, including reflex actions?The structure and function of the nervous system, the pathway from stimulus to response, the role of the synapse, the reflex arc and reflex actions, and the required practical on reaction time.10 min answer →
4.3 Infection and response
Module overview →- What are the main types of pathogen, and which diseases do they cause?Pathogens as disease-causing microorganisms, the four types (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protists), how each makes us ill, and named examples of communicable diseases caused by each type.9 min answer →
- How does the human body defend itself against pathogens?The non-specific defences of the body (skin, nose, trachea, bronchi and stomach acid) and the role of the immune system, including phagocytosis, antibody production and antitoxins.9 min answer →
- What are monoclonal antibodies, how are they made, and what are they used for?How monoclonal antibodies are produced from a single clone of cells, their specificity to one binding site, and their uses in pregnancy tests, diagnosis, research and treating disease, with the advantages and disadvantages.9 min answer →
- How are pathogens spread, and how can the spread of disease be reduced or prevented?The ways pathogens are spread (direct contact, water, air and vectors), the named diseases for each route, and the methods used to reduce or prevent the spread of communicable diseases.9 min answer →
- How do vaccines protect us, and how are new drugs discovered and tested?How vaccination produces immunity, the action of antibiotics and painkillers, the discovery of drugs, and the stages of preclinical and clinical testing including placebos and double-blind trials.10 min answer →
4.6 Inheritance, variation and evolution
Module overview →- How are living organisms classified, and how has classification changed over time?The Linnaean system of classification, the binomial naming system, how evidence from DNA has changed classification, the three-domain system, and the use of evolutionary trees.9 min answer →
- What is DNA, how is it structured, and what is meant by the genome?DNA as the genetic material, its structure as a double helix of four bases, the meaning of a gene, chromosome and genome, and how the genome and its interactions are important in medicine and biology.9 min answer →
- How are characteristics inherited, and how do you work out the offspring of a genetic cross?The terms gene, allele, dominant, recessive, homozygous, heterozygous, genotype and phenotype, the use of Punnett squares to predict the outcome of crosses, sex determination, and inherited disorders.11 min answer →
- What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction, and what is meiosis?Sexual and asexual reproduction, the formation of gametes by meiosis, the advantages and disadvantages of each type of reproduction, and the role of fertilisation in producing variation.9 min answer →
- How do humans change organisms through selective breeding and genetic engineering?The process of selective breeding and its risks, the process of genetic engineering and its uses, including genetically modified crops and the production of human insulin, and the ethical issues raised.10 min answer →
- What causes variation, and how does evolution by natural selection happen?The causes of variation (genetic and environmental), the theory of evolution by natural selection, the role of mutation, evidence for evolution including fossils and antibiotic resistance, and how new species form.11 min answer →
4.2 Organisation
Module overview →- What are the components of blood, and how is each one adapted to its function?Blood as a tissue made of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, the function of each component, and how red blood cells are adapted to carry oxygen.9 min answer →
- What is health, and how do lifestyle and non-communicable diseases such as cancer affect the body?The definition of health, the difference between communicable and non-communicable disease, risk factors for non-communicable diseases, the effect of lifestyle, the development of cancer, and the interaction of different diseases.9 min answer →
- How are plant tissues organised, and how do plants transport water and food?Plant tissues and organs, the structure and function of the leaf, the roles of xylem and phloem, transpiration and translocation, and the effect of environmental factors on the rate of transpiration.10 min answer →
- How are cells organised into tissues, organs and organ systems to keep an organism alive?The levels of organisation from cells to tissues, organs and organ systems, the meaning of each level, and how the digestive system is an example of an organ system, including the action of enzymes.8 min answer →
- How do enzymes digest food, and how does the digestive system absorb nutrients?The action of enzymes as biological catalysts, the lock and key model, the effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity, the products of digestion, and the role of bile, with the food tests for the required practical.10 min answer →
- How does the heart pump blood around the body, and how are the blood vessels adapted to their jobs?The structure of the heart and the double circulatory system, the roles of the arteries, veins and capillaries, how the heart rate is controlled, and the structure and function of the lungs in gas exchange.10 min answer →