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EnglandBiology

B6 Global challenges

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What causes communicable diseases, how do they spread, and how do organisms defend against them?

Communicable diseases and the four types of pathogen (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protists), how pathogens are spread, examples of human and plant communicable diseases, and the non-specific physical and chemical defences of the human body and of plants.
A focused answer to the OCR Gateway GCSE Biology A topic B6 on communicable disease, covering the four types of pathogen, how diseases are spread, examples of human and plant diseases, and the non-specific physical and chemical defences of the human body and of plants.
9 min answer →

Where do new medicines come from, and how are they tested to be sure they are safe and effective?

The discovery of drugs from plants and microorganisms, the stages of developing and testing a new drug (preclinical testing and clinical trials), the use of placebos and double-blind trials, and why each stage is needed to check a drug is safe and effective.
A focused answer to the OCR Gateway GCSE Biology A topic B6 on drug development and testing, covering the discovery of drugs from plants and microorganisms, preclinical testing and clinical trials, the use of placebos and double-blind trials, and why each stage is needed to check a drug is safe and effective.
9 min answer →

How can we produce enough food for a growing population without destroying the environment?

Food security and the factors that threaten it, methods used to increase food production including fertilisers, pest control and intensive farming, biological control, the use of genetically modified crops, and sustainable approaches to feeding a growing human population.
A focused answer to the OCR Gateway GCSE Biology A topic B6 on feeding the human race, covering food security and its threats, methods to increase food production including fertilisers, pest control and intensive farming, biological control, the use of genetically modified crops, and sustainable approaches to feeding a growing population.
9 min answer →

Why does biodiversity matter, how do we monitor it, and how can we protect it?

Biodiversity and its importance, sampling and monitoring ecosystems using quadrats, transects and indicator species, the human activities that reduce biodiversity, and the methods used to maintain biodiversity such as conservation, reforestation and protecting habitats.
A focused answer to the OCR Gateway GCSE Biology A topic B6 on monitoring and maintaining biodiversity, covering biodiversity and why it matters, sampling and monitoring with quadrats, transects and indicator species, the human activities that reduce biodiversity, and conservation methods to maintain it.
9 min answer →

What are non-communicable diseases, what raises the risk of them, and how are they treated?

Non-communicable diseases and their risk factors (diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol), the difference between correlation and cause, the effects of risk factors on the body, cardiovascular disease and its treatments, and the use of data to evaluate the impact of lifestyle on health.
A focused answer to the OCR Gateway GCSE Biology A topic B6 on non-communicable disease, covering risk factors such as diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol, the difference between correlation and cause, cardiovascular disease and its treatments, and using data to evaluate the impact of lifestyle on health.
9 min answer →

How does the immune system destroy pathogens, and how do vaccines and antibodies protect us?

The role of white blood cells in the immune response (phagocytosis, antibodies and antitoxins), how vaccination produces immunity and protects populations, the action and limits of antibiotics including resistance, and the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies.
A focused answer to the OCR Gateway GCSE Biology A topic B6 on the immune system, covering white blood cells and phagocytosis, antibodies and antitoxins, how vaccination produces immunity and protects populations, antibiotics and resistance, and the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies.
10 min answer →