Scotland Β· SQASyllabus
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Scotland 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.
Area 1: Cells and Proteins
Module overview β- How do cells detect and respond to signals from other cells?Communication and signalling: extracellular signalling molecules and receptors, hydrophobic and hydrophilic signals, intracellular and transmembrane receptors, G-protein-coupled receptors and second messengers, phosphorylation cascades and signal amplification.11 min answer β
- How do biologists separate, identify and quantify molecules and cells in the laboratory?Laboratory techniques for biologists: dilutions and standard curves, separation by centrifugation, chromatography and electrophoresis, antibody techniques (immunoassay, ELISA, blotting), aseptic technique, cell culture and cell counting.12 min answer β
- How do membrane proteins move substances across the cell membrane and generate a membrane potential?Membrane proteins: the phospholipid bilayer and fluid mosaic model, integral and peripheral proteins, transport by channels, carriers and pumps, the sodium-potassium pump, and the generation of the resting membrane potential.11 min answer β
- How do proteins control the cell cycle and how does that control fail in cancer?Protein control of cell division: the cytoskeleton and microtubules, the cell cycle, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases, cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and the loss of control that leads to cancer.11 min answer β
- How does the structure of a protein determine the way it binds and functions?Protein structure and binding: amino acids and peptide bonds, the four levels of structure, R group interactions, prosthetic groups, ligand binding and conformational change, allosteric regulation, cooperativity, and modification by phosphorylation.12 min answer β
Area 3: Investigative Biology
Module overview β- How are biological data analysed, evaluated and communicated?Communication and scientific literacy: presenting data, descriptive and inferential statistics, evaluating reliability and validity, the critical evaluation of research, scientific ethics and integrity, and the structure of a scientific report.11 min answer β
- How are valid and reliable biological experiments designed?Experimentation: observational versus experimental studies, controls, placebos and blinding, randomisation, replication and sampling, in vivo, in vitro and in situ studies, and the treatment of error and uncertainty.12 min answer β
- What principles guide scientific inquiry in biology?Scientific principles and process: hypotheses and predictions, the scientific method and pilot studies, independent, dependent and confounding variables, ethics in research, primary and secondary sources, and peer review.11 min answer β
Area 2: Organisms and Evolution
Module overview β- What processes change the genetic make-up of populations over time?Evolution: sources of genetic variation, sexual versus asexual reproduction and the costs of sex, natural and sexual selection, genetic drift, the bottleneck and founder effects, the Hardy-Weinberg principle, co-evolution and hybridisation.12 min answer β
- How do biologists sample populations and classify organisms in the field?Field techniques for biologists: managing hazards in fieldwork, representative sampling with quadrats, transects and point counts, mark-recapture, taxonomy and phylogenetics, model organisms, and indicator species for monitoring.11 min answer β
- How do parasites exploit their hosts and how is their spread controlled?Parasitism: the spectrum of symbiosis, parasite life cycles and transmission, definitive, intermediate and vector hosts, immune evasion, behavioural manipulation, social parasitism, epidemiology and the control of parasites.12 min answer β
- How do reproductive strategies and sexual selection shape animal behaviour?Sex and behaviour: r and K reproductive strategies, parental investment, mating systems, intra- and inter-sexual selection, mate choice and courtship, sexual dimorphism, and alternative reproductive behaviours.11 min answer β