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ScotlandBiology

Area 1: Cells and Proteins

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

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.
An SQA Advanced Higher Biology answer on communication and signalling, covering extracellular signals and specific receptors, hydrophobic signals binding intracellular receptors, hydrophilic signals binding transmembrane receptors, G-protein-coupled receptors and second messengers, phosphorylation cascades, and how signals are amplified.
11 min answer →

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.
An SQA Advanced Higher Biology answer on laboratory techniques, covering linear and log dilution series and standard curves, separation by centrifugation, chromatography and gel electrophoresis, antibody techniques including immunoassay and blotting, aseptic technique and cell culture, and counting cells with a haemocytometer.
12 min answer →

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.
An SQA Advanced Higher Biology answer on membrane proteins, covering the phospholipid bilayer and fluid mosaic model, integral and peripheral proteins, transport by channel and carrier proteins, active transport and the sodium-potassium pump, ligand-gated and voltage-gated ion channels, and the resting membrane potential.
11 min answer →

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.
An SQA Advanced Higher Biology answer on the protein control of cell division, covering the cytoskeleton and microtubules, the stages of the cell cycle, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases, the G1, G2 and metaphase checkpoints, apoptosis, and how the loss of control through oncogenes and tumour suppressors leads to cancer.
11 min answer →

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.
An SQA Advanced Higher Biology answer on proteins, covering amino acids and peptide bonds, primary to quaternary structure, the R group interactions that stabilise tertiary structure, prosthetic groups, ligand binding and conformational change, allosteric regulation, cooperativity, and reversible modification by phosphorylation.
12 min answer →