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ScotlandBiology

Area 1: Cell Biology

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

How are animal, plant, fungal and bacterial cells built, and how do their structures suit their jobs?

The ultrastructure of animal, plant, fungal and bacterial cells, the function of each organelle, and the differences in cell wall composition and the presence of a true nucleus, plasmids, chloroplasts and vacuoles.
An SQA National 5 Biology answer on cell structure, covering the ultrastructure of animal, plant, fungal and bacterial cells, the function of each organelle, the differences in cell wall composition, and the presence of a true nucleus, plasmids, chloroplasts and vacuoles.
9 min answer →

How does the base sequence of DNA carry the code for making proteins?

The double-stranded structure of DNA with complementary base pairing, the role of the base sequence as the genetic code for the order of amino acids, and how mRNA carries a complementary copy from the nucleus to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
An SQA National 5 Biology answer on DNA and the production of proteins, covering the double-stranded structure of DNA, complementary base pairing, the base sequence as the genetic code, and how messenger RNA carries a copy from the nucleus to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
9 min answer →

How is a useful gene transferred from one organism into bacteria to make a product such as insulin?

Genetic engineering as the transfer of a gene from one organism to another, the ordered stages using a bacterial plasmid and enzymes, and the production of human insulin by genetically modified bacteria as the key example.
An SQA National 5 Biology answer on genetic engineering, covering the transfer of a gene from one organism to another, the ordered stages using a bacterial plasmid and enzymes, and the production of human insulin by genetically modified bacteria as the key example.
8 min answer →

How do the structure and shape of proteins, especially enzymes, control their function?

Proteins as chains of amino acids whose sequence sets their shape and function, the range of protein functions, and enzymes as biological catalysts with a specific active site, an optimum temperature and pH, and denaturation outside these conditions.
An SQA National 5 Biology answer on proteins, covering proteins as chains of amino acids, the range of protein functions, and enzymes as biological catalysts with a specific active site, an optimum temperature and pH, and denaturation when conditions become too extreme.
9 min answer →

How do cells release energy from glucose, and what happens when oxygen runs out?

Respiration as the release of energy from glucose to make ATP, the word equation and stages of aerobic respiration including glycolysis, and the fermentation pathways to lactate in animals and to ethanol and carbon dioxide in plant and yeast cells.
An SQA National 5 Biology answer on respiration, covering the release of energy from glucose to make ATP, the word equation and stages of aerobic respiration including glycolysis, and the fermentation pathways to lactate in animals and to ethanol and carbon dioxide in plant and yeast cells.
9 min answer →

How do substances move into and out of cells across the selectively permeable membrane?

Passive transport by diffusion and osmosis down concentration gradients, the effects of osmosis on animal and plant cells in hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solutions, and active transport against the gradient using energy from respiration.
An SQA National 5 Biology answer on transport across cell membranes, covering the selectively permeable membrane, passive transport by diffusion and osmosis, the effects of osmosis on animal and plant cells in different solutions, and active transport against the concentration gradient using energy from respiration.
9 min answer →