Wales Β· WJECSyllabus
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Wales 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.
Unit 1: Basic Biochemistry and Cell Organisation
Module overview β- How do enzymes speed up reactions, and what changes their activity?Enzymes as biological catalysts, the induced-fit model, the effect of temperature, pH, substrate and enzyme concentration, and the action of inhibitors.11 min answer β
- How do cells divide for growth and for making gametes?The cell cycle and mitosis, the significance of meiosis, and how mitosis and meiosis differ.11 min answer β
- How is the cell membrane built, and how do substances cross it?The fluid-mosaic model of membrane structure, and how substances cross membranes by diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active transport and bulk transport.10 min answer β
- How are cells organised, and what does each organelle do?The ultrastructure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, the functions of organelles, the differences between plant and animal cells, and the levels of organisation from cells to organisms.10 min answer β
- Which chemical elements and molecules build all living things, and how are they tested for?The roles of inorganic ions and water, the structure of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, condensation and hydrolysis, and the biochemical tests for these molecules.11 min answer β
- How is genetic information stored in DNA, and how is it copied?The structure of DNA and RNA, the roles of ATP, semi-conservative DNA replication, and the principle of protein synthesis.11 min answer β
Unit 2: Biodiversity and Physiology of Body Systems
Module overview β- How are gas exchange surfaces adapted in different organisms?The features of efficient gas exchange surfaces, and gas exchange in humans, fish, insects and plants.11 min answer β
- How do organisms obtain and process their food?Modes of nutrition, the human digestive system and digestion of food, absorption, and adaptations for different diets.11 min answer β
- How are substances transported around animals and plants?The mammalian circulatory system and heart, oxygen transport by haemoglobin, and transport of water and assimilates in plants.11 min answer β
- How do we classify living organisms and measure biodiversity?The principles of classification and phylogeny, the three domains and five kingdoms, biodiversity, and how to measure species diversity.11 min answer β
- How do pathogens cause disease, and how do we defend against them?Pathogens and the global impact of infectious disease, the immune response, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.11 min answer β
Unit 3: Energy, Homeostasis and the Environment
Module overview β- How does the body keep its internal conditions stable, and how does the kidney work?The principles of homeostasis and negative feedback, the structure and function of the kidney, ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and osmoregulation.11 min answer β
- How do human activities affect biodiversity and the environment?The effects of human activity on biodiversity, deforestation and agriculture, pollution and climate change, and conservation.11 min answer β
- How do plants capture light energy and store it as chemical energy?The role of ATP, the light-dependent and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, and the factors that limit the rate.11 min answer β
- How do we grow and count microorganisms safely?The structure of bacteria, aseptic technique, culturing microorganisms, the growth curve, and methods of measuring growth.11 min answer β
- What controls the size of populations and the flow of energy through ecosystems?Ecosystems, energy flow and nutrient cycles, population growth and the factors that limit it, and succession.11 min answer β
- How do cells release energy from glucose to make ATP?Glycolysis, the link reaction, the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and anaerobic respiration.11 min answer β
- How do nerve cells carry and pass on electrical signals?The structure of neurones, the resting and action potentials, conduction of nerve impulses, and synaptic transmission.11 min answer β
Unit 4: Variation, Inheritance and Applications
Module overview β- How is our knowledge of genetics applied in biotechnology and medicine?Genetic engineering, the polymerase chain reaction and gene technology, gene therapy, cloning, and the Human Genome Project.11 min answer β
- How are characteristics inherited, and how does evolution happen?Monohybrid and dihybrid inheritance, sex linkage, the sources of variation, natural selection and speciation.11 min answer β
- How do humans and flowering plants reproduce sexually?Gametogenesis and the menstrual cycle in humans, fertilisation, and sexual reproduction and the life cycle in flowering plants.11 min answer β
- How do muscles and the skeleton work together to produce movement?The structure of skeletal muscle, the sliding filament theory of contraction, the role of ATP and calcium, and the role of the skeleton and joints.11 min answer β