Key term
AQA A-Level Biology 7402
Biological Molecules
Topic overviewMonomers, polymers, condensation and hydrolysisMonosaccharides, disaccharides and glycosidic bondsAlpha and beta glucose, amylose and amylopectinHow starch, glycogen and cellulose suit their functionsCellulose microfibrils and tests for sugars and starchTriglycerides, fatty acids and phospholipid structureProperties of lipids and the emulsion testThe general structure of amino acidsPeptide bonds, polypeptides and bonds in proteinsLevels of protein structure, the biuret test and chromatographyActivation energy, induced fit and enzyme specificityEnzyme and substrate concentration and inhibitionpH, temperature, initial rates and measurement uncertaintyDNA, RNA and the components of a nucleotideBase pairing in DNA and RNAPhosphodiester bonds and the DNA double helixDoubts about DNA, base ratios and RNA structureSemi-conservative replication, helicase and DNA polymeraseSteps of replication and the Meselson-Stahl experimentATP structure, hydrolysis and resynthesisWater as a metabolite, solvent and coolantHydrogen, iron, sodium and phosphate ions
Cells
Topic overviewCell-surface membrane, nucleus and mitochondriaChloroplasts, Golgi apparatus and lysosomesRibosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, cell walls and vacuolesCell specialisation, levels of organisation and organelle rolesProkaryotic cell structure and virus particlesOptical and transmission electron microscopesScanning electron microscopes, magnification and graticulesCell fractionation, homogenisation and ultracentrifugationOrder of sedimentation, artefacts and fractionation conditionsThe cell cycle, interphase and the stages of mitosisSpindle fibres, cytokinesis and uncontrolled cell divisionBinary fission, viral replication and root tip squashesMitotic index, mitosis stages and size calculationsThe fluid-mosaic model and cholesterolSimple diffusion, facilitated diffusion and membrane proteinsOsmosis, water potential and active transportCo-transport in the ileum and adaptations for rapid transportTransport rates, dilution series and membrane permeabilityAntigens, cell recognition and phagocytosisAntigen-presenting cells, T cells and clonal selectionAntibody structure, agglutination and antigen-antibody complexesMemory cells, vaccination and active and passive immunityHIV structure and replicationAIDS, monoclonal antibodies, ELISA and clinical trials
Organisms Exchange Substances with Their Environment
Topic overviewSurface area to volume ratio, metabolic rate and calculationsGas exchange in single-celled organisms, insects and fishLeaf gas exchange, insect water loss and xerophytesTrachea, bronchi, alveoli and lung dissectionInspiration, expiration and pulmonary ventilation rateLung disease, correlation, insect tracheae and Spearman's rankDigestion of carbohydrates and lipidsEndopeptidases, exopeptidases and dipeptidasesCo-transport of amino acids, micelles and chylomicronsHaemoglobin, red blood cells and the dissociation curveCooperative binding, the Bohr effect and different haemoglobinsDouble circulation and the major blood vesselsHeart chambers, the cardiac cycle and heart dissectionArteries, arterioles, veins and capillariesTissue fluid, cardiovascular risk factors and semilunar valvesXylem structure and the cohesion-tension theoryPhloem structure, companion cells and translocationMass flow from source to sink, tracers and ringingEvaluating mass flow, potometers and transpiration rate
Genetic Information, Variation and Relationships Between Organisms
Topic overviewProkaryotic and eukaryotic DNA, chromosomes and histonesDNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts, genes and lociFeatures of the genetic code, exons and intronsGenome, proteome, mRNA and tRNATranscription, RNA polymerase and splicingTranslation at the ribosome and the role of tRNAGene mutations, mutagens and chromosome non-disjunctionMeiosis, independent segregation and crossing overMeiosis compared with mitosis and random fertilisationGenetic diversity and the spread of advantageous allelesDirectional and stabilising selectionDefining adaptations and how antibiotic resistance spreadsSelection on birth weight, aseptic technique and antimicrobialsClassifying anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptationsDefining a species, courtship and phylogenetic classificationThe taxonomic hierarchy, binomial names and molecular evidenceSpecies richness, the index of diversity and farmingComparing genetic diversity, standard deviation and the t-test
Energy Transfers in and Between Organisms
Topic overviewPhotoionisation and ATP from the light-dependent reactionChemiosmosis, photolysis and products for the Calvin cycleCarbon fixation, triose phosphate and limiting factorsGlasshouse conditions, pigment chromatography and DCPIPGlycolysis and its productsAnaerobic respiration and the oxidation of pyruvateAcetylcoenzyme A and the Krebs cycleOxidative phosphorylation, other substrates and respirometersBiomass and gross and net primary productionNet production of consumers and productivityFarming practices, transfer efficiency and the production equationsSaprobionts and the phosphorus cycleMycorrhizae, ammonification and nitrificationNitrogen fixation, denitrification and fertilisersLeaching, eutrophication and nutrient cycles reviewed
Organisms Respond to Changes in Their Internal and External Environments
Topic overviewIAA, gravitropism and phototropismTaxes, kineses, reflex arcs and choice chambersThe Pacinian corpuscle and generator potentialsRods, cones, colour vision and visual acuityThe SAN, AVN, bundle of His and Purkyne tissueChemoreceptors, baroreceptors and cardiac outputMotor neurone structure and the resting potentialDepolarisation, action potentials and saltatory conductionThe refractory period and speed of conductionSynapse structure and the neuromuscular junctionTransmission at a cholinergic synapseAcetylcholinesterase, summation and inhibitory synapsesNeuromuscular junctions compared, agonists and antagonistsDrug effects and potassium channels in hyperpolarisationAntagonistic muscle pairs and muscle fibre structureSarcomere bands, actin, myosin and tropomyosinThe sliding filament cycle, ATP and phosphocreatineSlow twitch and fast twitch muscle fibresControl systems and why temperature, pH and glucose matterNegative and positive feedbackGlycogenesis, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesisHow insulin, glucagon and adrenaline actThe second messenger model, diabetes and the sugar debateGlucose calibration curves and hormones affecting blood glucoseOsmoregulation, osmoreceptors and ADHNephron structure and ultrafiltrationThe proximal convoluted tubule and the loop of HenleThe distal tubule, collecting duct and urine concentration
Genetics, Populations, Evolution and Ecosystems
Topic overviewGenotype, phenotype and types of alleleMonohybrid and dihybrid crosses, sex linkage and autosomal linkageEpistasis, genetic diagrams and the chi-squared testGene pools, allele frequency and Hardy–WeinbergSources of variation and selection pressuresTypes of selection and allopatric and sympatric speciationGenetic drift, founder effects and the route to speciationCommunities, ecosystems, niches and carrying capacityCompetition, predation, quadrats and mark-release-recaptureMark-release-recapture assumptions and successionSuccession, conservation and evaluating the evidence
The Control of Gene Expression
Topic overviewTypes of gene mutation and mutagenic agentsSilent, frameshift, missense and nonsense mutationsTotipotent, pluripotent and induced pluripotent stem cellsTranscription factors, oestrogen, epigenetics and twin studiesDNA methylation, histone acetylation and cancerRNA interference and epigenetic drug targetsBenign and malignant tumours, suppressor genes and oncogenesAbnormal methylation, oestrogen and evidence on causes of cancerGenome projects, the proteome and sequencing methodsTransgenic organisms and making DNA fragmentsThe polymerase chain reactionPromoters, restriction endonucleases, sticky ends and ligaseTransformation, marker genes and uses of recombinant DNAThe humanitarian debate, cDNA and in vivo cloningDNA probes, hybridisation and screening for allelesGenetic counselling, personalised medicine and screening ethicsVNTRs, PCR and gel electrophoresisUsing and interpreting genetic fingerprints
Genetics, Populations, Evolution and Ecosystems
Sources of variation and selection pressures
- 3 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
Overview
Recall questions on how mutation, independent assortment, crossing over and random fertilisation cause genetic variation, and how predation, disease and competition act as selection pressures.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What is the primary source of genetic variation in a population?
Key term
How does independent assortment during meiosis generate genetic variation?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How do genetic factors contribute to phenotypic variation within a population?
Model answer
Genetic factors determine the range of possible phenotypes through the alleles inherited by individuals, providing the underlying basis for variation in traits.
- 2
What is the primary source of genetic variation in a population?
Model answer
Mutation is the primary source of genetic variation in a population.
- 3
How does independent assortment during meiosis generate genetic variation?
Model answer
Independent assortment randomly orientates homologous chromosome pairs at metaphase I, producing gametes with different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes.
- 4
How does crossing over during meiosis contribute to genetic variation?
Model answer
Crossing over exchanges segments of DNA between homologous chromosomes during prophase I, creating new combinations of alleles on the same chromosome.
- 5
Explain how random fertilisation produces genetic variation.
Model answer
Random fertilisation brings together gametes with different allele combinations, creating new combinations of alleles in the offspring that differ from either parent.
- 6
How does predation act as a selection pressure in natural selection?
Model answer
Predation causes differential survival, as individuals with phenotypes that help them avoid predators are more likely to survive and reproduce.
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