Key term
CCEA A-Level Biology 1010
Biological Molecules
Topic overviewWater as a solventInorganic ions and their rolesMonosaccharides and the glycosidic bondDisaccharides and polysaccharidesLipids, triglycerides and phospholipidsAmino acids and protein structureProtein shape, conjugated proteins and prionsNucleic acids: nucleotides, DNA and RNADNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experimentBiochemical tests and paper chromatography
Enzymes
Topic overviewEnzymes as globular proteins and the active siteSpecificity, cofactors and coenzymesActivation energy and models of enzyme actionThe effect of temperature and pHThe effect of substrate and enzyme concentrationCompetitive and non-competitive inhibitionEnzymes as biomarkers of disease and inhibitors as drugsImmobilised enzymes and biosensors
Viruses and Cell Structure
Topic overviewBacteriophage and HIV structureViral replication in host cellsProkaryotic and eukaryotic cells comparedMembrane structure: the fluid mosaic modelFunctions of membrane componentsMitochondria and chloroplastsRibosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and lysosomesThe nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmataPlant, fungal and animal cellsMicroscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionation
Cell Physiology and Transport
Continuity of Cells
Topic overviewThe cell cycle: interphase and the gap phasesControl points in the cell cycle and cancerChromosome structure, haploidy and diploidyMitosis: the events of the four stagesCytokinesis and the significance of mitosisAnticancer drugs and the cell cycleMeiosis I and the first divisionMeiosis II and the significance of meiosisPreparing and examining slides of cell division
Tissues and Organs
Exchange Surfaces and Gas Exchange
Topic overviewSurface area, volume and the surface area to volume ratioFeatures of efficient exchange surfacesThe need for mass transport systemsFick's law and the rate of gas exchangeGas exchange in plants and the compensation pointGas exchange at the alveolusThe respiratory tree and the mechanism of ventilationThe effects of smoking on the breathing systemUsing a respirometer to measure gas exchange
Transport in Plants
Topic overviewEpidermis, endodermis and the tissues of the rootXylem vessels and their lignification patternsPhloem: sieve-tube elements and companion cellsWater and mineral ion uptake by root hairsThe apoplast and symplast pathwaysTranspiration and the factors affecting its rateCohesion-tension theory and the transpiration streamTranslocation of organic solutes in the phloemXerophytes and hydrophytes
The Circulatory System in Mammals
Topic overviewDouble circulation and the major blood vesselsThe structure and function of arteries, veins and capillariesAtherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vesselsThe structure of the mammalian heartThe cardiac cycle and the operation of the valvesMyogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogramBlood cells and the stained blood filmPlasma, tissue fluid and blood clottingHaemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curveThe Bohr effect, myoglobin and altitude
Adaptation and Biodiversity
Topic overviewAdaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challengesEcological factors and the ecological nicheSampling procedures and sampling devicesEstimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage coverThe biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversityMeasuring species diversity with Simpson's indexHandling data: averages, spread and the t-testTaxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial systemThe concept of a speciesThe taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdomPhylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidenceThe five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungiPlantae, animalia and alternative classification systems
Human Impact on Biodiversity
Topic overviewMonoculture, polyculture and intensive agricultureCrop rotation and hedgerow conservationPredator strips, pesticides and integrated pest managementOrganic pollution of waterways by slurry and silage effluentEutrophication and fertiliser run-offBiological oxygen demand and reducing aquatic pollutionConservation initiatives and habitat protectionGlobal warming, climate change and biodiversity
Homeostasis and Excretion
Topic overviewPrinciples of homeostasis and negative feedbackExcretion, osmoregulation and nitrogenous wasteGross structure of the kidney and the urinary systemStructure of the nephron and its blood supplyEpithelia of the nephron and their adaptationsThe glomerular filterUltrafiltration and the forces that drive itSelective reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubuleThe loop of Henlé and the medullary salt gradientADH, osmoreceptors and the control of water balance
Immunity
Topic overviewNatural barriers to infectionAntigens, antibodies and the antigen–antibody reactionAntibody-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytesCell-mediated immunity and T-lymphocytesActive immunity, passive immunity and vaccinationTransplant rejection and immunosuppressionBlood group polymorphism and the rhesus factorTransfusion compatibility and its consequencesAntibiotic resistance and the search for new antimicrobialsELISA and the detection of disease biomarkers
Co-Ordination and Control
Topic overviewPhytochromes and the control of floweringPlant growth substances and stem elongationThe structure of a neuroneResting potential, threshold and the action potentialImpulse propagation and the speed of conductionSynapse structure and chemical transmissionExcitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentialsGross structure of the eye and accommodationThe retina, rods and conesSkeletal muscle and the sliding filament theory
Populations and Communities
Topic overviewPopulation growth curves, carrying capacity and environmental resistancer-selected and K-selected speciesInteractions between populationsBiological control of pest speciesPopulation dynamics and changes in population sizeEstimating population size in the field and the laboratoryCommunities and ecosystemsSuccession and climax communities
Ecological Energetics and Nutrient Cycling
Topic overviewFood chains, food webs and detritus food chainsTrophic levels, gross and net primary productionEcological pyramids and their usefulnessEnergy transfer efficiency between trophic levelsWhy energy is lost at each trophic levelImplications for agriculture and intensive farmingThe carbon cycleThe nitrogen cycle and the role of bacteria
Respiration
Topic overviewATP and the ATP/ADP cycleGlycolysisThe mitochondrion and the sites of aerobic respirationThe link reaction and the Krebs cycleThe electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylationATP yield from one molecule of glucoseAnaerobic respiration in animals, plants and fungiAerobic and anaerobic respiration compared, and oxygen debtRespiratory quotient and measuring respiration
Photosynthesis
Topic overviewChloroplast structure and the sites of photosynthesisPhotosynthetic pigments and paper chromatographyAbsorption spectra and action spectraPhotosystems, photoactivation and the Z-schemePhotolysis of water, reduced NADP and redox indicatorsCarbon dioxide fixation and rubiscoReduction of glycerate phosphate and regeneration of ribulose bisphosphateLimiting factors, the compensation point and measuring photosynthesis
DNA as the Genetic Code
Topic overviewGenes and the nature of the genetic codeExons, introns and RNA splicingComparing DNA and RNATranscription and RNA polymeraseTransfer RNA, ribosomes and the sites of translationTranslation and polypeptide synthesisOne gene, one polypeptide and the control of the phenotypeEpigenetics, methylation and histone modification
Gene Technology
Topic overviewThe polymerase chain reactionDNA probes and genetic markersMicroarrays, pharmacogenetics and personalised medicineGenetic fingerprinting and gel electrophoresisThe stages of gene transferGenetically modified microorganismsTransgenic animals and plantsGene therapyGenome sequencing and the Human Genome ProjectGene inactivation and knockout organismsSocial, ethical and ecological issues of gene technology
Genes and Patterns of Inheritance
Topic overviewGenotype, phenotype and the environmentChromosomes, genes and allelesMonohybrid inheritance and Mendel's first lawCodominance, multiple alleles and lethal allelesTest crossesDihybrid inheritance and Mendel's second lawAutosomes, sex chromosomes and sex determinationGene interaction and epistasisPolygenic inheritance and continuous variationThe chi-squared test
Population Genetics and Evolution
Evolutionary Trends in Plants
Co-Ordination and Control
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Unit A2 1
What Co-Ordination and Control covers
Co-Ordination and Control is examined in Unit A2 1, Physiology, Co-ordination and Control, and Ecosystems, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3, the practical skills examination. It covers phytochromes and the control of flowering, plant growth substances and stem elongation, the structure of a neurone, resting potential, threshold and the action potential, impulse propagation and the speed of conduction, synapse structure and chemical transmission, excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials, gross structure of the eye and accommodation, the retina, rods and cones and skeletal muscle and the sliding filament theory.
Where it is assessed
Unit A2 1
Physiology, Co-ordination and Control, and Ecosystems, and again in Unit A2 3, Practical Skills in Biology.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Phytochromes and the control of floweringTwo interchangeable forms of phytochrome and critical length of night.Open →
- Plant growth substances and stem elongationPlant growth substance and appearance of a plant treated with gibberellin.Open →
- The structure of a neuroneAxon of a neurone, schwann cells and node of Ranvier.Open →
- Resting potential, threshold and the action potentialResting potential of an axon, typical value for the resting potential of a mammalian axon and threshold stimulus.Open →
- Impulse propagation and the speed of conductionLocal circuit and why some invertebrates achieve rapid responses using giant axons.Open →
- Synapse structure and chemical transmissionSynaptic bulb, gap that separates the two neurones at a synapse and three neurotransmitters.Open →
- Excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentialsEffect of an EPSP on the post-synaptic membrane, effect of an IPSP on the post-synaptic membrane and neurotransmitter that acts at inhibitory synapses.Open →
- Gross structure of the eye and accommodationFunction of the cornea, function of the sclera and function of the pigment in the choroid layer.Open →
- The retina, rods and conesDistribution of rods across the retina, convergence in the retina and dark adaptation.Open →
- Skeletal muscle and the sliding filament theoryMuscle, a muscle fibre and a myofibril, A-band of a sarcomere and I-band of a sarcomere.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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What do the A-band, I-band, H-zone and M-line of a sarcomere each contain?
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Compare the appearance of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle under the microscope.
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In which part of a flowering plant are phytochromes found?
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Which group of plant growth substances promotes cell elongation?
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What is a neurone?
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What does it mean to say that a resting axon membrane is polarised?
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How does an action potential move along an unmyelinated axon?
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What do the letters EPSP stand for?
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What is the conjunctiva?
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What is the retina?
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Name the two interchangeable forms of phytochrome.
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How does the elongation of cells increase the height of a stem?
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What does the cell body of a neurone contain?
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State a typical value for the resting potential of a mammalian axon.
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Why does an impulse travel in one direction only along an axon?
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What is a synapse?
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What do the letters IPSP stand for?
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State the function of the cornea.
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Where in the retina are the cones most concentrated?
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Which wavelength of light does P660 absorb, and what does it become?
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Which group of plant growth substances promotes cell division?
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What are dendrites?
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Define a threshold stimulus.
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Name two factors that influence the speed at which an impulse is conducted.
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What is the synaptic bulb?
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Describe the effect of an EPSP on the post-synaptic membrane.
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What is the pupil?
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Describe the distribution of rods across the retina.
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Distinguish between a muscle, a muscle fibre and a myofibril.
Take Co-Ordination and Control further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What are phytochromes?
Model answer
Phytochromes are light-absorbing pigments found in the leaves of flowering plants that allow the plant to measure the length of the dark period.
- 2
In which part of a flowering plant are phytochromes found?
Model answer
Phytochromes are found in the leaves.
- 3
Name the two interchangeable forms of phytochrome.
Model answer
The two interchangeable forms are P660 and P730.
- 4
Which wavelength of light does P660 absorb, and what does it become?
Model answer
P660 absorbs red light and is rapidly converted into P730.
- 5
Which wavelength of light does P730 absorb, and what does it become?
Model answer
P730 absorbs far-red light and is rapidly converted back into P660.
- 6
What happens to P730 during a period of darkness?
Model answer
In the dark P730 slowly converts back into P660.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Co-Ordination and Control revision questions
- What does Co-Ordination and Control cover in CCEA A-Level Biology?
- 10 subtopics: phytochromes and the control of flowering, plant growth substances and stem elongation, the structure of a neurone, resting potential, threshold and the action potential, impulse propagation and the speed of conduction, synapse structure and chemical transmission, excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials, gross structure of the eye and accommodation, the retina, rods and cones and skeletal muscle and the sliding filament theory. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Co-Ordination and Control organised?
- By the CCEA 1010 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Co-Ordination and Control, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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