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
Continuity of Cells
- 9 subtopics
- 27 things to know
- Unit AS 1
What Continuity of Cells covers
Continuity of Cells is examined in Unit AS 1, Molecules and Cells, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, the practical skills examination. It covers the cell cycle: interphase and the gap phases, control points in the cell cycle and cancer, chromosome structure, haploidy and diploidy, mitosis: the events of the four stages, cytokinesis and the significance of mitosis, anticancer drugs and the cell cycle, meiosis I and the first division, meiosis II and the significance of meiosis and preparing and examining slides of cell division.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 1
Molecules and Cells, and again in Unit AS 3, Practical Skills in AS Biology.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 9 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The cell cycle: interphase and the gap phasesThree phases that make up interphase, main events of the G1 phase and defining event of the S phase.Open →
- Control points in the cell cycle and cancerControl point in the cell cycle, term tumour and benign and a malignant tumour.Open →
- Chromosome structure, haploidy and diploidyTwo constituents of a eukaryotic chromosome, role of the histone proteins in a chromosome and point at which two sister chromatids are held together.Open →
- Mitosis: the events of the four stagesFour stages of mitosis in order, what happens to the chromosomes during prophase and arrangement of the chromosomes at metaphase.Open →
- Cytokinesis and the significance of mitosisTerm cytokinesis, how cytokinesis occurs in an animal cell and how cytokinesis occurs in a plant cell.Open →
- Anticancer drugs and the cell cycleMitotic poison, how inhibiting microtubule formation halts cell division and antimetabolite in the context of cancer treatment.Open →
- Meiosis I and the first divisionPairing of chromosomes in prophase I, why crossing over is a source of genetic variation and arrangement of chromosomes at metaphase I.Open →
- Meiosis II and the significance of meiosisArrangement of the chromosomes at metaphase II, outcome of telophase II and two events in meiosis that generate genetic variation.Open →
- Preparing and examining slides of cell divisionHow the squash itself is made, why the cells must be spread into a single layer and term mitotic index.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What kind of cells does the first meiotic division produce, and what happens where the homologous chromosomes pair?
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Name the three phases that make up interphase.
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Name the two constituents of a eukaryotic chromosome.
Process
Name the four stages of mitosis in order.
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Define the term cytokinesis.
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Why does a drug that interferes with the cell cycle affect a tumour more than most healthy tissue?
Process
How does the spindle formed in prophase II relate to the spindle of the first division?
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Why is the tip of a growing root chosen for a preparation showing mitosis?
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Describe the main events of the G1 phase.
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What happens to the rate of cell division when control points are lost?
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In which part of a eukaryotic cell are the chromosomes found?
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Describe what happens to the chromosomes during prophase.
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Describe how cytokinesis occurs in an animal cell.
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What is a mitotic poison?
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How many divisions make up meiosis and how many cells result?
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Describe the arrangement of the chromosomes at metaphase II.
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What length of root tip is normally cut for a squash preparation?
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What is the defining event of the S phase?
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Define the term tumour.
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State the role of the histone proteins in a chromosome.
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Which two nuclear structures disappear during prophase?
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Describe how cytokinesis occurs in a plant cell.
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Name a mitotic poison used in cancer treatment.
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How does the chromosome number of the cells produced by meiosis compare with that of the parent cell?
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What happens to the centromeres during anaphase II?
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Why is the root tip warmed in dilute hydrochloric acid before staining?
Take Continuity of Cells further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Name the three phases that make up interphase.
Model answer
Interphase consists of the G1 phase, the S phase and the G2 phase.
- 2
Describe the main events of the G1 phase.
Model answer
The cell grows, synthesises proteins and RNA, and increases the number of its organelles.
- 3
What is the defining event of the S phase?
Model answer
The DNA of every chromosome is replicated during the S phase.
- 4
Describe the main events of the G2 phase.
Model answer
The cell continues to grow, builds up energy stores and makes the proteins needed for division, and the replicated DNA is checked.
- 5
What has happened to the structure of a chromosome by the end of the S phase?
Model answer
Each chromosome now consists of two identical sister chromatids joined at a centromere.
- 6
Explain why the gap phases are more than simple time delays.
Model answer
They give the cell time to monitor its internal and external environment and to confirm that everything is ready before the S and M phases begin.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Continuity of Cells revision questions
- What does Continuity of Cells cover in CCEA A-Level Biology?
- 9 subtopics: the cell cycle: interphase and the gap phases, control points in the cell cycle and cancer, chromosome structure, haploidy and diploidy, mitosis: the events of the four stages, cytokinesis and the significance of mitosis, anticancer drugs and the cell cycle, meiosis i and the first division, meiosis ii and the significance of meiosis and preparing and examining slides of cell division. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Continuity of Cells organised?
- By the CCEA 1010 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Continuity of Cells, 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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