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
Evolutionary Trends in Animals
- 8 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- Unit A2 2
What Evolutionary Trends in Animals covers
Evolutionary Trends in Animals is examined in Unit A2 2, Biochemistry, Genetics and Evolutionary Trends, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3, the practical skills examination. It covers body plans and the features compared, phylum Cnidaria, phylum Platyhelminthes, phylum Annelida, phylum Arthropoda, phylum Chordata, comparing the five phyla and practical study of animal specimens.
Where it is assessed
Unit A2 2
Biochemistry, Genetics and Evolutionary Trends, and again in Unit A2 3, Practical Skills in Biology.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Body plans and the features comparedBody plan, four features used to compare the phyla in this specification and radial symmetry.Open →
- Phylum CnidariaRecall questions on radial symmetry, the multicellular body supported by water and by the fluid-filled enteron, the single gut opening and what it prevents, the absence of segmentation, and why the body plan suits an aquatic life.Open →
- Phylum PlatyhelminthesRecall questions on bilateral symmetry and dorso-ventral flattening, why flattening suits an animal with no transport system, the single gut opening, support by body tissue alone, and how a parasitic flatworm fits the same plan.Open →
- Phylum AnnelidaMetamerically segmented and regional specialisation in the annelid gut.Open →
- Phylum ArthropodaThree body regions of an insect and trend the arthropod represents in this comparison.Open →
- Phylum ChordataRecall questions on bilateral symmetry and where the segmentation shows, the gut with two openings and regional specialisation, the internal jointed skeleton of calcified bone, and the advantages of an endoskeleton over an external casing.Open →
- Comparing the five phylaTrend in symmetry across the comparison, trend in the gut across the comparison and trend in support across the comparison.Open →
- Practical study of animal specimensRecall questions on the material used, deciding symmetry from the planes that divide a specimen, recognising metameric segmentation and a two-opening gut, what a transverse section shows about support, and calculating the magnification of a drawing.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How would you structure an answer comparing two of the five animal phyla?
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What is meant by a body plan?
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Give two examples of cnidarians.
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Give two examples of platyhelminths.
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Give two examples of annelids.
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Give two examples of arthropods.
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Give two examples of chordates.
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Why is practical work with specimens part of comparing the animal phyla?
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Name the four features used to compare the animal phyla
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Are cnidarians unicellular or multicellular?
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What is meant by dorso-ventrally flattened?
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What shape is an annelid in transverse section?
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Name the three body regions of an insect.
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How many openings does the chordate gut have?
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What would a transverse section of an earthworm show about its support?
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What is radial symmetry?
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What is the enteron?
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How many openings does the platyhelminth gut have?
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What does metamerically segmented mean, applied to an annelid?
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What does grouping segments into regions allow?
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Why must a skeleton be jointed to be useful?
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Which of the five animal phyla is radially symmetrical?
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Why is an external examination of an animal specimen sometimes insufficient?
Take Evolutionary Trends in Animals further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by a body plan?
Model answer
The basic organisation of an animal's body — its symmetry, its segmentation, the arrangement of its gut and the way it is supported.
- 2
Name the four features used to compare the phyla in this specification.
Model answer
Symmetry, segmentation, the arrangement of the gut, and the means of support.
- 3
What is radial symmetry?
Model answer
A body that can be divided into similar halves by any of many planes passing through a central axis.
- 4
What is bilateral symmetry?
Model answer
A body with a left and a right side that mirror each other, so only one plane divides it into similar halves.
- 5
What follows from bilateral symmetry about the way an animal moves?
Model answer
It has a definite front end that meets the environment first, so movement is directional rather than in any direction.
- 6
What is cephalisation?
Model answer
The concentration of sense organs and nervous tissue at the front end of a bilaterally symmetrical animal.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Evolutionary Trends in Animals revision questions
- What does Evolutionary Trends in Animals cover in CCEA A-Level Biology?
- 8 subtopics: body plans and the features compared, phylum cnidaria, phylum platyhelminthes, phylum annelida, phylum arthropoda, phylum chordata, comparing the five phyla and practical study of animal specimens. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Evolutionary Trends in Animals organised?
- By the CCEA 1010 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Evolutionary Trends in Animals, 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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