Key term
CCEA AS-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
Adaptation and Biodiversity
- 13 subtopics
- 39 things to know
- Unit AS 2
What Adaptation and Biodiversity covers
Adaptation and Biodiversity is examined in Unit AS 2, Organisms and Biodiversity, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, the practical skills examination. It covers adaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challenges, ecological factors and the ecological niche, sampling procedures and sampling devices, Estimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage cover, the biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversity, measuring species diversity with Simpson's index, taxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial system, the concept of a species, the taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdom, phylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidence, the five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungi and Plantae, animalia and alternative classification systems.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 2
Organisms and Biodiversity, and again in Unit AS 3, Practical Skills in AS Biology.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 13 subtopics
Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Biology students sit this topic in the first year.
- Adaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challengesAdaptation as it applies to a living organism, three categories into which adaptations are placed and behavioural adaptation.Open →
- Ecological factors and the ecological nicheClimatic factors, how temperature range influences the distribution of a species and light quality as an ecological factor.Open →
- Sampling procedures and sampling devicesHow random sampling is carried out in a field, line transect and belt transect.Open →
- Estimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage coverAbundance of a species in a habitat, density of a species and frequency of a species.Open →
- The biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversityFour groups of biochemicals present in all living organisms, three levels at which biodiversity is described and genetic diversity.Open →
- Measuring species diversity with Simpson's indexRecall questions on why a count of species is not enough, the effect of evenness, working the index from a table of counts, what a high and a low value mean, and the limitations of a single figure.Open →
- Handling data: averages, spread and the t-testMean, median and mode, standard deviation, standard error and 95% confidence limits, a worked t-test on stomatal counts, correlation and causation, presenting tables and graphs, and writing a bibliography.Open →
- Taxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial systemBinomial system of naming organisms and why common names can cause confusion between scientists.Open →
- The concept of a speciesRecall questions on interbreeding and fertile offspring as the criterion, why the definition fails for asexual and extinct organisms, hybrids and their sterility, and the binomial system of naming.Open →
- The taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdomTaxonomic groups from kingdom down to species, family in the taxonomic hierarchy and order in the taxonomic hierarchy.Open →
- Phylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidencePhylogenetic taxonomy and difference between morphology and anatomy as evidence for classification.Open →
- The five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungiFive kingdoms of the five kingdom system of classification, where the genetic material of a prokaryotic cell is found and shape of a bacillus.Open →
- Plantae, animalia and alternative classification systemsMode of nutrition of members of the Plantae, why plants are described as producers in an ecosystem and mode of nutrition of members of the Animalia.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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What do abundance, density, frequency and percentage cover each measure?
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Define adaptation as it applies to a living organism.
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What are climatic factors?
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Why is a habitat sampled rather than surveyed completely?
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Name the four groups of biochemicals present in all living organisms.
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Which index is used to measure species diversity?
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Define taxonomy.
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Why is the ability to produce fertile offspring, rather than simply offspring, part of the definition of a species?
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What is phylogenetic taxonomy?
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Which feature of cell structure separates the Prokaryotae from all the other kingdoms?
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State the mode of nutrition of members of the Plantae.
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Name the three categories into which adaptations are placed.
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Explain how temperature range influences the distribution of a species.
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Describe how random sampling is carried out in a field.
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What is meant by the abundance of a species in a habitat?
Process
Give one example of a biochemical process found in organisms from every kingdom.
Numbers
State the formula for Simpson's index.
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What is nomenclature?
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What is a hybrid?
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List the taxonomic groups from kingdom down to species.
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Name the three kinds of measurable feature used to establish relationships between organisms.
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Describe where the genetic material of a prokaryotic cell is found.
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Which pigment do plants use to capture light, and where is it held?
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What is a behavioural adaptation?
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How does the availability of water influence the distribution of plants?
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Why must the positions of quadrats in random sampling be chosen using random numbers?
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Define the density of a species.
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Which biochemical carries the genetic information in every living organism?
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In Simpson's index, what does N represent?
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What are the mean, median and mode of a data set?
Process
How are 95% confidence limits interpreted when two means are compared?
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What are the median and the mode?
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What is systematics?
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Why does close physical resemblance alone not prove that two organisms belong to the same species?
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Define a genus.
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What is the difference between morphology and anatomy as evidence for classification?
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Give two structures found in a eukaryotic cell that are absent from a prokaryotic cell.
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What are the cell walls of plants made of?
Take Adaptation and Biodiversity further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define adaptation as it applies to a living organism.
Model answer
An adaptation is a behavioural, physiological or morphological feature by which an organism meets a particular challenge set by its environment.
- 2
Name the three categories into which adaptations are placed.
Model answer
Adaptations are described as behavioural, physiological or morphological.
- 3
What is a behavioural adaptation?
Model answer
A behavioural adaptation is something an organism does that improves its chances of surviving a particular environmental challenge.
- 4
What is a physiological adaptation?
Model answer
A physiological adaptation is a feature of the way an organism's body works internally that helps it meet an environmental challenge.
- 5
What is a morphological adaptation?
Model answer
A morphological adaptation is a feature of the shape, form or structure of an organism that helps it meet an environmental challenge.
- 6
Give an example of a behavioural adaptation shown by an animal in a cold habitat.
Model answer
Huddling together in a group is a behavioural adaptation, because it reduces the surface area of each animal that is exposed to the cold.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Adaptation and Biodiversity revision questions
- Is Adaptation and Biodiversity examined at AS in CCEA Biology?
- Yes. It sits in Unit AS 2, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
- What does Adaptation and Biodiversity cover in CCEA AS-Level Biology?
- 13 subtopics: adaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challenges, ecological factors and the ecological niche, sampling procedures and sampling devices, estimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage cover, the biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversity, measuring species diversity with simpson's index, handling data: averages, spread and the t-test, taxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial system, the concept of a species, the taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdom, phylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidence, the five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungi and plantae, animalia and alternative classification systems. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Adaptation and Biodiversity organised?
- By the CCEA 1010 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Adaptation and Biodiversity, 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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