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
Viruses and Cell Structure
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Unit AS 1
What Viruses and Cell Structure covers
Viruses and Cell Structure is examined in Unit AS 1, Molecules and Cells, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, the practical skills examination. It covers bacteriophage and HIV structure, viral replication in host cells, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells compared, membrane structure: the fluid mosaic model, functions of membrane components, mitochondria and chloroplasts, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes, the nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmata, plant, fungal and animal cells and Microscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionation.
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 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Biology students sit this topic in the first year.
- Bacteriophage and HIV structureTwo layers that enclose the nucleic acid of HIV, function of the glycoproteins on the surface of HIV and enzyme HIV carries inside its protein coat.Open →
- Viral replication in host cellsOutline what happens when a bacteriophage infects a bacterium and consequence for the patient of HIV destroying helper T-cells.Open →
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells comparedGroup of organisms made of prokaryotic cells, genetic material of a prokaryotic cell and three organelles that are absent from a prokaryotic cell.Open →
- Membrane structure: the fluid mosaic modelModel used to describe the structure of a cell membrane, term intrinsic protein and term extrinsic protein.Open →
- Functions of membrane componentsFunction of a carrier protein in a membrane, function of a hydrophilic channel in a membrane and function of a receptor molecule in a membrane.Open →
- Mitochondria and chloroplastsOuter boundary of a mitochondrion, advantage of the inner mitochondrial membrane being folded and fluid interior of a mitochondrion.Open →
- Ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and lysosomesFunction of a ribosome, structure of rough endoplasmic reticulum and function of rough endoplasmic reticulum.Open →
- The nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmataStructure of the nuclear envelope, found on the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope and two constituents of a chromosome.Open →
- Plant, fungal and animal cellsVacuole of a mature plant cell, membrane that surrounds a plant cell vacuole and describing fungal protoplasm as multinucleate.Open →
- Microscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionationTerm magnification, term resolution and approximate limit of resolution of a light microscope.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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What can a light microscope do that an electron microscope cannot, and how do the two electron microscopes differ?
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Which type of nucleic acid does a bacteriophage carry?
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What happens to a host cell as new virus particles are produced within it?
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Give the defining feature of a prokaryotic cell.
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State the function of a carrier protein in a membrane.
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Describe the outer boundary of a mitochondrion.
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State the function of a ribosome.
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Describe the structure of the nuclear envelope.
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Of what material is a plant cell wall constructed?
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What encloses the nucleic acid of a bacteriophage?
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Which group of organisms do bacteriophages infect?
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Give an example of a group of organisms made of prokaryotic cells.
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Name the model used to describe the structure of a cell membrane.
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Why are water-soluble substances unable to cross the phospholipid bilayer directly?
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What are cristae?
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How does smooth endoplasmic reticulum differ from rough endoplasmic reticulum?
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What is found on the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope?
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Name the structure that cements the walls of neighbouring plant cells together and give its composition.
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Define the term magnification.
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Which type of nucleic acid does the human immunodeficiency virus carry?
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Describe in outline what happens when a bacteriophage infects a bacterium.
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Name three organelles that are absent from a prokaryotic cell.
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Which class of molecule forms the continuous framework of a membrane?
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Give one role of an enzyme located in a cell membrane.
Evaluation
Explain the advantage of the inner mitochondrial membrane being folded.
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What is a vesicle?
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How is the nuclear envelope related to the rough endoplasmic reticulum?
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Describe the vacuole of a mature plant cell.
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Define the term resolution.
Take Viruses and Cell Structure further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Which type of nucleic acid does a bacteriophage carry?
Model answer
A bacteriophage carries DNA.
- 2
What encloses the nucleic acid of a bacteriophage?
Model answer
The DNA is bounded by a coat made of protein.
- 3
Which type of nucleic acid does the human immunodeficiency virus carry?
Model answer
The human immunodeficiency virus carries RNA.
- 4
Describe the two layers that enclose the nucleic acid of HIV.
Model answer
The RNA is bounded by a protein coat, and outside that lies a lipid bilayer taken from the host cell membrane.
- 5
Which type of molecule is embedded in the outer lipid bilayer of HIV?
Model answer
Glycoprotein molecules are embedded in the lipid bilayer.
- 6
What is the function of the glycoproteins on the surface of HIV?
Model answer
They allow the virus to recognise and attach to the surface of a specific host cell.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Viruses and Cell Structure revision questions
- Is Viruses and Cell Structure examined at AS in CCEA Biology?
- Yes. It sits in Unit AS 1, 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 Viruses and Cell Structure cover in CCEA AS-Level Biology?
- 10 subtopics: bacteriophage and hiv structure, viral replication in host cells, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells compared, membrane structure: the fluid mosaic model, functions of membrane components, mitochondria and chloroplasts, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus and lysosomes, the nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmata, plant, fungal and animal cells and microscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Viruses and Cell Structure organised?
- By the CCEA 1010 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Viruses and Cell Structure, 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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