Key term
Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0
Key Concepts in Biology
Topic overviewEukaryotic and prokaryotic cellsSpecialised cells and their adaptationsMicroscopes and magnification calculationsSize, scale and units in cell biologyEnzyme action and denaturationFactors affecting enzyme activityEnzymes in synthesis and digestion, and rate calculationsFood tests and the energy in foodDiffusion, osmosis and active transportOsmosis in potatoes and percentage change in mass
Cells and Control
Topic overviewMitosis and the cell cycleWhy mitosis matters: growth, repair and cancerGrowth, differentiation and percentile chartsStem cells and their use in medicineThe structure and function of the brainInvestigating and treating the brainNeurones, receptors and the reflex arcThe structure and function of the eyeEye defects and how they are corrected
Genetics
Topic overviewAsexual and sexual reproductionMeiosis and the formation of gametesDNA structure, genes and the genomeExtracting DNA from fruitProtein synthesis: transcription and translationGenetic variants in coding and non-coding DNAMendel's work and the inheritance of blood groupsAlleles, genotype and phenotypeMonohybrid crosses and sex determinationProbability and ratios from genetic crossesSex-linked disordersCauses of variation: genes and environmentThe Human Genome ProjectGenetic variation and the effects of mutation
Natural Selection and Genetic Modification
Topic overviewDarwin, Wallace and the theory of evolutionNatural selection and antibiotic resistanceFossil evidence for human evolutionStone tool evidence for human evolutionThe pentadactyl limb and the three domainsSelective breedingTissue cultureGenetic engineering and modern agricultureThe stages of genetic engineeringBenefits and risks of GM organisms
Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines
Topic overviewHealth, disease and susceptibilityPathogens and common infectionsHow pathogens spread, and the virus life cycleSexually transmitted infectionsHow plants defend themselves and how plant disease is detectedPhysical barriers and chemical defencesThe immune system, immunisation and herd immunityAntibiotics and developing new medicinesAseptic technique in culturing microorganismsTesting antiseptics and antibiotics on bacterial culturesMonoclonal antibodiesLifestyle factors and non-communicable diseaseTreatments for cardiovascular disease
Plant Structures and Their Functions
Topic overviewPhotosynthesis as an endothermic reactionLimiting factors in photosynthesisLight intensity and the rate of photosynthesisRoot hair cells, xylem and phloemTranspiration and translocationLeaf structure for photosynthesis and gas exchangeFactors affecting the rate of transpirationPlant adaptations to extreme environmentsPlant hormones and their commercial uses
Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis
Topic overviewHormones, endocrine glands and homeostasisAdrenalin, thyroxine and negative feedbackThe menstrual cycle and its hormonesHormonal and barrier contraceptionAssisted reproductive technology and IVFHomeostasis and thermoregulationControlling blood glucose, and type 1 diabetesType 2 diabetes and body massThe urinary system and the production of ureaThe nephron, filtration and the effect of ADHTreating kidney failure: dialysis and transplants
Exchange and Transport in Animals
Topic overviewWhy multicellular organisms need exchange surfacesAlveoli and gas exchangeRate of diffusion and Fick's lawThe blood and its componentsArteries, veins and capillariesThe heart and the circulatory systemCellular respiration as an exothermic reactionAerobic and anaerobic respiration comparedInvestigating the rate of respirationCardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate
Ecosystems and Material Cycles
Topic overviewLevels of organisation and interdependenceAbiotic and biotic factors in a communityParasitism and mutualismSampling with quadrats and transectsEstimating population size from field dataEnergy transfer between trophic levelsHuman impact on ecosystems and biodiversityFood securityThe carbon cycleThe water and nitrogen cyclesIndicator species and pollutionFactors affecting the rate of decompositionCalculating the rate of decay
Exchange and Transport in Animals
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Paper 2
What Exchange and Transport in Animals covers
Exchange and Transport in Animals is examined in Paper 2, Biology 2. It covers why multicellular organisms need exchange surfaces and transport systems, alveoli and gas exchange, Fick's law, the blood, arteries, veins and capillaries, the heart and the double circulation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, investigating the rate of respiration with a respirometer, and cardiac output.
Where it is assessed
Paper 2
Biology 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Why multicellular organisms need exchange surfacesThe oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, glucose, mineral ions and urea that must be transported in an organism, calculating surface area to volume ratios of cubes, and why single-celled organisms and flatworms rely on diffusion while large animals need exchange surfaces and transport systems.Open →
- Alveoli and gas exchangeAlveoli as the site of gas exchange, how their number, one-cell-thick walls, capillary network, moist lining and ventilation keep the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide fast, and the two cell layers oxygen crosses into the blood.Open →
- Rate of diffusion and Fick's lawSurface area, concentration gradient and diffusion distance, the villi and scarred lungs as examples, and Fick's law calculations of relative rate from area, difference and thickness.Open →
- The blood and its componentsRed blood cells, haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin, their biconcave shape and lack of a nucleus, phagocytes and lymphocytes, plasma and what it carries, platelets and clotting, estimating cell numbers per cubic millimetre, and pie chart angles and percentages for the parts of a blood sample.Open →
- Arteries, veins and capillariesArteries, veins and capillaries and the direction each carries blood, and how the thick elastic walls and narrow lumen of arteries, the valves and wide lumen of veins, and the thin walls and dense networks of capillaries suit their functions.Open →
- The heart and the circulatory systemThe four chambers of the heart and why their walls differ in thickness, the vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein and aorta, valves, the route from the right atrium to the lungs, the double circulation, and the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle.Open →
- Cellular respiration as an exothermic reactionWhat happens in cellular respiration, why it is exothermic and continuous in every living cell, how its energy is used for muscle contraction, building large molecules, active transport and keeping mammals warm, and the two types of respiration.Open →
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration comparedThe word and balanced symbol equations for aerobic respiration in mitochondria, anaerobic respiration producing lactic acid in muscles and ethanol and carbon dioxide in yeast and plants, fermentation, why anaerobic respiration releases less energy, and why sprinters respire anaerobically and what happens to lactic acid.Open →
- Investigating the rate of respirationUsing a respirometer with germinating peas or woodlice, soda lime and a glass bead control, the variables, airtightness, settling time, errors and safety, calculating means, ranges and uncertainty, anomalous results and range bars, and treating small animals ethically.Open →
- Cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rateStroke volume, heart rate and cardiac output and the equation linking them, calculating each from the other two, working out heart rate from a pulse count, converting to cubic decimetres, and why cardiac output rises during exercise.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Explain how the thickness and area of an exchange surface affect the rate of diffusion across the surface.
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Describe how blood moves through the right side of the heart to the lungs and why the double circulation helps.
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Name the gas that must be transported from the lungs to respiring cells.
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Name the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place.
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Name the four main components of blood.
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Describe what happens during cellular respiration.
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State the word equation for aerobic respiration.
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Name two organisms that are suitable for an investigation into the rate of respiration.
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State the equation linking cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate.
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Name the waste gas that must be carried away from respiring cells.
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Explain how having millions of alveoli helps gas exchange.
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Name the three factors that affect how quickly a substance diffuses across a surface.
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State the function of red blood cells.
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Name the three types of blood vessel.
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Name the four chambers of the heart.
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State where in an organism respiration takes place.
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State the balanced symbol equation for aerobic respiration.
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Explain why soda lime is placed in the tube with the organisms.
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State what is meant by stroke volume.
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State why water must be moved around an organism.
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Explain how the thickness of an alveolus wall helps gas exchange.
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State the effect of increasing the surface area on the rate of diffusion.
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Name the red pigment inside a red blood cell that binds oxygen.
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State the direction in which arteries carry blood.
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Explain why the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than the wall of the right ventricle.
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Explain why respiration must go on continuously.
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Name the organelle in which aerobic respiration takes place.
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Explain why the coloured liquid in the capillary tube moves towards the organisms.
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State what is meant by cardiac output.
Take Exchange and Transport in Animals further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Artery vs Vein
Artery: thick-walled vessel carrying high-pressure blood away from the heart. Vein: wide-lumen vessel with valves returning low-pressure blood to the heart.
Aerobic respiration vs Anaerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration: breakdown of glucose with oxygen to carbon dioxide and water. Anaerobic respiration: partial breakdown of glucose without oxygen to lactic acid.
Stroke volume vs Cardiac output
Stroke volume: amount of blood a ventricle pumps out in one beat. Cardiac output: amount of blood a ventricle pumps out in one minute.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Name the gas that must be transported from the lungs to respiring cells.
Model answer
Oxygen is transported from the lungs to respiring cells.
- 2
Name the waste gas that must be carried away from respiring cells.
Model answer
Carbon dioxide is carried away from respiring cells.
- 3
State why water must be moved around an organism.
Model answer
Every cell needs water as the solvent in which its chemical reactions take place.
- 4
Name the dissolved food molecule that is carried to cells for respiration.
Model answer
Glucose is carried in solution to cells for respiration.
- 5
State where dissolved food molecules pass into the blood.
Model answer
Dissolved food molecules are absorbed into the blood through the wall of the small intestine.
- 6
State why mineral ions must be transported to cells.
Model answer
Cells need mineral ions to build substances such as haemoglobin and to keep their chemical processes working.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Exchange and Transport in Animals revision questions
- What does Exchange and Transport in Animals cover in Edexcel GCSE Biology?
- 10 subtopics: why multicellular organisms need exchange surfaces, alveoli and gas exchange, rate of diffusion and fick's law, the blood and its components, arteries, veins and capillaries, the heart and the circulatory system, cellular respiration as an exothermic reaction, aerobic and anaerobic respiration compared, investigating the rate of respiration and cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Exchange and Transport in Animals organised?
- By the Edexcel 1BI0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Exchange and Transport 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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