Biology Foundation Course| Become Master of Biology Topics

Describe the characteristics of living organisms
by defining the terms:

– movement as an action by an organism
causing a change of position or place
– respiration as the chemical reactions in
cells that break down nutrient molecules
and release energy
– sensitivity as the ability to detect and
respond to changes in the environment
– growth as a permanent increase in size
– reproduction as the processes that make
more of the same kind of organism
– excretion as removal from organisms of
toxic materials and substances in excess of
requirements
– nutrition as taking in of materials for
energy, growth and development 

Define the terms:

– movement as an action by an organism or
part of an organism causing a change of
position or place
– respiration as the chemical reactions in
cells that break down nutrient molecules
and release energy for metabolism
– sensitivity as the ability to detect or
sense stimuli in the internal or external
environment and to make appropriate
responses
– growth as a permanent increase in size and
dry mass by an increase in cell number or
cell size or both
– excretion as removal from organisms of the
waste products of metabolism (chemical
reactions in cells including respiration), toxic
materials, and substances in excess of
requirements
– nutrition as taking in of materials for
energy, growth and development; plants
require light, carbon dioxide, water and
ions; animals need organic compounds and
ions and usually need water

State that organisms can be classified into
groups by the features that they share
• Define species as a group of organisms that
can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
• Define and describe the binomial system of
naming species as an internationally agreed
system in which the scientific name of an
organism is made up of two parts showing the
genus and species

Explain that classification systems aim to
reflect evolutionary relationships

Explain that classification is traditionally based
on studies of morphology and anatomy

State that the cytoplasm of all cells contains
structures, limited to ribosomes on rough
endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles

State that almost all cells, except prokaryotes,
have mitochondria and rough endoplasmic
reticulum

Identify mitochondria and rough endoplasmic
reticulum in diagrams and images of cells

State that aerobic respiration occurs in
mitochondria

State that cells with high rates of metabolism
require large numbers of mitochondria to
provide sufficient energy

Describe and compare the structure of a plant
cell with an animal cell, as seen under a light
microscope, limited to cell wall, nucleus,
cytoplasm, chloroplasts, vacuoles and location
of the cell membrane

State the functions of the structures seen
under the light microscope in the plant cell and
in the animal cell

Define tissue as a group of cells with similar
structures, working together to perform a
shared function

Define organ as a structure made up of a group
of tissues, working together to perform specific
functions

Define organ system as a group of organs with
related functions, working together to perform
body functions

State examples of tissues, organs and organ
systems

Identify the different levels of organisation
in drawings, diagrams and images of familiar
material

Calculate magnification and size of biological
specimens using millimetres as units

Calculate magnification and size of biological
specimens using millimetres and micrometres
as units

Define diffusion as the net movement
of particles from a region of their higher
concentration to a region of their lower
concentration down a concentration gradient,
as a result of their random movement

Describe the importance of diffusion of gases
and solutes

State that substances move into and out of
cells by diffusion through the cell membrane

State that the energy for diffusion comes from
the kinetic energy of random movement of
molecules and ions

Define active transport as the movement
of particles through a cell membrane from
a region of lower concentration to a region
of higher concentration using energy from
respiration

Discuss the importance of active transport as a
process for movement across membranes:
– e.g. ion uptake by root hairs and uptake of
glucose by epithelial cells of villi and kidney
tubules

Explain how protein molecules move particles
across a membrane during active transport

State that water diffuses through partially
permeable membranes by osmosis

State that water moves in and out of cells by
osmosis through the cell membrane

Investigate and describe the effects on plant
tissues of immersing them in solutions of
different concentrations

Define osmosis as the net movement of
water molecules from a region of higher water
potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower
water potential (concentrated solution), through
a partially permeable membrane

Explain the effects on plant tissues of
immersing them in solutions of different
concentrations by using the terms turgid, turgor
pressure, plasmolysis and flaccid

Explain the importance of water potential and
osmosis in the uptake of water by plants

Explain the importance of water potential and
osmosis on animal cells and tissues

Explain how plants are supported by the
turgor pressure within cells, in terms of water
pressure acting against an inelastic cell wall

Define the term catalyst as a substance that
increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is
not changed by the reaction

Define enzymes as proteins that function as
biological catalysts

Describe why enzymes are important in all
living organisms in terms of reaction speed
necessary to sustain life 

Describe enzyme action with reference to
the complementary shape of an enzyme and
its substrate and the formation of a product 

Explain enzyme action with reference to
the active site, enzyme-substrate complex,
substrate and product

Explain the specificity of enzymes in terms of
the complementary shape and fit of the active
site with the substrate

Investigate and describe the effect of changes
in temperature and pH on enzyme activity

Explain the effect of changes in temperature
on enzyme activity in terms of kinetic energy,
shape and fit, frequency of effective collisions
and denaturation

Explain the effect of changes in pH on
enzyme activity in terms of shape and fit and
denaturation

Investigate and describe the use of pectinase
in fruit juice production

Investigate and describe the use of biological

washing powders that contain enzymes

Investigate and explain the use of lactase to
produce lactose-free milk

Define ingestion as the taking of substances,
e.g. food and drink, into the body through the
mouth

Define mechanical digestion as the breakdown
of food into smaller pieces without chemical
change to the food molecules

Define chemical digestion as the breakdown of
large, insoluble molecules into small, soluble
molecules 

Outline the role of bile in neutralising the acidic
mixture of food and gastric juices entering the
duodenum from the stomach, to provide a
suitable pH for enzyme action

Outline the role of bile in emulsifying fats to
increase the surface area for the chemical
digestion of fat to fatty acids and glycerol by
lipase 

Identify the main regions of the alimentary
canal and associated organs, limited to mouth,
salivary glands, oesophagus, stomach, small
intestine (duodenum and ileum), pancreas,
liver, gall bladder and large intestine (colon,
rectum, anus)

Describe the functions of the regions of the
alimentary canal listed above, in relation to
ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation
and egestion of food

Fun Time - Quiz Time

Identify the types of human teeth (incisors,
canines, premolars and molars)

Describe the structure of human teeth, limited
to enamel, dentine, pulp, nerves and cement,
as well as the gums

Describe the functions of the types of human
teeth in mechanical digestion of food

State the causes of dental decay in terms of
a coating of bacteria and food on teeth, the
bacteria respiring sugars in the food, producing
acid which dissolves the enamel and dentine

Describe the proper care of teeth in terms of
diet and regular brushing

Hello students As most of you asked me to solve topical questions to help you understand better how to answer in the exam. Also brief revision of the topic also included In this video, i have solved a 'digestion question' which has a part of homeostasis as well. Hope you enjoy learning!!! :) 

Describe the maintenance of a constant
internal body temperature in humans in terms
of insulation, sweating, shivering and the role
of the brain (limited to blood temperature
receptors and coordination)

Describe the maintenance of a constant
internal body temperature in humans in
terms of vasodilation and vasoconstriction of
arterioles supplying skin surface capillaries 

Define homeostasis as the maintenance of a
constant internal environment

Explain that homeostasis is the control of
internal conditions within set limits

Describe the control of the glucose
concentration of the blood by the liver and the
roles of insulin and glucagon from the pancreas

Outline the symptoms and treatment of Type 1
diabetes 

Identify on drawings, diagrams and images, the
ureters, bladder and urethra

Explain the need for excretion, limited to
toxicity of urea and carbon dioxide

Outline the structure of the kidney, limited to
the cortex, medulla and ureter

Outline the structure and functioning of a
kidney tubule, including:

– the role of the glomerulus in the filtration
from the blood of water, glucose, urea and
salts

– the role of the tubule in the reabsorption
of all of the glucose, most of the water
and some salts back into the blood,
leading to the concentration of urea in the
urine as well as loss of excess water and
salts 

State that urea is formed in the liver from
excess amino acids

Describe the role of the liver in the assimilation
of amino acids by converting them to proteins,
including plasma proteins, e.g. fibrinogen

Define deamination as the removal of the
nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form
urea

Define photosynthesis as the process by which
plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw
materials using energy from light

State the word equation for photosynthesis:
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen, in
the presence of light and chlorophyll

State the balanced chemical equation for
photosynthesis

Explain that chlorophyll transfers light energy
into chemical energy in molecules, for the
synthesis of carbohydrates

Investigate the necessity for chlorophyll, light
and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, using
appropriate controls

Investigate and describe the effects of varying
light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration
and temperature on the rate of photosynthesis,
e.g. in submerged aquatic plants

Define the term limiting factor as something
present in the environment in such short supply
that it restricts life processes

Identify and explain the limiting factors of
photosynthesis in different environmental
conditions

Identify chloroplasts, cuticle, guard cells and
stomata, upper and lower epidermis, palisade
mesophyll, spongy mesophyll, vascular
bundles, xylem and phloem in leaves of a
dicotyledonous plant

Explain how the internal structure of a leaf is
adapted for photosynthesis 

Describe the importance of:
– nitrate ions for making amino acids
– magnesium ions for making chlorophyll

Explain the effects of nitrate ion and
magnesium ion deficiency on plant growth

State that water is transported from the roots
to leaves