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Biology: Peperiksaan Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
Biology: Peperiksaan Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
PEPERIKSAAN
SIJIL TINGGI PERSEKOLAHAN MALAYSIA
(MALAYSIA HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE)
BIOLOGY
Syllabus
Second Edition
This syllabus applies for the 2001 examination and thereafter until further notice.
Teachers/candidates are advised to contact Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia for the latest
information about the syllabus.
Telephone: 03-61369663
Facsimile: 03-61361488
E-mail: ceo@mpm.edu.my
Website: www.mpm.edu.my
Printed by:
PERCETAKAN WARNI SDN BHD
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Tel: 03-61882666 (4 lines)
Fax: 03-61841402
FALSAFAH PENDIDIKAN KEBANGSAAN
Page
Aims 1
Objectives 1
Elementary Knowledge 1
Content
A. THE BIOLOGY OF MOLECULES AND CELLS 2
B. ENERGETICS 6
C. GASEOUS EXCHANGE, TRANSPORT, AND HOMEOSTASIS 7
D. CONTROL AND COORDINATION 9
E. IMMUNE SYSTEM 11
F. REPRODUCTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND GROWTH 11
G. GENETICS 13
H. TAXONOMY, BIODIVERSITY, AND THEORY OF EVOLUTION 18
I. ECOLOGY 22
Parctical Syllabus 23
Form of Examination 24
Reference Books 24
964 BIOLOGY
Aims
This syllabus aims to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of biology to enable them to
further their studies at institutions of higher learning or to assist them to embark on related careers,
and also to promote awareness among them of the role of biology in the universe.
Objectives
The objectives of this syllabus are to enable students to
1. know and use biological facts and principles;
2. interpret, synthesise, and evaluate biological information;
3. analyse, evaluate, and to deal with information and ideas logically and critically;
4. plan and carry out experiments scientifically and make deductions;
5. handle biological materials correctly and safely;
6. develop proper attitudes and values on social, technological, and environmental issues related to
current biology.
Elementary Knowledge
Modern biology cannot effectively be studied without some understanding of the underlying physico-
chemical principles. Candidates will therefore be expected to have an elementary knowledge of the
topics set out below.
The electromagnetic spectrum
Energy concepts (laws of thermodynamics, potential energy, activation energy, chemical bond
energy)
Ions, molecules, acids, bases, pH, buffers
Isotopes − stable and radioactive
The colloidal state
Oxidation, reduction, electron transfer, and hydrogen transfer
Hydrolysis, condensation, phosphorylation, decarboxylation, deamination, transamination
Large areas of genetics and ecology rely on statistical methods. Candidates will need the
elementary knowledge of the topics listed below. Questions on genetics and ecology which involve
the use of these concepts may be set.
Mean, mode, and median
Standard deviation and standard error
χ2-test
Histograms and pie charts
Normal distribution and bimodal distribution curves
1
Content
1.1.1 Water
1.1.2 Carbohydrates
1.1.3 Lipids
Triglycerides: fatty acids and − Saturated fatty acids (stearic acid) and
glycerol unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid)
− Ester bond and esterification process
1.1.4 Proteins
2
Levels of structure − Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quarternary
structures with examples
− Bonding involved in the formation of proteins
3
2.2 Generalised eukaryotic cells − Structure of eukaryotic cells as seen under the
electron microscope
2.3.1 Membrane, cell wall, and − Structure and functions of membrane based on
cytoplasm the fluid-mosaic model of Singer
4
(iii) Muscles: smooth, − Differences between muscle types
striated, and cardiac − Structure of striated muscles as seen under the
electron microscope
(iv) Bone, cartilage, and blood − Compact bone, hyaline cartilage, erythrocytes,
and leucocytes
5
3.2.4 Protein synthesis − Transcription: processes of mRNA production
− Translation: processes of polipeptide
production
B. ENERGETICS
4. Photosynthesis (9 periods)
4.3 Factors limiting the rate of photosynthesis − Wavelength and intensity of light,
temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration
− Compensation point
5. Respiration (7 periods)
5.1 Aerobiosis
6
5.1.2 Krebs cycle/tricarboxylic acid − Formation of acetyl coenzyme A, formation of
cycle/citric acid cycle citrate, reformation of oxaloacetate from
citrate via α-ketoglutarate and succinate, with
emphasis on the formation of NADH, FADH2,
and GTP, and release of carbon dioxide
− Calculations of total ATP production
6. Nutrition (2 periods)
6.1 Autotroph
6.2.1 Holozoic
6.2.2 Saprophytic
6.2.3 Parasitic
7.1 Animals
7
7.1.2 Breathing cycle − Mechanism of breathing control
− Chemoreceptor
− Tidal volume, vital capacity, total lung
capacity, inspiratory reserve volume,
expiratory reserve volume, residual volume
7.2 Plants
8. Transport (6 periods)
8.1 Animals
8.2 Plants
8.2.1 Xylem and ascent of sap − Uptake of water and ions by roots
− Transpiration
− Root pressure and cohesion-tension theory
− Mechanism of transport based on water
potential
− Pathways − apoplast, symplast, and vacuoles
9. Homeostasis (6 periods)
8
− Emphasis on control of blood glucose level
(role of insulin) and its relationship with
diabetes mellitus
− Calculation of pressure in movement of fluid
between blood capillaries and tissues
9.3 Osmoregulation
9.3.1 Animals
(i) Kidney − Detailed process of urine formation
− Structure and functions of nephron and related
blood vessels
(ii) Antidiuretic hormone − Role and mechanism of action
(ADH)
(iii) Control of blood Na+ ions − Mechanism of control
and pH
9.3.2 Plants
(i) Role of stomata in the − Refer to topic 7.2.1 (Stomata)
regulation of water loss
(ii) Adaptation of plants to the − Morphology, anatomy, and physiology of
environment xerophytes, hydrophytes, halophytes, and
mesophytes, with examples
9
(c) Neuromuscular junctions − Structure of neuromuscular junction and
sarcomere
− Roles of sarcoplasmic reticulum, Ca2+ ions,
myofibril, and T tubule in muscle contraction
− Sliding filament hypothesis
− Mechanism of muscle contraction: roles of
actin, myosin, and troponin
11.1 Humans
10
11.3 Phytochromes and the effect of light − Definition of phytochrome
on flowering − Mechanism of phytochrome action
− Photoperiodism
− Role of phytochromes in photoperiodism and
flowering
E. IMMUNE SYSTEM
12.4 Concept of self and non-self − Foreign tissue/graft rejection by the body
− Application of concept in medicine (organ
transplant)
12.5 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome − Causes, causing agent (HIV), symptoms, and
(AIDS) prevention of AIDS
− Mechanism of HIV infection
11
13.1.2 Fungi: Mucor − Refer to topic 22 (Biodiversity) for
morphological characteristics
− Structure of sexual reproductive organ
− Life cycle with emphasis on sexual
reproduction
14.1 Animals
14.1.2 Human foetal development − Roles of placenta, chorion, amniotic fluid, and
allantois
− Roles of progesterone and oestrogen
12
14.2 Plants
G. GENETICS
13
− Mendel’s experiment on monohybrid and
dihybrid crosses/inheritance
− Characteristics of pea plants used by Mendel
16.2 Modification of Mendelian genetics − Crosses that result in ratios differing from the
classic Mendelian 3:1 and 9:3:3:1 ratios
14
− Effect of crossing-over on ratio of dihybrid
crosses
− Parental and recombinant phenotypes
− Examples: Drosophila eye color and
haemophilia in humans
− Calculations of genotypic and phenotypic
ratios
− Pedigree analysis
− Sex determination in humans
Terms Meaning
Aneuploidy 2n ± chromosome
Monosomy 2n − 1 chromosome
Trisomy 2n + 1 chromosome
Tetra-, penta-, … 2n + 2, 2n + 3, …
15
Terms Meaning
Euploidy Multiple of n
Diploidy 2n
Triploidy 3n
Tetra-, penta-, … 4n, 5n, …
Polyploidy 3n, 4n, 5n, …
Autopolyploidy Multiplication due to
the same genome
Allopolyploidy Multiplication due to
different genome
18.1 Concept of gene pool − Concept of gene pool, allele and genotype
frequencies in a population
− Relationship between population genetics and
evolution
18.2 Hardy-Weinberg law − Genetic equilibrium and allele frequency
− Requirements for genetic equilibrium
− Large-sized population
− Random mating
− No mutation
− No migration
− Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium:
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 and p + q = 1
− Calculations of allele and genotype
frequencies in a population
16
19. Gene regulation and expression (2 periods)
17
20.3 Use of recombinant DNA technology − Definition of transgenic organisms
− Bacteria
− Insulin producers
− Oil composers
− Nitrogen fixation
− Transgenic plants
− Plants resistant to herbicide
− Plants resistant to insect pests
− Transgenic animals
− Producers of α-1-antitrypsin enzyme in
milk
− Producers of tissue plasminogen activator
in milk
− Producers of human growth hormone in
milk
18
21.4 Dichotomous keys − Methods of constructing dichotomous keys
− Use of dichotomous keys for the purpose of
identification of organisms
− Examples of dichotomous keys
19
(ix) Chordata: − Morphological characteristics at the phylum
Chondrichthyes: and class levels
Carcharodon
Osteichthyes: Tilapia
Amphibia: Rana
Reptilia: Naja
Aves: Columba
Mammalia: Rattus
23.1.2 Source
(i) Genetic − Sexual reproduction
− Random assortment of homologous
chromosomes during meiosis
20
− Crossing-over, chromosome mutation, gene
mutation, polygenes, dominant and recessive
genes/alleles
− Hybridisation
21
I. ECOLOGY
22
25.3.2 Types of estimation − Examples and calculations
(i) Absolute
(ii) Relative
Practical Syllabus
23
(c) interpret, draw conclusion from, and evaluate observations and experimental data or
diagrams of specimens;
(d) suggest precautions or safety measures;
(e) use theories to explain the results of experiments;
(f) perform simple calculations based on experiments.
Form of Examination
Candidates are required to enter for Papers 1, 2, and either Paper 3 or Paper 4.
Paper 2 Section A:
4 compulsory short structured questions 40
are to be answered.
Section B:
2½ hours
4 questions are to be answered out of 6 60
essay questions. (15 per question)
Total: 100
(to be scaled to 120)
Reference Books
1. Audesirk, T., Audesirk, G. & Bayers, B.E., Biology: Life on Earth, (6th ed.), Prentice-Hall, 2002.
2. Campbell, N. A. & Reece, J. B., Biology, (6th ed.), Benjamin Cummings, 2002.
3. Clegg, C. J. & Mackean, D. G., Advanced Biology: Principles and Applications, John Murray,
2000.
4. Green, N. P. O., Stout, G. W., & Taylor, D. J., Biological Science 1 & 2 (2nd ed.), Cambridge
University Press, 1990.
5. Jones, M. & Jones, G., Advanced Biology, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
6. Solomon, E., P., Berg, L. R., & Martin, D. W., Biology, (6th ed.), Thomson Learning, 2002.
7. Starr C. & Taggart R., Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life, (9th ed.), Von Hoffmen Press,
2000.
24