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Edexcel GCSE Biology Checklist

Topic 1: Key Concepts in Biology

 Cell structure
 Specialised cells
 Microscopes
 Microscope practical (core practical)
 Microscope calculations
 Enzyme action
 Enzyme activity
 Enzyme practical (core practical)
 Food testing and calorimetry (triple, core practical)
 Diffusion and active transport
 Osmosis
 Osmosis practical (core practical)

Topic 2: Cells and Control

 Mitosis
 Cell differentiation and growth
 Stem cells
 Nervous system
 The brain (triple)
 Brain problems (triple, higher)
 The eye (triple)
 Eye problems (triple)

Topic 3: Genetics
 Meiosis
 Mitosis vs meiosis
 Sexual vs asexual reproduction (triple)
 DNA structure
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 Genes and alleles

 Genetic diagrams
 Mendel (triple)
 Blood groups and sex-linked disorders (triple, higher)
 Variation and human genome project

Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification

 Natural selection
 Darwin and Wallace (triple)
 Bacterial resistance to antibiotics
 Human evolution
 Pentadactyl limb (triple)
 Classification
 Selective breeding
 Tissue culture (triple)
 Genetic engineering (higher)
 Pros/cons of genetic engineering (triple)

Topic 5: Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines

 Health, disease and communicable diseases
 Virus lifecycles (triple)
 STI’s
 Plant defences and infection (triple)
 The immune system
 Immunisation (higher)
 Pros/cons of immunisation (triple)
 Aseptic techniques practical (triple, core practical)
 Development of medicines
 Monoclonal antibodies (triple, higher)
 Non-communicable diseases
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Topic 6: Plant Structures and their Functions

 Photosynthesis
 Rate of photosynthesis
 Inverse square law (higher)
 Light intensity practical (core practical)
 Root hair cells
 Stomata
 Xylem and phloem
 Rate of transpiration
 Leaf structure (triple)
 Extreme plants (triple)
 Plant hormones (triple)
 Using plant hormones (triple, higher)

Topic 7: Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis

 Hormone action
 Adrenaline (higher)
 Thyroxine (higher)
 Blood glucose control – insulin
 Blood glucose control – glucagon (higher)
 Diabetes
 Menstrual cycle (higher)
 Contraception
 ART (higher)
 Thermoregulation (triple, higher)
 Osmoregulation and the kidneys (triple, higher)
 Kidney failure (triple)

Topic 8: Exchange and Transport in Animals

 Surface area: volume (higher)
 Alveoli and gas exchange
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 Fick’s law (triple, higher)

 The blood
 Heart and circulation (higher)
 Blood vessels
 Respiration
 Respiration practical (core practical)

Topic 9: Ecosystems and Material Cycles

 Ecosystems
 Field work and sampling techniques (core practical)
 Trophic levels (triple)
 Human impacts – eutrophication and non-indigenous
species
 Maintaining biodiversity
 Food security (triple)
 Water cycle
 Carbon cycle
 Nitrogen cycle
 Indicator species (triple, higher)
 Decomposition (triple, higher)