BRAINCAKE

OCR GCSE Biology

OCR Biology A (J247)6 topics129 lessons

OCR GCSE Biology revision for OCR Biology A (J247): 6 topics and 129 short lessons, each with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and a quiz. The topics follow the OCR specification.

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1. Cell level systems

22 lessons

  1. Light microscopes and staining
  2. Sub-cellular structures and their functions
  3. Electron microscopy and resolution
  4. DNA as a polymer
  5. DNA double helix
  6. Nucleotides in DNA
  7. Protein synthesis
  8. DNA structure and proteins
  9. Investigating enzyme reactions
  10. Mechanism of enzyme action
  11. Respiration as a universal process
  12. Respiration as an exothermic reaction
  13. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
  14. Sugars and carbohydrates
  15. Amino acids and proteins
  16. Fatty acids, glycerol and lipids
  17. Photosynthetic organisms as producers
  18. The process of photosynthesis
  19. Photosynthesis is endothermic
  20. Investigating photosynthesis
  21. Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
  22. Limiting factors and graphs

2. Scaling up

16 lessons

  1. Transport into and out of cells
  2. Mitosis and the cell cycle
  3. The importance of cell differentiation
  4. Stem cells and meristems
  5. Functions of stem cells and meristems
  6. Embryonic and adult stem cells
  7. Exchange surfaces and surface area to volume ratio
  8. Substances transported in and out of organisms
  9. The human circulatory system
  10. The heart and blood vessels
  11. Adaptations of red blood cells and plasma
  12. Uptake of water and mineral ions by plants
  13. Transpiration, translocation and stomata
  14. Xylem and phloem structure
  15. Factors affecting water uptake
  16. Using a potometer

3. Organism level systems

27 lessons

  1. Structure of the nervous system
  2. How the nervous system coordinates a response
  3. The reflex arc
  4. Structure of the eye
  5. Defects of the eye
  6. Structure and function of the brain
  7. Difficulties of investigating brain function
  8. Limitations in treating nervous system damage
  9. Hormonal coordination and the endocrine system
  10. Thyroxine and adrenaline
  11. Hormones in human reproduction
  12. Control of the menstrual cycle
  13. Hormones and contraception
  14. Hormones and infertility treatment
  15. Auxins in phototropism and gravitropism
  16. The effects of auxins, gibberellins and ethene
  17. Uses of plant hormones in agriculture and horticulture
  18. Maintaining a constant internal environment
  19. The skin and body temperature control
  20. Insulin and blood sugar level
  21. Glucagon and insulin working together
  22. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  23. Osmotic changes and body cells
  24. The kidneys and water balance
  25. Structure of the kidney and the kidney tubule
  26. ADH and the kidney tubules
  27. Responses to temperature and osmotic challenges

4. Community level systems

10 lessons

  1. Materials cycling through an ecosystem
  2. The role of microorganisms in cycling materials
  3. The carbon cycle and the water cycle
  4. Factors affecting the rate of decomposition
  5. Levels of organisation in an ecosystem
  6. How abiotic and biotic factors affect communities
  7. Interdependence and competition
  8. Trophic levels
  9. Pyramids of biomass and biomass loss
  10. Efficiency of biomass transfer

5. Genes, inheritance and selection

19 lessons

  1. Key terms in inheritance
  2. The genome
  3. Genome, environment and phenotype
  4. Mutations and variants
  5. How variants influence phenotype
  6. Asexual and sexual reproduction
  7. Haploid and diploid cells
  8. Meiosis, gametes and variation
  9. Single gene inheritance
  10. Punnett squares and single gene crosses
  11. Sex determination in humans
  12. Features controlled by many genes
  13. Mendel and the development of our understanding of genetics
  14. Genetic variation in a population
  15. Classification and developments in biology
  16. Natural selection
  17. Evolution and new species
  18. Evidence for evolution
  19. Darwin, Wallace and modern biology

6. Global challenges

35 lessons

  1. Field investigations: sampling and estimating populations
  2. Human interactions and biodiversity
  3. Benefits and challenges of maintaining biodiversity
  4. Evidence for environmental change and distribution of organisms
  5. Biological factors affecting food security
  6. Agricultural solutions to feed a growing population
  7. Impact of selective breeding
  8. Genetic engineering
  9. Steps in genetic engineering
  10. Benefits and risks of gene technology in agriculture
  11. Genetic modification and feeding the population
  12. Health and disease
  13. Communicable and non-communicable diseases
  14. Interactions between diseases
  15. How communicable diseases spread
  16. Reducing and preventing the spread of disease
  17. Examples of human and plant diseases
  18. Physical plant defences: cuticle and cell wall
  19. Chemical plant defences
  20. Detecting and identifying plant diseases
  21. White blood cells and platelets in defence
  22. Non-specific defences of the human body
  23. The immune system and defence against disease
  24. Producing monoclonal antibodies
  25. Uses of monoclonal antibodies
  26. Vaccines and medicines
  27. Aseptic techniques
  28. Discovery and development of new medicines
  29. Non-communicable diseases and their causes
  30. Treatments for cardiovascular disease
  31. Lifestyle factors and non-communicable diseases
  32. Cancer
  33. Stem cells in medicine
  34. Gene technology in medicine
  35. The human genome and medicine