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Edexcel International A Level Biology, topic 3

Cell Structure, Reproduction and Development

Cell Structure, Reproduction and Development is topic 3 of Pearson Edexcel International AS / A Level Biology (XBI11 / YBI11) and is examined in Unit 2. It covers the ultrastructure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, microscopy, meiosis, fertilisation, mitosis and the cell cycle, and how stem cells, gene expression and epigenetics produce specialised cells and phenotypes.

Subtopics

Work through them in order. Each one has notes, exam questions and flashcards, and a PDF of each.

  1. 1Cells, tissues and organelles Spec 3.1–3.6Common features of cells, tissues to organ systems, eukaryotic and prokaryotic ultrastructure, protein transport and recognising organelles in micrographs.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 17
    1. Features common to all living cells
    2. Tissues, organs and organ systems
    3. Ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells
    4. Protein transport and extracellular enzymes
    5. Ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells
    6. Recognising organelles in electron micrographs
  2. 2Microscopy and measuring cells Spec 3.7, 3.8Magnification and resolution in light and electron microscopes, why specimens are stained, and Core Practical 5 on drawing and measuring cells.NotesQuestions 9Flashcards 11
    1. Magnification and resolution
    2. Staining specimens
    3. Core Practical 5: observing, drawing and measuring cells
  3. 3Chromosomes, meiosis and gametes Spec 3.9–3.13Gene loci and linkage, how meiosis produces genetic variation, specialised mammalian gametes, and fertilisation in mammals and flowering plants.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 14
    1. Gene loci and linkage
    2. Meiosis and genetic variation
    3. Specialised mammalian gametes
    4. Fertilisation in mammals
    5. Fertilisation in flowering plants
  4. 4Mitosis and the cell cycle Spec 3.14–3.16The cell cycle and mitosis, Core Practical 6 on root tip squashes, and calculating the mitotic index.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 12
    1. The cell cycle and mitosis
    2. Core Practical 6: root tip squash
    3. Calculating the mitotic index
  5. 5Stem cells, gene expression and phenotype Spec 3.17–3.21Stem cells in medicine, differential gene expression, changes to mRNA after transcription, epigenetics, multiple alleles and polygenic inheritance.NotesQuestions 10Flashcards 16
    1. Stem cells and potency
    2. Using stem cells in medical therapies
    3. Differential gene expression and specialisation
    4. One gene, more than one protein
    5. Genotype, environment and epigenetics
    6. Multiple alleles, polygenic inheritance and variation

Whole topic

When you have done the subtopics: test yourself on everything, or print the lot.

Revision notesAll revision notesEvery subtopic in one PDF · 28 pagesDownload PDFWorksheetTopic testAll 43 questions (129 marks) with the mark scheme · 19 pagesDownload PDF
FlashcardsAll flashcards70 cards from every subtopicPractisePrint
Mind mapMind mapThe whole topic on one pageViewPDF