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Edexcel International A Level Biology, topic 4

Plant Structure and Function, Biodiversity and Conservation

Plant Structure and Function, Biodiversity and Conservation is topic 4 of Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Biology (XBI11/YBI11), examined in Unit 2 (WBI12/01). It covers plant cell ultrastructure, cellulose and plant tissues, bacterial growth and plant-derived medicines, then classification, biodiversity, allele frequency and the conservation of endangered species. It includes Core practicals 7, 8 and 9.

Subtopics

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

  1. 1Plant cells and cell walls Spec 4.1–4.4Plant cell ultrastructure compared with animal cells, starch and cellulose, and how wall structure gives xylem and fibres their properties.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 10
    1. Plant cell ultrastructure and its functions
    2. Starch and cellulose
    3. Cell wall structure, secondary thickening and plant fibres
  2. 2Plant tissues, fibres and mineral nutrition Spec 4.5–4.9Sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem, plan diagrams and tissue drawings, sustainable plant products, why plants need water and ions, and tensile strength.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 16
    1. Sclerenchyma fibres, xylem vessels and phloem
    2. Core practical 7: plant tissues under the light microscope
    3. Plant fibres, starch and sustainability
    4. Water and inorganic ions in plants
    5. Core practical 8: tensile strength of plant fibres
  3. 3Bacterial growth, plant medicines and drug testing Spec 4.10–4.13Conditions for bacterial growth, antimicrobial and therapeutic plant substances, aseptic technique, and how drug testing developed.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 12
    1. Conditions required for bacterial growth
    2. Antimicrobial and therapeutic substances from plants
    3. Core practical 9: antimicrobial properties of plants and aseptic technique
    4. The development of drug testing
  4. 4Classification and biodiversity Spec 4.14–4.18The species concept, three-domain classification, biodiversity and endemism, and measuring biodiversity with species richness, heterozygosity and D.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 12
    1. Classification and the three-domain system
    2. Biodiversity, endemism and human threats
    3. Measuring biodiversity: species richness and heterozygosity index
    4. Comparing habitats: index of diversity (D)
  5. 5Niche, allele frequency and conservation Spec 4.19–4.21Niche and adaptations, the Hardy-Weinberg equation, mutation, selection and speciation, and evaluating zoos and seed banks.NotesQuestions 8Flashcards 14
    1. Niche and adaptations to the environment
    2. The Hardy-Weinberg equation, mutation and natural selection
    3. Reproductive isolation and the formation of new species
    4. Evaluating zoos and seed banks in conservation

Whole topic

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

Revision notesAll revision notesEvery subtopic in one PDF · 32 pagesDownload PDFWorksheetTopic testAll 40 questions (141 marks) with the mark scheme · 19 pagesDownload PDF
FlashcardsAll flashcards64 cards from every subtopicPractisePrint
Mind mapMind mapThe whole topic on one pageViewPDF