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Edexcel GCSE Biology revision notes

Short notes for every spec point. Pick a topic, then a note.

1

Key concepts in biology

5 subtopics · 20 notes

Cell structure and specialised cells
  1. Animal and plant cells
  2. Bacterial cells
  3. Specialised cells
Microscopy and measuring cells
  1. Changes in microscope technology
  2. Number, size and scale: estimations
  3. Units: milli, micro, nano and pico
  4. Core practical: using a microscope
Enzyme action and activity
  1. How enzymes work
  2. Denaturing enzymes
  3. Temperature, substrate concentration and pH
  4. Core practical: the effect of pH on enzyme activity
  5. Rate calculations for enzyme activity
Biological catalysts, food tests and energy in food
  1. The importance of enzymes
  2. Core practical: food tests Triple only
  3. Measuring the energy in food Triple only
Transport in cells
  1. Diffusion
  2. Osmosis
  3. Active transport
  4. Core practical: osmosis in potatoes
  5. Percentage gain and loss of mass
All key concepts in biology notes (PDF)17 pages
2

Cells and control

5 subtopics · 20 notes

Mitosis and cancer
  1. The cell cycle and mitosis
  2. What mitosis produces
  3. Why mitosis is important
  4. Cancer
Growth, differentiation and stem cells
  1. Growth in animals and plants
  2. Cell differentiation
  3. Percentile charts
  4. Stem cells and meristems
  5. Stem cells in medicine
Neurones and reflexes
  1. Receptors and the nervous pathway
  2. Neurone structure
  3. Synapses
  4. Reflex arcs
  5. Investigating reaction times
The brain Triple only
  1. Structures and functions of the brain Triple only
  2. Investigating the brain with scans Triple onlyHigher tier
  3. Limitations in treating nervous system damage Triple onlyHigher tier
The eye Triple only
  1. Structure and function of the eye Triple only
  2. Defects of the eye Triple only
  3. Correcting eye defects Triple only
All cells and control notes (PDF)18 pages
3

Genetics

5 subtopics · 22 notes

Reproduction and meiosis
  1. Asexual reproduction Triple only
  2. Sexual reproduction Triple only
  3. Meiosis
DNA and the genome
  1. The structure of DNA
  2. The genome and genes
  3. Extracting DNA from fruit
Protein synthesis and gene variants Triple onlyHigher tier
  1. From base order to protein shape
  2. Protein synthesis: transcription and translation
  3. Genetic variants in non-coding DNA
  4. Genetic variants in coding DNA
Inheritance
  1. Gregor Mendel Triple only
  2. Alleles and inherited differences
  3. Key genetic terms
  4. Monohybrid inheritance
  5. Sex determination
  6. Calculating and analysing outcomes
  7. ABO blood groups Triple only
  8. Sex-linked genetic disorders Triple onlyHigher tier
Variation, mutations and the Human Genome Project
  1. Features controlled by multiple genes
  2. Causes of variation
  3. Mutations and genetic variation
  4. The Human Genome Project
All genetics notes (PDF)16 pages
4

Natural selection and genetic modification

5 subtopics · 14 notes

Darwin, natural selection and antibiotic resistance
  1. The work of Darwin and Wallace Triple only
  2. Evolution by natural selection
  3. Resistant organisms and antibiotic resistance
Evidence for evolution and classification
  1. Fossil evidence for human evolution
  2. Stone tools
  3. The pentadactyl limb Triple only
  4. Five kingdoms and three domains
Selective breeding and tissue culture
  1. Selective breeding
  2. Tissue culture Triple only
Genetic engineering
  1. What is genetic engineering?
  2. The main stages of genetic engineering Higher tier
  3. GM organisms and crop plants Triple only
Agriculture and evaluating biotechnology
  1. Agricultural solutions for a growing population Triple only
  2. Evaluating genetic engineering and selective breeding
All natural selection and genetic modification notes (PDF)14 pages
5

Health, disease and the development of medicines

6 subtopics · 25 notes

Health and disease
  1. What is health?
  2. Communicable and non-communicable diseases
  3. How one disease can lead to another
Pathogens and infections
  1. What is a pathogen?
  2. Common infections
  3. How pathogens spread and how to control them
  4. The lifecycle of a virus Triple only
  5. Sexually transmitted infections
Plant defences and plant disease Triple only
  1. Physical barriers in plants Triple only
  2. Chemical defences in plants Triple only
  3. Detecting and identifying plant diseases Triple onlyHigher tier
Human defences and immunity
  1. Physical barriers and chemical defences
  2. The specific immune system
  3. Immunisation
  4. Advantages and disadvantages of immunisation Triple only
Antibiotics, culturing microorganisms and new medicines
  1. Antibiotics
  2. Aseptic techniques Triple only
  3. Core practical: antiseptics, antibiotics and plant extracts Triple only
  4. Calculating cross-sectional areas Triple only
  5. Developing new medicines
  6. Producing monoclonal antibodies Triple onlyHigher tier
  7. Uses of monoclonal antibodies Triple onlyHigher tier
Non-communicable diseases
  1. Causes of non-communicable diseases
  2. Lifestyle factors and non-communicable diseases
  3. Treating cardiovascular disease
All health, disease and the development of medicines notes (PDF)22 pages
6

Plant structures and their functions

4 subtopics · 16 notes

Photosynthesis and limiting factors
  1. Photosynthetic organisms as producers
  2. The photosynthesis reaction
  3. Limiting factors
  4. Interactions between limiting factors Higher tier
  5. Core practical: light intensity and photosynthesis
  6. Light intensity, distance and the inverse square law Higher tier
Transport in plants
  1. Root hair cells
  2. Xylem and phloem
  3. Transpiration and stomata
  4. Translocation
Leaves, water uptake and extreme environments
  1. Leaf structure Triple only
  2. Factors affecting water uptake
  3. Rate calculations for transpiration
  4. Plants in extreme environments Triple only
Plant hormones Triple only
  1. Plant hormones, phototropism and gravitropism Triple only
  2. Commercial uses of plant hormones Triple onlyHigher tier
All plant structures and their functions notes (PDF)17 pages
7

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

5 subtopics · 22 notes

Hormones and the endocrine system
  1. The endocrine system
  2. Adrenalin and fight or flight Higher tier
  3. Thyroxine and negative feedback Higher tier
The menstrual cycle and fertility control
  1. The menstrual cycle
  2. How four hormones control the cycle Higher tier
  3. Hormonal contraception
  4. Evaluating hormonal and barrier methods
  5. Assisted reproductive technology Higher tier
Homeostasis and temperature control
  1. Maintaining a constant internal environment
  2. Thermoregulation and osmoregulation Triple only
  3. The skin and the hypothalamus Triple only
  4. Responses to heat and cold Triple only
Blood glucose and diabetes
  1. Insulin and blood glucose
  2. Glucagon Higher tier
  3. Type 1 diabetes
  4. Type 2 diabetes
  5. Body mass, BMI and type 2 diabetes
The urinary system and the kidneys Triple only
  1. The urinary system Triple only
  2. Urea Triple only
  3. The nephron: filtering and reabsorption Triple only
  4. ADH and the collecting duct Triple onlyHigher tier
  5. Treating kidney failure Triple only
All animal coordination, control and homeostasis notes (PDF)17 pages
8

Exchange and transport in animals

5 subtopics · 12 notes

Transport and exchange surfaces
  1. The need to transport substances
  2. Exchange surfaces, transport systems and surface area : volume ratio
  3. Alveoli and gas exchange
Factors affecting the rate of diffusion Triple only
  1. Factors affecting the rate of diffusion Triple only
  2. Fick’s law Triple only
Blood and blood vessels
  1. The structure and function of blood
  2. The structure and function of blood vessels
The heart and circulation
  1. The heart and circulatory system
  2. Heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output
Respiration
  1. Cellular respiration
  2. Comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration
  3. Core practical: the rate of respiration in living organisms
All exchange and transport in animals notes (PDF)14 pages
9

Ecosystems and material cycles

6 subtopics · 21 notes

Communities and interdependence
  1. Levels of organisation
  2. Abiotic and biotic factors
  3. Interdependence
  4. Parasitism and mutualism
Fieldwork and sampling
  1. Core practical: quadrats and belt transects
  2. Estimating the number of organisms
Energy transfer in ecosystems Triple only
  1. Energy loss and pyramids of biomass Triple only
  2. Efficiency and biomass calculations Triple only
Human impacts, biodiversity and food security
  1. Fish farming
  2. Non-indigenous species
  3. Eutrophication
  4. Benefits of maintaining biodiversity
  5. Food security Triple only
Material cycles
  1. Cycling of materials
  2. The carbon cycle
  3. The water cycle and potable water
  4. The nitrogen cycle
Indicator species and decomposition Triple only
  1. Indicator species and pollution Triple onlyHigher tier
  2. Decomposition and food preservation Triple only
  3. Decomposition and composting Triple only
  4. Rate of decay calculations Triple only
All ecosystems and material cycles notes (PDF)19 pages