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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science revision notes

Short notes for every spec point in Combined Science (Triple-only content is left out). Pick a topic, then a note.

1

Key concepts in biology

5 subtopics · 18 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
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
4

Natural selection and genetic modification

5 subtopics · 9 notes

Darwin, natural selection and antibiotic resistance
  1. Evolution by natural selection
  2. Resistant organisms and antibiotic resistance
Evidence for evolution and classification
  1. Fossil evidence for human evolution
  2. Stone tools
  3. Five kingdoms and three domains
Selective breeding and tissue culture
  1. Selective breeding
Genetic engineering
  1. What is genetic engineering?
  2. The main stages of genetic engineering Higher tier
Agriculture and evaluating biotechnology
  1. Evaluating genetic engineering and selective breeding
All natural selection and genetic modification notes (PDF)14 pages
5

Health, disease and the development of medicines

5 subtopics · 15 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. Sexually transmitted infections
Human defences and immunity
  1. Physical barriers and chemical defences
  2. The specific immune system
  3. Immunisation
Antibiotics, culturing microorganisms and new medicines
  1. Antibiotics
  2. Developing new medicines
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

3 subtopics · 12 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. Factors affecting water uptake
  2. Rate calculations for transpiration
All plant structures and their functions notes (PDF)17 pages
7

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

4 subtopics · 14 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
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
All animal coordination, control and homeostasis notes (PDF)17 pages
8

Exchange and transport in animals

4 subtopics · 10 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
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

4 subtopics · 14 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
Human impacts, biodiversity and food security
  1. Fish farming
  2. Non-indigenous species
  3. Eutrophication
  4. Benefits of maintaining biodiversity
Material cycles
  1. Cycling of materials
  2. The carbon cycle
  3. The water cycle and potable water
  4. The nitrogen cycle
All ecosystems and material cycles notes (PDF)19 pages