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Cambridge IGCSE Biology revision notes

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

1

Characteristics and classification of living organisms

2 subtopics · 9 notes

Characteristics and classification
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The seven characteristics of living organisms
  3. Classification, species and binomial names
  4. Constructing and using dichotomous keys
  5. Classification, evolution and DNA Supplement
Features of organisms
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Features of the animal and plant kingdoms
  3. Vertebrate and arthropod groups
  4. The five kingdoms Supplement
  5. Ferns, monocots and dicots Supplement
  6. Viruses Supplement
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6

Plant nutrition

2 subtopics · 8 notes

Photosynthesis
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Photosynthesis and chlorophyll
  3. Uses of the carbohydrates made
  4. Nitrate and magnesium ions
  5. Investigating the need for chlorophyll, light and carbon dioxide
  6. Rate of photosynthesis and limiting factors Supplement
  7. Investigating light, carbon dioxide and temperature
  8. Gas exchange in light and dark: hydrogencarbonate indicator
Leaf structure
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Leaf structure and adaptations
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7

Human nutrition

4 subtopics · 9 notes

Diet
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. A balanced diet and the main nutrients
  3. Vitamins, minerals, scurvy and rickets
The digestive system
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Organs of the digestive system
  3. Physical digestion and teeth
  4. The stomach, acid and bile
Chemical digestion
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Chemical digestion and digestive enzymes
  3. Digesting starch and protein in detail Supplement
Absorption
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Absorption in the small intestine and colon
  3. Villi and microvilli Supplement
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8

Transport in plants

4 subtopics · 8 notes

Xylem and phloem
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Xylem and phloem
  3. Xylem and phloem in roots, stems and leaves
Water uptake
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Root hair cells and the pathway of water
  3. Investigating the pathway of water with a stain
Transpiration
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Transpiration
  3. Factors affecting the rate of transpiration
  4. Transpiration pull and wilting Supplement
TranslocationSupplement
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Translocation, sources and sinks Supplement
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9

Transport in animals

4 subtopics · 9 notes

Circulatory systems
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Single and double circulation
The heart
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Structure of the heart
  3. How the heart pumps blood Supplement
  4. Monitoring the heart and the effect of exercise
  5. Coronary heart disease
Blood vessels
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Arteries, veins and capillaries
  3. The main blood vessels
Blood
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Components of blood
  3. White blood cells and blood clotting
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14

Coordination and response

5 subtopics · 15 notes

Nervous control
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The nervous system and neurones
  3. Reflex actions and reflex arcs
  4. Synapses
Sense organs
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Sense organs and the eye
  3. The pupil reflex
  4. Accommodation Supplement
  5. Rods, cones and the fovea Supplement
Hormones
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Hormones and endocrine glands
  3. Adrenaline
Homeostasis
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Homeostasis and negative feedback
  3. Controlling blood glucose
  4. Type 1 diabetes Supplement
  5. The skin and temperature control Supplement
Tropic responses
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Phototropism, gravitropism and auxin
  3. Investigating tropisms
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16

Reproduction

5 subtopics · 13 notes

Asexual and sexual reproduction
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Asexual reproduction
  3. Sexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction in plants
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Structure of an insect-pollinated flower
  3. Insect- and wind-pollinated flowers
  4. Pollination and fertilisation
  5. Self-pollination and cross-pollination Supplement
  6. Germination
Sexual reproduction in humans
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The male and female reproductive systems
  3. Gametes and fertilisation
  4. Implantation, the fetus and the placenta
Sex hormones in humans
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Testosterone, oestrogen and puberty
  3. The menstrual cycle and pregnancy hormones
Sexually transmitted infections
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. STIs and HIV
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17

Inheritance

3 subtopics · 12 notes

Chromosomes, genes and proteins
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Chromosomes, genes and alleles
  3. Inheritance of sex
  4. How genes control proteins Supplement
  5. Gene expression, haploid and diploid Supplement
Mitosis and meiosisSupplement
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Mitosis Supplement
  3. Stem cells Supplement
  4. Meiosis Supplement
Monohybrid inheritance
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Key genetic terms
  3. Genetic diagrams, Punnett squares and pedigrees
  4. The test cross Supplement
  5. Codominance and ABO blood groups Supplement
  6. Sex linkage and colour blindness Supplement
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18

Variation and selection

3 subtopics · 7 notes

Variation
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Continuous and discontinuous variation
  3. Mutation and sources of genetic variation
Adaptive features
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Adaptive features
  3. Hydrophytes and xerophytes Supplement
Selection
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Natural selection and adaptation
  3. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria Supplement
  4. Selective breeding and artificial selection
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19

Organisms and their environment

4 subtopics · 11 notes

Energy flow, food chains and food webs
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Energy flow
  3. Food chains and food webs
  4. Producers, consumers and decomposers
Trophic levels and ecological pyramids
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Trophic levels
  3. Pyramids of numbers and biomass
  4. Pyramids of energy Supplement
  5. Why energy transfer is inefficient Supplement
Nutrient cycles
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The carbon cycle
  3. The nitrogen cycle Supplement
Populations
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Populations, communities and ecosystems
  3. The sigmoid population growth curve
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20

Human influences on ecosystems

4 subtopics · 10 notes

Food supply
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. How humans have increased food production
  3. Monocultures and intensive livestock production
Habitat destruction
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Biodiversity and habitat destruction
  3. Deforestation
Pollution
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Sewage, fertiliser and eutrophication
  3. Non-biodegradable plastics
  4. Methane, carbon dioxide and climate change
Conservation
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Sustainable resources: forests and fish stocks
  3. Endangered species and how to conserve them
  4. Reasons for conservation programmes Supplement
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21

Biotechnology and genetic modification

2 subtopics · 7 notes

Biotechnology
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Why bacteria are useful
  3. Yeast: biofuels and bread
  4. Pectinase, biological washing powders and lactase
  5. Fermenters Supplement
Genetic modification
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. What genetic modification is
  3. How bacteria are modified to make a human protein Supplement
  4. GM crops: advantages and disadvantages Supplement
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22

Experimental skills

1 subtopic · 7 notes

Practical skills
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Planning an investigation: variables, controls, range and repeats
  3. Recording results: tables, units and the solidus
  4. Drawing graphs and charts the Cambridge way
  5. Biological drawings and measuring specimens
  6. Evaluating experiments: errors, anomalies and improvements
  7. Indicators and tests: limewater, hydrogencarbonate, universal indicator and litmus
  8. Sampling: random sampling, sample size and avoiding bias
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