OCR A A-level Biology Year 13 revision

Topic 5.1.1: Communication and homeostasis

It builds on what you learned at AS in Biological membranes, and takes it further.

There are 2 parts: we start with principles of homeostasis and negative feedback, and finish with thermoregulation in endotherms and ectotherms.

1. 5.1.1.1Principles of homeostasis and negative feedbackFree 30 questions
2. 5.1.1.2Thermoregulation in endotherms and ectotherms24 questions

Topic 5.1.2: Excretion as an example of homeostatic control

It builds on what you learned at AS in Transport in animals, and takes it further.

There are 5 parts: we start with the liver, and finish with urine analysis and diagnostic testing (pregnancy and drug tests).

1. 5.1.2.1The liver: structure, deamination, urea and the ornithine cycle28 questions
2. 5.1.2.2The kidney: nephron structure, ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption26 questions
3. 5.1.2.3Control of blood water potential50 questions
4. 5.1.2.4Kidney failure: dialysis and transplantation30 questions
5. 5.1.2.5Urine analysis and diagnostic testing (pregnancy and drug tests)27 questions

Topic 5.1.3: Neuronal communication

It builds on what you learned at AS in Biological membranes, and takes it further.

There are 5 parts: we start with neurones, and finish with synapses.

1. 5.1.3.1Neurones: sensory, relay and motor neurones, and the myelin sheath21 questions
2. 5.1.3.2Stimuli, receptors and plant responsesFree 34 questions
3. 5.1.3.3Photoreceptors: rod and cone cells and the retina79 questions
4. 5.1.3.4Nervous coordination31 questions
5. 5.1.3.5Synapses: cholinergic synapses, neuromuscular junctions, summation and drugs22 questions

Topic 5.1.4: Hormonal communication

It builds on what you learned at AS in Biological membranes, and takes it further.

There are 4 parts: we start with the endocrine system and mechanisms of hormone action, and finish with treatments for diabetes.

1. 5.1.4.1The endocrine system and mechanisms of hormone action35 questions
2. 5.1.4.2Control of blood glucose69 questions
3. 5.1.4.3Practical: dilution series and colorimetric calibration curve for glucose concentration41 questions
4. 5.1.4.4Treatments for diabetes: insulin, genetically engineered insulin and stem cell research47 questions

Topic 5.1.5: Plant and animal responses

It builds on what you learned at AS in Transport in animals, and takes it further.

There are 10 parts: we start with plant hormones, and finish with skeletal muscle.

1. 5.1.5.1Plant hormones: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethene and abscisic acidFree 41 questions
2. 5.1.5.2Plant responses: leaf abscission, stomatal closure, seed germination, apical dominance and fruit ripening40 questions
3. 5.1.5.3Commercial uses of plant growth regulators33 questions
4. 5.1.5.4Practical: effect of plant growth substances on plant growth and germination35 questions
5. 5.1.5.5Organisation of the nervous system: CNS, PNS, somatic and autonomic divisionsFree 45 questions
6. 5.1.5.6Structure and functions of the human brain35 questions
7. 5.1.5.7Brain imaging techniques: CT, MRI, fMRI and PET33 questions
8. 5.1.5.8Reflex arcs and simple reflexes37 questions
9. 5.1.5.9Control of heart rate63 questions
10. 5.1.5.10Skeletal muscle35 questions

Topic 5.2.1: Photosynthesis

It builds on what you learned at AS in Nucleotides and nucleic acids, and takes it further.

There are 3 parts: we start with photosynthesis, and finish with the practical on rate of photosynthesis and dehydrogenase activity in chloroplasts.

1. 5.2.1.1PhotosynthesisFree 44 questions
2. 5.2.1.2Practical: chromatography of photosynthetic pigments (Rf values)15 questions
3. 5.2.1.3Practical: rate of photosynthesis and dehydrogenase activity in chloroplasts43 questions

Topic 5.2.2: Respiration

It builds on what you learned at AS in Nucleotides and nucleic acids, and takes it further.

There are 2 parts: we start with respiration, and finish with respiratory substrates and the respiratory quotient.

1. 5.2.2.1Respiration31 questions
2. 5.2.2.2Respiratory substrates and the respiratory quotient25 questions

Topic 6.1.1: Cellular control

It builds on what you learned at AS in Nucleotides and nucleic acids, and takes it further.

There are 7 parts: we start with mutations, and finish with gene expression, stem cells and cancer.

1. 6.1.1.1MutationsFree 23 questions
2. 6.1.1.2The lac operon35 questions
3. 6.1.1.3Transcription factors and control of transcriptionFree 31 questions
4. 6.1.1.4Homeobox genes, apoptosis and the control of body plan development30 questions
5. 6.1.1.5RNA interference and post-transcriptional control of gene expression24 questions
6. 6.1.1.6Epigenetics: DNA methylation and histone modification42 questions
7. 6.1.1.7Gene expression, stem cells and cancer78 questions

Topic 6.1.2: Patterns of inheritance

It builds on what you learned at AS in Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation and Classification and evolution, and takes it further.

There are 8 parts: we start with inheritance, and finish with artificial selection and selective breeding.

1. 6.1.2.1InheritanceFree 33 questions
2. 6.1.2.2Autosomal linkage and epistasis26 questions
3. 6.1.2.3Chi-squared test for genetic crosses22 questions
4. 6.1.2.4Types of natural selection: stabilising, directional and disruptive31 questions
5. 6.1.2.5Genetic drift, founder effect and population bottlenecks28 questions
6. 6.1.2.6Populations and Hardy–Weinberg35 questions
7. 6.1.2.7Evolution and speciation32 questions
8. 6.1.2.8Artificial selection and selective breeding23 questions

Topic 6.1.3: Manipulating genomes

It builds on what you learned at AS in Nucleotides and nucleic acids, and takes it further.

There are 9 parts: we start with gene technologies, and finish with ethical, social and economic issues of genetic technologies and GM organisms.

1. 6.1.3.1Gene technologies42 questions
2. 6.1.3.2DNA sequencing methods and bioinformaticsFree 38 questions
3. 6.1.3.3Genome projects22 questions
4. 6.1.3.4The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)27 questions
5. 6.1.3.5Gel electrophoresis and DNA profiling (genetic fingerprinting)24 questions
6. 6.1.3.6Recombinant DNA technology: restriction enzymes, vectors and transformation of organisms65 questions
7. 6.1.3.7DNA probes, genetic screening and personalised medicine35 questions
8. 6.1.3.8Gene therapy25 questions
9. 6.1.3.9Ethical, social and economic issues of genetic technologies and GM organisms30 questions

Topic 6.2.1: Cloning and biotechnology

It builds on what you learned at AS in Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation, and takes it further.

There are 6 parts: we start with natural and artificial cloning in plants, and finish with measuring microbial growth and growth curves.

1. 6.2.1.1Natural and artificial cloning in plants: vegetative propagation, cuttings and tissue cultureFree 32 questions
2. 6.2.1.2Cloning in animals: embryo splitting and somatic cell nuclear transfer32 questions
3. 6.2.1.3Microorganisms in biotechnology: food, drink and medicine production37 questions
4. 6.2.1.4Immobilised enzymes, and batch and continuous culture49 questions
5. 6.2.1.5Aseptic technique and culturing microorganismsFree 33 questions
6. 6.2.1.6Measuring microbial growth and growth curves23 questions

Topic 6.3.1: Ecosystems

It builds on what you learned at AS in Biodiversity, and takes it further.

There are 7 parts: we start with energy and ecosystems, and finish with statistical tests in ecology.

1. 6.3.1.1Energy and ecosystems65 questions
2. 6.3.1.2Nutrient cycles30 questions
3. 6.3.1.3The carbon cycleFree 39 questions
4. 6.3.1.4Populations in ecosystems70 questions
5. 6.3.1.5Ecological sampling: random sampling, quadrats, transects and mark-release-recapture75 questions
6. 6.3.1.6Practical: effect of an environmental factor on the distribution of a species28 questions
7. 6.3.1.7Statistical tests in ecology: Spearman's rank, t-test and Simpson's index of diversity23 questions

Topic 6.3.2: Populations and sustainability

It builds on what you learned at AS in Biodiversity, and takes it further.

There are 2 parts: we start with climate change and its effects on ecosystems, and finish with sustainable management of ecosystems.

1. 6.3.2.1Climate change and its effects on ecosystems73 questions
2. 6.3.2.2Sustainable management of ecosystems: forestry, fisheries and conservation72 questions

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