I. CORE TOPICS for SL and HL students
Topic 1: Cell biology
1.1 Introduction to cells
1.2 Ultrastructure of cells
1.3 Membrane structure
1.4 Membrane transport
1.5 The origin of cells
1.6 Cell division
Topic 2: Molecular biology
2.1 Molecules to metabolism
2.2 Water
2.3 Carbohydrates and lipids
2.4 Proteins
2.5 Enzymes
2.6 Structure of DNA and RNA
2.7 DNA replication, transcription and translation
2.8 Cell respiration
2.9 Photosynthesis
Topic 3: Genetics
3.1 Genes
3.2 Chromosomes
3.3 Meiosis
3.4 Inheritance
3.5 Genetic modification and biotechnology
Topic 4: Ecology
4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems 4.2 Energy flow
4.3 Carbon cycling
4.4 Climate change
Topic 5: Evolution and biodiversity
5.1 Evidence for evolution
5.2 Natural selection
5.3 Classification of biodiversity
5.4 Cladistics
Topic 6: Human physiology
6.1 Digestion and absorption
6.2 The blood system
6.3 Defence against infectious disease
6.4 Gas exchange
6.5 Neurons and synapses
6.6 Hormones, homeostasis and reproduction
II. ADDITIONAL HIGHER LEVEL (AHL)
Topic 7: Nucleic acids
7.1 DNA structure and replication
7.2 Transcription and gene expression
7.3 Translation
Topic 8: Metabolism, cell respiration and photosynthesis
8.1 Metabolism
8.2 Cell respiration
8.3 Photosynthesis
Topic 9: Plant biology
9.1 Transport in the xylem of plants
9.2 Transport in the phloem of plants
9.3 Growth in plants
9.4 Reproduction in plants
Topic 10: Genetics and evolution
10.1 Meiosis
10.2 Inheritance
10.3 Gene pools and speciation
Topic 11: Animal physiology
11.1 Antibody production and vaccination
11.2 Movement
11.3 The kidney and osmoregulation
11.4 Sexual reproduction
III. OPTIONS 15 HOURS FOR SL AND 25 HOURS FOR HL
A: Neurobiology and behaviour
Core topics
A.1 Neural development
A.2 The human brain
A.3 Perception of stimuli
Additional higher level topics
A.4 Innate and learned behaviour
A.5 Neuropharmacology
A.6 Ethology
B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics
Core topics
B.1 Microbiology: organisms in industry
B.2 Biotechnology in agriculture
B.3 Environmental protection
Additional higher level topics
B.4 Medicine
B.5 Bioinformatics
C: Ecology and conservation
Core topics
C.1 Species and communities
C.2 Communities and ecosystems
C.3 Impacts of humans on ecosystems
C.4 Conservation of biodiversity
Additional higher level topics
C.5 Population ecology
C.6 Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
D: Human physiology
Core topics
D.1 Human nutrition
D.2 Digestion
D.3 Functions of the liver
D.4 The heart
Additional higher level topics
D.5 Hormones and metabolism
D.6 Transport of respiratory gases