Syllabus content
Syllabus content
Recommended teaching hours
Core 95 hours
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
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
3.1 Genes
3.2 Chromosomes
3.3 Meiosis
3.4 Inheritance
3.5 Genetic modification and biotechnology
4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems
4.2 Energy flow
4.3 Carbon cycling
4.4 Climate change
Topic 5: Evolution and biodiversity 12
5.1 Evidence for evolution
5.2 Natural selection
5.3 Classification of biodiversity
5.4 Cladistics
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
Additional higher level (AHL) 60 hours
7.1 DNA structure and replication
7.2 Transcription and gene expression
7.3 Translation
Topic 8: Metabolism, cell respiration and photosynthesis 14
8.1 Metabolism
8.2 Cell respiration
8.3 Photosynthesis
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 8
10.1 Meiosis
10.2 Inheritance
10.3 Gene pools and speciation
Topic 11: Animal physiology 16
11.1 Antibody production and vaccination
11.2 Movement
11.3 The kidney and osmoregulation
11.4 Sexual reproduction
Options 15 hours (SL)/25 hours (HL)
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
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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
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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
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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