Specification points
Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) 9BN0
234 points in 8 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·Edexcel command words
Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.
1 Lifestyle, Health and Risk
- 1.1 Why animals need a heart and circulation
- 1.2 Water as a solvent in transport
- 1.3 Structure and function of blood vessels
- 1.4 The cardiac cycle and heart structure
- 1.4(i) The cardiac cycle and structure of the mammalian heart
- 1.4(ii) Investigating heart structure and function practically
- 1.5 Development of atherosclerosis
- 1.6 Blood clotting and its role in cardiovascular disease
- 1.7 Risk factors for cardiovascular disease
- 1.8 Interpreting data on illness and mortality rates
- 1.9 Evaluating studies of health risk factors
- 1.10 Perceived versus actual health risks
- 1.11 Energy budgets, diet and energy imbalance
- 1.11(i) Analysing energy budget and diet data
- 1.11(ii) Consequences of energy imbalance
- 1.12 Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
- 1.12(i) Types of carbohydrate: mono-, di- and polysaccharides
- 1.12(ii) Carbohydrate structure and energy storage
- 1.13 Glycosidic bonds: condensation and hydrolysis
- 1.14 Triglyceride synthesis; saturated and unsaturated lipids
- 1.14(i) Triglyceride synthesis by ester bonds
- 1.14(ii) Saturated and unsaturated lipids
- 1.15 Blood cholesterol, lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease
- 1.15(i) Data on blood cholesterol, HDLs and LDLs
- 1.15(ii) Evidence linking cholesterol and cardiovascular disease
- 1.16 Reducing cardiovascular risk using diet and lifestyle knowledge
- CP1 Investigate the effect of caffeine on heart rate in Daphnia
- 1.17 Ethics of using invertebrates in research
- CP2 Investigate the vitamin C content of food and drink
- 1.18 Treatments for cardiovascular disease: benefits and risks
2 Genes and Health
- 2.1 Gas exchange surfaces, Fick's law and the lung
- 2.1(i) Properties of gas exchange surfaces
- 2.1(ii) Rate of diffusion and Fick's law
- 2.1(iii) Adaptations of the mammalian lung for gas exchange
- 2.2 Cell membrane structure and the fluid mosaic model
- 2.2(i) Structure and properties of cell membranes
- 2.2(ii) The fluid mosaic model as a scientific model
- CP3 Core practical: membrane permeability
- 2.3 Osmosis
- 2.4 Membrane transport mechanisms and transport proteins
- 2.4(i) Passive and active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis
- 2.4(ii) Carrier and channel proteins
- 2.5 Structure of nucleotides, DNA and RNA
- 2.5(i) Structure of mononucleotides, DNA and RNA
- 2.5(ii) Base pairing and the DNA double helix
- 2.6 Protein synthesis: transcription and translation
- 2.6(i) Transcription, translation and the roles of RNA
- 2.6(ii) Template strand, codons and anticodons
- 2.7 The genetic code
- 2.8 Genes as base sequences coding for polypeptides
- 2.9 Amino acids, polypeptides and protein structure
- 2.9(i) Basic structure of an amino acid
- 2.9(ii) Formation of polypeptides and proteins
- 2.9(iii) Primary structure and protein shape
- 2.9(iv) Globular and fibrous proteins: haemoglobin and collagen
- 2.10 Enzyme action, specificity and activation energy
- 2.10(i) Enzyme mechanism and specificity
- 2.10(ii) Enzymes as catalysts lowering activation energy
- 2.10(iii) Intracellular and extracellular enzymes
- CP4 Core practical: enzyme and substrate concentration
- 2.11 DNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experiment
- 2.11(i) DNA replication and DNA polymerase
- 2.11(ii) Meselson and Stahl's experiment
- 2.12 Mutations and cystic fibrosis
- 2.12(i) Replication errors as a cause of mutations
- 2.12(ii) Gene mutations causing cystic fibrosis
- 2.13 Genetic terms and monohybrid inheritance
- 2.13(i) Genetic terminology
- 2.13(ii) Monohybrid inheritance and pedigree diagrams
- 2.14 Effects of cystic fibrosis on body systems
- 2.15 Genetic screening and its implications
- 2.15(i) Uses of genetic screening
- 2.15(ii) Implications of prenatal genetic screening
- 2.16 Social and ethical issues of genetic screening
3 Voice of the Genome
- 3.1 Cells as the basis of all living organisms
- 3.2 Ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells
- 3.3 Rough ER and Golgi in protein transport
- 3.4 Ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells
- 3.5 Recognising organelles in electron micrographs
- 3.6 Specialisation of mammalian gametes
- 3.7 Fertilisation in mammals
- 3.8 Gene loci, linkage and sex linkage
- 3.8(i) Gene loci on chromosomes
- 3.8(ii) Gene linkage and sex linkage
- 3.9 Meiosis and genetic variation
- 3.10 Mitosis and the cell cycle
- CP5 Core practical: root tip squash and mitosis
- 3.11 Stem cells and their use in medicine
- 3.11(i) Stem cells, pluripotency and totipotency
- 3.11(ii) Societal decisions on stem cell therapies
- 3.12 Cell specialisation by differential gene expression
- 3.13 Organisation of cells into tissues, organs and systems
- 3.14 Genotype, environment and epigenetics
- 3.14(i) Phenotype from genotype and environment
- 3.14(ii) Epigenetic changes: DNA methylation and histone modification
- 3.14(iii) Inheritance of epigenetic changes after cell division
- 3.15 Polygenic inheritance and continuous variation
4 Biodiversity and Natural Resources
- 4.1 Biodiversity threatened by human activity
- 4.2 Measuring biodiversity and genetic diversity
- 4.2(i) Biodiversity and endemism
- 4.2(ii) Species richness and the heterozygosity index
- 4.2(iii) Index of diversity
- 4.3 Niche and adaptation
- 4.4 Natural selection, adaptation and evolution
- 4.5 Hardy–Weinberg equation and speciation
- 4.5(i) Hardy–Weinberg equation and allele frequencies
- 4.5(ii) Reproductive isolation and speciation
- 4.6 Classification and the three domains
- 4.6(i) Classification by phenotype and genotype
- 4.6(ii) Scientific evaluation of new taxonomic groupings
- 4.7 Ultrastructure of plant cells
- 4.8 Recognising plant organelles in electron micrographs
- 4.9 Starch and cellulose structure and function
- 4.10 Cellulose microfibrils and plant cell wall properties
- CP6 Core practical: identifying plant stem tissues
- 4.11 Sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem compared
- 4.12 Water and inorganic ions in plants
- CP7 Investigate plant mineral deficiencies
- CP8 Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres
- 4.13 History and protocols of drug testing
- 4.14 Conditions for bacterial growth
- CP9 Core practical: antimicrobial properties of plants
- 4.15 Plant fibres, starch and sustainability
- 4.16 Conservation by zoos and seed banks
5 On the Wild Side
- 5.1 Ecosystem, community, population and habitat
- 5.2 Biotic and abiotic factors affecting distribution
- 5.3 Niche, distribution and abundance
- CP10 Core practical: ecology of a habitat
- 5.4 Succession to a climax community
- 5.5 Overall reaction of photosynthesis
- 5.6 ATP: phosphorylation and hydrolysis
- 5.7 Light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis
- 5.8 Light-independent reactions and the Calvin cycle
- 5.8(i) Carbon fixation by RUBISCO in the Calvin cycle
- 5.8(ii) Uses of the products of photosynthesis
- CP11 Investigate photosynthesis using isolated chloroplasts (the Hill reaction)
- 5.9 Chloroplast structure and photosynthesis
- 5.10 Gross and net primary productivity
- 5.10(i) Calculating net primary productivity
- 5.10(ii) Gross and net primary productivity and respiration
- 5.11 Efficiency of transfers between trophic levels
- 5.12 Evidence for climate change and its causes
- 5.13 Causes of anthropogenic climate change
- 5.14 Climate change models: predictions and limitations
- 5.14(i) Extrapolating data in climate change models
- 5.14(ii) Limitations of climate change models
- 5.15 Effects of climate change on plants and animals
- 5.16 Temperature and enzyme activity in organisms
- 5.17 Evolution by mutation and natural selection
- 5.18 The scientific community validating evidence for evolution
- 5.19 Isolation, gene flow and speciation
- CP12 Core practical: temperature and enzyme rate (Q10)
- CP13 Core practical: temperature and organism development
- 5.20 Scientific conclusions on controversial climate issues
- 5.21 Carbon cycle and reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide
- 5.22 Reforestation, biofuels and sustainable resources
6 Immunity, Infection and Forensics
- 6.1 Determining time of death
- 6.2 Microorganisms in decomposition and carbon recycling
- 6.3 DNA profiling
- 6.4 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- CP14 Use gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments of different length
- 6.5 Structure of bacteria and viruses compared
- 6.6 Infection by TB and HIV
- 6.7 Non-specific responses to infection
- 6.8 Antigens, antibodies and the immune response
- 6.9 Roles of B cells and T cells
- 6.10 Post-transcriptional changes to mRNA
- 6.11 Pathogen entry routes and barriers to infection
- 6.11(i) Routes of pathogen entry
- 6.11(ii) Barriers protecting the body from infection
- 6.12 Types of immunity
- 6.13 The evolutionary race between pathogens and hosts
- 6.14 Bacteriostatic and bactericidal antibiotics
- CP15 Investigate the effect of different antibiotics on bacteria
- 6.15 Hospital acquired infections and codes of practice
7 Run for your Life
- 7.1 Muscles, tendons, ligaments and the skeleton in movement
- 7.2 Sliding filament theory of muscle contraction
- 7.3 Aerobic respiration: overall reaction and stages
- 7.3(i) Overall reaction of aerobic respiration
- 7.3(ii) Respiration as an enzyme-controlled multistep process
- 7.4 Glycolysis
- 7.5 Link reaction and Krebs cycle
- 7.6 Oxidative phosphorylation and chemiosmosis
- 7.7 Fate of lactate after anaerobic respiration
- CP16 Investigate rate of respiration
- 7.8 Electrical control of the heartbeat and ECGs
- 7.8(i) Myogenic cardiac muscle
- 7.8(ii) Electrical coordination of the heartbeat
- 7.8(iii) ECGs in diagnosing heart conditions
- 7.9 Cardiac output, ventilation and their control
- 7.9(i) Calculating cardiac output
- 7.9(ii) Control of heart rate and ventilation rate
- CP17 Core practical: exercise and spirometer data
- 7.10 Muscle fibre structure; fast and slow twitch fibres
- 7.10(i) Structure of a muscle fibre
- 7.10(ii) Fast and slow twitch muscle fibres
- 7.11 Negative and positive feedback control
- 7.11(i) Negative and positive feedback
- 7.11(ii) Negative feedback maintaining narrow limits
- 7.12 Homeostasis and thermoregulation during exercise
- 7.13 Risks of exercising too much or too little
- 7.14 Medical technology enabling sports participation
- 7.15 Ethics of performance-enhancing substances
- 7.16 Transcription factors switching genes on and off
8 Grey Matter
- 8.1 Sensory, relay and motor neurones
- 8.2 Nervous responses to stimuli and the pupil reflex
- 8.2(i) Nervous control of effector responses
- 8.2(ii) Dilation and contraction of the pupil
- 8.3 Conduction of nerve impulses along an axon
- 8.4 Synapses and neurotransmitters
- 8.5 Detection of light by rod cells
- 8.6 Phytochrome and IAA in plant responses
- 8.7 Nervous and hormonal coordination in animals
- 8.8 Regions of the human brain and their functions
- 8.9 Brain imaging: MRI, fMRI, PET and CT
- 8.10 The critical period in visual development
- 8.11 Animal models in brain research
- 8.12 Ethics of animals in medical research
- 8.13 Learning by habituation
- CP18 Investigate habituation to a stimulus
- 8.14 Brain chemical imbalances and ill health
- 8.15 Effects of drugs on synaptic transmission
- 8.16 Genome sequencing and personalised medicine
- 8.17 Producing drugs with genetically modified organisms
- 8.18 Risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms
- 8.19 Nature and nurture in brain development