Specification points
Edexcel AS Biology B 8BI0
134 points in 4 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.
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 Biological Molecules
- 1.1 Carbohydrates
- 1.1(i) Mono-, di- and polysaccharides
- 1.1(ii) Structure of glucose and ribose
- 1.1(iii) Formation of disaccharides and polysaccharides
- 1.1(iv) Carbohydrate structure and function
- 1.2 Lipids
- 1.2(i) Synthesis of triglycerides
- 1.2(ii) Saturated and unsaturated lipids
- 1.2(iii) Lipid structure and roles
- 1.2(iv) Phospholipids in cell membranes
- 1.3 Proteins
- 1.3(i) Structure of an amino acid
- 1.3(ii) Formation of polypeptides and proteins
- 1.3(iii) Bonds in protein structure
- 1.3(iv) Levels of protein structure
- 1.3(v) Structure and function of collagen and haemoglobin
- 1.4 DNA and protein synthesis
- 1.4(i) Structure of DNA
- 1.4(ii) Semi-conservative DNA replication
- 1.4(iii) Genes as base sequences
- 1.4(iv) Structure of mRNA
- 1.4(v) Structure of tRNA
- 1.4(vi) Transcription and translation
- 1.4(vii) Nature of the genetic code
- 1.4(viii) Gene mutations: deletions, insertions and substitutions
- 1.4(ix) Point mutations and sickle cell anaemia
- 1.5 Enzymes
- 1.5(i) Enzymes as globular proteins
- 1.5(ii) Enzyme specificity and induced fit
- 1.5(iii) Enzymes lowering activation energy
- 1.5(iv) Factors affecting enzyme activity
- CP1 Investigate a factor affecting the initial rate of an enzyme–controlled reaction
- 1.5(v) Measuring initial rate of enzyme activity
- 1.5(vi) Enzyme inhibition
- 1.5(vii) Intracellular and extracellular enzyme reactions
- 1.6 Inorganic ions
- 1.6(i) Roles of inorganic ions in plants
- 1.7 Water
- 1.7(i) Properties of water and their significance
2 Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living Things
- 2.1 Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structure and function
- 2.1(i) Cell theory
- 2.1(ii) Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems
- 2.1(iii) Ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells
- 2.1(iv) Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria
- 2.1(v) Ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells
- 2.1(vi) Light and electron microscopy
- 2.1(vii) Staining specimens in microscopy
- CP2 Core practical: light microscope and eyepiece micrometers
- 2.2 Viruses
- 2.2(i) Classification of viruses
- 2.2(ii) The lytic cycle and latency
- 2.2(iii) Viruses and antiviral drugs
- 2.2(iv) Controlling the spread of viral disease
- 2.2(v) Ethics of untested drugs in epidemics
- 2.3 Eukaryotic cell cycle and division
- 2.3(i) The cell cycle
- 2.3(ii) Genetic material in the cell cycle and mitosis
- 2.3(iii) Roles of mitosis
- CP3 Core practical: root tip squash and stages of mitosis
- 2.3(iv) Meiosis and haploid gametes
- 2.3(v) Meiosis and genetic variation
- 2.3(vi) Chromosome mutations
- 2.3(vii) Non-disjunction: polysomy and monosomy
- 2.4 Sexual reproduction in mammals
- 2.4(i) Oogenesis and spermatogenesis
- 2.4(ii) Events of fertilisation
- 2.4(iii) Early embryo development
- 2.5 Sexual reproduction in plants
- 2.5(i) Formation of pollen grains and the embryo sac
- 2.5(ii) Pollen tube growth and male nuclei reaching the embryo sac
- CP4 Investigate the effect of sucrose concentrations on pollen tube growth or germination
- 2.5(iii) Double fertilisation in flowering plants
3 Classification and Biodiversity
- 3.1 Classification
- 3.1(i) The classification hierarchy
- 3.1(ii) Limitations of the species definition
- 3.1(iii) Difficulties in assigning and identifying species
- 3.1(iv) Gel electrophoresis in classification
- 3.1(v) DNA sequencing and bioinformatics in classification
- 3.1(vi) Scientific community validating evidence for evolution
- 3.1(vii) Three-domain versus five-kingdom classification
- 3.2 Natural selection
- 3.2(i) Evolution by natural selection
- 3.2(ii) Niches and adaptations
- 3.2(iii) Allopatric and sympatric speciation
- 3.2(iv) Evolutionary race between pathogens and medicines
- 3.3 Biodiversity
- 3.3(i) Measuring biodiversity at different scales
- 3.3(ii) Ethical and economic reasons to maintain biodiversity
- 3.3(iii) In-situ and ex-situ conservation
4 Exchange and Transport
- 4.1 Surface area to volume ratio
- 4.1(i) Surface area to volume ratio and transport
- 4.1(ii) Need for mass transport and gas exchange surfaces
- 4.2 Cell transport mechanisms
- 4.2(i) Cell membrane and the fluid mosaic model
- 4.2(ii) Passive transport: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis
- 4.2(iii) Molecular properties affecting transport
- 4.2(iv) Endocytosis and exocytosis
- CP5 Investigate the effect of temperature on beetroot membrane permeability
- CP6 Determine the water potential of plant cells
- 4.2(v) Active transport and ATP
- 4.2(vi) ATP as an energy supply
- 4.3 Gas exchange
- 4.3(i) Gas exchange in insects, fish and mammals
- CP7 Core practical: dissecting an insect's gas exchange system
- 4.3(ii) Gas exchange in flowering plants
- 4.4 Circulation
- 4.4(i) Structure of the heart and blood vessels
- 4.4(ii) Double versus single circulatory systems
- 4.4(iii) The cardiac cycle
- 4.4(iv) Myogenic stimulation of the heart
- 4.4(v) Interpreting ECG traces and cardiac pressure changes
- 4.4(vi) Structure of blood
- 4.4(vii) Functions of blood
- 4.4(viii) Platelets, plasma proteins and blood clotting
- 4.4(ix) Atherosclerosis: stages, effects and risk factors
- 4.5 Transport of gases in the blood
- 4.5(i) Haemoglobin and the Bohr effect
- 4.5(ii) Oxygen dissociation curve of haemoglobin
- 4.5(iii) Haemoglobin and myoglobin compared
- 4.5(iv) Fetal and adult haemoglobin
- 4.6 Transfer of materials between the circulatory system and cells
- 4.6(i) Formation and reabsorption of tissue fluid
- 4.6(ii) Tissue fluid returned via the lymph
- 4.7 Transport in plants
- 4.7(i) Structure of xylem and phloem
- 4.7(ii) Apoplastic and symplastic pathways
- 4.7(iii) Cohesion-tension model of water transport
- 4.7(iv) Factors affecting transpiration rate
- 4.7(v) Mass-flow hypothesis for phloem transport
- CP8 Investigate factors affecting water uptake by plant shoots using a potometer