Hi!
So, biology paper 2 is coming up, and it can be hard to know where to focus your revision. I've made a list of all the things you need to know within the 4 topics on paper 2. Bold is higher tier only. Italics is triple only- which I haven't split into foundation and higher. I think I've got everything correct for AQA, but if you spot any mistakes, then do let me know.
I'd suggest going through this list and rating yourself red/amber/green on each topic. At this stage, I'd focus as much as possible on bringing the amber topics up to green- this will probably help you gain the most marks!
I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about about the list or specific topics!
Homeostasis & Response
Define homeostasis and explain why it is important
Give examples of conditions that are maintained in the body
Name the different types of receptor humans have and describe how they react to a stimulus
Know what the words receptor, sensory neurone, relay neurone, motor neurone, effector and synapse refer to and use them to describe a response
Describe how nerve impulses travel and how they cross the synapse
Explain what a reflex is and be able to label a diagram of a reflex arc
Describe how the parts of the nervous system are adapted for their function
Explain the importance of reflexes
Describe a method to test reaction time, identifying variables and processing data obtained
Describe the functions of the cortex, cerebellum and medulla and label these on a diagram of the brain
Explain some of the difficulties involved in studying brain function and treating brain disease
Label the parts of the eye and describe their functions
Describe how the eye adapts to focus on near and far objects
Describe common defects of the sight and how they are corrected (short sightedness and long sightedness)
Explain how body temperature is monitored and controlled, including vasoconstriction and vasodilation
Describe the structure and function of the endocrine system, identifying major endocrine glands in the human body
Describe what a hormone is and explain the main differences between hormonal and nervous responses
Describe how blood sugar varies and is normally controlled by insulin
Describe the role of glucagon in maintaining blood sugar levels, including negative feedback
Describe and compare Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in terms of problems in the control of sugar and treatments
Describe how the kidneys work to produce urine and reabsorb all sugar and the right quantities of ions & water
Explain the role of the brain and pituitary gland in maintaining water levels of the body
Describe and evaluate treatment for kidney failure – dialysis and kidney transplants
Name and describe the effects of the hormones involved in controlling the female menstrual cycle
Describe the interaction of FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle and interpret graphs of hormone levels
Describe and evaluate forms of contraception (pill, injection, condom, IUD, spermidical agents, sterilisation, diaphragm etc)
Describe the use of fertility treatments & IVF and evaluate them in terms of cost, ethics, medical/health, success rates, stress on the parents,
Define negative feedback
Describe the roles of adrenaline and thryroxine in the body and explain how thyroxine levels are controlled by negative feedback
Explain how auxins control plant growth and explain ways of investigating factors affecting plant growth
Describe commercial uses of auxins, gibberelins and ethene
Inheritance, Variation & Evolution
Explain what is meant by the terms ‘sexual’ and ‘asexual’ reproduction and the differences between them. Give advantages and disadvantages of each.
Describe the main stages of the production of gametes by meiosis
Explain the differences between mitosis and meiosis in terms of daughter cells
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction.
Define the term genome, gene and chromosome.
Describe in detail the structure of DNA
Explain how DNA codes for proteins
Describe a simple model of protein synthesis and folding to produce unique shapes
Define mutations and describe how they may affect the protein made
Describe the importance of understanding the genome
Define key genetic terms – allele, heterozygous, homozygous, dominant, recessive, genotype and phenotype
Complete punnett squares to show the possibilities for offspring of a genetic cross and interpret them using direct proportion and ratios
Describe the chromosome make up of men and women and use genetic crosses to show how gender is inherited
Use and interpret family tree diagrams
Construct genetic diagrams and use theory of probability to interpret results
Describe the inheritance of the diseases polydactyly and cystic fibrosis
Evaluate the use of embryo screening to prevent these and other inherited diseases
Describe the work of Mendel and interpret data about his results
Explain why Darwin’s theory of natural selection was not well accepted at first and contrast his theory with that of Lamarck
Define the reasons for variation within a species and across species
Explain the role of mutations in variation
Describe the theory of evolution
Apply the theory of natural selection to explain how organisms have changed over time
Explain how different species arise over time
Describe the work of Wallace in developing our understanding of evolution by natural selection
Describe ‘selective breeding’ and give examples of where it is used
Give the disadvantages of selective breeding in terms of the gene pool
Describe how plants, animals and bacteria can be genetically engineered and evaluate this – e.g +/- of genetically modified foods, production of insulin by GM bacteria
Describe the main steps in genetic engineering of crops and bacteria
Describe the processes involved in cloning techniques – tissue culture, cuttings, embryo transplantation and adult cell cloning.
Describe the evidence for evolution – fossils, antibiotic resistant bacteria etc
Explain what fossils show, how they were formed and why the fossil record is incomplete
Interpret evolutionary trees and explain why organisms may go extinct
Explain how antibiotic resistant bacteria form and how we can try to prevent this
Describe Linnaeus’ classification system
Describe the more recent ‘three-domain’ system
Ecology
Describe and explain adaptations for animals and plants – especially ones that live in extreme conditions – deserts, poles etc
Explain what ‘extremophiles’ are and give examples
Define biotic and abiotic factors and explain how they can affect the organisms in a community
Describe the flow of energy through food chains
Describe trophic levels and represent them using pyramids of biomass
Calculate the efficiency of energy transfer within a food chain
Explain and evaluate ways of improving the efficiency of energy transfers in food production
Describe some uses of biotechnology – GM crops, production of insulin by GM bacteria, quorn
Describe methods of determining abundance of organisms within a habitat – using quadrats.
Name the processes involved in the cycling of carbon and water and describe the importance of this
Describe the importance of decay and factors that affect the rate of decay
Describe practical ways of investigating the effect of temperature on the rate of decay
Suggest how environmental changes can impact an ecosystem.
Explain what is meant by biodiversity.
Explain how poor waste management and pollution can impact biodiversity.
Explain how different types of land use and deforestation can impact biodiversity.
Evaluate different methods for maintaining and restoring biodiversity.
Describe trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Construct and interpret pyramids of biomass.
Explain how biomass is transferred between trophic levels.
Describe some of the biological factors which affect food security.
Describe the role of farming techniques, sustainable fisheries and biotechnology in maintaining food security.