AQA GCSE Biology Notes
AQA GCSE Biology is a course offered by AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) in the United Kingdom for secondary school students typically aged 14–16. It is part of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), which covers a wide range of subjects and serves as a qualification before students progress to further studies or employment.
In AQA GCSE Biology, students learn fundamental biological concepts and processes, such as:
- Cell Biology – Understanding cells, their structures, and processes such as cell division and specialization.
- Organisation – Studying the human body systems, organs, and how they're organized.
- Infection and Response – Exploring pathogens, immunity, and how the body defends itself.
- Bioenergetics – Covering photosynthesis and respiration.
- Homeostasis and Response – Investigating how the body maintains internal stability, including hormonal responses.
- Inheritance, Variation, and Evolution – Discussing genetics, natural selection, and evolution.
- Ecology – Understanding ecosystems, biodiversity, and the impact of human activity.
The course is assessed through exams at the end of the course, focusing on both theoretical knowledge and practical application of biology through experiments and data analysis.
7 units
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24 lessons
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Last updated: November 22, 2024
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Notes
Flaschcards
Questions
MCQ Quiz (Will be Added soon)
Flashcards
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- Explain that groups of organisms which share a more recent ancestor (are more closely related) have base sequences in DNA that are more similar than t... View Answer
- Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are used as a means of classification View Answer
- How can developing specific skills help in effectively managing fungal diseases like rose black spot?... View Answer
- What treatment methods are available to control rose black spot? View Answer
- How does rose black spot spread in the environment? View Answer
- What is rose black spot, and what are its visible effects on plants? View Answer
- What are fungal diseases, and how do they impact plant health and growth? View Answer
- Why are details of vaccination schedules and side effects of specific vaccines not required for students to know?... View Answer
- How do white blood cells respond when the same pathogen re-enters the body after vaccination?... View Answer
- What happens when small quantities of dead or inactive forms of a pathogen are introduced into the body during vaccination?... View Answer
- How can the spread of pathogens be reduced by immunizing a large proportion of the population?... View Answer
- How does vaccination help prevent illness in an individual? View Answer
- Even with modern synthesis, how might a chemical extracted from a plant be used in developing new drugs?... View Answer
- How are most new drugs synthesised in the pharmaceutical industry? View Answer
- How was penicillin discovered, and who discovered it? View Answer
- From which plant does the painkiller aspirin originate? View Answer
- Where does the heart drug digitalis originate from? View Answer
- How were drugs traditionally extracted from plants and microorganisms? View Answer
- What is the role of preclinical and clinical testing in drug development? View Answer
- What is the process of discovery and development of potential new medicines? View Answer
- What is the role of antitoxins in the immune system’s defence against disease? View Answer
- How do white blood cells produce antibodies to defend against pathogens? View Answer
- What is phagocytosis, and how does it help defend the body? View Answer
- How do white blood cells help defend the body against pathogens? View Answer
- What happens when a pathogen enters the body? View Answer
- What is the role of the immune system in defending against disease? View Answer
- How does the stomach contribute to the body’s defence against pathogens? View Answer
- What is the role of the trachea and bronchi in defending against pathogens? View Answer
- How does the nose help protect the body from pathogens? View Answer
- What role does the skin play in the body’s defence against pathogens? View Answer
- What are the non-specific defence systems of the human body against pathogens? View Answer
- What are the effects of abstaining from intercourse during ovulation and surgical methods of male and female sterilization on fertility?... View Answer
- How do intrauterine devices prevent embryo implantation or release hormones for contraception?... View Answer
- How do barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms prevent sperm from reaching an egg, and what role do spermicidal agents play in this?... View Answer
- How do oral contraceptives, injections, implants, and skin patches prevent egg maturation and release?... View Answer
- What are the different hormonal and non-hormonal methods of contraception, and how do they work to control fertility?... View Answer
- In what ways could genetically modified crops, such as golden rice, improve food supply and nutritional value?... View Answer
- How does a genetically modified bacterium produce human insulin, and how is it used to treat diabetes?... View Answer
- What conditions are required for the growth of Fusarium on glucose syrup? View Answer
- How is the fungus Fusarium used to produce mycoprotein, and what makes it suitable for vegetarians?... View Answer
- What modern biotechnology techniques are used to culture large quantities of microorganisms for food?... View Answer
- How can biotechnology and genetic modification address the demands of a growing human population?... View Answer
- What role do fishing quotas play in the conservation of fish stocks? View Answer
- How do controls on net size contribute to sustainable fish stocks? View Answer
- What could happen if certain fish species disappear from some areas? View Answer
- How can we maintain fish stocks at a level where breeding continues? View Answer
- Why are fish stocks in the oceans declining? View Answer
- How can farming techniques improve the efficiency of food production, and what are some methods for restricting energy transfer from food animals to t... View Answer
- How do conflicts and the cost of agricultural inputs affect food and water availability, and what sustainable methods can address these challenges?... View Answer
- What role do new pests, pathogens, and environmental changes play in threatening food security?... View Answer
- How do changing diets in developed countries affect food resources and their global distribution?... View Answer
- How does the increasing birth rate impact food security in some countries? View Answer
- What is food security, and what biological factors can threaten it? View Answer
- How does the loss of biomass at each trophic level affect the number of organisms in a food chain or ecosystem?... View Answer
- How can the efficiency of biomass transfer between trophic levels be calculated, and what factors influence these calculations?... View Answer
- What are the key reasons for biomass loss between trophic levels, such as incomplete absorption, waste production, and respiration?... View Answer
- Why is only about 10% of the biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next?... View Answer
- What is a pyramid of biomass, and how does it visually represent the amount of biomass at each trophic level in an ecosystem?... View Answer
- What are the negative human impacts on biodiversity, and how do they affect ecosystems and the variety of life within them?... View Answer
- How does recycling and reducing landfill waste contribute to preserving ecosystems and biodiversity?... View Answer
- What role do governments play in maintaining biodiversity through policies like reducing deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions?... View Answer
- How can the reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows in agricultural areas help protect biodiversity in monoculture farming environments?... View Answer
- What are some positive human actions taken to maintain biodiversity, such as breeding programs for endangered species and protecting rare habitats?... View Answer
- How can land use practices be modified to balance human development and the preservation of natural habitats?... View Answer
- What are the long-term environmental effects of reducing peat bogs and other natural habitats on global biodiversity and climate change?... View Answer
- How does the decay or burning of peat contribute to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?... View Answer
- What impact does the destruction of peat bogs have on biodiversity, and why are these areas important for plant, animal, and microorganism species?... View Answer
- How do human activities like building, quarrying, farming, and waste disposal reduce the land available for other species?... View Answer
- How can the study of environmental changes help predict future impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem stability?... View Answer
- In what ways might species adapt or struggle to survive in response to shifts in environmental conditions?... View Answer
- How can human activities contribute to environmental changes that alter the distribution of species in ecosystems?... View Answer
- What are the different types of environmental changes that can affect species distribution, including seasonal, geographic, and human-induced changes?... View Answer
- How do environmental changes such as temperature, availability of water, and the composition of atmospheric gases impact the distribution of species i... View Answer
- Why are the carbon and water cycles essential for maintaining life on Earth? View Answer
- What role do microorganisms play in cycling materials through an ecosystem, particularly in returning carbon and mineral ions to the atmosphere and so... View Answer
- How does the water cycle provide fresh water for plants and animals, and what happens to the water once it drains into the seas?... View Answer
- What is the role of the carbon cycle in returning carbon to the atmosphere, and how do plants use it in photosynthesis?... View Answer
- How do materials cycle through both the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem, and why is this process important for living organisms?... View Answer
- What impact have advancements in scientific methods had on the development and refinement of classification systems?... View Answer
- How do evolutionary trees help scientists understand the relationships between living and extinct organisms?... View Answer
- What is the three-domain system developed by Carl Woese, and how does it categorize organisms into Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota?... View Answer
- How has the Linnaean classification system evolved over time, and what role have improvements in microscopes and biochemical understanding played in t... View Answer
- How did Carl Linnaeus classify living organisms, and what is the significance of the binomial system in naming species?... View Answer
- What are the challenges associated with developing new antibiotics, and why might it be difficult to keep up with emerging resistant strains?... View Answer
- Why is it important for patients to complete their prescribed course of antibiotics, and how does this help prevent resistance?... View Answer
- What strategies can be used to reduce the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?... View Answer
- Why do resistant strains, like MRSA, pose a significant challenge to treatment, and how do they spread?... View Answer
- How do bacteria evolve quickly, and how do mutations contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains?... View Answer
- What breakthroughs in the mid-20th century, such as the discovery of DNA’s structure, contributed to the development of the gene theory?... View Answer
- How did the observation of chromosomes and Mendel’s ‘units’ in the early 20th century lead to the understanding that genes are located on chromosomes?... View Answer
- What was observed in the late 19th century about chromosomes during cell division, and how did this relate to Mendel’s discoveries?... View Answer
- Why was the significance of Mendel’s work not recognized until after his death?... View Answer
- How did Gregor Mendel’s experiments contribute to our understanding of genetics, and what were his key findings?... View Answer
- How might understanding of dominant and recessive alleles influence decisions on embryo screening?... View Answer
- What are the potential economic, social, and ethical considerations surrounding embryo screening for inherited disorders?... View Answer
- What is cystic fibrosis, and why is it caused by a recessive allele? View Answer
- What is polydactyly, and how does inheriting a dominant allele cause this condition?... View Answer
- How are inherited disorders passed down through alleles? View Answer
- In what ways can genome research aid in tracing human migration patterns and understanding human history?... View Answer
- How can understanding the human genome contribute to identifying genes associated with diseases and inherited disorders?... View Answer
- What is the genome, and why is the study of the human genome significant? View Answer
- How is genetic information organized in DNA, including the roles of chromosomes and genes?... View Answer
- What is DNA, and how is it structured within the cell? View Answer
- How do the effects of auxins, ethene, and gibberellins benefit agricultural and horticultural practices?... View Answer
- What applications do gibberellins have in agriculture, such as ending seed dormancy, promoting flowering, and increasing fruit size?... View Answer
- How is ethene used in the food industry, particularly for controlling fruit ripening during storage and transport?... View Answer
- What are the different uses of auxins in plant management, including as weed killers, rooting powders, and growth promoters?... View Answer
- How are plant hormones used in agriculture and horticulture to control plant growth?... View Answer
- Use of plant hormones View Answer
- Why is understanding the unequal distribution of auxin important in explaining plant growth patterns?... View Answer
- (Higher tier) How does ethene influence cell division and fruit ripening in plants?... View Answer
- (Higher tier) What role do gibberellins play in seed germination? View Answer
- What is the role of auxin in phototropism and gravitropism, and how does it affect plant growth rates?... View Answer
- How do plant hormones coordinate growth and responses to environmental factors like light and gravity?... View Answer
- What are some potential challenges and risks of fertility treatments, including IVF?... View Answer
- What social and ethical considerations are associated with IVF treatment? View Answer
- How have advancements in microscopy contributed to the development of IVF treatments?... View Answer
- What is In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and what steps are involved in this procedure?... View Answer
- How are hormones like FSH and LH used in fertility treatments, and how do they assist in helping a woman conceive naturally?... View Answer
- How does ADH regulate water levels in the body through kidney tubules, and what treatment options exist for individuals with kidney failure?... View Answer
- (Higher tier) What happens to excess amino acids from protein digestion, and how does the liver process them for safe excretion?... View Answer
- How does the body manage excess water, ions, and urea, and what role do the kidneys play in filtering and reabsorbing these substances?... View Answer
- What is osmosis, and how can osmotic changes in body fluids affect cell function?... View Answer
- How does the body maintain water and nitrogen balance, and what roles do the kidneys, lungs, and skin play in this process?... View Answer
- How can data from graphs showing insulin’s effect on blood glucose levels in people with and without diabetes be used to better understand the impact ... View Answer
- Why is obesity considered a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, and how might dietary and lifestyle changes help manage the condition?... View Answer
- What are the key differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in terms of insulin production and response, and how are these conditions managed?... View Answer
- What happens when blood glucose levels are too high or too low, and how do insulin and glucagon act to bring these levels back to normal?... View Answer
- How does the pancreas regulate blood glucose concentration, and what roles do insulin and glucagon play in maintaining stable levels?... View Answer
- How does mimicry in plants work to protect them from animals? View Answer
- Why do some plants have leaves that droop or curl when touched, and how does this defend the plant?... View Answer
- How do thorns and hairs help deter animals from damaging plants? View Answer
- What mechanical adaptations do plants have to defend themselves? View Answer
- In what ways do plants use poisons as a defense, and who are they intended to deter?... View Answer
- How do antibacterial chemicals protect plants from pathogens? View Answer
- What are chemical defense responses in plants, and how do they function? View Answer
- How do layers of dead cells, like bark on trees, help protect plants? View Answer
- What role does the waxy cuticle on leaves play in plant defense? View Answer
- How does the cellulose in cell walls help protect plants from pathogens? View Answer
- How do plants use physical defenses to resist invasion by microorganisms? View Answer
- What are plant defense responses, and why are they important? View Answer
- How do magnesium ions contribute to chlorophyll production in plants? View Answer
- Why are nitrate ions important for plant growth? View Answer
- How does nitrate deficiency lead to stunted growth in plants? View Answer
- What ion deficiencies can affect plants, and what conditions do they cause? View Answer
- How do aphids damage plants, and what type of organisms are they? View Answer
- What is black spot disease, and what kind of pathogen causes it? View Answer
- What is tobacco mosaic virus, and what type of pathogen is it? View Answer
- Which plant diseases are caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens? View Answer
- What are the common types of pathogens that can infect plants? View Answer
- How do testing kits with monoclonal antibodies work to identify plant diseases? View Answer
- What role do laboratories play in diagnosing plant diseases? View Answer
- How can gardening manuals or websites assist in identifying plant pathogens? View Answer
- What methods can be used to identify specific plant diseases? View Answer
- How does discolouration and the presence of pests help in detecting plant disease?... View Answer
- What types of growth abnormalities might indicate the presence of a disease in plants?... View Answer
- How can stunted growth, spots on leaves, and decay signal plant disease? View Answer
- What are some common signs that indicate a plant may be diseased? View Answer
- Advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction View Answer
- (For higher-tier students) How do the mechanisms of vasodilation, vasoconstriction, sweating, and shivering work to raise or lower body temperature in... View Answer
- Why does shivering occur when the body is cold, and how does it affect temperature?... View Answer
- What is vasoconstriction, and how does it help to raise body temperature? View Answer
- What mechanisms are triggered when body temperature is too low? View Answer
- How does sweat production affect body temperature? View Answer
- What is vasodilation, and how does it contribute to cooling the body? View Answer
- What processes occur when body temperature is too high, and how do they help to reduce temperature?... View Answer
- What is the function of temperature receptors in the skin, and how do they communicate with the thermoregulatory center?... View Answer
- How do receptors in the thermoregulatory center respond to changes in blood temperature?... View Answer
- What role does the thermoregulatory center in the brain play in temperature regulation?... View Answer
- How is body temperature monitored and controlled in the body? View Answer
- What role does Luteinising Hormone (LH) play in the release of an egg? View Answer
- How does Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) function in the menstrual cycle? View Answer
- Which hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle, and what are their specific roles?... View Answer
- What is the main male reproductive hormone, where is it produced, and what is its role?... View Answer
- What is ovulation, and how often does it occur in the female reproductive system?... View Answer
- What is the main female reproductive hormone, where is it produced, and what function does it serve at puberty?... View Answer
- How do reproductive hormones affect the development of secondary sex characteristics during puberty?... View Answer
- What roles do hormones play in human reproduction and the menstrual cycle? View Answer
- What roles do hormones play in human reproduction and the menstrual cycle? View Answer
- What is oxygen debt, and how does the body use extra oxygen after exercise to remove lactic acid?... View Answer
- What role does the liver play in converting lactic acid back into glucose? View Answer
- How does blood flow through the muscles help manage lactic acid after exercise? View Answer
- Why do muscles become fatigued and stop contracting efficiently during long periods of vigorous activity?... View Answer
- What is oxygen debt, and how does it relate to lactic acid buildup during exercise?... View Answer
- How does anaerobic respiration lead to the buildup of lactic acid in muscles? View Answer
- What happens when insufficient oxygen is supplied to muscles during exercise? View Answer
- What changes occur in heart rate, breathing rate, and breath volume during exercise, and why?... View Answer
- How does the human body respond to the increased demand for energy during exercise?... View Answer
- Why is the breakdown of excess proteins to form urea important for excretion? View Answer
- How does respiration fit into the overall metabolic processes? View Answer
- How are amino acids formed from glucose and nitrate ions, and what is their role in protein synthesis?... View Answer
- How are lipid molecules formed from glycerol and fatty acids in metabolism? View Answer
- How is glucose converted into starch, glycogen, and cellulose in metabolism? View Answer
- What role does metabolism play in the synthesis of new molecules in the body? View Answer
- How is the energy transferred by respiration used in the processes of metabolism?... View Answer
- What is metabolism, and how does it relate to the reactions in cells or the body?... View Answer
- Why are sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol important in the synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids?... View Answer
- How does anaerobic respiration in yeast, known as fermentation, have economic significance?... View Answer
- What is the equation for anaerobic respiration in plant and yeast cells? View Answer
- Why is less energy transferred during anaerobic respiration compared to aerobic respiration?... View Answer
- What is the equation for anaerobic respiration in muscles? View Answer
- What are the chemical symbols for glucose, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water? View Answer
- What is the equation for aerobic respiration? View Answer
- What are some of the key functions that organisms need energy for? View Answer
- What are the key differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration regarding oxygen, products, and energy transfer?... View Answer
- How does respiration occur in cells, and what are the two types of respiration based on the presence of oxygen?... View Answer
- What energy does cellular respiration provide, and how is it used in living organisms?... View Answer
- What is cellular respiration and how is it classified in terms of energy transfer?... View Answer
- What is Anaerobic respiration? View Answer
- What is Aerobic respiration? View Answer
- Uses of glucose from photosynthesis View Answer
- Describe the Plant organ system View Answer
- The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases View Answer
- What is the importance of understanding sampling principles in scientific and epidemiological data analysis?... View Answer
- What role do scatter diagrams play in identifying correlations between two variables in disease data?... View Answer
- How can you use frequency tables, bar charts, and histograms to represent disease data?... View Answer
- How would you translate disease incidence information between graphical and numerical forms?... View Answer
- How can severe physical health issues contribute to mental health problems like depression?... View Answer
- What immune reactions caused by pathogens might trigger allergies, such as skin rashes or asthma?... View Answer
- How can viruses living in cells potentially lead to cancer development? View Answer
- Why are individuals with immune system defects more prone to infectious diseases?... View Answer
- In what ways can diet, stress, and life situations impact health? View Answer
- What factors can significantly affect both physical and mental health? View Answer
- How do communicable and non-communicable diseases contribute to ill health? View Answer
- What are the different types of diseases, and how can they interact with one another?... View Answer
- How would you describe the relationship between health and disease? View Answer
- What is Coronary heart disease? View Answer
- What are the principles of organization in living organisms, and how are cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems structured and functionally connect... View Answer
- How do phloem cells’ structures enable them to transport nutrients within plant tissues?... View Answer
- In what ways are xylem cells specialized for transporting water throughout a plant?... View Answer
- How does the structure of root hair cells support their role in water and nutrient absorption in plants?... View Answer
- What structural features of muscle cells allow them to support movement in animal tissues?... View Answer
- How do nerve cells’ structures enable them to effectively transmit signals in animals?... View Answer
- How is the structure of sperm cells adapted to their reproductive function in animals?... View Answer
- In what ways are cells specialized to carry out specific functions in multicellular organisms?... View Answer
- How does the structure of a cell relate to its function within a tissue, organ, organ system, or the whole organism?... View Answer
- What is Cell specialisation? View Answer
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