Download Foundation Year Programme Entrance Tests BIOLOGY

Foundation Year Programme
Entrance Tests
BIOLOGY SPECIFICATION
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Biology
1. Living organisms
1.1. Characteristics of living organisms
a. List and define the main characteristics of living organisms including nutrition, excretion,
respiration, sensitivity, reproduction, growth and movement.
1.2. Classification and diversity of living organisms
a. Understand the concept and use of a classificatory system.
2. Cells
2.1. Describe the structure and function of animal cells (e.g. liver cell) to include:
a. cell membrane
b. cytoplasm
c. nucleus
d. mitochondrion.
2.2. Describe the structure and function of plant cells (e.g. palisade cell) to include:
a. cell membrane
b. cytoplasm
c. nucleus
d. cell wall
e. chloroplast
f. mitochondrion
g. vacuole.
2.3. Describe the differences in structure between typical animal and plant cells.
2.4. Know the levels of organisation as: cells to tissues to organs
a. Relate structure of the following to their functions: ciliated cells in the respiratory tract,
root hair cells in absorption, xylem vessels in conduction and support, muscle cells in
contraction, red blood cells in transport.
b. Define tissue, organ and organ system.
3. Movement across membranes
3.1. Know the definition of and examples of diffusion.
3.2. Know the definition of and examples of osmosis.
3.3. Know the definition of and examples of active transport.
4. Cell division and sex determination
4.1. Mitosis:
a. Define as cell division that produces daughter cells that have the same number of
chromosomes so are genetically identical. Know it produces two daughter cells.
b. Recall the role of mitosis in growth and repair, plus replacement.
4.2. Meiosis:
a. Define as cell division that produces four daughter cells, known as gametes, which have
a single set of chromosomes (are haploid), each with different combinations parent cells’
DNA.
b. Recall the role of meiosis in reducing the chromosome number so that full chromosome
complement is restored at fertilisation.
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4.3. Asexual and sexual reproduction
a. Understand that asexual reproduction involves one parent and offspring are genetically
identical.
b. Recall that asexual reproduction produces clones.
c. Understand that sexual reproduction involves two parents and offspring are genetically
different, leading to (increased) variation.
4.4. Sex determination:
a. Recall that in most mammals, females are XX and males are XY.
b. Be able to establish the gender of offspring.
c. Work out gender ratio.
5. Inheritance
5.1. Define inheritance as the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation.
5.2. Recall the nucleus as a site of genetic material/chromosomes/genes in plant and animal cells.
5.3. Describe and understand the following genetic terms:
a. chromosome
b. genes
c. alleles
d. dominant
e. recessive
f. heterozygous
g. homozygous
h. genotype
i. phenotype
j. haploid nucleus
k. diploid nucleus
5.4. Monohybrid crosses
a. Use and interpret genetic diagrams to depict monohybrid crosses.
b. Express outcome as ratios, numbers or percentages.
6. DNA and protein synthesis
6.1. Understand that chromosomes contain DNA.
6.2. Describe the structure of DNA.
6.3. Protein synthesis:
a. Understand that genes carry the code for proteins.
b. Understand that the genetic code is ‘read’ as triplets and each triplet codes for an amino
acid.
c. Know that there are four bases, A, T, C and G and that it is the order of these bases
which forms a code. This code determines the order in which different amino acids are
linked together to form different proteins.
d. Understand that protein synthesis involves the production of proteins from amino acids.
7. Genetic engineering
7.1. Understand the process of genetic engineering to include:
a. Taking a copy of a gene from (DNA/chromosomes of) one organism.
b. Insertion of that gene into the DNA of another organism.
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7.2. Recall examples of genetic engineering in different cell types.
8. Variation
8.1. Gene mutations:
a. Appreciate that a change in the gene/DNA is a gene mutation.
b. Understand that some gene mutations may result in a genetic condition which is
inherited, including sickle-cell anaemia.
c. Describe mutation in the number of chromosomes as a source of variation, as shown by
Down’s syndrome.
d. Outline the effects of ionising radiation and chemicals on the rate of mutation.
8.2. Sources of continuous variation:
a. Recall that variation can be genetic/inherited.
b. Recall that variation can be environmental.
8.3. Sources of discontinuous variation:
a. Understand that discontinuous variation is caused by genes alone and results in a limited
number of distinct phenotypes with no intermediates e.g. A, B, AB and O blood groups in
humans.
8.4. Natural selection and evolution:
a. Understand the sequence as:(1)variation (2) leads to differential survival (3) as those
best adapted survive; (4) these can reproduce (5) and pass on
genes/alleles/characteristics to next generation.
8.5. Extinction
a. Understand that extinction can occur if organisms cannot adapt.
9. Enzymes
9.1. Biological catalysts:
a. Recall that enzymes are biological catalysts.
b. Understand the meaning of the term biological catalyst.
9.2. Understand the factors affecting enzyme action, such as:
a. temperature
b. pH.
9.3. Digestive enzymes:
a. Know the role of amylase, protease and lipase in digestion.
10. Animal physiology
10.1. Nutrition
a. Define nutrition as taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral
ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and
assimilating them.
b. Recall the structure and function of the human digestive system, including:
i.
diet and food supply
ii.
mechanical and physical digestion
iii.
chemical digestion
iv.
absorption
v.
assimilation.
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10.2. Transport
a. Recall the structure and function of the circulatory system including:
i.
the heart
ii.
the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries)
iii.
the structure and function of different blood cells including red blood cells,
white blood cells and platelets.
10.3. Respiration
a. Define respiration.
b. Describe aerobic respiration.
c. Recall the word equation for aerobic respiration.
d. Describe anaerobic respiration in animals.
e. Compare aerobic respiration with anaerobic respiration in animals in terms of relative
amounts of energy released.
f. Describe the role of anaerobic respiration in yeast during brewing and bread-making.
g. Recall the word equation for anaerobic respiration in animals.
10.4. Gas exchange
a. Recall the structure and function of the breathing system, including the thorax.
b. Recall differences in composition between inspired and expired air and the use of
limewater as a test for carbon dioxide to investigate these differences.
c. Recall the processes of ventilation and gas exchange.
10.5. Excretion
a. Recall the structure and function of the kidney.
b. Recall the process of excretion in humans.
10.6. Coordination and response
a. Recall the central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, and describe the
structure and function of sensory neurons, relay neurons, motor neurons, synapses and
the reflex arc.
10.7. Hormones
a. Recall that hormones travel in the blood to their target organs using adrenaline as an
example.
10.8. Homeostasis
a. Recall that homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment, and
understand the concept of negative feedback using temperature regulation as an
example.
11. Sexual reproduction in humans
11.1. Recall the structure and function of the male reproductive system to include:
i.
the testes
ii.
scrotum
iii.
sperm ducts
iv.
prostate gland
v.
urethra
vi.
penis
11.2. Recall the structure and function of the female reproductive system to include:
i.
the ovaries
ii.
oviducts
iii.
uterus
iv.
cervix
v.
vagina
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11.3. Recall the menstrual cycle in terms of changes in the uterus and ovaries.
11.4. Outline sexual intercourse and describe fertilisation in terms of the joining of the nuclei of the male
gamete (sperm) and the female gamete (egg).
11.5. Outline early development of the zygote in terms of the formation of a ball of cells that becomes
implanted in the wall of the uterus.
11.6. Outline the development of the fetus.
11.7. Describe the function of the placenta and umbilical cord in relation to exchange of dissolved
nutrients, gases and excretory products (no structural details are required).
12. Plant physiology
12.1. Nutrition
a. Recall nutrition in plants including photosynthesis, leaf structure and mineral
requirements.
12.2. Respiration
a. Recall that plant cells obtain energy from respiration using products of photosynthesis.
b. Understand that the release of oxygen and carbon dioxide depends on the relative rates
of photosynthesis and respiration.
12.3. Transport in plants
a. Recall transport in plants to include:
i.
water uptake
ii.
transpiration
iii.
translocation.
13. Environment
13.1. Food chains:
a. Understand the flow of energy in a food chain.
b. Understand that the energy flow limits the length of a food chain.
c. Understand the pyramids of number and biomass.
13.2. Population size:
a. Appreciate that a population can change in size.
© UCLES 2015
Standard ATS sample material
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