biology bridging booklet - arthurterry.bham.sch.uk
TRANSCRIPT
Biology
bridging
booklet
Essential preparation for A level
Essential bridging work
The following are tasks to prepare you for your study next year. There
are some essential review tasks and questions and some optional tasks
to start extending your knowledge, skills and understanding. Additionally
some interesting reads for the summer and organisation/preparation for
September.
Essential tasks
Optional
Find out
the name
and
functions
five MORE
cell
organelles/parts and
then add them to your diagrams:
Biological molecules
Essential: At GCSE you have learned about some biological molecules.
Please complete the table below.
Name Components Examples of
Molecules and
where they are
found
Uses in the body
Proteins
Fats
Carbohydrates
DNA
TASK B Maths for Biologists
The following are maths skills that you should be confident with at the
start of year 12 Biology. To support you with this there are some
examples to complete for some of skills listed. The following booklet is a
useful resources for these tasks: https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/294471-
biology-mathematical-skills-handbook.pdf
Maths skills
o Converting units e.g. mm to cm, or mm3 to cm3
o Use of standard form e.g. 5.0 x 10-3
o Calculating percentage, or percentage change
o Use of fractions and ratios
o State an answer to a number of significant figures
o State an answer to a number of decimal places
o Calculating mean
o Drawing a charts
o Know the meaning of all these Maths symbols: = < << >> > ∝ ~ -
o Re-arranging equations - Understand the formula for a linear
relationship y=mx+c
o Calculating rate from the straight line of a graph
o Using the slope of a tangent to a curve to measure rate of change
o Calculating circumference, surface area and volume of a
circle/sphere
o Calculating circumference, surface area and volume of a rectangular
prism
Standard Prefixes
Prefixes are used to modify units. Prefixes that are commonly used are
listed below - you are most likely to be asked to convert between the ones
highlighted:
Prefix Symbol Multiplier Example
mega M x106 (or x 1,000,000) Mb (megabyte)
kilo K x103 (or x 1,000) kJ (kiloJoule)
no prefix - x10° (or x 1) N (Newton)
deci d x10-1
(or x 0.1) dm3 (cubic
decimetre or litre)
centi c x10-2
(or x 0.01) cm (centimetre)
milli m x10-3
(or x 0.001) mg (milligram)
micro µ x10 -6
(or x 0.000001) µm (micrometre)
nano n x 10-9
(or x 0.000000001) nm (nanometre)
pico p x10-12
( or x 0.000000000001) pg (picogram)
For example:
1m= 1000mm 1mm = 1000μm 1 μm = 1000nm
Starter task
Read about unit conversions the complete the headings and
conversions in the table below:
Standard Form
Numbers with many zeros can be difficult to follow, so we express these
in standard form – it acts as a kind of numerical abbreviation.
Example:
The herpes virus has 156,000 bases in its DNA.
So how do we express the number 156,000 in standard form?
1. Find the decimal point: 156,000.0 2. Move the decimal point to give a number between 1 and 10: 1.56000 3. Multiply the number by 10 raised to the power x
4. x is the number of jumps that you made to the left
Answer = 1.56 ×10
5
Sometimes the decimal point may move the other way.
Example:
The blood protein IgE is connected with allergic reactions. Its
concentration in the blood is about 0.000012 grams per 100cm3:
1. Find the decimal point and move it to give a number between 1 and 10.
2. This time it goes to the right: 000001.2 3. Multiply the number by 10 raised the power x 4. x is the number of jumps you made
5. This time the index will be negative. In standard form, the concentration is 1.2 ×10
–5 grams per 100cm
3.
Standard Form Questions
1) Write down the following measures in standard form:
a) 2560
b) 30000
c) 450
d) 5678
e) 45310
f) 6789010
g) 2678991
h) 0.000569
i) 0.00018
j) 0.000000486
k) 0.21
l) 0.365
m) 0.0047
n) 0.1
o) 750 g
p) 500 ml
q) 0.275 J
r) 0.0095 N
s) 10,000 KJ
t) 0.0033 mm
Ratios, Fractions and Percentages
A ratio is a way of comparing the magnitudes of two (or more) quantities.
You can only give a ratio when the units of each quantity are the same,
so when working with a ratio involving different units, always change them
to the same unit. The ratio itself does not have any units. For example,
the ratio of 125 g to 2 kg must be changed to 2000 g, so that it can be
given as 125:2000.
Divide both sides by 125, giving 1:16, the simplest form of the ratio.
Ratios can be used to calculate other quantities,
You can take a ratio in its simplest form and express the amount of each
part of the ratio as a fraction. Each will have the same common
denominator.
Example:
A field is sown with two different types of seed in the ratio 3:2. Seed x
makes up 3/5 of the contents of the field, and seed y makes up 2/5 of the
contents of the field. The common denominator (5) comes from adding
the numbers in the ratio (3+2)
Ratios can also be expressed as percentages. In the above example,
seed x takes up 60% (3/5×100) of the field, and seed y 40%.
Percentage Change
Method
% change = final value - original value x 100
original value
Percentage Change Questions:
2) A piece of potato, weighing 3g increases in mass to 7g when placed in
a sucrose solution. What is its percentage change?
3) Another piece of potato increases from 4g to 5g - what is its
percentage increase?
4) Another piece of potato loses mass as it changes from 6 g to 5.5g,
what is its percentage change?
Magnification
REMEMBER:
Actual Size = Image size
Magnification
so Magnification = Image size
Actual size
(AND Image size = Actual size x Magnification)
The triangle below can be useful – cover up the required value
I
A M
E.g.
To calculate I = M x A
To calculate M = I/A
To calculate A = I/M
All measurements must be in the same units i.e. 22mm and 0.002mm
To convert mm to μm x1000
To convert μm to mm divide by 1000
Microscope Questions
5) An image with a magnification of x50 shows an ant’s head to be
40mm long. Calculate the actual length in μm.
6) A photograph shows the width of a human egg to be 700mm. Its
actual size is 0.1 mm. What is the magnification?
7) A cell measures 20mm - what is the image's magnification if the
cell is actually 500μm in length?
Mean Averages
In biology practical work, we often quote an ‘average value’. The correct
term for this type of average value is the mean. The arithmetic mean is
given by the equation:
x = Σx
n
Σx means the sum of all the x values.
The mean of 8, 5, 3, 8, 7, 5, 7 = 8 + 5 + 3 + 8 + 7 + 5 + 7 = 7
7
Question
8) Four students weigh 70kg, 65kg, 80kg and 55kg - what is their mean
body mass?
Surface area to volume ratio
Look up how to calculate the surface area and volume of a sphere then
compere question 9 below:
Experimental key terms
Biological drawing
Read the guide to biological drawing in the folder. Then have a go at
drawing a labelling the following image of the transverse section of a leaf
below. Review your work on leaf structure from GCSE as this will help
you. Please include labels.
Exam style questions
Bridging questions (some A level content!)
Additional materials, optional bridging tasks and information
Optional- Revision topics
The entry requirements of the course are grade 6 in Science Trilogy or
Separate science biology GCSE. There are topics covered by the
separate sciences course which are useful but not essential for study at
A level. However, if you have some time then familiarising yourself with
the material would be useful. The sections in bold should be prioritised.
Topic Lesson Oak lesson links
Unit 1 Culturing microorganisms
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/aseptic-
techniques-c9jkjd
Effectiveness of
disinfectants
https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/effectiveness-of-disinfectants-c4r34c
Unit 3 infection and organisation
Monoclonal antibodies https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/monoclonal-antibodies-6djp2t
Plant diseases https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/plant-diseases-and-deficiencies-part-1-61jpcd
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/plant-diseases-and-
deficiencies-part-2-cnjp6r
Review https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/review-bio-only-6ngpae
Unit 5
Homeostasis and response
The brain https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/the-brain-64rk4c
The eye https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/the-eye-61h64e https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/correcting-vision-68w3at
Control of body temperature
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/regulating-body-temperature-68v38e
Maintaining water and nitrogen balance in the body, kidney failure
and review
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/the-kidney-6ww3ct
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/kidney-failure-69gpct
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/water-balance-6cu3ec
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/osmoregulation-
review-6mt36t
Plant hormones https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/required-practical-plant-hormones-part-1-cgrkje
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/required-practical-plant-hormones-part-2-6mu3ct
Unit 6 Inheritance, variation
and evolution
Advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual
reproduction
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-sexual-
and-asexual-reproduction-60w6ce
Protein synthesis https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/protein-synthesis-68w62c
Cloning https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/cloning-crrked
Speciation https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/speciation-6rtkad
Understanding of genetics- Mendel
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/mendel-cnhpar
Review https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/end-of-topic-review-part-2-6mt38c
Unit 7 Ecology
Decomposition https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/decay-6crkjd
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/decay-required-practical-cdj30c
Impact of environmental change
review
https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/review-part-3-cnj36d
Trophic levels in an
ecosystem
https://classroom.thenational.acad
emy/lessons/biomass-64rpcc
Food production https://classroom.thenational.academy/lessons/food-security-and-
farming-6mw3gr
Optional- If you feel you would benefit from some more specific
preparation:
‘Head Start’ to AS Biology. This covers the content that
we will be studying in the Lower Sixth.
Available at: https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/
ISBN 978 -1847621177
£4.95
It recaps topics from GCSE that the AS will build on, no
matter what GCSE option you have followed. It will also
be useful for reference throughout the course.
Optional A level research task- Enzymes
At A level we will build on your knowledge of enzymes from GCSE. For
each task below write a definition and draw a short series of diagrams to
explain each one. Use books or websites to determine the following:
1. What a competitive inhibitor is
2. What the induced fit model for enzyme action is and how it is
different to the lock and key mechanism learned at GCSE
Optional A level style questions
Note taking
Producing ‘Cornell Notes’ is a very effective way to summarise your notes
and any reading that you might do.
How to produce Cornell Notes:
1. Divide your page into three sections like this
2. Write the teacher initials in the margin and the
specification reference, then the title and date at the top
of the page
3. Use the large box to make notes. Leave a space
between separate ideas. Abbreviate where possible.
We will help you with this.
4. Review and identify the key points in the left hand box
if these have not been provided to you and make a list of
any new terminology.
After the lesson:
5. Write a five line summary of the main ideas in the
bottom space
Optional task: Use the links below from ‘The Big Picture’ to take you to
further resources to broaden your knowledge. Then, produce Cornell
Notes for one or two of the topics.
Topic 1: The Cell Available at: http://bigpictureeducation.com/cell The cell
is the building block of life. Each of us starts from a single cell, a zygote,
and grows into a complex organism made of trillions of cells. In this issue,
we explore what we know – and what we don’t yet know – about the cells
that are the basis of us all and how they reproduce, grow, move,
communicate and die.
Topic 2: The Immune System Available at:
http://bigpictureeducation.com/immune The immune system is what
keeps us healthy in spite of the many organisms and substances that can
do us harm. In this issue, explore how our bodies are designed to prevent
potentially harmful objects from getting inside, and what happens when
bacteria, viruses, fungi or other foreign organisms or substances breach
these barriers.
Topic 3: Exercise, Energy and Movement Available at:
http://bigpictureeducation.com/exercise-energy-and-movement All living
things move. Whether it’s a plant growing towards the sun, bacteria
swimming away from a toxin or you walking home, anything alive must
move to survive. For humans though, movement is more than just
survival – we move for fun, to compete and to be healthy. In this issue we
look at the biological systems that keep us moving and consider some of
the psychological, social and ethical aspects of exercise and sport.
Topic 4: Populations Available at:
http://bigpictureeducation.com/populations What’s the first thing that pops
into your mind when you read the word population? Most likely it ’s the
everincreasing human population on earth. You’re a member of that
population, which is the term for all the members of a single species living
together in the same location. The term population isn ’t just used to
describe humans; it includes other animals, plants and microbes too. In
this issue, we learn more about how populations grow, change and move,
and why understanding them is so important.
Topic 5: Climate change and human activities Available at:
http://bigpictureeducation.com/health-and-climate-change The Earth’s
climate is changing. In fact, it has always been changing. What is different
now is the speed of change and the main cause of change – human
activities. This issue asks: What are the biggest threats to human health?
Who will suffer as the climate changes? What can be done to minimise
harm? And how do we cope with uncertainty
Optional reading
If you would like to explore biology a little more then the following might
be interesting reads for over the summer. Remember that libraries are
open for loan requests so there is no need to buy these and many are
available online:
Journals:
Biological sciences
Books:
Emily Anthes: Frankensteins’s cat
Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Nessa Carey: Junk DNA
Charles Darwin: The origin of species
Alice Roberts: The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the
Making of Us’,
Matt Ridley: The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature.
Short films/series:
Any of the BBC David Attenborough documentaries including Blue planet
PiXL recommendations:
Essential- Organisation tasks
Organisation is an essential part to your success at A level. You will
have two teachers teaching different topics at the same time. Having the
correct equipment and filing work immediately/working out of the correct
areas of your file will allow to stay on top of the new content each lesson.
1. Obtain a ring binder for Biology and a divider for each of the following
topics. These comprise the FIRST year of study:
Module 2.1:
2.1.1 - Cell Biology
2.1.2 - Biological Molecules
2.1.3 - Nucleotides & Nucleic
Acids
2.1.4 - Biological Membranes
2.1.5 - Enzymes
2.1.6 - Cell Division
Module 3.1:
3.1.1 - Exchange surfaces
3.1.2 - Animal Transport
3.1.4 - Plant Transport
Module 4.1:
4.1.1 - Communicable disease
4.2.1 - Biodiversity
4.2.2 - Classification and
Evolution
2. Equipment to bring to each lesson
a. Folder (as mentioned)
b. Scientific calculator
c. Black/blue pen (you will
need black for
examinations)
d. Pencil (sharp)
e. A4 lined paper
f. 30cm ruler
g. Whiteboard pen
Useful equipment:
h. Sharpener and rubber
i. Highlighters or coloured
pens
j. Pencil crayons
k. Hole punch (pound shops
sometime have plastic
single sheet punches that
fit in the folder)