Colorful bacteria in petri dishes

The World of Biology

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IMBS Interactive Syllabus

CSEC Biology

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SECTION A - LIVING ORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

1.1: Group living organisms found in a named habitat based on observed similarities and differences.

1.2: Classify organisms into taxonomic groups based on physical similarities (Five Kingdoms).

2.1: Carry out a simple ecological study using appropriate collecting and sampling methods.

2.2: Distinguish between abiotic/biotic factors, niche/habitat, population/community, and species/population.

2.3: Discuss the impact of abiotic factors (soil, water, climate) on living organisms.

3.1: Identify the relative positions of producers and consumers in food chains.

3.2: Identify a food chain containing at least four organisms from a habitat.

3.3: Identify herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore from a habitat.

3.4: Identify predator/prey relationships from a habitat.

3.5: Construct a food web to include different trophic levels.

3.6: Explain the role of decomposers.

3.7: Assess special relationships among organisms (parasitism, commensalism, mutualism).

4.1: Explain energy flow within a food chain or web.

5.1: Explain the impact of the continual re-use of materials in nature (Carbon Cycle).

5.2: Discuss the importance and difficulties of recycling manufactured materials.

6.1: Describe the impact of human activities on natural resources.

6.2: Explain the negative impact of human activity on the environment (pollution).

6.3: Assess the implications of pollution of marine and wetland environments.

6.4: Discuss current and future trends regarding climate change.

6.5: Suggest means by which the environment could be conserved and restored.

7.1: Discuss factors that affect the growth and survival of populations.

SECTION B - LIFE PROCESSES AND DISEASE

1.1: Compare the structure of the generalised plant and animal cells, and selected microbes.

1.2: Distinguish between cell wall/cell membrane and mitochondrion/chloroplast.

1.3: Relate the structure of organelles to their functions.

1.4: Differentiate between plant and animal cells.

1.5: Explain the importance of cell specialisation in multi-cellular organisms.

1.6: Explain the processes of diffusion and osmosis.

1.7: Discuss the importance of diffusion, osmosis and active transport in living systems.

2.1: Distinguish among heterotrophic, autotrophic and saprophytic nutrition.

2.2: Describe the process of photosynthesis in green plants.

2.3: Relate the structure of the leaf to its function in photosynthesis.

2.4: Explain how environmental factors affect the rate of photosynthesis.

2.5: Discuss the importance of minerals (nitrogen, magnesium) in plant nutrition.

2.6: Perform tests to distinguish among food substances (starch, protein, lipids, sugars).

2.7: Relate the structures of the human alimentary canal to their functions.

2.8: Explain the role and importance of enzymes.

2.9: Investigate the effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity.

2.10: Describe what happens to the products of digestion after their absorption.

2.11: Discuss the importance of a balanced diet in humans.

3.1: Describe the process of aerobic respiration.

3.2: Distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

3.3: Describe the mechanism of breathing in humans and gaseous exchange in plants.

3.4: Identify characteristics common to gaseous exchange surfaces.

3.5: Discuss the effects of smoking.

4.1: Explain the need for transport systems in multi-cellular organisms.

4.2: Identify materials which need to be transported in animals and plants.

4.3: Describe the structure and function of the circulatory system in humans.

4.4: Relate the structure of the components of of blood to their function.

4.5: Describe the role of blood in defending the body against disease.

4.6: Explain the principles of immunisation in controlling communicable diseases.

4.7: Explain how the structure of xylem vessels is suited for their function.

4.8: Discuss the role of transpiration in plants.

4.9: Describe the effect of external factors on transpiration.

4.10: Discuss adaptations in plants to conserve water.

4.11: Explain how the structure of the phloem is suited to its function.

4.12: Identify products stored in plants and animals and the sites of storage.

4.13: Discuss the importance of food storage in living organisms.

5.1: Distinguish between egestion and excretion.

5.2: Discuss the importance of excretion in living organisms.

5.3: State how metabolic wastes are excreted from plants and animals.

5.4: Relate the kidney to its osmoregulatory and excretory functions.

6.1: Distinguish between growth movements in plants and movement in animals.

6.2: Relate the structure of the skeleton to its function in humans.

6.3: Discuss the importance of locomotion in animals.

6.4: Describe the mechanism of movement in a human forelimb.

7.1: Define 'stimulus' and 'response'.

7.2: Describe the response of green plants and invertebrates to stimuli.

7.3: Define receptor and effector.

7.4: Explain why the response to stimuli is important for survival.

7.5: Explain the relationship among the receptor, central nervous system, and effector.

7.6: Explain a simple reflex action.

7.7: Describe the functions of the main regions of the brain.

7.8: Discuss the physiological, social and economic effects of drug abuse.

7.9: Relate the structure of the human eye to its functions.

7.10: Explain accommodation, sight defects, and their corrections.

7.11: Relate the structure of human skin to its functions.

8.1: Make deductions from investigations demonstrating growth in living organisms.

8.2: Describe the structure of a dicotyledonous seed.

8.3: Describe the processes taking place within a seed during germination.

9.1: Compare sexual and asexual reproduction.

9.2: Describe the structure and function of the reproductive systems in humans.

9.3: Describe the menstrual cycle.

9.4: Outline gamete fusion and embryo development in humans.

9.5: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of birth control.

9.6: Discuss the transmission and control of AIDS and gonorrhoea.

9.7: Relate the parts of a flower to their functions.

9.8: Compare the structure of insect-pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers.

9.9: Distinguish between pollination and fertilisation.

9.10: Explain how fruit and seed formation occur after fertilisation.

9.11: Describe fruit structure including adaptations for dispersal.

10.1: Distinguish among pathogenic, deficiency, hereditary and physiological diseases.

10.2: Identify the stages in the life cycle of a mosquito.

10.3: Discuss the role of the mosquito as a vector.

10.4: Suggest methods of control for each stage of the mosquito life cycle.

10.5: Discuss the treatment and control of the four main groups of disease.

10.6: Discuss the social, environmental and economic implications of disease.

SECTION C - CONTINUITY AND VARIATION

1.1: Distinguish among DNA, chromosomes, genes and alleles.

2.1: Describe the process of mitosis.

2.2: Explain the role of mitosis in asexual reproduction.

2.3: Explain why asexual reproduction gives rise to genetically identical offspring (cloning).

2.4: Describe the process of meiosis.

2.5: State the importance of halving chromosome number in gamete formation.

2.6: Explain the role of meiosis in transmitting inheritable genetic characteristics.

2.7: Explain the meaning of dominant/recessive trait, codominance, genotype/phenotype, homozygous/heterozygous.

2.8: Explain the inheritance of traits (dominant and recessive genes).

2.9: Predict the results of crosses involving one pair of alleles (Punnett squares).

2.10: Describe the mechanism of sex determination and inheritance of sex-linked diseases.

3.1: Explain how genetic variation arises (sexual reproduction, mutation).

3.2: Explain why genetic variation is important.

3.3: Distinguish between continuous and discontinuous variation.

4.1: Define a species.

4.2: Describe how new species are formed (speciation).

5.1: Explain how natural selection plays a role in biological evolution.

5.2: Distinguish between natural and artificial selection.

6.1: Describe how genetic engineering can be used to change the traits of an organism.

6.2: Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering.