Biology

Course summary

The last quarter of the 20th century saw enormous progress in biological knowledge, quite literally unlocking the mystery of the gene and thereby empowering us to manipulate life itself. As biologists are discovering more and more about life on earth, we are becoming more aware of the delicate balance of nature and that it is our responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. Topics you will cover in our course include: Biological molecules | Cells | Organisms exchange substances with their environment | Genetic information | Variation and relationships between organisms | Energy transfers in and between organisms | Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, Genetics | populations | Evolution and ecosystems | The control of gene expression. Practical work is at the heart of Biology and you will have the opportunity to use a number of apparatus and become familiar with a range of techniques in order to complete the twelve required practical elements of the coursework. Overall, at least 10% of the marks in assessments for biology will require the use of mathematical skills. These skills will be applied in the context of biology and will be at least the standard of higher-tier GCSE mathematics.