Biology

Course summary

Biology is the science devoted to the study of living organisms and how they interact with the environment. We study life from the molecular level right through to entire ecosystems. Biology is not only fascinating, but it is the first step towards a wide variety of careers including medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. The biology course consists of the following units: 1. Biological molecules – a study of the molecules that make up living organisms and their importance, eg Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids, ATP, inorganic ions and Water 2. Cells – studying the structure and function of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, developing microscope skills and studying cell transport and recognition leading to an understanding of the immune system. 3. Organisms exchange substances with their environment – looking at how organisms absorb the nutrients they need to survive from their environment by studying gas exchange systems, digestion and absorption, and mass transport in both animals and plants. 4. Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms – we study the genetic material in cells, protein synthesis, mutations that happen in cell division and how this leads to genetic diversity and adaptations. This then leads to the study of species and biodiversity.