Biology

Assessment

Module 1: Practical skills are taught including planning, implementing, analysing, evaluating, independent thinking, use and application of scientific methods and practices, research and referencing, and use of instruments and equipment. Students will also have to collate a portfolio of practical work covering 12 practical activity groups. This is not coursework but will be monitored by the awarding body, and students are granted a pass/fail in addition to the academic grade. Module 2: You will learn a range of topics: blood smears and staining, flow cytometry, blood clotting, enzymes used in medical diagnosis, blood donation and storage, the cardiac cycle, ECGs, heart attack/ cardiac arrest, defibrillators, resuscitation, transpiration and translocation. Module 3: In module three, you will learn about topics such as stem cells and their uses, pregnancy, fetal development and disorders, DNA bar-coding, TB, HIV/ AIDS, the role of the HPA, immunity, vaccinations, antibiotic resistance, lung, bowel and breast cancer, MRI, CT scans, PET scans, bronchitis, asthma, asbestosis and emphysema. Module 4: This module will teach about exercise and training programmes, muscle contraction, EPOC, gametogenesis, pregnancy testing, IVF, donor sperm insemination, menopause, prostate hyperplasia, crop production, food fraud, food crime, food safety, pollination and cell signalling. Module 5: PKU, Huntington’s disease, sickle cell anaemia, CF, blood groups, Down’s syndrome, gene therapy, PCR, brain injuries, strokes, ethics of brain death, psychological and physical drug dependency, colour vision, control of heart rate & body temperature, hypothermia and hyperthermia, diabetes, kidney failure, kidney organ donation and Alzheimer’s.