Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity

Part 1 Photosynthesis: the process of photosynthesis - net photosynthesis; leaf structure - chloroplasts and chloroplast pigments; ligh-dependent reaction; light-independent reaction; environmental factors affecting photosynthesis - light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature; mineral nutrition; practicals. Part 2 Control of growth in plants: detection of light in flowering plants; phototropism; plant growth substances -experimental evidence for plant growth substances, auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethene (ethylene); practical. Part 3 Classification, distribution and succession: classification - taxonomy; distribution of plants and animals -effects of biotic and abiotic factors - temperature, light, wind, water availability, salinity, water movements, oxygen concentration, soil, pH; qualitative and quantitative field techniques - random sampling, quadrat size, sample size, positioning the quadrat, belt transect, measuring temperature, measuring light intensity, investigating soil type, investigating soil water, measuring pH, measuring salinity in aquatic habitats, measuring wind and water movements, measuring dissolved oxygen; succession - zonation; practicals. Part 4 Populations and pest control: populations and communities; population dynamics; control of insect populations - chemical control of insect pests, biological control of insect pests, encouraging natural predators, integrated pest management; practicals. Part 5 Conservation: succession and species diversity; conservation in a nature reserve - Bradfield Woods; managing grassland and maintaining diversity -mowing, grazing, wet grasslands; scrub clearance; use of fire; integrating conservation and production; the European Union Habitats Directive; some questions about conservation. Part 6 Genes, alleles and variation: variation; monohybrid inheritance -monohybrid cross, dominance; multiple alleles; dihybrid inheritance; linkage; interactions between unlinked genes; sex determination in humans; practical. Part 7 Sources of new inherited variation: meiosis and random variation; mutation -mutagens and point mutations, chromosome mutations; genetic counselling - causes of genetic disorders, family history and risk of inheriting genetic disorders, detection of foetal abnormalities, social, ethical and legal considerations; practical. Part 8 Environmental change and evolution: natural selection - differential mortality and natality, natural selection in action, stabilizing, directional and disruptive selection; isolation and speciation - sympatric speciation, prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive isolation. Part 9 Gene technology: gene technology - restriction of endonucleases, plasmids, reverse transcriptase; applications of gene technology - introducing new genes into crop plants, potential of genetically modified organisms, producing chymosin from genetically modified yeast; other applications.