6101 Unit 1: Molecules and cells

Topic Candidates should be able to:

1.1 Molecules describe the properties of some important biological molecules;
recall, recognise and identify the general formulae and structure of
these molecules; understand their roles.
Water understand its dipolar nature; understand formation of hydrogen
bonds; understand the importance of water as a solvent;
understand other roles of water related to its high latent heat of
vaporisation, specific heat capacity, density and surface tension.
Carbohydrates understand that hexoses and pentoses are monosaccharides and have
a role as monomers;
recall the structure and understand the roles of the
monosaccharides α and β glucose, ribose and deoxyribose;
understand the roles of fructose and galactose;
understand that disaccharides and polysaccharides are composed
of monomers joined by glycosidic bonds;
understand that condensation and hydrolysis reactions are
involved in the synthesis and degradation of disaccharides and
polysaccharides;
know the monomers of and understand the roles of the
disaccharides sucrose, maltose and lactose;
recall the structure and understand the roles of the polysaccharides
starch (amylose and amylopectin), cellulose and glycogen; relate
structure to function of these polysaccharides.
Lipids understand the general nature of lipids as fats, oils and waxes;
recall the general structure of a triglyceride synthesised from
glycerol and fatty acids; understand the formation of ester bonds;
understand the nature of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids;
describe the roles of lipids as energy stores, and, in protection,
waterproofing, insulation and buoyancy;
understand the structure and properties of phospholipids and their
role in the structure and properties of cell membranes.
Proteins understand the nature of amino acids as monomers in the
formation of polypeptides and proteins; recall the general formula
and general structure of amino acids (details of the structures and
formulae of specific amino acids are not required);
understand that amino acids are linked by peptide bonds to form
polypeptides; describe the formation of a peptide bond;
understand the meaning of the terms primary, secondary, tertiary
and quaternary structure and their importance in the structure of
enzymes;
understand that condensation and hydrolysis reactions are
involved in the synthesis and degradation of polypeptides and
proteins;
understand the role of ionic, hydrogen and disulphide bonds in the
structure of proteins as illustrated by insulin and collagen;
understand the nature and roles of fibrous and globular proteins as
illustrated by collagen and insulin.
Nucleic acids understand that ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) are composed of mononucleotides;
recall the basic structure of a mononucleotide; thymine, uracil and
cytosine as pyrimidines; adenine and guanine as purines;
understand that condensation reactions are involved in the
formation of mononucleotides and polynucleotides (DNA and
RNA);
recall the structure and understand the roles of messenger and
transfer RNA;
recall the structure of DNA; understand base pairing; understand
the double helix;
understand the mechanism of replication of DNA (semi-
conservative);
understand the nature of the genetic code; understand that a gene
is a sequence of bases on the DNA molecule which codes for a
sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain;
understand the processes of transcription and translation in the
synthesis of proteins; understand that amino acid sequences are
specified by DNA, and know the function of the ribosomes;
understand codons and anticodons in relation to messenger and
transfer RNA;
appreciate the Human Genome Project in the light of the structure
and roles of nucleic acids; consider the spiritual, moral, ethical,
social and cultural issues of this project.
Practical work to include qualitative and quantitative
biochemical tests for starch, reducing and non-reducing sugars
and proteins using iodine solution, Benedict’s reagent and biuret
reagent, as appropriate.
1.2 Enzymes understand the structure of enzymes as globular proteins, and the
concept of the active site and specificity;
understand that enzymes are catalysts which reduce activation
energy;
understand how enzyme activity is affected by temperature, pH,
substrate and enzyme concentrations;
understand active site-directed and non-active site-directed
inhibition of enzyme action;
have an appreciation of the commercial uses of enzymes as
illustrated by pectinases in food modification and proteases in
biological detergents;
discuss the advantages of the immobilisation of commercial
enzymes, as illustrated by lactase.
Practical work to include experiments to investigate the effects of
temperature, pH and enzyme concentration on enzyme activity
using suitable enzymes; illustrations of enzyme immobilisation
using lactase; the use of pectinase in the production of fruit juice.
1.3 Cellular
organisation
Prokaryotic cells describe the structure of a bacterial cell and its inclusions as
illustrated by Escherichia coli;
understand the roles of the cell wall, cell surface (plasma)
membrane and its invaginations, flagella, bacterial chromosomes,
plasmids, glycogen granules and lipid droplets; recognise and
identify structures in electron micrographs of bacterial cells.
Eukaryotic cells understand the organisation of eukaryotic cells as illustrated by a
leaf palisade cell and a liver cell; recognise and identify the
structure of these cells as revealed by light and electron
microscopy;
understand the magnification and resolution that can be achieved
using light and electron microscopy; interpret electronmicrographs
and identify the organelles;
describe the structure and understand the roles of the nucleus,
nucleolus, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
apparatus, lysosomes, chloroplasts, mitochondria, ribosomes,
centrioles and microtubules, the cellulose cell wall;
describe the structure and understand the properties and roles of
the cell surface (plasma) membrane.
 Transport across understand how molecules and ions move into and out of cells;
membranes
understand the principles involved in passive transport by diffusion
and facilitated diffusion;
understand the principles of osmosis in terms of the diffusion of
water molecules from a higher to a lower water potential through a
partially permeable membrane; understand the factors which affect
water potential;
understand the principles involved in active transport; endocytosis
and exocytosis.
Aggregations of cells understand that tissues are aggregations of cells of common origin,
structure and function, as illustrated by the tissues of a mesophytic
leaf;
understand that the leaf and the liver are organs and composed of
aggregations of tissues.
Practical work to include the setting up and use of a light microscope
to view slides of suitable tissues and cells. Candidates should be able
to make accurate drawings of cells and plans of tissues and should
also be able to use a suitable graticule to make measurements and
understand the concept of scale in relation to their drawings.
1.4 The cell cycle understand the sequence of division of a nucleus following the
replication of DNA during interphase;
Chromosome structure understand that chromosomes consist of DNA and histones in the
nucleus of eukaryotic cells;
recall the replication of DNA; understand the role of the enzymes
involved;
understand that a leaf palisade cell and a liver cell have a diploid
chromosome number and have been produced by nuclear division
followed by differentiation.
Mitosis recall the structure of a chromosome;
understand the behaviour of chromosomes during the stages of the
mitotic cell cycle; describe the events of prophase, metaphase,
anaphase and telophase;
understand the significance of mitosis in growth and replacement;
understand the significance of daughter nuclei with chromosomes
identical in number and type;
understand that the production of new individuals involves the
transfer of genetic information from parent to offspring;
understand that inherited information in the offspring is identical to
that of the parent; understand the significance of mitosis in achieving
this;
understand the nature of natural and artificial cloning in plants and
animals.
Practical work to include preparation and staining of root tip
squashes to recognise and study stages in mitosis using a light
microscope.