Subject talk
Website
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402
Units
1 Biological molecules
You will become familiar with the structure and function of biological molecules which will inform your learning for the rest of the course. This includes carbohydrates, proteins, fats, nucleic acids, water and ions.
2 Cells
You will learn about the structure and function of parts of cells. You will also learn about how cells can be studied via the use of microscopes and ultracentrifugation.
3 Organisms exchange substances with their environment
You will learn about how organisms obtain essential substance for life. This includes the respiratory systems of insects, fish and mammals. Plant exchange and mass transport make up the second half of this unit.
4 Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
You will begin to learn about the purpose and inheritance of genes and DNA, including a detailed understanding of protein synthesis. This will extend to a deeper appreciation of the need for genetic variation within and between populations of organisms.
5 Energy transfers in and between organisms
This unit focuses on photosynthesis and respiration. You will gain a detailed understanding of these processes and be able to apply your knowledge to novel contexts.
6 Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
This unit is split between animal and plant responses, the nervous system and the endocrine system. You will understand how the eye receives photons of light and transfers these into electrical impulses in the brain, how the body controls blood glucose levels and how the kidneys control the water content of the blood.
7 Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
This unit will give you an excellent understanding of genetics and how traits are inherited, include dihybrid inheritance, epistasis and codominance.
8 The control of gene expression
This unit is an overview of the current understanding of how genes are expressed and the technology used to manipulate this.
Textbook(s)
We ask students to purchase the Biozone workbooks as we use these for flipped learning.
AQA Biology forAS and A-Level Year 1
ISBN: 978-1-927309-19-3