IGCSE & O Level

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UNIT 1: CELL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION. 

Chapter 1: The structure of the cell

At the end of this one-hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Enlist the differences between an animal cell and a plant cell. 

• Describe the structure of the cell. 

• List the organelles along with their function.

• Draw the cell and calculate it’s magnification.

• Discuss specialized cells. 

 

UNIT 2: DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS.

Chapter 2: Diffusion and osmosis

At the end of this two-hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define Diffusion.

• Define osmosis. 

• Describe how osmosis takes places in plants

• Describe osmosis in cells.

• Define active transport. 

• Explain the mechanism of active transport in root hair cells. 

• Describe the role of active transport in glucose absorption

 

UNIT 3: ENZYMES.

Chapter 3: Enzymes.

At the end of this one-hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define enzymes. 

• Explain their role as a biological catalyst. 

• Describe the lock and key theory.

• Explain how they work.

• Understand the factors that affect enzymatic activity.

 

UNIT 4: PLANT NUTRITION.

Chapter 4: Nutrition in plants. 

At the end of this two-hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define photosynthesis. 

• Elaborate the process of photosynthesis. 

• Enlist the factors that affect photosynthesis. 

• Explain the structure of the leaf.

• Role of mineral ions in plants. 

 

UNIT 5: ANIMAL NUTRITION:

Chapter 5: Nutrition in animals. 

At the end of this two-hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define and explain the role of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. 

• Describe the role of minerals and vitamins.

• Discuss conditions related to malnutrition .

• Understand the basic anatomy of the digestive track 

• Identify the basic parts of the alimentary tract and explain their functions.

• Explain the process of digestion

 

UNIT 6: TRANSPORT.

Chapter 6: Transport in plants. 

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Be able to explain transpiration and translocation. 

• Explain absorption from the root surface.

• Describe the structure of the xylem and phylum.

• Identify all the parts of the leaf and how it controls water loss. 

• Describe the structure of phloem.

 

Chapter 7: Transport in humans. 

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Describe the circulatory system. 

• Identify the parts of the heart and state their functions. 

• Describe the cardiac cycle

• Describe the composition of blood.

• Elaborate on  how the blood carries oxygen 

• Explain coronary heart disease.

 

UNIT 7: RESPIRATION AND EXCRETION.

Chapter 8: Respiration.

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define the process of respiration. 

• Explain the basic anatomy of the respiratory system.

• Discuss aerobic respiration.

• Discuss anaerobic respiration in yeast.

• Explain the breathing mechanism. 

• Describe gaseous exchange at the alveoli.

 

Chapter 9: Excretion. 

At the end of this one hour lecture, a student should be able to:

• Define excretion.

• Explain how Carbon dioxide is excreted.

• Explain the basic anatomy of kidney and the urinary system.

• List the composition of urine. 

 

UNIT 8: HOMEOSTASIS.

Chapter 10: Homeostasis.

At the end of this one hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define homeostasis.

• Explain how the body maintains a constant temperature.

• The structure of the skin.

• Describe temperature control mechanisms. 

 

UNIT 9: THE NERVOUS AND SKELETAL SYSTEM.

Chapter 11: Coordination and response. 

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Explain the role of nervous system. 

• Describe the parts of a nervous system. 

• Describe the different types of cells. 

• Explain a reflex arc. 

• Describe the structure and function of the brain. 

• Describe the function and structure of the eye.

• Describe the endocrine system.

• Explain the function of adrenaline and pancreatic hormones. 

 

Chapter 12: Support, movement and locomotion. 

At the end of this one hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Explain the structure of a huma skeleton. 

• Describe the structure of joints. 

• Explain the planes of movement. 

 

UNIT 10: MICROBIOLOGY.

Chapter 13: Microorganisms and biotechnology. 

At the end of this one hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Describe the different types of micro-organisms. 

• Explain their roles in decomposition. 

• Describe their role in formation of yeast, cheese. 

• Explain the process of fermentation. 

 

UNIT 11: HABITAT.

Chapter 14: The relation of organisms with one another and the environment. 

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define ecosystems. 

• Explain the concept of food chains. 

• Describe the pyramids of numbers and biomass. 

• Describe ecological cycles. 

• Explain the relation between mosquitos and disease. 

• List the effects of humans on the ecosystem. 

 

UNIT 12: GENETICS.

Chapter 15: Development of life.

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Explain the two types of cell division.

• Define and describe the process of mitosis. 

• Define and describe the process of meiosis.

• Describe asexual reproduction. 

• Describe reproduction in flowering plants. 

• Describe seeds and fruits. 

• Explain the process of human reproduction. 

• Explain the menstrual cycle and the development of a foetus. 

 

Chapter 16: Inheritance. 

At the end of this two hour lecture, a student should be able to:

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• Define chromosomes, DNA, RNA. 

• Define alleles.

• Explain the crosses for dominant and recessive genotype. 

• Explain the basics of Mendelian genetics.

• Explain codominance. 

• Explain mutation and variation. 

• Explain natural selection and basics of genetic engineering. 

 

UNIT 13: DRUG ABUSE.

Chapter 17: The use and abuse of drugs. 

At the end of this one hour lecture, a student should be able to:

• Explain the role of antibiotics. 

• Describe antibiotic resistance. 

• Explain the effects of smoking. 

• List and describe the harmful effects of other drugs of abuse.  

AS Level

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UNIT 1: MOLECULES, DIET, TRANSPORT AND HEALTH.

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TOPIC 1: Molecules, transport and health. 

At the end of this lecture, student should know:

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• The classification of carbohydrates, 

• The structure of different carbohydrates.

• Lipids. 

• Proteins. 

• The circulatory system. 

• The role of blood. 

• Circulation In blood vessels. 

• The mammalian heart. 

• Atherosclerosis. 

• Cardiovascular health and risk factors. 

• Cardiovascular disease. 

 

 

UNIT 2: GENES, DEVELOPMENT, BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION.

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TOPIC 2: Membranes, DNA, and gene expression.

At the end of this lecture, student should know:

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• Cell membrane structure 

• Transport across cell membrane. 

• Active transport. 

• Gas exchange system. 

• Patterns of inheritance, 

• Gene mutation. 

• Cystic fibrosis. 

 

 

Topic 3: Cell structure, reproduction and cell structure. 

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At the end of this lecture, student should know:

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• Details of cell structure. 

• Details of eukaryotic cells. 

• Details of prokaryotic cells. 

• Cell cycle. 

• Meiosis. 

• Mitosis. 

• The process of reproduction.

• Cell differentiation. 

• Gene expression. 

• Stem cell and stem cell technology. 

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Topic 4: Plant structure and function. 

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At the end of this lecture, student should know:

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• Describe the plant cell wall. 

• Plant organelles. 

• The importance of minerals and water.

• Plant based medicines.

• Classification of the different kingdoms. 

• Biodiversity. 

• Adaption of a niche. 

• Gene pool and genetic diversity. 

• Conservation of species. 

A Level

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UNIT 4: ECOLOGY, MICROBIOLGY AND IMMUNITY. 

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Topic 5: Energy flow, ecosystems and the environment. 

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At the end of this lecture, student should know:

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• The process of photosynthesis in detail. 

• Structure of chloroplast and chlorophyll. 

• The biodiversity of photosynthesis. 

• Ecology.

• Ecosystem. 

• Abiotic and biotic factors. 

• Ecosystem interactions. 

• Statistics and ecology. 

• Transfer between trophic levels.

• Net primary productivity. 

• The carbon cycle. 

• Green house gas and climate change. 

• Topic 6: Microbiology, immunity and forensic pathology. 

• At the end of this lecture, student should know:

• Microbiology. 

• Bacteria and viruses. 

• Replication of viruses. 

• Microbial techniques. 

• Bacterial culture and colonies. 

• Tuberculosis. 

• HIV. 

• Non specific response of immune system. 

• Specific response of immune system. 

• Different types of immunity. 

• Antibiotics.

• Decomposition and forensic pathology. 

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UNIT 5: RESPIRATION, MUSCULES, GENE TECHNOLOGY. 

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Topic 7: Respiration, muscles and internal environment. 

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At the end of this lecture, student should know:

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• Cellular respiration. 

• Muscles of movement. 

• Different types of muscles.

• Muscular contraction. 

• Homeostasis. 

• Control of heart and respiration. 

• Homeostasis and hormones. 

• Functions of the kidney. 

• Topic 8: Coordination, response and gene technology. 

• At the end of this lecture, student should know:

• The nervous system and the neurons. 

• Structure of nervous system. 

• Detailed functioning of the nervous system. 

• Coordination in animals and plants. 

• The functioning of the brain. 

• Recombinant DNA. 

• Drugs from GMO.

• Microarrays and bioinformatics. 

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