Essay Plans

Question 1

The importance of cycles in biology

Answer 1

1. Nutrient cycles
2. Negative feedback
3. Cardiac cycle
4. Photosynthesis
5. Respiration
6. Cell division cycles

Question 2

The uses and importance of ATP in organisms

Answer 2

1. Muscle contraction
2. Reabsorption of glucose in cotransport
3. Active transport in the Na+/K+ pump for action potentials
4. Make polypeptide chains in protein synthesis
5. Phosphorylation of glucose to make pyruvate

Question 3

The causes of variation and its biological importance

Answer 3

1. Gene mutations lead to genetic diversity and antigen variability
2. Sexual reproduction/crossing over/independent assortment
3. Environmental- nutrients/disease/light
4. Biological importance- Natural selection and evolution Environmental e

Question 4

How are the structures of proteins related to their functions

Answer 4

1. Structural proteins
2. Transport proteins
3. Enzymes
4. Receptors
5. Actin and myosin

Question 5

The importance of energy transfers which take place inside living organisms

Answer 5

1. Active transport
2. Photosynthesis and the electron transfer chain
3. Production of ATP in glycolysis
4. Nerve transmission
5. Nitrogen fixation

Question 6

The importance of osmosis to living organisms

Answer 6

1. Mass flow and transpiration
2. Tissue fluid and plasma
3. Role in medulla of kidney
   4.

Question 7

The importance of water as an essential molecule for life

Answer 7

1. Tissue fluid
2. Metabolite used in condensation and polymerisation reactions to make and break polymers
3. Used in photosynthesis and photolysis of water creates H gradient for ATP synthase
4. Used as a temperature buffer
5. Transpiration stream and translocation

Question 8

The importance of cell division for development and survival

Answer 8

1. plasma cells replicate to form antibodies
2. Mitosis is useful for growth and repair- stem cells
3. Meiosis is useful in genetic variation and ensuring survival and adaptations
4. Bacteria and binary fission in passing on plasmids
5. Needed to make monoclonal antibodies which are used to treat tumour cells

Question 9

The importance of proteins

Answer 9

1. Channel proteins and transport
2. Enzymes in DNA replication
3. Structural proteins like collagen and keratin
4. Receptors on cells
5. Cell division organisation with spindle fibres

Question 10

The importance of gene technologies

Answer 10

1. Help diagnose disease early using gene mapping and probes
2. Can help breeding between plants and animals as we can see how closely related they are to each other
3. We can use it in criminal cases to find DNA at crime scenes and use VTRS to match suspect to the scene
4. We can use it to see the biodiversity in a species and see if biodiversity is decreasing to put measures in place
5. We can use it to create medicines and vaccines like insulin

Question 11

The importance of biological molecules in a range of biological processes

Answer 11

1. Enzymes and rubisco in photosynthesis
2. Water and the importance of it e.g. tissue fluid
3. Phospholipids and the cell membrane and exchange
   4.

Question 12

The importance of homeoastasis and balance in the body

Answer 12

1. The heart and pH and pressure of blood
2. Insulin and glycogen in the control of blood glucose
   3.