Foundation Year Programme Entrance Tests BIOLOGY SPECIFICATION Standard ATS sample material
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3 Biology 1. Living organisms 1.1. Characteristics of living organisms a. List and define the main characteristics of living organisms including nutrition, excretion, respiration, sensitivity, reproduction, growth and movement. 1.2. Classification and diversity of living organisms a. Understand the concept and use of a classificatory system. 2. Cells 2.1. Describe the structure and function of animal cells (e.g. liver cell) to include: a. cell membrane b. cytoplasm c. nucleus d. mitochondrion. 2.2. Describe the structure and function of plant cells (e.g. palisade cell) to include: a. cell membrane b. cytoplasm c. nucleus d. cell wall e. chloroplast f. mitochondrion g. vacuole. 2.3. Describe the differences in structure between typical animal and plant cells. 2.4. Know the levels of organisation as: cells to tissues to organs a. Relate structure of the following to their functions: ciliated cells in the respiratory tract, root hair cells in absorption, xylem vessels in conduction and support, muscle cells in contraction, red blood cells in transport. b. Define tissue, organ and organ system. 3. Movement across membranes 3.1. Know the definition of and examples of diffusion. 3.2. Know the definition of and examples of osmosis. 3.3. Know the definition of and examples of active transport. 4. Cell division and sex determination 4.1. Mitosis: a. Define as cell division that produces daughter cells that have the same number of chromosomes so are genetically identical. Know it produces two daughter cells. b. Recall the role of mitosis in growth and repair, plus replacement. 4.2. Meiosis: a. Define as cell division that produces four daughter cells, known as gametes, which have a single set of chromosomes (are haploid), each with different combinations parent cells DNA. b. Recall the role of meiosis in reducing the chromosome number so that full chromosome complement is restored at fertilisation.
4.3. Asexual and sexual reproduction a. Understand that asexual reproduction involves one parent and offspring are genetically identical. b. Recall that asexual reproduction produces clones. c. Understand that sexual reproduction involves two parents and offspring are genetically different, leading to (increased) variation. 4.4. Sex determination: a. Recall that in most mammals, females are XX and males are XY. b. Be able to establish the gender of offspring. c. Work out gender ratio. 4 5. Inheritance 5.1. Define inheritance as the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation. 5.2. Recall the nucleus as a site of genetic material/chromosomes/genes in plant and animal cells. 5.3. Describe and understand the following genetic terms: a. chromosome b. genes c. alleles d. dominant e. recessive f. heterozygous g. homozygous h. genotype i. phenotype j. haploid nucleus k. diploid nucleus 5.4. Monohybrid crosses a. Use and interpret genetic diagrams to depict monohybrid crosses. b. Express outcome as ratios, numbers or percentages. 6. DNA and protein synthesis 6.1. Understand that chromosomes contain DNA. 6.2. Describe the structure of DNA. 6.3. Protein synthesis: a. Understand that genes carry the code for proteins. b. Understand that the genetic code is read as triplets and each triplet codes for an amino acid. c. Know that there are four bases, A, T, C and G and that it is the order of these bases which forms a code. This code determines the order in which different amino acids are linked together to form different proteins. d. Understand that protein synthesis involves the production of proteins from amino acids. 7. Genetic engineering 7.1. Understand the process of genetic engineering to include: a. Taking a copy of a gene from (DNA/chromosomes of) one organism. b. Insertion of that gene into the DNA of another organism.
7.2. Recall examples of genetic engineering in different cell types. 5 8. Variation 8.1. Gene mutations: a. Appreciate that a change in the gene/dna is a gene mutation. b. Understand that some gene mutations may result in a genetic condition which is inherited, including sickle-cell anaemia. c. Describe mutation in the number of chromosomes as a source of variation, as shown by Down s syndrome. d. Outline the effects of ionising radiation and chemicals on the rate of mutation. 8.2. Sources of continuous variation: a. Recall that variation can be genetic/inherited. b. Recall that variation can be environmental. 8.3. Sources of discontinuous variation: a. Understand that discontinuous variation is caused by genes alone and results in a limited number of distinct phenotypes with no intermediates e.g. A, B, AB and O blood groups in humans. 8.4. Natural selection and evolution: a. Understand the sequence as:(1)variation (2) leads to differential survival (3) as those best adapted survive; (4) these can reproduce (5) and pass on genes/alleles/characteristics to next generation. 8.5. Extinction a. Understand that extinction can occur if organisms cannot adapt. 9. Enzymes 9.1. Biological catalysts: a. Recall that enzymes are biological catalysts. b. Understand the meaning of the term biological catalyst. 9.2. Understand the factors affecting enzyme action, such as: a. temperature b. ph. 9.3. Digestive enzymes: a. Know the role of amylase, protease and lipase in digestion. 10. Animal physiology 10.1. Nutrition a. Define nutrition as taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating them. b. Recall the structure and function of the human digestive system, including: i. diet and food supply ii. mechanical and physical digestion iii. chemical digestion iv. absorption v. assimilation.
10.2. Transport a. Recall the structure and function of the circulatory system including: i. the heart ii. iii. the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) the structure and function of different blood cells including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. 10.3. Respiration a. Define respiration. b. Describe aerobic respiration. c. Recall the word equation for aerobic respiration. d. Describe anaerobic respiration in animals. e. Compare aerobic respiration with anaerobic respiration in animals in terms of relative amounts of energy released. f. Describe the role of anaerobic respiration in yeast during brewing and bread-making. g. Recall the word equation for anaerobic respiration in animals. 10.4. Gas exchange a. Recall the structure and function of the breathing system, including the thorax. b. Recall differences in composition between inspired and expired air and the use of limewater as a test for carbon dioxide to investigate these differences. c. Recall the processes of ventilation and gas exchange. 10.5. Excretion a. Recall the structure and function of the kidney. b. Recall the process of excretion in humans. 10.6. Coordination and response a. Recall the central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, and describe the structure and function of sensory neurons, relay neurons, motor neurons, synapses and the reflex arc. 10.7. Hormones a. Recall that hormones travel in the blood to their target organs using adrenaline as an example. 10.8. Homeostasis a. Recall that homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment, and understand the concept of negative feedback using temperature regulation as an example. 6 11. Sexual reproduction in humans 11.1. Recall the structure and function of the male reproductive system to include: i. the testes ii. scrotum iii. sperm ducts iv. prostate gland v. urethra vi. penis 11.2. Recall the structure and function of the female reproductive system to include: i. the ovaries ii. oviducts iii. uterus iv. cervix v. vagina
7 11.3. Recall the menstrual cycle in terms of changes in the uterus and ovaries. 11.4. Outline sexual intercourse and describe fertilisation in terms of the joining of the nuclei of the male gamete (sperm) and the female gamete (egg). 11.5. Outline early development of the zygote in terms of the formation of a ball of cells that becomes implanted in the wall of the uterus. 11.6. Outline the development of the fetus. 11.7. Describe the function of the placenta and umbilical cord in relation to exchange of dissolved nutrients, gases and excretory products (no structural details are required). 12. Plant physiology 12.1. Nutrition a. Recall nutrition in plants including photosynthesis, leaf structure and mineral requirements. 12.2. Respiration a. Recall that plant cells obtain energy from respiration using products of photosynthesis. b. Understand that the release of oxygen and carbon dioxide depends on the relative rates of photosynthesis and respiration. 12.3. Transport in plants a. Recall transport in plants to include: i. water uptake ii. transpiration iii. translocation. 13. Environment 13.1. Food chains: a. Understand the flow of energy in a food chain. b. Understand that the energy flow limits the length of a food chain. c. Understand the pyramids of number and biomass. 13.2. Population size: a. Appreciate that a population can change in size.
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