Our prediction for the 2011 A level H2 Bio Paper (2 & 3)

As promised previously, this is our prediction

(refer to: Analysis of past year papers and topics page)

Paper 2:

Cellular Functions

Areas to focus:

Too varied to predict but it is noted that 
Nuclear division (mitosis/meiosis) was not tested in 2010
Organelles (e.g. ER, GA, lysosome, etc), membrane sys & membrane not tested for some time
Biomol (e.g. collagen, triglyceride, phospholipid, starch, glycogen, cellulose) not tested for some time

Genetics of Viruses & Bacteria

Areas to focus: 

General features

Reproductive cycles of the 4 named viruses (outline / compare)

How viruses cause diseases in animals

Lac operon had been tested  but not trp operon (repressible sys)

Structural vs regulatory genes 

Binary fission 

Transduction, transformation, conjugation 

DNA & Genomics

Areas to focus: 

Outline transcription / mRNA processing / translation in euk genes 

(may overlap with control of gene expression)

Organization & Control of prok & euk genome 

Areas to focus:
Organization and struc of genomes (table of comparison) 
Control of euk gene expression (diff levels but esp transcriptional level)
Euk gene expression vs Prok gene expression
Multi-step dev of cancer with named examples (ras, p53 genes)

Genetics Basis for Variation (only STQ)

Areas to focus: 
Mendelian dihybrid crosses - 9:3:3:1
Epistasis or autosomal / sex linkage involving pedigree tree (genetic disease)
Co-dominance or multiple alleles
Describe how to determine a particular genotype of an organism throu breeding expt / crosses (refer to N08/5 and N09/4)
Chi square analysis


Physiology & Biochemistry
Areas to focus:
Explain the chemiosmotic theory
Outline or compare non-cyclic vs cyclic photophosphorylation
Diff factors affecting rate of photosyn (could also be tested as planning Q)
Chloroplast or mitochondrion - Relate struc to fn
Role of O2 / CO2 / pigments / ATP / NAD, NADP, FAD

Evolution

Areas to focus:
Forces of evolution - NS, genetic drift, mutation, gene flow (migration)
Sources of genetic variation for NS
Population - smallest unit of evolution
How genetic variation is preserved in natural pop 
Homologies that support theory of evolution by NS
Biogeography / fossil records
Outline or compare Darwin theory of NS vs Neutral theory 

Paper 3 

Isolating cloning sequencing DNA

Areas to focus 
S Blotting, RFLP analysis / application (i.e. disease detection, genome mapping, genetic fingerprint)

Stem cells / gene therapy 
Areas to focus 
Functions of named stem cells including diff potency (e.g. totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent)
Usefulness in gene therapy

Planning Question 

Not enough past yr Q to analyze
Note: Enzyme was tested in 2010

Remember - this is our prediction on the topics/areas that our students may choose to focus. Our predictions could be totally wrong and so it is your responsibility to cover ALL topics for the A level exams! 

We wish all of you the best for the A level exams! 

Bioitchy ;-)