United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 12 Biology
An intensive exploration of biological principles ranging from molecular foundations to global ecosystems. This course emphasizes the integration of structure and function while developing the analytical skills required for advanced scientific inquiry.
Molecular Foundations and Cell Architecture
Investigate the biochemical building blocks of life and the intricate ultrastructure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
Examine the properties of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins alongside the unique solvent capabilities of water.
Compare cellular organelles and master the techniques of light and electron microscopy to visualize the microscopic world.
Analyze the fluid mosaic model and the mechanisms by which substances cross biological barriers.
Genetic Information and Variation
Explore the storage and expression of genetic information and the mechanisms that generate biological diversity.
Study the double helix structure and the semi-conservative process of DNA synthesis.
Trace the flow of information from gene to protein through transcription and translation.
Examine the process of reduction division and how independent assortment and crossing over create unique offspring.
Exchange and Transport Systems
Analyze how large multicellular organisms overcome surface area to volume ratio constraints through specialized exchange surfaces.
Compare gas exchange in humans, fish, and insects, focusing on adaptations for efficiency.
Study the heart, blood vessels, and the role of hemoglobin in transporting oxygen and nutrients.
Investigate the movement of water through the xylem and the translocation of organic solutes in the phloem.
Biodiversity and Evolution
Explore the classification of life and the mechanisms of natural selection that drive evolutionary change.
Define biodiversity and use taxonomic hierarchies and phylogeny to organize the natural world.
Analyze how environmental pressures lead to the survival of the fittest and the evolution of populations.
Investigate the ethical and practical reasons for maintaining biodiversity and the strategies used in conservation.
Energy Transfers in Organisms
Examine the biochemical pathways of photosynthesis and respiration that power all life on Earth.
Analyze how light energy is harvested and converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and reduced NADP.
Explore the light independent reactions and the factors that restrict the rate of carbohydrate production.
Compare the pathways of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
Ecosystems and Sustainability
Study the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients within ecosystems and the impact of human activity.
Quantify the transfer of energy between trophic levels and the efficiency of biomass production.
Examine the nitrogen and carbon cycles, focusing on the role of microorganisms in recycling essential elements.
Investigate how ecosystems change over time through primary and secondary succession.