Accredited Level 2 Diploma in Biology

Unit 1: Nature and Living Organisms Module 1: Nature and variety of living organisms• Common features and characteristics of organisms• Differences between animals and plants• Diffusion and osmosis• Active transport• Respiration and enzymes• Investigative skills in biology Module 2: Structures and functions in living organisms Part 1• Human nutrition: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids• Processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption and assimilation• Production, storage and action of bile• The structure of villi and their role in absorption and digestion• Structure of the alimentary canal and functions of each component• Peristalsis• Transport systems in humans and plants• Gas exchange in plants and animals• Investigative skills in biology Module 3: Structures and functions in living organisms Part 2• Excretion and homeostasis: oxygen, carbon dioxide; organs of excretion; homeostatic maintenance• The human nervous system: structure and functions; responding to changes in environment (internal and external); sense organs• Hormone production and action in plants and animals• Human reproduction: sexual and asexual reproduction; fertilization• Reproduction in plants: asexual and artificial reproduction; pollination in plants; fruit formation; germina-tion Unit 2: Inheritance, Ecology and the Environment Module 4: Inheritance• Chromosomes, genes and DNA: variation and mutation• Cell division: mitosis and meiosis• Genes and inheritance: genetic diagrams and pedigree charts; monohybrid inheritance; inheritance in human begins; co dominance• Natural and artificial selection; evolutionary processes; resistance and bacterial populations; selective breeding• Genetic engineering and cloning: applications; micro propagation in plants; processes of cloning; organ transplant Module 5: Ecology and the environment• Understanding ecosystems and energy transfer (trophic levels, biomass, energy transfer), eco cycles• Human impact on the environment; biological consequences of pollution; effects of deforestation; global warming concerns; eutrophication• Food production: crops; pest control; yields; fish farming; use of microorganisms and fermentation