Topic 3- Voice of the genome

Question 1

3.1. Know that all living organisms are made of cells, sharing some common
features.

Question 2

3.2. Know the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells, including nucleus, nucleolus,
ribosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, centrioles,
lysosomes, and Golgi apparatus.

Question 3

3.3. Understand the role of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and the Golgi
apparatus in protein transport within cells, including their role in the formation
of extracellular enzymes.

Question 4

3.4.Know the ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells, including cell wall, capsule,
plasmid, flagellum, pili, ribosomes, mesosomes and circular DNA.

Question 5

3.5. Be able to recognise the organelles in (3.2) from electron microscope (EM)
images.

Question 6

3.6. Understand how mammalian gametes are specialised for their functions
(including the acrosome in sperm and the zona pellucida in the egg).

Question 7

3.7. Know the process of fertilisation in mammals, including the acrosome reaction,
the cortical reaction and the fusion of nuclei.

Question 8

3.8. (i). Know that a locus (plural = loci) is the location of genes on a chromosome.

Question 9

3.8. (ii) Understand the linkage of genes on a chromosome and sex linkage.

Question 10

3.9. Understand the role of meiosis in ensuring genetic variation through the
production of non-identical gametes as a consequence of independent
assortment of chromosomes and crossing over of alleles between chromatids
(details of the stages of meiosis are not required).

Question 11

3.10. Understand the role of mitosis and the cell cycle in producing identical daughter
cells for growth and asexual reproduction.

Question 12

Discuss CORE PRACTICAL 5:
Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe the stages of mitosis.

Question 13

3.11. (i). Understand what is meant by the terms ‘stem cell, pluripotency and
totipotency’.

Question 14

3.11. (ii) Be able to discuss the way society uses scientific knowledge to make
decisions about the use of stem cells in medical therapies.

Question 15

3.12. Understand how cells become specialised through differential gene expression, producing active mRNA leading to synthesis of proteins, which in turn control
cell processes or determine cell structure in animals and plants, including the
lac operon.

Question 16

3.13. Understand how the cells of multicellular organisms are organised into tissues,
tissues into organs and organs into systems.

Question 17

3.14. (i) Understand how phenotype is the result of an interaction between genotype
and the environment.

Question 18

3.14. (ii) Know how epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and histone
modification, can modify the activation of certain genes.

Question 19

3.14. (iii) Understand how epigenetic changes can be passed on following cell division.

Question 20

3.15. Understand how some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles for the same
gene at many loci (polygenic inheritance) as well as the environment and how
this can give rise to phenotypes that show continuous variation.