GCSE Biology Paper 1 Review

Vocabulary practice cards covering GCSE Biology Unit 1 (Cell Biology) and Unit 2 (Organisation) based on Knowledge Organiser lecture notes.

Active Transport

The movement of particles against a concentration gradient, using energy from respiration.

Chloroplasts

Where photosynthesis takes place in plant cells.

Cytoplasm

Where the chemical reactions that keep the cell alive take place.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration across the cell membrane.

Nucleus

The control centre of the cell, where the genes are found.

Cell Membrane

Controls what passes in and out of a cell.

Meristem

Source of stem cells in plants found in the growing parts of the plant.

Mitochondria

Where energy is released during respiration.

Osmosis

The movement of water from a dilute solution to a less dilute solution (e.g. from a high water concentration to a low one).

Respiration

Chemical reaction that takes place in living cells, releasing energy for the cell.

Ribosomes

Where proteins are made in a cell.

Stem cell

Unspecialised cells that can develop into any other type of cell.

Vacuole

Where the cell sap is found in plant cells.

Microscope magnification equation

$$\text{Total Microscope magnification} = \text{eyepiece lens} \times \text{objective lens}$$

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a nucleus to contain the chromosomes, such as animal, plant, fungus, or protist cells.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that do not have a nucleus, are usually much smaller, and may contain plasmids.

Cell Differentiation

The process as an organism develops where cells differentiate to form different types of cells.

Xylem

Plant cells with walls thickened with lignin to strengthen the cells into a tube.

Phloem

Plant cells with sections called sieves to help transport substances like dissolved sugars.

Light Microscope

A low resolution, low magnification, and cheap tool for viewing cells.

Electron Microscope

A high resolution, high magnification, and expensive tool for viewing cells.

Mitosis

The stage of cell division where one set of chromosomes is pulled to each end of the cell and the nucleus divides.

Embryonic stem cells

Stem cells that can be cloned and made to differentiate into most different types of human cells.

Adult stem cells

Stem cells from bone marrow that can form many types of cells including blood cells.

Tissue

A group of cells with a similar structure and function.

Organs

Aggregations of tissues performing specific functions.

Organ systems

Organs organised to form organisms.

Bile

An alkaline solution produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder that emulsifies fats and neutralises stomach acid.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts with a specific shape active site that matches a substrate.

Amylase

An enzyme produced in the salivary glands, pancreas, and small intestine that breaks down starch into glucose.

Protease

An enzyme produced in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine that breaks down protein into amino acids.

Lipase

An enzyme produced in the pancreas and small intestine that breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Biuret's reagent

Used to test for protein; a positive test turns the blue solution purple.

Iodine

Used to test for starch; a positive test turns the solution from orange to black.

Ethanol and water

Used to test for fats; a positive test turns the solution cloudy.

Benedict's solution

Used to test for glucose with heat; a positive test turns the blue solution brick red.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart with thick muscular and elastic walls to withstand high pressure.

Capillaries

Blood vessels with walls only one cell thick to provide a short diffusion pathway.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart, featuring thin walls, a large lumen, and valves to prevent backflow.

Red blood cells

Cells containing haemoglobin to carry oxygen, featuring a bi-concave disc shape for a large SA:V.

Platelets

Cell fragments that clot blood.

Plasma

The liquid part of blood that transports cells, cell fragments, and dissolved substances such as salts, urea, and $CO_2$.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

When coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.

Statins

Medication taken everyday to lower blood cholesterol.

Stents

Mesh tubes inserted into an artery to hold it open.

Benign tumours

Abnormal cells contained in one area within a membrane that do not invade other parts of the body.

Malignant tumours

Cancer cells that are not in a capsule, invade neighbouring tissue, and spread into the blood to form secondary tumours.

Transpiration

The movement of water from roots to leaves through the xylem.

Translocation

The movement of dissolved sugars from leaves all round the plant through the phloem.

Stomata

Tiny pores on the underside of the leaf that allow oxygen and $CO_2$ to diffuse in and out.