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Edexcel · A-Level · 9BI0
Biology B
Active Recall Guide
2,073 questions
Biology BContents
Contents
10 topics, 138 subtopics
  1. Biological Molecules256
  2. Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living Things243
  3. Classification and Biodiversity134
  4. Exchange and Transport383
  5. Energy for Biological Processes181
  6. Microbiology and Pathogens191
  7. Modern Genetics100
  8. Origins of Genetic Variation103
  9. Control Systems265
  10. Ecosystems217
ii
Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living ThingsQuestions
Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living Things
Cell theory and eukaryotic cell structure
  1. What does cell theory state about the role of cells in living organisms?
  2. What is the basic structural and functional unit that makes up all living organisms?
  3. What structure is formed when similar cells group together to perform a common function?
  4. What is formed when different tissues combine to work together?
  5. What level of organisation is formed when multiple organs work together to carry out a major body function?
  6. What is the nucleus and what is its function in eukaryotic cells?
  7. What is the size of eukaryotic ribosomes and what is their function?
  8. Describe the structure of mitochondria and state their main function.
  9. Describe the structure of chloroplasts and state their function.
12
Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living ThingsAnswers
Answers
Cell theory and eukaryotic cell structure
  1. That every living organism is built from cells, that the cell is the smallest unit capable of carrying out life processes, and that all cells arise from existing cells.
  2. Cells are the basic structural and functional unit that makes up all living organisms.
  3. Tissues are formed when similar cells group together to perform a common function.
  4. Organs are formed when different tissues combine to work together.
  5. Organ systems are formed when multiple organs work together to carry out a major body function.
  6. The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle containing the cell's genetic material (DNA) organised into chromosomes, and it controls cell activities.
  7. Eukaryotic ribosomes are 80S in size, larger than prokaryotic ribosomes, and are the site of protein synthesis.
  8. Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles that are the site of aerobic respiration, producing ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
  9. Chloroplasts are double-membrane organelles containing thylakoids and stroma, and are the site of photosynthesis in plant cells.
13
Energy for Biological ProcessesQuestions
Energy for Biological Processes
Glycolysis
  1. In which part of the cell does glycolysis take place?
  2. Define glycolysis in terms of the substrate and product involved.
  3. What is the substrate that enters the first stage of glycolysis?
  4. What molecule provides the phosphate group for the phosphorylation of hexose in glycolysis?
  5. What is the immediate product when hexose is phosphorylated at the start of glycolysis?
  6. Why is the phosphorylation of hexose at the beginning of glycolysis described as an energy-investment stage?
  7. Explain why ATP must be used before any ATP can be generated in glycolysis.
  8. What three-carbon compound is formed when phosphorylated hexose is broken down during glycolysis?
  9. How many carbon atoms does glycerate 3-phosphate contain?
34
Energy for Biological ProcessesAnswers
Answers
Glycolysis
  1. The cytoplasm.
  2. Glycolysis is the conversion of monosaccharides to pyruvate.
  3. Hexose sugar (a six-carbon monosaccharide such as glucose)
  4. ATP.
  5. Phosphorylated hexose (hexose phosphate)
  6. Because it requires the input of ATP to phosphorylate the hexose molecule.
  7. Hexose must first be phosphorylated using ATP to make it more reactive and allow subsequent breakdown; this energy investment is necessary before ATP can be produced in later steps.
  8. Glycerate 3-phosphate (GP)
  9. Three carbon atoms.
35
Origins of Genetic VariationQuestions
Origins of Genetic Variation
Mutation, meiosis and random fertilisation
  1. What is the ultimate source of new genetic variation in a population?
  2. Why are mutations considered the only way to generate truly novel alleles?
  3. During random assortment, where do homologous chromosome pairs align?
  4. Explain how the orientation of each homologous pair at metaphase I is determined.
  5. State the formula for the number of possible gamete combinations produced by independent assortment, and define the variable.
  6. At which stage of meiosis does crossing over occur?
  7. What are chiasmata and what happens at these points?
  8. Describe what happens to DNA segments after breakage at chiasmata.
  9. Explain how random fertilisation contributes to genetic variation.
56
Origins of Genetic VariationAnswers
Answers
Mutation, meiosis and random fertilisation
  1. Mutations are the ultimate source of new genetic variation, creating new alleles that did not previously exist in a population.
  2. Mutations alter the DNA sequence itself, producing alleles that have never existed before, rather than simply rearranging pre-existing alleles.
  3. Homologous pairs align independently at the metaphase plate during metaphase I.
  4. Each homologous pair can orient with either parental chromosome facing either pole; this orientation is random and independent of other pairs.
  5. The formula is 2ⁿ, where n is the haploid chromosome number.
  6. Crossing over occurs during prophase I when homologous chromosomes pair up.
  7. Chiasmata are the points where non-sister chromatids break at corresponding positions during crossing over.
  8. Segments of DNA are exchanged between non-sister chromatids and then rejoined.
  9. Any male gamete can fuse with any female gamete, so the same two parents can produce many different offspring genotypes depending on which gametes combine.
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138 subtopics

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2,073 questions
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  1. Step 1 · Closed book

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  2. Step 2 · Open book

    Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.

  3. Step 3 · Closed book again

    Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

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