QCE Biology Syllabus Notes

Learn QCE Biology biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels, plus species concepts and their limitations.

Learn Linnaean classification, naming species, dichotomous keys and why classification systems change with new evidence.

Learn random, systematic and stratified sampling, quadrats, transects, capture-recapture and bias control in QCE Biology.

Learn species richness, evenness, percentage cover, percentage frequency, Simpson's diversity index and the Lincoln index.

Learn how abiotic and biotic factors affect species distribution, abundance, microhabitats and ecosystem classification.

Learn exponential and logistic growth, population change calculations, carrying capacity links and r- and K-selected strategies.

Learn energy transfer, biomass, ecological pyramids, gross productivity, net productivity and transfer efficiency.

Learn how matter is transferred and transformed through the water, carbon and nitrogen cycles in ecosystems.

Learn predation, competition, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, niches, competitive exclusion and keystone species.

Learn carrying capacity, overexploitation, habitat destruction, monocultures, pollution and ecological data interpretation.

Learn primary and secondary succession, pioneer species and changes in abiotic factors, biodiversity and biomass.

Learn DNA structure, genes, chromosomes, histones, plasmids and DNA replication with helicase, DNA polymerase and Okazaki fragments.

Learn point and frameshift mutations, meiosis, crossing over, independent assortment, fertilisation, gametogenesis and karyotypes.

Learn transcription, RNA processing, translation, codons, anticodons, mutation effects, chromatin regulation, transcription factors and HOX genes.

Learn dominant, recessive, autosomal, sex-linked, polygenic and multiple-allele inheritance using pedigrees, Punnett squares and histograms.

Learn recombinant DNA, restriction enzymes, plasmids, DNA ligase, PCR, gel electrophoresis and DNA profile interpretation.

Learn microevolution, mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, natural selection, allele frequencies and selection pressures.

Learn macroevolution, divergent, convergent, parallel and coevolution, plus allopatric, sympatric and parapatric speciation.

Learn comparative genomics, conserved sequences, cladograms, phylograms, molecular data, evolutionary radiation and mass extinctions.