Biology
Biology
Introduction
Biology is the study of life. Through the study of biology students employ the processes of science in their investigations and explore the diversity of life and the inter-relationship between organisms and their environment.
Students develop an understanding and knowledge of the unit of life-the cell-whose structures and processes are shared by all living organisms and, in so doing, gain an insight into the uniqueness, function and role of organisms, including themselves. In addition, they become aware of the use by humans of other living organisms and their products to enhance human health and the human environment and make informed evaluations about contemporary biological issues
Syllabus Structure
The syllabus is composed of science for the inquiring syllabus mind or pure science, which constitutes approximately 70% of the syllabus, and the technological, political, social and economic aspects of biology, which constitutes the remaining 30%.
The syllabus consists of three units:
Unit One: Biology The Study of Life
Unit Two: The Cell
Unit Three: The Organism.
5th Year Biology Scheme of Work 2023-2024
September- November
Chapter 1: The Scientific Method
Chapter 2: The Characteristics of Life
Chapter 3: Food and Biomolecules
Chapter 8: Cell Structure
Chapter 9: Cell Diversity
Chapter 11: Cell Continuity
Chapter 12: Enzymes
Chapter 10: Movement Through Membranes
November- February
Chapter 13: Photosynthesis
Chapter 14: Respiration
Chapter 26: Homeostasis and Gaseous Exchange
Chapter 15: DNA Structure and Protein Synthesis
Chapter 16: Genetic Inheritance
February- June
Chapter 17: Variation, Evolution and Genetic Engineering
Chapter 4: Introduction To Ecology
Chapter 5: The effects of Humans on the Environment
Chapter 6: Ecological Relationships and Population Dynamics
Chapter 7: The Study of An Ecosystem
September- November
Chapter 18: Classification and Viruses
Chapter 19: Monera (Prokaryotae)
Chapter 20: Fungi and Protists
Chapter 33: The Human Defence System
Chapter 21: Flowering Plant Structure and Tissues
Chapter 22: Transport, Nutrition and Food Storage in the Flowering Plant
Chapter 23:Transport in Humans
Chapter 24: The Blood
Chapter 31: The Endocrine System
November- February
Chapter 28: Plant Response to Stimuli
Chapter 34: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Chapter 35: Asexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Chapter 25: Human Nutrition
Chapter 27: Excretion and Osmoregulation
Chapter 32: The Musculoskeletal System
February- May
Chapter 36: Human Reproduction 1: The Reproductive Systems and the Menstrual Cycle
Chapter 37: Human Reproduction 2: From Fertilisation to Birth
Chapter 29: The Human Nervous System
Chapter 30: The Sense Organs
Mandatory Leaving Certificate Experiments
(a) To test for the presence of reducing sugars
(b) To test for polysaccharides e.g. starch
(c) To Test for fat(lipid) in olive oil: brown paper test
(d) To test for protein in milk or in egg albumen: biuret test for soluble protein.
(a) To identify three habitats within a selected ecosystem.
(b) To identify five flora and five fauna using simple keys.
To identify and use various pieces of apparatus to collect plants and animals in an ecosystem.
(a) To conduct a quantitative survey of plants in an ecosystem.
(b) To conduct a quantitative survey of animals in an ecosystem.
To investigate any three abiotic factors in a selected ecosystem.
To be familiar with and use a light microscope.
(a) To prepare and examine animal cells-unstained and stained, under the light microscope.
(b) To prepare and examine plant cells-unstained and stained, under the light microscope.
To Conduct an activity to demonstrate osmosis.
To Investigate the effect of pH on the rate of enzyme activity.
To Investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of enzyme activity.
To investigate the effect of heat denaturation on the activity of an enzyme.
To prepare an enzyme immobilisation and examine its application.
To investigate the effect of light intensity or carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis.
To prepare and show the production of alcohol by yeast.
To isolate DNA from a plant tissue.
To investigate the growth of leaf yeasts using agar plates and controls.
To prepare and examine microscopically the T.S. of a dicotyledonous stem (x100, x400).
To dissect, display and identify an ox’s or a sheep’s heart.
(a) To investigate the effect of exercise on pulse rate.
(b) To investigate the effect of exercise on breathing rate.
To investigate the effect of IAA growth regulator on plant tissue.
To investigate the effect of water, oxygen and temperature on germination.
To use starch or skimmed milk plates to show digestive activity during germination.
