GCSE MOCKS – BIOLOGY
Topic 1: Variety of Living Organisms
Topic 2: Reproduction
Topic 3: Human Impact on the environment
Topic 4: Biological molecules and digestion (4th)
Topic 5: Organisms in the environment
Topic 6: Plant nutrition
Topic 7: Food production
Topic 8: Co-ordination and Response
Topic 9: Movement of Substances (L5th)
Topic 10: Respiration and Gas Exchange (U5th)
Topic 11: Transport
Topic 12: Inheritance
Topic 13: Genetic Techniques
Topic 14: Excretion
TOPIC 1 – Variety of Living Organisms
Understand how living organisms share the following basic characteristics:
• they require nutrition
• they respire
• they excrete their waste
• they respond to their surroundings
• they move
• they control their internal conditions
• they reproduce
• they grow and develop.
Describe the common features shared by organisms within the following main groups:
plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, Protoctista and viruses
For each group describe examples and their features (details of life cycle and economic importance are
not required)
, Understand the term ‘pathogen’ and know that pathogens may be fungi, bacteria, Protoctista or
viruses
Describe the levels of organisation within organisms: organelles, cells, tissues, organs and systems
Recognise cell structures, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, mitochondria,
chloroplast, ribosomes and vacuole
Describe the functions of the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, mitochondria, chloroplast,
ribosomes and vacuole
Know the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.
Explain the importance of cell differentiation in the development of specialised cells
Understand the advantages and disadvantages of using stem cells in medicine
Characteristics Of Life
For an organism to be classified as living, they must be able to do all of these things:
Movement – They can move and change position.
Respiration – They can carry out the chemical process of respiration to release energy.
Sensitivity – they can detect stimuli and respond to them.
Control - They can control/coordinate internal functions.
Growth – They can increase their dry mass or size permanently.
Reproduction – They can produce organisms of the same kind of them.
Excretion – they can remove metabolic waste, toxic material or excess substances.
Nutrition – They can absorb and take in nutrients and organic substances needed for growth.
All living things fit into five kingdoms or categories:
Category Eukaryotic or Heterotroph, Unicellular or Sugar Pathogen? Cell Wall Other…
Prokaryotic saprotroph, or multicellular stored and
autotroph as… material?
Animals Eukaryotic Heterotroph Multi Glycogen N N Nervous
coordination
Plants Eukaryotic Autotroph Multi Starch N Y– Contain
cellulose chloroplasts
allowing
photosynthesis
Bacteria Prokaryotic Autotroph/ Uni Varies Y– Y Very small,
(instead have Heterotroph Pneumococcus, some can
plasmids and Pneumonia photosynthesis
circular Can have
chromosome) flagellum
Fungi Eukaryotic Saprotroph Multi/Uni Glycogen Y – Athlete’s foot Y – chitin Have a body
called
mycelium
made up of
hyphae
Protoctista Eukaryotic Varies Mostly Uni Varies Y – Plasmodium, Y/N
malaria or
Chlorelle,
cholera
Viruses are not living organisms as they cannot:
Reproduce without a host cell (they are parasites)
Respire
Grow
, Excrete waste products
Viruses are all pathogenic and contain either RNA or DNA, encased in a capsid coat.
Definitions:
Eukaryote – A cell with a nucleus, Prokaryote is the opposite.
Heterotroph – Gets nutrition from other organisms
Autotroph – Makes food independently (photosynthesis)
Saprotroph – Secretes enzymes which digest the molecules outside the organism before nutrients
are absorbed back into the organism (fungi)
Pathogen – organism that can cause disease
Examples of Organisms:
1. Animals – Zebra
2. Plants – tulip
3. Bacteria – Lactobacillus
4. Fungi – Yeast
5. Protoctista – Amoeba
Examples of Pathogenic Organisms:
1. Bacteria – Pneumococcus (pneumonia)
2. Fungi – Athlete’s foot,
3. Protoctista – Plasmodium (malaria)
+ Virus HIV (Aids), Corona virus (COVID-19)
All living organisms are made up of cells. These cells are made up of different organelles.
Organelle Function
Nucleus Contains genetic information and controls cell’s activities.
Mitochondria Aerobic respiration takes place here
Cytoplasm Liquid substance where most chemical reactions take place. Contains
many enzymes and most organelles are suspended in this liquid
Ribosome Small complex structures where protein synthesis occurs
Cell membrane Semi-permeable membrane which holds in the cytoplasm and organelles
as well as controlling which materials enter the cell
(PLANTS) Chloroplast Where photosynthesis occurs, contain chlorophyll which gives plants
their green colour.
(PLANTS) Vacuole Large organelle which holds cell sap (solution of sugars and salts), gives
cells rigidity
(PLANTS) Cell wall Surrounds the cell, made of cellulose (in plants), provides strength and
protection, holds shape of cell,
These organelles make up cells.
These cells then make up tissues which are a group of cell which work together to carry out a specific
function.
These tissues make up organs which are a group of tissues working together to fulfil a common
function.
, These organs then make up organ systems which are a group of organs working together to fulfil an
overall function for an organism (e.g., endocrine system, digestive system)
STEM CELLS/ CELL DIFFERENTIATION
Most cells are different as they are specialised to carry out a specific function.
Cell differentiation is the process by which a cell changes to become specialized for a specific
job/function.
Stem cells or undifferentiated cells can divide into more stem cells which can then differentiate.
There are two types of stem cells:
Embryonic stem cells – these are stem cells which are found in early embryos. These stem
cells have the ability to become any type of cell. All cells in our body have come from a few
stem cells in the embryo.
Adult stem cells – these are stem cells found in adults. These stem cells can only turns into a
certain range of different cells not any cell. For example, we have stem cells in our bone
marrow which can differentiate in different blood cells.
Stem cells can be used in medicine to help cure disease. For example, healthy stem cells can be
transferred to a unhealthy person who has faulty cells. Theses stem cells can then replace the faulty
cells. In the case of adult stem cells, a stem cell from a bone marrow could be give to a patient to
replace faulty blood cells.
Embryonic stem cells can also be used with even more cures they could provide as they can
differentiate into anything. There are many moral arguments against this however as people believe
the harvesting of embryonic stem cells destroys a potential human life.
Risks involved with using stem cells include:
If the cells are not expected by the patient, they can lead to cancer.
There are risks of contamination if the donor is infected with a virus.
Advantage of Stem Cells Disadvantage of Stem Cells
Can be used to replace cells and tissue which If the cells are not expected by the patient, they
have been damaged or destroyed. can lead to cancer
Treat otherwise untreatable conditions Difficult to find donors
Using embryonic stem cells requires an embryo,
so you are stopping the potential of life.
Risks of contamination
TOPIC 2 – Reproduction
Describe the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction.
Understand that fertilisation involves the fusion of a male and female gamete to produce a
zygote that undergoes cell division and develops into an embryo.
Describe the structures of an insect-pollinated and a wind pollinated flower and explain how
each is adapted for pollination.
Understand that the growth of the pollen tube followed by fertilization leads to seed and fruit
formation.
Topic 1: Variety of Living Organisms
Topic 2: Reproduction
Topic 3: Human Impact on the environment
Topic 4: Biological molecules and digestion (4th)
Topic 5: Organisms in the environment
Topic 6: Plant nutrition
Topic 7: Food production
Topic 8: Co-ordination and Response
Topic 9: Movement of Substances (L5th)
Topic 10: Respiration and Gas Exchange (U5th)
Topic 11: Transport
Topic 12: Inheritance
Topic 13: Genetic Techniques
Topic 14: Excretion
TOPIC 1 – Variety of Living Organisms
Understand how living organisms share the following basic characteristics:
• they require nutrition
• they respire
• they excrete their waste
• they respond to their surroundings
• they move
• they control their internal conditions
• they reproduce
• they grow and develop.
Describe the common features shared by organisms within the following main groups:
plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, Protoctista and viruses
For each group describe examples and their features (details of life cycle and economic importance are
not required)
, Understand the term ‘pathogen’ and know that pathogens may be fungi, bacteria, Protoctista or
viruses
Describe the levels of organisation within organisms: organelles, cells, tissues, organs and systems
Recognise cell structures, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, mitochondria,
chloroplast, ribosomes and vacuole
Describe the functions of the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, mitochondria, chloroplast,
ribosomes and vacuole
Know the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.
Explain the importance of cell differentiation in the development of specialised cells
Understand the advantages and disadvantages of using stem cells in medicine
Characteristics Of Life
For an organism to be classified as living, they must be able to do all of these things:
Movement – They can move and change position.
Respiration – They can carry out the chemical process of respiration to release energy.
Sensitivity – they can detect stimuli and respond to them.
Control - They can control/coordinate internal functions.
Growth – They can increase their dry mass or size permanently.
Reproduction – They can produce organisms of the same kind of them.
Excretion – they can remove metabolic waste, toxic material or excess substances.
Nutrition – They can absorb and take in nutrients and organic substances needed for growth.
All living things fit into five kingdoms or categories:
Category Eukaryotic or Heterotroph, Unicellular or Sugar Pathogen? Cell Wall Other…
Prokaryotic saprotroph, or multicellular stored and
autotroph as… material?
Animals Eukaryotic Heterotroph Multi Glycogen N N Nervous
coordination
Plants Eukaryotic Autotroph Multi Starch N Y– Contain
cellulose chloroplasts
allowing
photosynthesis
Bacteria Prokaryotic Autotroph/ Uni Varies Y– Y Very small,
(instead have Heterotroph Pneumococcus, some can
plasmids and Pneumonia photosynthesis
circular Can have
chromosome) flagellum
Fungi Eukaryotic Saprotroph Multi/Uni Glycogen Y – Athlete’s foot Y – chitin Have a body
called
mycelium
made up of
hyphae
Protoctista Eukaryotic Varies Mostly Uni Varies Y – Plasmodium, Y/N
malaria or
Chlorelle,
cholera
Viruses are not living organisms as they cannot:
Reproduce without a host cell (they are parasites)
Respire
Grow
, Excrete waste products
Viruses are all pathogenic and contain either RNA or DNA, encased in a capsid coat.
Definitions:
Eukaryote – A cell with a nucleus, Prokaryote is the opposite.
Heterotroph – Gets nutrition from other organisms
Autotroph – Makes food independently (photosynthesis)
Saprotroph – Secretes enzymes which digest the molecules outside the organism before nutrients
are absorbed back into the organism (fungi)
Pathogen – organism that can cause disease
Examples of Organisms:
1. Animals – Zebra
2. Plants – tulip
3. Bacteria – Lactobacillus
4. Fungi – Yeast
5. Protoctista – Amoeba
Examples of Pathogenic Organisms:
1. Bacteria – Pneumococcus (pneumonia)
2. Fungi – Athlete’s foot,
3. Protoctista – Plasmodium (malaria)
+ Virus HIV (Aids), Corona virus (COVID-19)
All living organisms are made up of cells. These cells are made up of different organelles.
Organelle Function
Nucleus Contains genetic information and controls cell’s activities.
Mitochondria Aerobic respiration takes place here
Cytoplasm Liquid substance where most chemical reactions take place. Contains
many enzymes and most organelles are suspended in this liquid
Ribosome Small complex structures where protein synthesis occurs
Cell membrane Semi-permeable membrane which holds in the cytoplasm and organelles
as well as controlling which materials enter the cell
(PLANTS) Chloroplast Where photosynthesis occurs, contain chlorophyll which gives plants
their green colour.
(PLANTS) Vacuole Large organelle which holds cell sap (solution of sugars and salts), gives
cells rigidity
(PLANTS) Cell wall Surrounds the cell, made of cellulose (in plants), provides strength and
protection, holds shape of cell,
These organelles make up cells.
These cells then make up tissues which are a group of cell which work together to carry out a specific
function.
These tissues make up organs which are a group of tissues working together to fulfil a common
function.
, These organs then make up organ systems which are a group of organs working together to fulfil an
overall function for an organism (e.g., endocrine system, digestive system)
STEM CELLS/ CELL DIFFERENTIATION
Most cells are different as they are specialised to carry out a specific function.
Cell differentiation is the process by which a cell changes to become specialized for a specific
job/function.
Stem cells or undifferentiated cells can divide into more stem cells which can then differentiate.
There are two types of stem cells:
Embryonic stem cells – these are stem cells which are found in early embryos. These stem
cells have the ability to become any type of cell. All cells in our body have come from a few
stem cells in the embryo.
Adult stem cells – these are stem cells found in adults. These stem cells can only turns into a
certain range of different cells not any cell. For example, we have stem cells in our bone
marrow which can differentiate in different blood cells.
Stem cells can be used in medicine to help cure disease. For example, healthy stem cells can be
transferred to a unhealthy person who has faulty cells. Theses stem cells can then replace the faulty
cells. In the case of adult stem cells, a stem cell from a bone marrow could be give to a patient to
replace faulty blood cells.
Embryonic stem cells can also be used with even more cures they could provide as they can
differentiate into anything. There are many moral arguments against this however as people believe
the harvesting of embryonic stem cells destroys a potential human life.
Risks involved with using stem cells include:
If the cells are not expected by the patient, they can lead to cancer.
There are risks of contamination if the donor is infected with a virus.
Advantage of Stem Cells Disadvantage of Stem Cells
Can be used to replace cells and tissue which If the cells are not expected by the patient, they
have been damaged or destroyed. can lead to cancer
Treat otherwise untreatable conditions Difficult to find donors
Using embryonic stem cells requires an embryo,
so you are stopping the potential of life.
Risks of contamination
TOPIC 2 – Reproduction
Describe the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction.
Understand that fertilisation involves the fusion of a male and female gamete to produce a
zygote that undergoes cell division and develops into an embryo.
Describe the structures of an insect-pollinated and a wind pollinated flower and explain how
each is adapted for pollination.
Understand that the growth of the pollen tube followed by fertilization leads to seed and fruit
formation.
