2026-2028 (Syllabus)
IGCSE Biology Summary
Revision (0610/0970)
Notes By: Saad Ali
© 2025 Saad Ali – All Rights Reserved
,1
Contents
Chapter 1: Cell Structure and Organization .....................................................................................4
● Cell Types .................................................................................................................................4
● Organelles and Functions ...................................................................................................... 4
● Levels of Organisation ............................................................................................................4
● Specialized Cells ..................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 2: Classification of Living Organisms ................................................................................ 5
● Characteristics of Living Things ............................................................................................5
● Classification Systems ........................................................................................................... 5
○ Five kingdoms: ........................................................................................................................ 5
● Vertebrates vs Invertebrates .................................................................................................. 5
● Viruses ......................................................................................................................................5
● DNA-Based Classification ...................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 3: Transport In and Out of Cells .......................................................................................... 5
● Diffusion ................................................................................................................................... 6
● Osmosis ....................................................................................................................................6
○ In plants: ...................................................................................................................................6
● Active Transport ...................................................................................................................... 7
● Practical Applications ............................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 4: Biological Molecules ........................................................................................................ 7
● Key Nutrients ........................................................................................................................... 7
● Food Tests ............................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 5: Enzymes ............................................................................................................................ 7
● What Are Enzymes? ................................................................................................................ 7
● Lock and Key Model ................................................................................................................7
● Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity ........................................................................................ 7
● Denaturation .............................................................................................................................7
Chapter 6: Nutrition in Humans ......................................................................................................... 8
● Balanced Diet........................................................................................................................... 8
○ Deficiency diseases: ............................................................................................................... 8
● Digestive System Pathway ..................................................................................................... 8
● Digestive Enzymes .................................................................................................................. 9
● Absorption ................................................................................................................................9
● Functions of Teeth in Digestion ............................................................................................. 9
Chapter 7: Transport in Animals (Circulatory System) ................................................................... 9
© 2025 Saad Ali – All Rights Reserved
, 2
● Heart Structure .........................................................................................................................9
○ Double circulation: .................................................................................................................. 9
● Blood Vessels .......................................................................................................................... 9
● Blood Components ................................................................................................................. 9
● Lymphatic System ................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 8: Respiration ...................................................................................................................... 10
● Types of Respiration ............................................................................................................. 10
● Practical Insight .....................................................................................................................11
Chapter 9: Gas Exchange in Humans ............................................................................................. 11
● Structure of the Lungs ..........................................................................................................11
○ Alveoli adaptations: .............................................................................................................. 11
● Breathing Mechanism ........................................................................................................... 11
● Effects of Smoking ................................................................................................................ 11
Chapter 10: Excretion ....................................................................................................................... 11
● What Is Excretion? ................................................................................................................ 11
● Human Excretory Organs ..................................................................................................... 11
● Structure of the Kidney .........................................................................................................12
● Urine Formation Summary ................................................................................................... 12
Chapter 11: Coordination and Response ........................................................................................12
● Nervous System .................................................................................................................... 12
● Endocrine System ................................................................................................................. 13
● Plant Responses ....................................................................................................................13
Chapter 12: Diseases and Immunity ............................................................................................... 13
● Pathogens .............................................................................................................................. 14
● Immune Response .................................................................................................................14
● Vaccination .............................................................................................................................14
○ Advantages: ........................................................................................................................... 14
○ Disadvantages: ...................................................................................................................... 14
● Antibiotics .............................................................................................................................. 14
○ Advantages: ........................................................................................................................... 14
○ Disadvantages: ...................................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 13: Nutrition in Plants .........................................................................................................14
● Photosynthesis ...................................................................................................................... 14
● Leaf Adaptations ................................................................................................................... 14
● Limiting Factors .....................................................................................................................14
● Mineral Requirements ........................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 14: Transport in Plants ....................................................................................................... 15
© 2025 Saad Ali – All Rights Reserved
IGCSE Biology Summary
Revision (0610/0970)
Notes By: Saad Ali
© 2025 Saad Ali – All Rights Reserved
,1
Contents
Chapter 1: Cell Structure and Organization .....................................................................................4
● Cell Types .................................................................................................................................4
● Organelles and Functions ...................................................................................................... 4
● Levels of Organisation ............................................................................................................4
● Specialized Cells ..................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 2: Classification of Living Organisms ................................................................................ 5
● Characteristics of Living Things ............................................................................................5
● Classification Systems ........................................................................................................... 5
○ Five kingdoms: ........................................................................................................................ 5
● Vertebrates vs Invertebrates .................................................................................................. 5
● Viruses ......................................................................................................................................5
● DNA-Based Classification ...................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 3: Transport In and Out of Cells .......................................................................................... 5
● Diffusion ................................................................................................................................... 6
● Osmosis ....................................................................................................................................6
○ In plants: ...................................................................................................................................6
● Active Transport ...................................................................................................................... 7
● Practical Applications ............................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 4: Biological Molecules ........................................................................................................ 7
● Key Nutrients ........................................................................................................................... 7
● Food Tests ............................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 5: Enzymes ............................................................................................................................ 7
● What Are Enzymes? ................................................................................................................ 7
● Lock and Key Model ................................................................................................................7
● Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity ........................................................................................ 7
● Denaturation .............................................................................................................................7
Chapter 6: Nutrition in Humans ......................................................................................................... 8
● Balanced Diet........................................................................................................................... 8
○ Deficiency diseases: ............................................................................................................... 8
● Digestive System Pathway ..................................................................................................... 8
● Digestive Enzymes .................................................................................................................. 9
● Absorption ................................................................................................................................9
● Functions of Teeth in Digestion ............................................................................................. 9
Chapter 7: Transport in Animals (Circulatory System) ................................................................... 9
© 2025 Saad Ali – All Rights Reserved
, 2
● Heart Structure .........................................................................................................................9
○ Double circulation: .................................................................................................................. 9
● Blood Vessels .......................................................................................................................... 9
● Blood Components ................................................................................................................. 9
● Lymphatic System ................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 8: Respiration ...................................................................................................................... 10
● Types of Respiration ............................................................................................................. 10
● Practical Insight .....................................................................................................................11
Chapter 9: Gas Exchange in Humans ............................................................................................. 11
● Structure of the Lungs ..........................................................................................................11
○ Alveoli adaptations: .............................................................................................................. 11
● Breathing Mechanism ........................................................................................................... 11
● Effects of Smoking ................................................................................................................ 11
Chapter 10: Excretion ....................................................................................................................... 11
● What Is Excretion? ................................................................................................................ 11
● Human Excretory Organs ..................................................................................................... 11
● Structure of the Kidney .........................................................................................................12
● Urine Formation Summary ................................................................................................... 12
Chapter 11: Coordination and Response ........................................................................................12
● Nervous System .................................................................................................................... 12
● Endocrine System ................................................................................................................. 13
● Plant Responses ....................................................................................................................13
Chapter 12: Diseases and Immunity ............................................................................................... 13
● Pathogens .............................................................................................................................. 14
● Immune Response .................................................................................................................14
● Vaccination .............................................................................................................................14
○ Advantages: ........................................................................................................................... 14
○ Disadvantages: ...................................................................................................................... 14
● Antibiotics .............................................................................................................................. 14
○ Advantages: ........................................................................................................................... 14
○ Disadvantages: ...................................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 13: Nutrition in Plants .........................................................................................................14
● Photosynthesis ...................................................................................................................... 14
● Leaf Adaptations ................................................................................................................... 14
● Limiting Factors .....................................................................................................................14
● Mineral Requirements ........................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 14: Transport in Plants ....................................................................................................... 15
© 2025 Saad Ali – All Rights Reserved
