1
Life Sciences
Grade 10
Term 1_2026
These notes are designed to help Grade 10 learners prepare thoroughly for the Life
Sciences Term 1 content. It provides clear explanations, structured summaries, and
practice questions based on core topics such as Scientific Skills, The Chemistry of Life,
Cells as the Basic Units of Life, and Cell Division (Mitosis).
Each section aims to build understanding step by step, ensuring that learners grasp key
biological concepts and can apply them with confidence in tests and examinations.
Remember:
These notes are a study guide, not a replacement for your textbook. Learners should
use them together with their classwork, textbooks, and teacher’s guidance for the best
results.
Resources; NSC_ March 2024 Common Test, TSP_2022 subject workbook, MOPANI WEST DISTRICT_MARCH2024, Life Sciences Formal Test 2.1
FS/March 2024. IMPAQ T1_2021. Revision Booklet_2024 WCED. @IMPAQ TEST T1_2025
For more @Juffrou_Ansie products, contact
Good luck
Juffrou Ansie
Content
1. Scientific Skills 5
2. The Chemistry Of Life 7
3. Cells: The Basic Units Of Life 13
4. Cell Division (Mitosis) 19 - 35
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
Multiple choice questions
Organic Organic molecules are made up of carbon (C), Hydrogen (H)
molecules and oxygen (O) and some contain other elements, such as
nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P)
Gene DNA segment of a chromosome that determines a particular
hereditary characteristic.
Centrosome The organelle that generates spindle fibres in an animal cell
during mitosis is centrosome
Inorganic Inorganic compounds do not contain the element carbon and
compounds are not produced by living organisms e.g., water, gases and
minerals.
Cells Cells are made up of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic
acids and vitamins
Lipids (fats and Lipids contain carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
oils) Examples of lipids include cooking oils e.g. sunflower oil, butter
and margarine
Saturated fats Saturated fats have single bonds in the fatty acid chain and are
mainly derived from animals. Saturated fats are mainly solids at
room temperature e.g. butter and cheese.
Unsaturated fats Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds in the fatty
acid chain and are mainly derived from plants. Unsaturated fats
are liquids at room temperature e.g. olive oil, canola oil and
sunflower oil
A dipeptide is formed when two amino acids combine, and a tripeptide is formed
when three amino acids combine. A polypeptide is a long chain of amino acids
linked by peptide bonds.
Night blindness is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin A.
Enzymes Enzymes are proteins. Enzymes are biological catalysts that
speed up the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up
in the chemical reaction itself.
Ribosomes The part of a cell where proteins are made
Eutrophication An increase in the nutrient levels in dams and lakes because of
the excess use of fertiliser by farmers
Mitochondrion A powerhouse of a cell
Amino Acid The subunits which make up all proteins
Substrate The substance on which enzymes act
Lysosome The vacuole in animal cells that contains enzymes
Clips/Clamps The part of the microscope that holds the specimen slide in
position
Meristematic Undifferentiated and unspecialised tissue that occurs in the
tissue growth regions of plants.
Metaphase The phase where chromosomes arrange themselves on the
equatorial level.
Osmosis The movement of water from a high water potential to a low
water potential through a differentially permeable membrane.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 3
Cardiac muscle
IMPAQ T1_2021
Phloem Tissue that transport dissolved organic food from the leaves to
other
parts of the plant.
Parenchyma The most common tissue type in plants, thin-walled with large
vacuoles
Turgor pressure The pressure that the contents of a cell exert on the cell wall.
Ribosome Small, roundish structures found in the groundplasm, especially on
the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER).
Areolar The tissue that binds skin to the body.
connective tissue
Cholesterol and • Cholesterol is a lipid and a white, wax-like substance that is
heart disease: found in the human body and is part of cell membranes.
• Excessive intake of saturated fats leads to high cholesterol
levels in the blood.
• High cholesterol levels on the blood cause fatty deposits in
arteries thereby narrowing the arteries
• This interferes with the transport of blood and can lead to
a heart attack.
Nucleic acids • Nucleic acids are made up of the elements carbon (C),
hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N) and phosphorous
(P).
• There are two types of nucleic acids i.e. DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)
• DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell, and it carries the
hereditary characteristics.
• RNA is found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of a cell and
plays a role in protein synthesis.
Represent the relationship between temperature and this
organism’s enzyme activity rate. An organism grows optimally at
temperatures between 80 °C and 110 °C.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 4
Nucleus
Cell membrane
Mitochondria
@Juffrou_Ansie
Life Sciences
Grade 10
Term 1_2026
These notes are designed to help Grade 10 learners prepare thoroughly for the Life
Sciences Term 1 content. It provides clear explanations, structured summaries, and
practice questions based on core topics such as Scientific Skills, The Chemistry of Life,
Cells as the Basic Units of Life, and Cell Division (Mitosis).
Each section aims to build understanding step by step, ensuring that learners grasp key
biological concepts and can apply them with confidence in tests and examinations.
Remember:
These notes are a study guide, not a replacement for your textbook. Learners should
use them together with their classwork, textbooks, and teacher’s guidance for the best
results.
Resources; NSC_ March 2024 Common Test, TSP_2022 subject workbook, MOPANI WEST DISTRICT_MARCH2024, Life Sciences Formal Test 2.1
FS/March 2024. IMPAQ T1_2021. Revision Booklet_2024 WCED. @IMPAQ TEST T1_2025
For more @Juffrou_Ansie products, contact
Good luck
Juffrou Ansie
Content
1. Scientific Skills 5
2. The Chemistry Of Life 7
3. Cells: The Basic Units Of Life 13
4. Cell Division (Mitosis) 19 - 35
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
Multiple choice questions
Organic Organic molecules are made up of carbon (C), Hydrogen (H)
molecules and oxygen (O) and some contain other elements, such as
nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P)
Gene DNA segment of a chromosome that determines a particular
hereditary characteristic.
Centrosome The organelle that generates spindle fibres in an animal cell
during mitosis is centrosome
Inorganic Inorganic compounds do not contain the element carbon and
compounds are not produced by living organisms e.g., water, gases and
minerals.
Cells Cells are made up of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic
acids and vitamins
Lipids (fats and Lipids contain carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
oils) Examples of lipids include cooking oils e.g. sunflower oil, butter
and margarine
Saturated fats Saturated fats have single bonds in the fatty acid chain and are
mainly derived from animals. Saturated fats are mainly solids at
room temperature e.g. butter and cheese.
Unsaturated fats Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds in the fatty
acid chain and are mainly derived from plants. Unsaturated fats
are liquids at room temperature e.g. olive oil, canola oil and
sunflower oil
A dipeptide is formed when two amino acids combine, and a tripeptide is formed
when three amino acids combine. A polypeptide is a long chain of amino acids
linked by peptide bonds.
Night blindness is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin A.
Enzymes Enzymes are proteins. Enzymes are biological catalysts that
speed up the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up
in the chemical reaction itself.
Ribosomes The part of a cell where proteins are made
Eutrophication An increase in the nutrient levels in dams and lakes because of
the excess use of fertiliser by farmers
Mitochondrion A powerhouse of a cell
Amino Acid The subunits which make up all proteins
Substrate The substance on which enzymes act
Lysosome The vacuole in animal cells that contains enzymes
Clips/Clamps The part of the microscope that holds the specimen slide in
position
Meristematic Undifferentiated and unspecialised tissue that occurs in the
tissue growth regions of plants.
Metaphase The phase where chromosomes arrange themselves on the
equatorial level.
Osmosis The movement of water from a high water potential to a low
water potential through a differentially permeable membrane.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 3
Cardiac muscle
IMPAQ T1_2021
Phloem Tissue that transport dissolved organic food from the leaves to
other
parts of the plant.
Parenchyma The most common tissue type in plants, thin-walled with large
vacuoles
Turgor pressure The pressure that the contents of a cell exert on the cell wall.
Ribosome Small, roundish structures found in the groundplasm, especially on
the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER).
Areolar The tissue that binds skin to the body.
connective tissue
Cholesterol and • Cholesterol is a lipid and a white, wax-like substance that is
heart disease: found in the human body and is part of cell membranes.
• Excessive intake of saturated fats leads to high cholesterol
levels in the blood.
• High cholesterol levels on the blood cause fatty deposits in
arteries thereby narrowing the arteries
• This interferes with the transport of blood and can lead to
a heart attack.
Nucleic acids • Nucleic acids are made up of the elements carbon (C),
hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N) and phosphorous
(P).
• There are two types of nucleic acids i.e. DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)
• DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell, and it carries the
hereditary characteristics.
• RNA is found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of a cell and
plays a role in protein synthesis.
Represent the relationship between temperature and this
organism’s enzyme activity rate. An organism grows optimally at
temperatures between 80 °C and 110 °C.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 4
Nucleus
Cell membrane
Mitochondria
@Juffrou_Ansie
