Notes according to
SAGS on:
Environmental studies,
Life processes in
animals and plants,
and Life at molecular,
cellular and tissue
level.
Caitlin Govender
BIO PAPER I
,Contents
Population Ecology................................................................................................................................3
1. Terminology:..............................................................................................................................3
2. What affects the size of a population?.......................................................................................4
3. Limiting factors:.........................................................................................................................4
4. Sampling Methods:....................................................................................................................5
5. Importance of random sampling:...............................................................................................5
6. Predator-prey relationships:......................................................................................................6
7. Food webs and social organisation............................................................................................6
8. Competition:..............................................................................................................................7
9. Reducing competition:...............................................................................................................7
10. Ecological succession:..............................................................................................................7
Endocrine System.................................................................................................................................9
Negative Feedback:......................................................................................................................10
Flower Reproduction...........................................................................................................................13
1. & 2. Similarities, differences, advantages, and disadvantages of asexual and sexual
reproduction:...............................................................................................................................13
3./4. Parts of the flower and their functions:...............................................................................13
5. Difference between pollination and fertilisation.....................................................................14
6. How asexual/sexual reproduction techniques benefit food crops:..........................................15
7. Asexual reproduction benefitting food production:.................................................................15
Animal reproduction strategies...........................................................................................................16
Human Reproduction...........................................................................................................................18
1. Structure of male and female reproductive systems:..............................................................18
2. Male Reproductive system:.....................................................................................................19
3. Sperm/semen & erection/ejaculation:.....................................................................................20
4. Female Reproductive system:..................................................................................................20
5. Changes during puberty:..........................................................................................................20
6. /7. Sperm cell...........................................................................................................................21
8. Menstrual cycle:.......................................................................................................................21
10. Fertilization:...........................................................................................................................22
11. Structures of pregnancy:........................................................................................................22
12. Labour and birth....................................................................................................................23
13. Contraception........................................................................................................................23
DNA.....................................................................................................................................................24
1
, DNA Structure and coding:..............................................................................................................24
2. Structure and location of DNA and RNA:.................................................................................24
3. Nucleotides:.............................................................................................................................25
4. Mitochondrial DNA:.................................................................................................................25
Protein Synthesis.............................................................................................................................26
6. Translation (mRNA to proteins)...............................................................................................27
7. Aberrations:.............................................................................................................................27
Application of DNA technology........................................................................................................27
8. DNA ‘fingerprints’:...................................................................................................................27
Meiosis................................................................................................................................................29
1. Location and structure of chromosomes:................................................................................29
2. Significance of chromosomes in cell division:..........................................................................29
3. Haploid vs diploid:....................................................................................................................29
4. Purpose of meiosis:..................................................................................................................29
5. DNA replication:.......................................................................................................................29
6. Process of meiosis:...................................................................................................................29
7. Chromosomal mutations:........................................................................................................30
8. Karyotypes:..............................................................................................................................31
Genetics and genetic Engineering........................................................................................................32
Inheritance.......................................................................................................................................32
1./2. Mendel’s laws and terminology:.........................................................................................32
3. Monohybrid crosses (punnet squares):...................................................................................32
4. Continuous characteristics:......................................................................................................33
5. Gene mutation and speciation.................................................................................................33
6. Human Genome Project:..........................................................................................................33
7. Pedigree diagrams:..................................................................................................................34
Genetic Engineering.........................................................................................................................34
1. Terminology:............................................................................................................................34
2. modifications...........................................................................................................................34
3. Bacterial plasmids....................................................................................................................34
4. Gene Therapy...........................................................................................................................35
5. GMO Crops...............................................................................................................................35
6. Transgenic organisms...............................................................................................................35
7. Cloning.....................................................................................................................................36
8. Artificial selection and selective breeding................................................................................37
9. Hybrid vigour...........................................................................................................................37
2
, Population Ecology
1. Terminology:
Individual – a single organism capable of independent existence.
Population – a group of organisms of the same species that occupy the same area and can breed
freely with each other.
Community – a group of different species that inhabit and interact in a particular area.
Ecosystem – made up of groups of different species of organisms that interact with each other and
the environment
Predator-prey relationship – biological interaction where one species, the predator, kills and eats
3