IGCSE BIOLOGY

Course Plan
Amit Shrestha

Textbooks: Cambridge IGCSE Biology Coursebook, Mary Jones and Geoff Jones; Cambridge IGCSE Biology Workbook, by
Mary Jones and Geoff Jones; Cambridge IGCSE Biology Practical Workbook, by Matthew Broderick;
Suggested books (others):
1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
2. The Brain, David Eagleman
3. Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari

Course Description: Cambridge programs develop not only subject knowledge but also skills. We encourage Cambridge
students to be:
• Confident in working with information and ideas—their own and those of others
• Responsible for themselves, responsive to and respectful of others
• Reflective as students, developing their ability to learn
• Innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
• Engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference

CONTENTS

1: Cells and cell processes

2: Animal nutrition
3: Plant nutrition and transport
4: Respiration and the human transport system
5: Coordination, response and homeostasis
6: Reproduction
7: Human reproduction
8: Inheritance and evolution
9: Organisms and environment
10: Human influences on the environment

Guided Learning Hours

Topic Suggested teaching time (%) Suggested teaching order

1: Cells and processes 26 hours (20% of the course) 1

2: Animal nutrition 5 hours (4% of the course) 2

3: Plant nutrition and transport 13 hours (10% of the course) 3

4: Respiration and the human transport system 25 hours (19% of the course) 4

5: Coordination, response and homeostasis 20 hours (15% of the course) 5

6: Reproduction 5 hours (4% of the course) 6

7: Human reproduction 4 hours (3% of the course) 7

8: Inheritance and evolution 22 hours (17% of the course) 8

9: Organisms and environment 5 hours (4% of the course) 9

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 Topic Suggested teaching time (%) Suggested teaching order
10: Human influences on the environment 5 hours (4% of the course) 10

IGSCE Biology will incorporate these Cambridge learner attributes while teaching students an overview of the chemical,
physical, and cellular basis of life. During this course, students learn basic cell structure and function, basic genetics and
genetic technology, ecology and human impact on the environment, as well as evolution and classification. Please
understand this class is about inquiry and the teacher as a facilitator. Therefore, you will not always be given the
information upfront to memorize, but rather be supported and scaffolded by the teacher as you do labs, research, activities,
and readings to learn the content.

Order of Units
Unit Description

Unit 1: Biomolecules and Enzymes Study of carbs, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Study of enzymes and their activity.

Unit 2: Cells Cell structure and special organelles

Unit 3: DNA /Protein synthesis DNA structure, replication, transcription, and translation

Unit 4: Biotechnology Gel electrophoresis, cloning, Human Genome Project, transgenics, gene therapy, and stem cells

3 Unit 5: Cell Reproduction Differences between mitosis and meiosis, and the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction. Examine
karyotypes to determine sex and disease.

Unit 6: Genetics Mendelian, incomplete dominance, co-dominance, sex-linked, multiple alleles, polygenics, and pedigrees
Course Standards: This course is based on the Cambridge IGCSE Biology Syllabus for 2016 and

NC Essential Standards.
Course Standards: This course is based on the Cambridge IGCSE Biology Syllabus.
Bio 3.5 Analyze how IGCSE 1- Characteristics and Bio.3.5.1 Explain the historical development and changing nature of classification systems. Concept
classification systems are classification of living organisms IGCSE 1.2, 1.3 and use of a classification system. Features of organisms.
developed based upon
speciation. Bio.3.5.2 Analyze the classification of organisms according to their evolutionary relationships
IGCSE 1.4 (including dichotomous keys and phylogenetic trees).

IGCSE 1.1 Describe the characteristics of living organisms by defining the terms: movement,
Bio 1.1 -Understand the IGCSE 1-Characteristics and respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and nutrition.
relationship between the classification of living organisms Bio.1.1.1
structures and functions of IGCSE 1.3, 2.1 Summarize structure and function of organelles in eukaryotic cells and ways that these
cells and their organelles. IGCSE 2-Organization of the organelles interact with each other to perform the function of the cell. Plant and animal
organism cell differences and similarities.

IGCSE 9-Transport in animals

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 Bio 1.1.2 Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in terms of their general structures
IGCSE 2.3 (plasma membrane and genetic material) and degree of complexity.

Bio.1.1.3 Explain how instructions in DNA lead to cell differentiation and result in cells
IGCSE 9.4 specialized to perform specific functions in multicellular organisms.
Blood cell: components, functions and identification.

Bio.1.2.1 Explain how homeostasis is maintained in the cell.

Bio 1.2 Analyze the cell as IGCSE 3-Movement in and out of IGCSE Diffusion, Osmosis, Comparison of passive and active transport. Gas exchange
a living system. cells 3.1-3.3, 11, in humans. Explain what factors affect the volume and concentration of urine.
IGCSE 11-Gas exchange in humans 13, 14.4
IGCSE 13-Excretion in humans Bio.1.2.2 Analyze how cells grow and reproduce in terms of interphase, mitosis and cytokinesis.
IGCSE 14-Coordination and IGCSE 16.1,
response 17.3, 18.1
IGCSE 16-Reproduction
IGCSE 17-Inheritance Bio.1.2.3 Explain how specific cell adaptations help cells survive in particular environments (focus on
IGCSE 18-Variation and selection unicellular organisms).

Bio 2.1 Analyze the IGCSE 19-Organisms and their Bio.2.1.1 Analyze the flow of energy and cycling of matter (water, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen)
interdependence of environment IGCSE 19.1- through ecosystems relating the significance of each to maintaining the health and
living organisms within their 19.3, 21.2 sustainability of an ecosystem.
environments. IGCSE 21-Human influences on
ecosystem Bio.2.1.2 Analyze the survival and reproductive success of organisms in terms of behavioral,
structural, and reproductive adaptations.
Bio.2.1.3 Explain various ways organisms interact with each other (including predation, competition,
parasitism, mutualism) and with their environments resulting in stability within
ecosystems.
Bio.2.1.4 Explain why ecosystems can be relatively stable over hundreds or thousands of years, even
IGCSE 19.4 though populations may fluctuate (emphasizing availability of food, availability of shelter,
number of predators and disease)

Bio 2.2 Understand the impact IGCSE 19-Organisms and their Bio.2.2.1 Infer how human activities (including population growth, pollution, global warming,
of human activities on the environment IGCSE 19.3, burning of fossil fuels, habitat destruction and introduction of nonnative species) may
environment (one generation 19.4, 21.2, 21.3 impact the environment.

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 affects the next). IGCSE 21-Human influences on
ecosystem Bio.2.2.2 Explain how the use, protection and conservation of natural resources by humans impact
IGCSE 21.4 the environment from one generation to the next.
Bio 3.1 Explain how traits are IGCSE 18-Variation and selection Bio.3.1.1 Explain the double-stranded, complementary nature of DNA as related to its function in
determined by the structure and the cell.
function of DNA. Bio.3.1.2 Explain how DNA and RNA code for proteins and determine traits.

Bio.3.1.3 Explain how mutations in DNA that result from interactions with the environment (i.e.
IGCSE 18.1 radiation and chemicals) or new combinations in existing genes lead to changes in function
and phenotype.
Bio 3.2 Understand how the IGCSE 16- Reproduction Bio.3.2.1 Explain the role of meiosis in sexual reproduction and genetic variation. Understand
environment, and/or the IGCSE 16.2, fertilization, zygote, embryo and fetus.
interaction of alleles, influences IGCSE 17-Inheritance 16.4, 17.4, 18.1
the expression of genetic traits.
Bio.3.2.2 Predict offspring ratios based on a variety of inheritance patterns (including dominance,
IGCSE 18-Variation and selection
IGCSE 17.1, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked traits).
17.2, 17.5, 18.1
Bio.3.2.3 Explain how the environment can influence the expression of genetic traits.
IGCSE 18.1

Bio 3.3 Understand the IGCSE 20- Biotechnology and Bio.3.3.1 Interpret how DNA is used for comparison and identification of organisms.
application of DNA technology. genetic engineering
Bio.3.3.2 Summarize how transgenic organisms are engineered to benefit society.
IGCSE 21- Human influences on IGCSE
ecosystem 20.1,20.3
Bio.3.3.3 Evaluate some of the ethical issues surrounding the use of DNA technology (including
IGCSE cloning, genetically modified organisms, stem cell research, and Human Genome Project).
20.3,21.1

Bio 3.4 Explain the theory of IGCSE 18 -Variation and selection Bio.3.4.1 Explain how fossil, biochemical, and anatomical evidence support the theory of evolution.

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evolution by natural selection as Bio.3.4.2 Explain how natural selection influences the changes in species over time.
a mechanism for how species IGCSE 10-Diseases and immunity IGCSE
change over time. 18.2,18.3
IGCSE 15-Drugs Bio.3.4.3 Explain how various disease agents (bacteria, viruses, chemicals) can influence natural
IGCSE 10, 15, selection. Define pathogen. State the body’s defenses against disease. Medicinal drugs.
IGCSE 16- Reproduction 16.7 Understand HIV and AIDS.

Bio 4.1 Understand how IGCSE 4-Biological Molecules Bio.4.1.1 Compare the structures and functions of the major biological molecules (carbohydrates,
biological molecules are essential IGCSE 14 -Coordination and IGCSE 4, 14.3 proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids) as related to the survival of living organisms. Describe
to the survival of living response the use of the chemical tests to indicate each substance. Define a hormone
organisms IGCSE 5-Enzymes
IGCSE 7-Human nutrition Bio.4.1.2 Summarize the relationship among DNA, proteins and amino acids in carrying out the
IGCSE- 20 Biotechnology and work of cells and how this is similar in all organisms.
genetic engineering Bio.4.1.3 Explain how enzymes act as catalysts for biological reactions. Understand enzyme action
IGCSE 5.1, 7.4, and circumstances that may effect this action. Chemical digestion: digestive enzymes.
20.2
Bio 4.2 Analyze the relationships IGCSE 6-Plant nutrition Bio.4.2.1 Analyze photosynthesis and cellular respiration in terms of how energy is stored, released,
between biochemical processes IGCSE 8-Transport in plants IGCSE 6.1-6.3, and transferred within and between these systems. Leaf structure. Mineral requirements.
and energy use in the cell. IGCSE 14-Coordination and 8.1-8.3, 11, Transport in plants, water uptake, and transpiration. gravitropism and phototropism
response 12.1-12.3, 14.5. State the differences in composition between inspired and expired air. Investigate and
IGCSE 11-Gas exchange in humans 20.2 describe the effects of physical activity on rate and depth of breathing.
IGCSE 12-Respiration
IGCSE 20-Biotechnology and Bio.4.2.2 Explain ways that organisms use released energy for maintaining homeostasis (active
genetic engineering IGCSE 3.3 transport).
IGCSE 3-Movement in and out of
cells