Coordination, Response and Gene Technology
Coordination, Response and Gene Technology — Edexcel International A-Level Biology (Unit 5, IA2). Covers neurones and reflex arcs, action potentials and saltatory conduction, synaptic transmission, the effects of drugs on nerve impulses, vision (rods and rhodopsin), habituation, plant hormones, the brain and brain imaging, the role of imbalances in brain chemicals in disease, recombinant DNA production, microarrays, bioinformatics, and risks/benefits of GMOs. Includes Core Practical 18.
Neurones and Reflex ArcsSign up
know the structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurones, including Schwann cells and myelination · understand how the nervous system can cause effectors to respond to a stimulus · know the structure and function of a spinal reflex arc, including grey matter and white matter of the spinal cord
Action Potentials and Saltatory ConductionSign up
understand how a nerve impulse (action potential) is conducted along an axon, including changes in membrane permeability to sodium and potassium ions · understand the role of myelination in saltatory conduction
Synapses and the Pupil ReflexSign up
know the structure and function of synapses in nerve impulse transmission, including the role of neurotransmitters and acetylcholine · understand how the pupil dilates and contracts
Drugs Affecting Nerve Impulse TransmissionSign up
understand how drugs affect nerve impulse transmission, illustrated by nicotine, lidocaine, cobra venom alpha toxin, L-DOPA for Parkinson's disease, and MDMA (ecstasy)
Vision: Rods, Rhodopsin and Action PotentialsSign up
understand how the nervous system detects stimuli, with reference to rods in the mammalian retina, the roles of rhodopsin, opsin, retinal, sodium ions, cation channels, and hyperpolarisation of rod cells in forming action potentials in the optic neurones
Habituation and Plant HormonesSign up
understand the term habituation · understand how phytochrome, auxin (IAA) and gibberellins bring about responses in plants, including their effects on transcription · CORE PRACTICAL 18: investigate the production of amylase in germinating cereal grains
The Mammalian Nervous System and the BrainSign up
know that the mammalian nervous system consists of the central and peripheral nervous systems · understand how coordination in animals is brought about through nervous and hormonal control · know the location and main functions of the cerebral hemispheres, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, cerebellum and medulla oblongata
Brain Imaging and Neurological DiseaseSign up
understand how MRI, fMRI, PET and CT are used in medical diagnosis and investigation of brain structure and function · understand how imbalances in naturally-occurring brain chemicals contribute to ill health (dopamine in Parkinson's, serotonin in depression) and to the development of new drugs
Recombinant DNA, GMOs and Their RisksSign up
know how drugs can be produced using genetically modified organisms (plants, animals and microorganisms) · understand how recombinant DNA can be produced, including the roles of restriction endonucleases and DNA ligase · understand how recombinant DNA can be inserted into other cells · understand the risks and benefits associated with the use of genetically modified organisms
Microarrays and BioinformaticsSign up
know how microarrays can be used to identify active genes · understand the term bioinformatics