§-Biology syllabus
SA · SACE Board← Biology
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the SA Biology syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Topic 1: DNA and Proteins
Module overview →How is genetic information stored in DNA and copied before cell division?
DNA is a double helix of nucleotides whose complementary base pairing allows semi-conservative replication.
How do scientists copy, separate and modify DNA?
Describe the principles of PCR, gel electrophoresis and the production of genetically modified organisms
How do enzymes speed up reactions and what changes their activity?
Explain how enzymes catalyse reactions via the active site and how temperature, pH, concentration and inhibitors affect their activity
How does the information in a gene become a functional protein?
Explain how transcription produces mRNA from a gene and how translation uses that mRNA to build a polypeptide
How do cells control which genes are expressed and when?
Explain how gene expression is regulated, including the lac operon in prokaryotes and differential expression in eukaryotes
How do changes to DNA arise and what effects do they have?
Describe gene and chromosomal mutations, their causes (mutagens), and how they affect proteins and phenotype
How does the structure of a protein determine what it does?
Proteins fold from amino acid chains into specific 3D shapes that determine their function.
How does a sequence of bases specify a sequence of amino acids?
The genetic code is a triplet, degenerate, near-universal code that maps codons to amino acids.
Topic 2: Cells as the Basis of Life
Module overview →How does each organelle contribute to the life of the cell?
Describe the structure and function of the major eukaryotic cell organelles
How do cells release the energy stored in glucose?
Explain how aerobic and anaerobic respiration release energy from glucose to produce ATP
How do plants convert light energy into chemical energy?
Explain how photosynthesis uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose
How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ?
Compare the structure and organisation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Why are cells small, and how does size limit exchange with the environment?
Explain how the surface area to volume ratio limits cell size and affects the rate of exchange
How do cells grow, copy themselves and divide accurately?
Describe the stages of the cell cycle and mitosis and explain how they produce genetically identical cells
How does the cell membrane control what enters and leaves the cell?
Explain the fluid mosaic model and the mechanisms of passive and active transport across the membrane
Topic 3: Homeostasis
Module overview →How does the body keep blood glucose within a safe range?
Explain how insulin and glucagon regulate blood glucose by negative feedback, and how diabetes disrupts this
How do plants control water loss while still exchanging gases?
Explain transpiration and how plants regulate water loss through stomata and guard cells
How do the kidneys regulate water balance and remove waste?
Explain how the kidney and ADH regulate water balance through filtration, reabsorption and negative feedback
How does the body keep its internal environment stable?
Explain the principle of homeostasis and how negative feedback maintains a stable internal environment
How do hormones coordinate slower, longer-lasting responses?
Describe how the endocrine system uses hormones to coordinate responses and compare it with the nervous system
How does the nervous system carry rapid signals around the body?
Describe the structure of neurons and explain how nerve impulses and synaptic transmission carry information
How does the body keep its core temperature stable?
Explain how the body regulates core temperature through negative feedback and the responses to heat and cold
Topic 4: Evolution
Module overview →How is antibiotic resistance an example of natural selection in action?
Explain how antibiotic resistance in bacteria evolves through natural selection and how it spreads
What evidence shows that species share common ancestry and change over time?
Describe the lines of evidence that support evolution, including fossils, comparative anatomy, biochemistry and biogeography
What other processes change allele frequencies besides natural selection?
Explain how genetic drift and gene flow change allele frequencies in populations
How does natural selection lead to adaptation over generations?
Explain natural selection and how it produces adaptation through differential survival and reproduction
How can we measure and predict genetic change in a population?
Explain allele frequencies and gene pools, and use the Hardy-Weinberg principle to detect change
How do new species form from existing ones?
Explain how reproductive isolation leads to speciation, including allopatric speciation