A-Level Biology (AQA)
Complete AQA A-Level Biology (7402) path covering biological molecules, cells and immunity, exchange and transport in organisms, DNA genes and inheritance, energy transfers in and between organisms, nervous coordination and muscle, homeostasis, populations and evolution, ecosystems and sustainability, control of gene expression and biotechnology, and exam preparation. All 12 required practicals are mapped across the courses.
AQA A-Level Biology — Biological Molecules
AQA 7402 Section 3.1 — water and inorganic ions, carbohydrate structure, lipids, protein structure and function, enzyme kinetics, nucleic acids, ATP and coenzymes, biochemical tests, chromatography, and practical techniques. Required Practical 1 (enzyme rate) and RP6 (chromatography) anchored.
AQA A-Level Biology — Cells, Membranes and Immunity
AQA 7402 Section 3.2 — prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, organelles, microscopy and cell fractionation, cell membrane structure, transport across membranes, endocytosis and exocytosis, the cell cycle and mitosis, and cell recognition + immune response. Required Practical 1 (microscopy), RP2 (mitotic index), RP3 (membrane permeability) and RP4 (water potential) anchored. Phase 2 will split immunity content into innate (order 7) and adaptive (order 8) lessons and add a vaccination / monoclonal antibodies / ELISA lesson at order 9.
AQA A-Level Biology — Exchange and Transport in Organisms
AQA 7402 Section 3.3 — surface area to volume ratio, gas exchange in single-celled organisms / insects / fish / plants / mammals, digestion and absorption, mammalian heart and cardiac cycle, haemoglobin and oxygen transport (with Bohr shift and fetal Hb), blood vessels and tissue fluid formation, xylem water transport and transpiration (potometer practical anchored), phloem and translocation by mass flow. Built from scratch in Phase 2 to address the spec 3.3 gap identified in the AQA Biology architecture audit.
AQA A-Level Biology — DNA, Genes and Inheritance
AQA 7402 Section 3.4 + 3.7.1 — DNA structure and replication, genes and the genetic code, transcription, translation, gene mutations, meiosis and genetic variation, Mendelian genetics, dihybrid inheritance, sex-linkage and autosomal linkage, epistasis and polygenic inheritance. Co-hosts 3.4 (DNA + protein synthesis + mutations + meiosis) and 3.7.1 (inheritance) because the teaching flow from DNA → protein → variation → inheritance is more pedagogically coherent than the spec's split. Sources: dna-gene-expression-depth L0-L4 + cells-transport-depth L7 (meiosis) + genetics-evolution-depth L0-L3.
AQA A-Level Biology — Energy Transfers in and Between Organisms
AQA 7402 Section 3.5 — overview of metabolism, glycolysis, link reaction and Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, anaerobic respiration, photosynthesis light-dependent and light-independent reactions, limiting factors, respirometers and practical investigations. Required Practical 7 (dehydrogenase activity) and RP8 (photosynthesis variables) anchored.
AQA A-Level Biology — Nervous Coordination and Muscle
AQA 7402 Section 3.6 (first half) — survival and response, neurone structure, resting potential and action potential, synaptic transmission and neurotransmitters, muscle contraction and the sliding-filament theory, receptors and sensory transduction, reflex arcs and CNS/PNS organisation, plant responses and IAA. Required Practical 10 (reaction-time / muscle fatigue) anchored.
AQA A-Level Biology — Homeostasis
AQA 7402 Section 3.6 (second half) — principles of homeostasis and negative feedback, kidney osmoregulation and the nephron, blood glucose regulation and diabetes, thermoregulation in endotherms and ectotherms, hormonal control and second messengers, the menstrual cycle, liver detoxification, and a dissection-based required practical. Required Practical 5 (kidney dissection) anchored.
AQA A-Level Biology — Populations, Evolution and Classification
AQA 7402 Sections 3.7.2–3.7.3 — chi-squared statistical inference, Hardy-Weinberg principle, natural selection and selection pressures, genetic drift and gene flow, allopatric and sympatric speciation, classification and taxonomy, molecular evidence for evolution and phylogeny, fossil + biogeographic + comparative evidence for evolution.
AQA A-Level Biology — Ecosystems and Sustainability
AQA 7402 Sections 3.7.4–3.7.5 — population ecology and competition, succession and conservation management, nutrient cycles (carbon and nitrogen), energy transfer through ecosystems, sampling techniques, agricultural impacts, climate change and anthropogenic impacts, conservation case studies. Required Practical 11 (distribution of a species / statistical testing) anchored.
AQA A-Level Biology — Control of Gene Expression and Biotechnology
AQA 7402 Section 3.8 — transcription factors and gene regulation, epigenetics, stem cells and differentiation, oncogenes / tumour suppressors / cancer, recombinant DNA technology, PCR and gel electrophoresis, genetic fingerprinting and forensics, gene therapy and genome projects. Source migrations: dna-gene-expression-depth L5-L9 (epigenetics + biotech lessons) plus cells-transport-depth L8 (stem cells) — moved here because totipotency and pluripotency are conceptually a gene-expression-control topic.
AQA A-Level Biology — Exam Strategy and Required Practicals
Transferable exam-skills course for AQA 7402 — paper structure, assessment objectives and AO weighting, all 12 required practicals, mark scheme patterns, the 25-mark Paper 3 essay technique, and a complete specification map with revision strategy.
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