A sub-cellular structure that contains chromosomes made of DNA molecules.

The entire genetic material of an organism.

A cell or organism which has a cell membrane, cytoplasm and genetic material enclosed in a nucleus.

A small ring of DNA found in a bacterial cell.

An organism whose cell has cytoplasm and a cell membrane surrounded by a cell wall. The genetic material is not enclosed in a nucleus.

Classifying organisms as eukaryotic or prokaryotic

Combined science

Electron microscopy, and the size and scale of cells: including standard form

Classification into kingdoms and domains: sub-cellular evidence

Classification and reclassification: genetic evidence

Pupils learned that random genetic mutation is a source of heritable variation, and that evolution occurs through the natural selection of genetic variants linked to advantageous phenotypes.

This unit explores the impact of biology developments on classification systems, highlighting how electron microscopy enhances understanding of sub-cellular structures. It covers eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, quantitative skills, unit conversions, and the evolution of scientific methods.

Classification in modern biology

A type of microscope that uses visible light and lenses to generate magnified images of small objects.

A type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons instead of light to magnify objects.

Making small objects appear larger in order to see more detail.

The minimum distance apart that two points of a specimen can be and still be clearly seen as separate from one another using a microscope.

A way of writing down very large or very small numbers easily; e.g. 1000 = 10³.

a group of similar organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring

A division of living things in the classification system. The five kingdoms are animals, plants, fungi, protist and prokaryotes.

The three domain system of classification organises organisms into  three large groups: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryota.

the physical characteristics of an organism

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a chemical that carries genetic information, and it is the molecule of inheritance.

the sequence of DNA that codes for a particular protein

diagrams that show the evolutionary relationships between organisms

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Classification in modern biology

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