Biology Unit 1.1 Quiz

Introduction to Biology for Grade Ten

• Biology is a branch of science that studies living things.
• In grade nine, students studied environmental science, which is now divided into three subjects: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
• Biology includes sub-disciplines like Botany (plants), Zoology (animals), Physiology (functions), Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Geology, Virology, and more.
• The course will explore various interesting aspects of animals and plants.
• The final assessment will comprise three papers: two theory papers (I & II) and one practical paper (III).

Unit 1.1: Living and Non-Living Things

• Living things (e.g., animals, plants) are differentiated from non-living things (e.g., rocks, metals) by their characteristics.
• Living and non-living things are both made of matter that occupies space and has mass.
• Key characteristics of living things include:
  • Reproduction
  • Movement
  • Growth
  • Feeding
  • Respiration
  • Excretion
  • Sensitivity (irritability or reacting to stimuli)

Unit 1.1: Processes in Living Organisms

• Reproduction: The process of producing offspring.
• Different organisms use sexual or asexual reproduction.
• Movement: Many organisms move from one place to another, while plants grow.
• Growth: An increase in size and/or number of cells.
• Feeding: Organisms obtain materials and energy from their environment.
• Respiration: The process of releasing energy from food.
• Excretion: Removal of waste products from the body.
• Sensitivity (Irritability): The ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment.

Unit 1.2: Cells

• Cells are the basic functional units of life in all living organisms
• Microscopes (such as hand lenses and compound microscopes) are used to observe cells.
• Different types of microscopes have different magnifying powers.
• Cells contain components (organelles) that perform specific functions. These organelles include the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and golgi bodies.

Unit 1.2: Common Cell Structures

• Cell Membrane: Controls what enters and leaves the cell. Selectively permeable.
• Cytoplasm: The jelly-like substance inside the cell that contains organelles. Active site for metabolic reactions.
• Nucleus: Controls the activities of the cell. Contains DNA.
• Mitochondria: Sites of cellular respiration, where energy is released from food.
• Ribosomes: Sites of protein synthesis.
• Endoplasmic reticulum: A network of channels that transports materials within the cell.
• Golgi bodies: Modifies and packages proteins and other materials for transport.
• Cell Wall: (Plant cells only) Provides support and protection to the cell. Rigid structure.
• Vacuoles: Storage organelles, especially for water. (More prominent in plant cells)
• Chloroplasts: (Plant cells only) Contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis.

Unit 1.2: Cell Specialisation

• Cells in multicellular organisms are specialized for particular functions.
• Different cell types like blood cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, etc, have unique structures to perform their specific functions.

Unit 1.3: Cell Organisation

• Tissues are groups of similar cells performing a specific function.
• Organs are structures formed by the combination of different tissues working together to perform a particular function.
• Systems are groups of organs working together to carry out a wide range of functions.
• Examples of tissues and organs.
  • Muscle Tissue
  • Nerve tissue
  • Adipose tissue
  • Pallisade tissue
  • Xylem tissue
  • Phloem tissue
• The order of complexity : Cell < Tissue < Organ < Organ System < Organism

Unit 1.4: Diffusion and Osmosis

• Diffusion: The movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
• Osmosis is the specific type of diffusion where only water molecules move from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration across a semipermeable membrane.
• Factors influencing the rate of diffusion include:
  • Temperature
  • Surface area
  • Concentration gradient
  • Thickness of the membrane
• Osmosis influences the shape and functioning of plant and animal cells in solutions that have different concentrations of water.

Unit 1.5: Enzymes

• Enzymes: Biological catalysts; increase the rate of metabolic reactions; are proteins; are specific to a particular reaction; work best at an optimum temperature and pH.
• Factors affecting enzyme activity
• Temperature
• pH
• Substrate Concentration and/or substrate availability

Unit 1.6: Classification

• Classification: The organisation of living things into groups and subgroups based on their similarities and differences in structure and function. Uses a hierarchy of groups.
• Kingdom: The largest grouping of organisms.
• Phylum: A grouping within a kingdom.
• Class: A grouping within a phylum.
• Order: A grouping within a class.
• Family: A grouping within an order.
• Genus: A grouping within a family.
• Species: The smallest grouping of organisms.
• Naming of organisms: Uses the binomial (two-name) system of nomenclature (e.g., Homo sapiens).

Unit 2.1: Classification of Nutrients

• Nutrients: Substances in food needed for the body's growth, development, and energy production
• Types of nutrients
  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Fats
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Water and roughage

Unit 2.2: Dentition

• Dentition: The study of teeth in mammals; their types (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars); and their arrangement in the jaw.
• Each kind of teeth performs a particular function. Different types of teeth perform different functions.
• Dental formulae illustrate the number of each different kind of teeth in a mammal (used for classification)

Unit 2.3: Animal Nutrition

• Holozoic Nutrition: The method of taking in complex organic molecules by animals.
• The process of holozoic nutrition includes: ingestion, digestion absorption, and egestion.
• The digestive system is a tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus.
• Parts of the digestive system: mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, anus.

Unit 2.4: Plant Nutrition

• Photosynthesis: The process of plant food manufacture; a complex two-part process involving light-dependent reactions and the subsequent dark reaction. Requires specific components (chlorophyll, water, minerals).
• Environmental factors affecting photosynthesis include light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, water availability.
• Testing for starch in leaves can verify the presence of photosynthesis.