This lesson describes the relationship between the specialised features of the mammalian egg and sperm and their functions. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 3.11 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification and includes a focus on the acrosome in the head of the sperm and the zona pellucida in the egg
The lessons at the start of topic 3 (Cell structure, Reproduction and Development) described the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells, so this knowledge is referenced throughout the lesson and the students are challenged on their recall and understanding through a range of prior knowledge checks. For example, two of the exam-style questions that are included in the resources challenge the students to explain why a sperm cell is classified as an eukaryotic cell and to recognise the centrioles and the nucleus from structural descriptions. Along with the mitochondria, time is then taken to discuss and to describe the role of these organelles in relation to the function of the sperm cell. When considering the fusion of the haploid nuclei to form a diploid nucleus in the nucleus, links are made to the upcoming topic of mitosis and the significance of this form of nuclear division. The importance of the enzymes that are found inside the acrosome is emphasised and this leads into the second half of the lesson where the layers surrounding the plasma membrane of the egg cell (corona radiata and zona pellucida) are examined
The final part of this lesson has been specifically planned to prepare the students for the next lesson in topic 3, where the acrosome reaction, cortical reaction and the fusion of nuclei that are involved in fertilisation are described
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Topic 3: Cell structure, Reproduction & Development (Edexcel International A-level Biology)
The locus and linkage, meiosis, differential gene expression and protein transport within cells lessons have been uploaded for free and by downloading these, you will be able to observe the detail of planning that has gone into all of the lessons that are included in this bundle. This intricate planning ensures that the students are engaged and motivated whilst the detailed content of topic 3 (Cell structure, Reproduction and Development) of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification is covered. The 14 lesson PowerPoints and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which cover the following topic 3 specification points: * All living organisms are made of cells * Cells of multicellular organisms are organised into tissues, organs and organ systems * The ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells * The function of the organelles in eukaryotic animal cells * The role of the RER and Golgi apparatus in protein transport within cells * The ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells * Magnification and resolution in light and electron microscopes * The gene locus is the location of a gene on a chromosome * The linkage of genes on a chromosome * The role of meiosis in ensuring genetic variation * Understand how the mammalian gametes are specialised for their functions * The role of mitosis and the cell cycle in growth and asexual reproduction * Calculation of mitotic indices * The meaning of the terms stem cell, pluripotent, totipotent, morula and blastocyst * The decisions that have to be made about the use of stem cells in medical therapies * Cells become specialised through differential gene expression * One gene can give rise to more than one protein through post-transcriptional changes to mRNA * Phenotype is the interaction between genotype and the environment * Epigenetic modifications can alter the activation of certain genes * Some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles or by polygenic inheritance Due to the detail included in all of these lessons, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 6 weeks of allocated A-level teaching time to complete the teaching of the bundle
The ultrastructure of cells (Edexcel Int. A-level Biology)
This lesson bundle contains 6 lessons which have been designed to cover the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification points which focus on the structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and the functions of their components. The lesson PowerPoints are highly detailed, and along with the accompanying worksheets, they have been planned at length to contain a wide range of engaging tasks which cover the following A-level Biology content found in topics 2, 3 and 4 of the course: 2.2 (i): Know the structure and function of cell membranes 3.1: Know that all living organisms are made of cells, sharing some common features 3.2: Understand how the cells of multicellular organisms are organised into tissues, tissues into organs and organs into systems 3.3: Know the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells, including nucleus, nucleolus, ribosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, centrioles, lysosomes, and Golgi apparatus 3.4: Understand the role of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and the Golgi apparatus in protein transport within cells, including their role in the formation of extracellular enzymes 3.5: Know the ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells, including cell wall, capsule, plasmid, flagellum, pili, ribosomes, mesosomes and circular DNA 3.11: Understand how mammalian gametes are specialised for their functions (including the acrosome in sperm and the zona pellucida in the egg) 4.1 (i): Know the ultrastructure of plant cells (cell walls, chloroplasts, amyloplasts, vacuole, tonoplast, plasmodesmata, pits and middle lamella) and be able to compare it with animal cells 4.1 (ii): understand the function of the structures listed in (i)
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