A worksheet aimed at A-Level Biology students that looks at various examples of restriction enzymes and whether they are suitable for cutting out a gene from a sequence of DNA. Students must look carefully at the restriction recognition sequence for each enzyme and decide whether it is suitable for removing the gene. This is based on whether the recognition sequence occurs in the middle of the gene or at the ends and whether the enzyme will leave blunt or sticky ends. Key words: Restriction, enzyme, blunt, sticky, gene, DNA, EcoR1, HindIII, BamH1

A worksheet of questions related to the nitrogen cycle which students are required to research. Each series of questions is divided into separate categories according to which part of the cycle they relate to: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, ammonification, denitrification, etc. A useful worksheet to issue at the start of a topic as background research for students to gain familiarity with the key ideas. Keywords: Nitrogen, cycle, ammonifiication, denitrification, nitrification, saprobiont, decay, fixation

An activity aimed at A-Level Biology students. This activity involves a series of statements that can be given to a class at the start of a lesson with the instruction that they draw the nitrogen cycle based on this information. Students should initially do this in pairs but can then be teamed up in larger groups to show, discuss and explain their own diagrammatic interpretations of the nitrogen cycle. Finally, the whole class can be brought together to discuss the best way of joining these statements together into an agreed nitrogen cycle. Key words: Nitrogen, cycle, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, saprobiont, decay, symbiotic, rhizobium, azotobacter, decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, fossilisation, assimilation, feeding, herbivore, carnivore, carbonate

An activity aimed at A-Level Biology students. This activity involves a series of statements that can be given to a class at the start of a lesson with the instruction that they draw the carbon cycle based on this information. Students should initially do this in pairs but can then be teamed up in larger groups to show, discuss and explain their own diagrammatic interpretations of the carbon cycle. Finally, the whole class can be brought together to discuss the best way of joining these statements together into an agreed Carbon Cycle. Key words: Carbon, cycle, decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, fossilisation, assimilation, feeding, herbivore, carnivore, carbonate, ocean, diffusion

A single powerpoint slide that can be printed A3 size and used as a homework task for A-Level Biology students. Many students do not appreciate the link between their knowledge of biochemistry, photosynthesis and plant growth. This activity will make clear that every biological molecule present in a plant can trace itself to the glucose first produced in photosynthesis and subsequent modification into proteins, lipids and nucleic acids via the addition of further minerals.

A resource aimed at biology students studying surface area: volume ratio. This worksheet discusses the nature of surface area:volume ratio and why it is important in terms of gas and heat exchange in living organisms. The first worksheet covers basic principles of calculating surface area and volume of cubes of varying sizes, followed by calculation of surface area:volume ratio. Unlike many textbook resources, this worksheet emphasises the fact that surface area is linked to the ABILITY to exchange whereas volume is linked to the NEED to exchange. The second worksheet considers how this principle is applied to adaptations for heat exchange in different species of fox and finally how metabolic rate is influenced by the size of an organism and its ability to exchange heat with the surroundings. Key words: Surface area, volume, ratio, exchange, cube, heat, gas, metabolism, fox, ears

A resource aimed at Advanced Biology students, this worksheet provides a diagram and questions on how the cardiac cycle is under myogenic control. The worksheet begins with a labelling activity, requiring students to recall key vocabulary such as sino-atrial node, atrioventricular node, Bundle of His and Purkinje fibres. The next task requires sequencing of the appropriate events that occur as electrical impulses are generated within heart muscle. Finally, the worksheet provides some questions requiring more detailed understanding as to why these events happen in the order that they do. An ideal resource to use as either a plenary or lesson starter to recap and consolidate knowledge. Key words: sino-atrial node, atrioventricular node, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibres, systole, diastole, atria, ventricles

A resource aimed at Advanced Biology students, this worksheet provides a list of questions related to understanding the events of the cardiac cycle. The questions focus on the characteristic pressure change graph that shows AV valves and semi-lunar valves opening and closing as pressure of blood between artery, atria and ventricles changes. Students often struggle to articulate the difference in pressure as the cause of valves opening and closing; these questions will help to reinforce key concepts. Key words: artery, ventricle, atria, semi-lunar, atrio-ventricular, pressure

A series of eleven questions that require one or two word responses. The worksheet is aimed at biology students who have just completed a lesson on heart structure. The worksheet would be useful as a starter or plenary to consolidate basic key terms and understanding. Answers are provided to all the questions. Key words: heart, atria, ventricle, aorta, vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, blood, pressure, valves, pump

This worksheet is aimed at A-Level Biology students and covers the principles of restriction mapping of plasmids using restriction enzymes. This is often a difficult topic for students to understand, but this worksheet covers the basic principle, worked examples and also provides some questions for students to practice the principles. Key words: Restriction, enzyme, plasmid, mapping, kilobases, DNA, base pairs, restriction site, fragment, electrophoresis

A worksheet that reviews the basics of enzymes and also introduces the idea of activation energy. Useful for a lesson review after a first introductory lesson on lock and key theory Keywords: Enzyme, substrate, complex, activation energy, active site, denaturation, protein

This worksheet provides a series of questions on the topic of lipids and triglyceride fats that could be used as a plenary activity after a lesson on this topic has been taught. Key words:lipids, triglyceride, fats, fatty acids, saturated, unsaturated, lipase

A summary worksheet for A-Level Biology comprising three exercises, including calculation of population growth, interpretation of survival curves and interpretation of population pyramids (showing increasing, stable and decreasing population). Key words: Population, pyramid, biology, survival, curves, graph, growth, increase, percentage

A method sheet that discusses how to extract your own DNA from cheek cells. Highly engaging and suitable as a starter activity for any biology topic involving nucleic acids. Much more interesting than the usual extraction of DNA from Kiwi fruit or onions!

A worksheet to review the basics of the carbon cycle, identify carbon sources and sinks and review the main causes of increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Key words: Carbon cycle, source, sink, trees, photosynthesis, respiration, fossilisation, combustion, decomposition, greenhouse, global warming

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet is ideal as a starter or plenary recap of the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis. The worksheet includes a space for students to draw out the series of light dependent reactions from memory, but importantly, they are then asked a series of questions to identify the role of each substance. This is a very useful way of ensuring that students have understood the details of the reaction rather than just repeating diagrams parrot-fashion. Key words: photosynthesis, light dependent, photosystems, chlorophyll, chloroplasts, thylakoid, stroma, electrons, reduction, oxidation, phosphorylation, ATP, NADP

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet contains a practical schedule for the Hill reaction - a classic practical investigation which provides evidence for the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis. The worksheet contains practical instructions, tables for students to complete with their observations and a list of follow up questions that probes understanding of both the experimental procedure and importance of controls plus the background biochemical theory. The experiment is simple to set up (I recommend using spinach leaves) and straightforward to perform making it an ideal practical to add to what can otherwise be a fairly 'dry' topic. Key words: Hill reaction, NADP, light dependent reaction, light independent reaction, photosynthesis, chloroplast, cells, DCPIP, reduction, colour, expeirment, investigation, control

A resource aimed at post-16 biology students, this worksheet contains a list of written instructions for students to draw in order to recreate a diagram of the light dependent reaction of photosynthesis. This task can be given to the whole class and then a printed diagram of the light dependent reaction given out at the end of the activity for students to compare their drawing to; alternatively the class can be divided into two at the start of the lesson - half get a diagram of the light dependent reaction and are asked to describe each stage while the other half get this worksheet and are asked to draw a diagram; the two halves of each class can then be asked to verbally feedback to each other. This is a useful way of turning an otherwise dry topic into an involving and engaging activity. Key words: Photosynthesis, light, chloroplast, thylakoid, granum, photosystem, photolysis, NADP, ATP

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet is ideal as a starter or plenary recap of the light independent reactions of photosynthesis. The worksheet includes a space for students to draw out the series of light independent reactions from memory, but importantly, they are then asked a series of questions to identify the role of each substance. This is a very useful way of ensuring that students have understood the details of the reaction rather than just repeating diagrams parrot-fashion. Key words: photosynthesis, light independent, photosystems, chlorophyll, chloroplasts, thylakoid, stroma, electrons, reduction, oxidation, phosphorylation, ATP, NADP, RUBP, G3P, TP, RUBISCO, Calvin cycle

A resource aimed at 14-18 year old biology students, this worksheet is useful as a starter or plenary exercise comparing continuous and discontinuous variation. The worksheet requires students to identify which traits fall into which category and considers the classic normal distribution curve shown by continuously variable characteristics. For more able students, the worksheet includes a section on using standard deviation to predict the percentage of the population that would occupy certain ranges. Key words: continuous, variation, discontinuous, genetics, monogenic, polygenic