This lesson describes the features of the endocrine system, focusing on the differing actions of peptide and steroid hormones at target cells. The detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been primarily designed to cover point (1) of topic 15.1 of the CIE A-level biology specification but can also be used as a revision tool to check on their knowledge of the role of glucagon in the homeostatic control of blood glucose concentration from topic 14 whilst introducing transcription factors which will be covered in topic 16.
Students should have a base knowledge of the endocrine system from GCSE and topic 14 so this lesson has been planned to build on that knowledge and to add the detail needed at this level. The lesson begins by challenging this knowledge to check that they understand that endocrine glands secrete these hormones directly into the blood. Students will learn that most of the secreted hormones are peptide (or protein) hormones and a series of exam-style questions are used to challenge them on their recall of the structure of insulin as well as to apply their knowledge to questions about glucagon. Moving forwards, the students are reminded that hormones have target cells that have specific receptor sites on the surface of their membrane. The relationship between a peptide hormone as a first messenger and a second messenger on the inside of the cell is described to allow students to recall how the activation of cyclic AMP triggers a cascade of events on the inside of the cell. The rest of the lesson focuses on steroid hormones and specifically their ability to pass through the membrane of a cell and to bind to transcription factors, as exemplified by oestrogen.
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Topic 15: Control and coordination (CIE A-level biology)
These 12 lessons cover points 15.1 (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 & 12) and 15.2 (1, 2 & 3) from topic 15 of CIE A-level biology specification (for assessment in 2025 - 27). This topic is titled control and coordination and concerns comparisons between the endocrine and nervous system in mammals, and then the key structure of the nervous system before looking at this control in plants. Each lesson has been extensively planned and contains a wide range of engaging activities and tasks, interspersed with current and prior knowledge checks. The sensory, motor & intermediate neurones and cholinergic synapses lessons have been shared for free, if you want to download first to get an idea for the quality of these lessons.
Topic 15.1: Control and coordination in mammals (CIE A-level Biology)
This bundle contains 9 fully-resourced and detailed lessons that have been designed to cover the content of topic 15.1 of the CIE A-level Biology specification (for assessment in 2025-27) which concerns the control and coordination in mammals. The wide range of activities included in each lesson will engage the students whilst the detailed content is covered and the understanding and prior knowledge checks allow them to assess their progress on the current topic as well as challenging them to make links to other related topics. Many of the tasks are differentiated to allow differing abilities to access the work and be challenged. Topic 15.1 specification points 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are covered by these lessons If you want to see the quality of the lessons before purchasing then download the lessons on sensory, morot and intermediate neurones and the structure and role of the cholinergic synapse as these have been shared for free.
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