Cell structure & biological molecules (OCR A-level Biology A)

It’s fair to say that cell structure and biological molecules are two of the most important topics in the OCR A-level Biology A course and all 19 lessons that are included in this bundle have been planned at length to cover the module 2.1.1 & 2.1.2 specification points in the detail required at this level.

The lesson PowerPoints and their accompanying resources contain a wide range of tasks as well as regular checks to allow students to assess their understanding of the current content as well as prior knowledge checks to emphasise the importance of making links to topics in other modules.

The following specification points in modules 2.1.1 (cell structure) and 2.1.2 (biological molecules) are covered by the lessons in this bundle:

2.1.1

• The use of microscopy to observe and investigate different types of cell and cell structure in a range of eukaryotic organisms
• The use of the eyepiece graticule and stage micrometer
• The use of staining in light microscopy
• The use and manipulation of the magnification formula
• The difference between magnification and resolution
• The ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells and the functions of the different cellular components
• The interrelationship between the organelles involved in the production and secretion of proteins
• The importance of the cytoskeleton
• The similarities and differences between the ultrastructure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

2.1.2

• The properties and roles of water in living organisms
• The concept of monomers and polymers and the importance of condensation and hydrolysis reactions
• The chemical elements that make up biological molecules
• The structure and properties of glucose and ribose
• The synthesis and breakdown of a disaccharide and a polysaccharide by the formation and breakage of glycosidic bonds
• The structure of starch, glycogen and cellulose molecules
• The relationship between the structure, function and roles of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol in living organisms
• The general structure of an amino acid
• The synthesis and breakdown of dipeptides and polypeptides
• The levels of protein structure
• The structure and function of globular proteins
• The properties and functions of fibrous proteins
• The key inorganic ions involved in biological processes
• The chemical tests for proteins, reducing and non-reducing sugars, starch and lipids

If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons included in this bundle, then download the following lessons as they have been uploaded for free:

• The use of microscopy
• The importance of the cytoskeleton
• Properties and roles of water
• Glucose & ribose
• General structure of an amino acid
• Dipeptides, polypeptides and protein structure