Development of Organisms

Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:

3.9 (i) Know that a locus is the location of genes on a chromosome.
3.9 (ii) Understand the linkage of genes on a chromosome.
3.17 (i) Understand what is meant by the terms stem cell, pluripotent and totipotent, morula and blastocyst.
3.17 (ii) be able to discuss the ways in which society uses scientific knowledge to make decisions about the use of stem cells in medical therapies.
3.18 Understand how cells become specialised through differential gene expression, producing active mRNA, leading to the synthesis of proteins which, in turn, control cell processes or determine cell structure in animals and plants.
3.19 Understand how one gene can give rise to more than one protein through post-transcriptional changes to messenger RNA (mRNA).
3.20 (i) Understand how phenotype is the result of an interaction between genotype and the environment.
3.20 (ii) Know how epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation and histone. modification, can alter the activation of certain genes.
3.20 (iii) Understand how epigenetic modifications can be passed on following cell division.
3.21 understand how some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles for the same gene, or by polygenic inheritance, as well as the environment, and how polygenic inheritance can give rise to phenotypes that show continuous variation.

Content:
Lesson 1: Cell Differentiation:
Gene Expression
Cell Differentiation
Effect of Multiple Alleles
Co-dominance
Dihybrid Inheritance
Linked Genes.

Lesson 2: Interaction Between Genes and the Environment:
Environmental effects on Phenotype (Including enzyme activity)
Operons
Studying Variation in Humans.

Lesson 3: Controlling Gene Expression:
Transcription Factors
RNA Splicing
Epigenetics (Including DNA and Histone Methylation, and Histone Acetylation)
Non-Coding RNA

Lesson 4: Stem Cells and Using Stem Cells:
Blastocyst Development
Types of Stems Cells
Where Stem Cells are collected
Epigenetic Control of haemoglobin development
Stem Cell Therapy (including Therapeutic Cloning and iPS Cells)
Examples of potential treatable conditions
Ethics