This fully-resourced lesson uses the lac operon as an example to describe how gene expression is regulated and controls cell processes and structures. The detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the details of specification point 3.12 of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A course.
This is one of the more difficult concepts in this A-level course and therefore key points are reiterated throughout this lesson to increase the likelihood of student understanding and to support them when trying to make links to actual biological examples in living organisms. There is a clear connection to transcription and translation as covered in topic 2, so the lesson begins by reminding students that in addition to the structural gene in a transcription unit, there is the promotor region where RNA polymerase binds. Students are introduced to the idea of transcription factors and will understand how these molecules can activate or repress transcription by enabling or preventing the binding of the enzyme. At this point, students are challenged on their current understanding with a series of questions about DELLA proteins so they can see how these molecules prevent the binding of RNA polymerase. The main section of the lesson focuses on the lac operon. Students will be able to visualise the different structures that are found in this unit of DNA and time is taken to go through the individual functions. A step by step guide is used to walk students through the sequence of events that occur when lactose is absent and when it is present before they are challenged to apply their understanding to an exam question. The final section of the lesson looks at one further example with oestrogen and the ER receptor.
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Topic 3: Voice of the Genome (Edexcel SNAB)
This bundle contains 13 detailed lesson PowerPoints, which together with their accompanying resources, have been planned to include a wide variety of tasks that will engage and motivate the students whilst covering the content of topic 3 of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification. The voice of the genome topic content includes key biological concepts such as eukaryotic cells, cell division and genetics and the following specification points are covered by these lessons: * All living organisms are made of cells, sharing common features * The ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells and the role of the organelles * The role of the rER and the Golgi body in protein transport * The relationship between the features of the mammalian gametes and their functions * The loci is the location of a gene on a chromosome * The linkage of genes on a chromosome and sex linkage * The role of meiosis in ensuring genetic variation * The role of mitosis and the cell cycle * The meaning of the terms stem cell, pluripotency and totipotency * The decisions about the use of stem cells in medical therapies * The specialisation of cells through differential gene expression * Understand how the cells of multicellular organisms are organised into tissues, tissues into organs and organs into systems * Phenotype is the interaction between genotype and the environment * Epigenetic changes can modify the activation of certain genes * Some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles for the same gene at many loci as well as the environment and this gives rise to continuous variation If you would like to sample the quality of lessons in this bundle, then download the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells, mitosis and the cell cycle and gene expression lessons as these have been uploaded for free
Nucleic acids, Genetics and Inheritance (Edexcel SNAB)
This lesson bundle contains 16 lessons which have been designed to cover the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification points which focus on the structure of DNA and RNA, their roles in replication and protein synthesis, and genetics and inheritance. The lesson PowerPoints are highly detailed, and along with their 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 6 of the course: 2.5 (i): Know the basic structure of mononucleotides (deoxyribose or ribose linked to a phosphate and a base, including thymine, uracil, cytosine, adenine or guanine) and the structures of DNA and RNA (polynucleotides composed of mononucleotides linked through condensation reactions) 2.5 (ii): Know how complementary base pairing and the hydrogen bonding between two complementary strands are involved in the formation of the DNA double helix 2.6 (i): Understand the process of protein synthesis (transcription) including the role of RNA polymerase, translation, messenger RNA, transfer RNA, ribosomes and the role of start and stop codons 2.6 (ii): Understand the roles of the DNA template (antisense) strand in transcription, codons on messenger RNA and anticodons on transfer RNA 2.7: Understand the nature of the genetic code 2.8: Know that a gene is a sequence of bases on a DNA molecule that codes for a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain 2.11 (i): Understand the process of DNA replication, including the role of DNA polymerase 2.12 (i): Understand how errors in DNA replication can give rise to mutations 2.12 (ii): Understand how cystic fibrosis results from one of a number of possible gene mutations 2.13 (i): Know the meaning of the terms: gene, allele, genotype, phenotype, recessive, dominant, incomplete dominance, homozygote and heterozygote 2.13 (ii): Understand patterns of inheritance, including the interpretation of genetic pedigree diagrams, in the context of monohybrid inheritance 2.14: Understand how the expression of a gene mutation in people with cystic fibrosis impairs the functioning of the gaseous exchange, digestive and reproductive systems 2.15 (i): Understand the uses of genetic screening, including the identification of carriers, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and prenatal testing, including amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling 2.15 (ii): Understand the implications of prenatal genetic screening 3.8 (i): The loci is a location of genes on a chromosome 3.8 (ii): The linkage of genes on a chromosome and sex linkage 3.12: Understand how cells become specialised through differential gene expression, producing active mRNA leading to synthesis of proteins, which in turn control cell processes or determine cell structure in animals and plants, including the lac operon 3.14 (i): Phenotype is an interaction between genotype and the environment 3.15: Understand how some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles for the same gene at many loci (polygenic inheritance) as well as the environment and how this can give rise to phenotypes that show continuous variation 6.4: Know how DNA can be amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 6.10: Understand how one gene can give rise to more than one protein through posttranscriptional changes to messenger RNA (mRNA).
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Another excellent resource that keeps the students engaged. Thanks again.
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