A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this comprehensive set of worksheets can effectively be used to introduce the concept of homeostasis (focusing on negative feedback mechanisms and the need to keep a steady state) and thermoregulation. Students can work their way through each section of the worksheet before a class discussion to check understanding - for some sections a teacher may decide to lead on an explanation before using the worksheet exercises as a way of checking understanding. Key words: homeostasis, negative feedback, thermoregulation, sweating, vasoconstriction, vasodilation, piloerection, shivering

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource is useful as either a starter or plenary task for the topic of glucose homeostasis. The worksheet provides a negative feedback flow diagram and questions on the specific roles of insulin and glucagon. Key words: insulin, glucagon, glucose, glycogen, negative feedback

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource consists of a series of questions related to the mechanisms, symptoms and treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Key words: diabetes, glucose, homeostasis, pancreas, liver, insulin, glucagon

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this is ideal as a starter or plenary task following a topic on glucose homeostasis. The worksheet consists of eighteen questions related to glucose homeostasis (a 'what am I?' quiz) which require single word answers. All answers are provided on the second page of the worksheet. A good activity to consolidate key word vocabulary from this topic. Key words: glucose, glycogen, homeostasis, starch, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, liver, pancreas, islets of langerhans, alpha cells, beta cells

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students which introduces the concept of nervous and hormonal control of the body. The worksheet consists of some introductory questions that require students to consider the nature, mechanisms, speed and duration of hormonal communication versus nervous communication. Key words: communication, hormone, nerve, impulse, endocrine, neurotransmitter, chemical messenger

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet consists of a discussion of the main points regarding control of blood glucose: why it is important, how it happens, how it is controlled, causes of diabetes, etc. The worksheet is designed to be interactive with students answering question prompts and furthering their understanding as they work through each section. The final page of the worksheet contains various weblinks to online resources and animations which they can use to complete the worksheet independently. Key words: glucose, glycogen, starch, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glucagon, insulin, diabetes, type 1, type 2, sugar, osmosis, water potential, osmotic lysis, liver, muscles, uptake

An activity aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource consists of two worksheets that can be used together or separately. The first worksheet begins with a research task that requires students to make their own notes on key processes involved with glucose control; weblinks and animation references are included and this could be set as a homework the week before the topic commences in class. The second worksheet has a recap of the research learning points before continuing into a long-response question carrying a maximum of ten marks. Students are required to use their initial research to answer the long question: 'Describe the factors that influence blood glucose concentration and explain how the body responds to changes in blood glucose levels' before self marking using the mark scheme provided. Key words: glucose, homeostasis, glucagon, insulin, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen, starch, blood, diabetes

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource focuses on the mechanism of action of second messengers (using cAMP as an example), activated by an initial hormone. The worksheet contains several questions that lead students through a logical series of key points - a weblink is also included for students to research their answers further. Key words: cAMP, second messenger, adenylate cyclase, hormone, adrenaline, ATP, AMP, response, endocrine

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students, this is a revision sheet covering details of pest control using biological agents, chemical control and integrated pest management. Key information is summarised via diagrams and succinct bullet points

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this is a revision worksheet with associated check questions and answers on the topic of human population changes. Included are topics on calculating percentage population growth, demographic pyramids, demographic transition patterns and survival curves. The worksheet concludes with exam-style questions with mark schemes for students to check their understanding.

An activity aimed at advanced biology students, this activity provides a series of bullet points related to the nature and mechanisms of hormones, local chemical mediators and the nervous system. Students are required to study the information and then draw their own diagrammatic representations of the information provided in this worksheet. Student diagrams can then be shared with the class, with students providing a commentary as to what each diagram is representing. A good way for students to gain a quick understanding and overview of the ways in which the human body communicates with itself.

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet links understanding of mitosis to the mechanisms by which various cancer chemotherapy drugs (taxol, vincristine, methotrexate, adriamycin and cytoxan) work. Keywords: cancer, mutation, disease, chemotherapy, mitosis, tumour, malignant, benign

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students who have just studied a topic on mitosis, this worksheet consolidates understanding by asking students to consider how the quantity of DNA in cells changes at different points during the cell cycle. The resource checks that students understand the difference between somatic cells and gametes, and whether they can visualise the appearance of chromosomes and hence the quantity of DNA present at different stages of cell division. Key words: mitosis, chromosomes, division, somatic, gametes, cell cycle, S phase, G1 phase, G2 phase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase

A worksheet containing a simple comparison table looking at the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA followed by questions that ask students to consider why chromosomes may sometimes appear single stranded and sometimes double stranded. A useful exercise for students to become acquainted with chromosome appearance before learning about mitosis, meiosis, etc. Key words: mitosis, meiosis, chromosomes, cells, division, eukaryotic, prokaryotic, DNA

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet requires students to identify which stage of mitosis different cell diagrams are in along with key processes associated with mitosis (e.g. chromosomes condense and become visible, nuclear membrane breaks down, etc). The worksheet is useful as either a plenary or starter activity to recap learning following a lesson on this topic Key words: mitosis, chromosomes, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase, centromere, chromatid

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource is useful as a recap and test of understanding on the topic of mitosis. Students are required to identify cells at different stages of mitosis, recall events that are occurring in cells at each stage and identify mitosis stages in a real micrograph as well as textbook-style diagrams. Keywords: mitosis, chromosomes, condense. prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase

A worksheet suitable for Level 3 Applied Science Students (but easily adaptable for advanced biology), this worksheet requires students to research the key processes involved in mitosis. The worksheet is written in the style of a BTEC task but it could also be used as a homework activity for any advanced biology class about to study mitosis. Several question prompts are provided along with a weblink to an interactive animation, allowing students to research their own answers to each of the questions Keywords: Mitosis, prophase, anaphase, metaphase, telophase, interphase, chromosomes, centromere, diploid, research

An activity aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource consists of two worksheets that can be used together or separately. The first worksheet begins with a research task that requires students to make their own notes on key processes involved with meiosis; weblinks and animation references are included and this could be set as a homework the week before the topic commences in class. The second worksheet has a recap of the research learning points before continuing into a long-response question carrying a maximum of ten marks. Students are required to use their initial research to answer the long question: ‘Describe and explain how a diploid cell divides by meiosis to produce genetically variable gametes’ before self marking using the mark scheme provided (sixteen marking points are available). Keywords: meiosis, cell division, gametes, diploid, haploid, biology, crossing over, independent assortment, prophase, anaphase, metaphase, telophase, interphase

An activity aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource provides a detailed step by step set of instructions for students to construct their own detailed models of cells undergoing meiotic cell division. The activity provides an excellent way for students to clarify their understanding on how chromosomes behave and appear at different stages of meiosis and how haploid cells are produced from diploid cells. The second page of the activity provides a template of cell diagrams which can be printed out on A3 paper and used as a template for student to attach their models. Once complete, students can then copy a diagram of their model or take a photograph to record their work. The activity also contains an extension task which asks students to consider the impact of independent assortment of chromosomes. Please note that this activity requires two sets of pipecleaners (each of different colours and some adhesive white labels to identify genes carried on each pipecleaner 'chromosome'.

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource provides fifteen questions which require students to respond with the appropriate term relating to their understanding of meiosis. Useful as a starter or plenary exercise to consolidate understanding. Key words: meiosis, mitosis, diploid, haploid, homologous, chromosomes, cells, gametes