A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource consists of a labelling exercise on the structure and layout of cells in the retina. The worksheet continues with synoptic style application questions about various visual phenomena (e.g. visual acuity, night blindness, averted vision, bleaching of rods and cones). These questions are ideal for building synoptic understanding of how and why the cells of the retina are structured. Key words: Retina, Eye, rods, cones, sclera, choroid, bipolar cell, ganglion cell, sensory neurone, blind spot, fovea, visual axis, lens, suspensory ligament, ciliary muscles, pupil, iris

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource serves as a recap of key events that occur during muscle contraction. The worksheet includes reference to the appearance of striated muscle fibres when in a state of contraction and relaxation (e.g. I bands, A-bands, H-zone) and the sequence of events that occur at the neuromuscular junction when a nerve impuse triggers muscle contraction. Key words: muscle, fibres, A-band, I-band, H-zone, contraction, relaxation, calcium, troponin, tropomyosin, myosin, actin

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

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

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

A resource aimed at GCSE biology students, this worksheet provides a brief review of basic key terms (e.g. antibody, antigen, phagocyte, lymphocyte) followed by more open ended and challenging questions that require students to fully explain the principles of active immunity in their own words. Key words: active, immunity, phagocyte, lymphocyte, vaccination, antibody, antigen

A quick test comprising four questions on mark-release-recapture, use of random sampling with quadrats and chi-squared statistical analysis. Useful at the end of a series of lessons on ecology as a quick review of key principles. The assessment includes answers to all the questions. Key words: chi-squared, mark-release-recapture, random sampling, quadrats, ecology, test, exam, answers, quiz

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students, this worksheet provides a research task on the theory, mechanisms and applications of DNA fingerprinting. Several questions/prompts are provided along with weblinks to online resources for students to use during their research. Keywords: DNA, fingerprinting, restriction fragment length polymorphism, microsatellite, short tandem repeat, unique, forensic, paternity

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource consists of 23 questions relating to the topic of translation/protein synthesis. Each question requires a single word answer. This is a good exercise to reinforce key vocabulary. The final few questions focus on the words associated with cancer and loss of control of the cell cycle.

A worksheet aimed at 14-18 year old biologists which recaps the basics of stimulus and response in the nervous system, along with the details of the reflex arc. Key words: stimulus, reflex, arc, neurone, sensory, motor, relay, receptor, response

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students that reviews the key points about facilitated diffusion across a membrane. The worksheet includes reference to factors that determine whether a substance can pass freely across a membrane, the nature of carrier and channel proteins, the requirement of ATP and graphs comparing rate of uptake via simple diffusion versus facilitated diffusion (this is an oft-asked exam question, so useful for students to review this in lessons).

A resource aimed at post-16 biology students, this worksheet contains a list of written instructions for students to draw in order to recreate a diagram of the light independent reactions of photosynthesis. This task can be given to the whole class and then a printed diagram of the light independent reactions given out at the end of the activity for students to compare their drawing to; alternatively the class can be divided into two at the start of the lesson - half get a diagram of the light independent reactions and are asked to describe each stage while the other half get this worksheet and are asked to draw a diagram; the two halves of each class can then be asked to verbally feedback to each other. This is a useful way of turning an otherwise dry topic into an involving and engaging activity. Key words: photosynthesis, light independent, RuBP, G3P, TP, ATP, RNADP, NADP, Calvin cycle, photophosphorylation, RUBISCO

A worksheet aimed at 14-18 year olds that provides a comprehension activity on the story of Typhoid Mary - a good example of how compelling evidence was used to identify and isolate the cause of an infectious disease over one hundred years ago.

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource provides 21 questions on the topic of DNA structure. This is a good resource to reinforce key vocabulary associated with this topic. Answers to all the questions are provided on the second page of the worksheet.

This is a personal learning checklist (PLC) tailored for the second year of the new AQA Biology Advanced Level specification. This is an excel spreadsheet with five worksheets in total, each one covering specification references: 3.5 Energy transfers 3.6 Organisms respond to change 3.7 Genetics & ecosystems 3.8 Control of gene expression 6.1-6.5 Mathematical requirements Each worksheet contains the full list of statements/learning outcomes taken directly from the specification, along with a grid for students to RAG rate their confidence as well as space to write notes and set targets. The worksheets have been formatted to allow easy printing of each worksheet. Each worksheet can be printed and collated with others to form a full checklist for the entire year. Students could also be emailed this PLC and complete using a computer - the final worksheet collates information from the self -analysis carried out on previous pages and presents an overall percentage score for the level of confidence in each topic plus an indication of whether a student is 'secure' in that topic area. This is an essential resource for anyone teaching the new biology advanced level specification. Key words: personal learning checklist (PLC), self assessment, targets, AQA, biology

A worksheet that reviews the key points about succession in an ecosystem: what it is, how it happens, sequence of events, factors affecting and different types. The worksheet also has a question on diversity index in a mown and unmown lawn as an example of deflected succession. Key words: Succession, diversity, climax, community, grass, shrubs, pioneer, species, trees, index, primary, secondary, deflected

A worksheet designed for A-Level Biology students that reviews the meaning of key words related to ecology (population, community, ecosystem, etc). The worksheet includes questions on the ethics of conservation work carried out by ecologists and includes full answers at the end. Key words: Ethics, ecology, ecosystem, abiotic, biotic, conservation, population, community, niche, competition, risk, hazard

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource uses the context of sickle cell disease to provide synoptic style questions on the nature of haemoglobin, the phenomenon of incomplete dominance, the link between sickle cell disease and malaria and finally, the phenomenon of heterozygote advantage. Key words: sickle cell, heterozygote advantage, malaria, incomplete dominance

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16 year old) biology students, this worksheet consists of nine questions that probe understanding of the process of osmosis. This resource is ideal to use as a starter activity following the classic practical investigation into how different concentrations of salt or sugar solution affect the mass of a potato chip. Key words: osmosis, mass, percentage change, water, concentration