A comprehensive six page worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource tells the story of how the work of several scientists ultimately led to the discovery and understanding of DNA. The worksheet includes diagrams, images and information relating to classic experiments performed by scientists (including Friedrich Meischer, Fred Griffiths, Oswald Avery, Alfred Hershey, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Francis Crick.

A worksheet aimed at A-Level Biology students that provides four questions to practice their knowledge of the technique of mark-release-recapture. The questions also test student's understanding of the limitations of this technique and causes of inaccuracies Key words: Mark, release, recapture, biology, limitations, assumptions, N1, N2, n, population, estimate

A resource aimed at advanced biology students that recaps the basic details of kidney function via the use of key words inserted into a passage of text. The worksheet continues on to a research activity that focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of kidney transplant and dialysis treatment. Weblinks for the research are provided. Key words: kidney, transplant, dialysis, glomerulus, filtration, proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, collecting duct, aldosterone, anti diuretic hormone, osmosis, reuptake, hydrostatic pressure

A single page method sheet for carrying out the reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar test. This resource would be suitable as a concise guide to the these biochemical tests and is aimed at Advanced Level biology students or BTEC Level 3 students.

This worksheet is aimed at either GCSE or A-Level students studying microbiology. The worksheet is an ideal lesson starter to use following preparation and incubation of agar plates that have been inoculated with bacteria (from unpasteurised milk in this example, but easily adaptable for any other source of bacteria). The worksheet introduces the idea of binary fission and the concept of a visible colony being made of many thousands of individual bacterial cells. The worksheet also includes an activity on counting bacterial colonies and estimating numbers based on dilutions that would set students up well for a subsequent lesson where they did this activity using their own agar plates. Key words: Agar, bacteria, colony, estimate, milk, pasteurisation, binary fission

An activity aimed at A-Level Biology students. This activity involves a series of statements that can be given to a class at the start of a lesson with the instruction that they draw the phosphorous cycle based on this information. Students should initially do this in pairs but can then be teamed up in larger groups to show, discuss and explain their own diagrammatic interpretations of the phosphorus cycle. Finally, the whole class can be brought together to discuss the best way of joining these statements together into an agreed phosphorous cycle. Key words: Phosphorous, cycle, ATP, NADP, weathering, phosphates, fertilisers, glycolysis, kinase, phosphorylation

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students who are studying a topic on gene technology and the role of restriction endonucleases. The worksheet consists of task where students are required to choose the most appropriate restriction enzyme to cut out a gene from a piece of DNA. Students are given four different examples of restriction enzymes, together with information about the recognition sequence for each enzyme. Using this information, students must then select the most appropriate enzyme to cut out the gene. Key words: restriction endonuclease, gene, recognition sequence

A resource aimed at GCSE or A-Level biology, physical education or applied science students, this worksheet provides a series of instructions to investigate the effect of exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output. The worksheet includes a weblink to an online metronome for students to standardise their rate of exercise (e.g. squats)and also provides a graphic to gauge whether blood pressure is optimal or above normal. Key words: blood pressure, sphygmomanometer, exercise, heart rate, cardiac output, recovery

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

A resource suitable for use with both GCSE and A-Level students as a lesson starter, this worksheet provides an account of aseptic technique from an instruction manual; after each step in the instructions, students are required to comment on the reasons why each technique or precaution is necessary. A useful exercise to use at the beginning or an investigation involving microbiology. Key words: aseptic, bacteria, agar, contamination

A starter activity suitable for GCSE and A-Level microbiology students, this resource provides a written account of a very badly organised practical session (the misfortunes of 'aseptic Adam'). Students are required to identify the problems in this investigation, explain the problems and solve the problems - ideal as an introduction to an evaluation on student's own investigations if they have recently completed a microbiology experiment. Key words: aseptic, contamination, bacteria, agar, incubate, colonies, evaluate

An unusual resource that brings history and science together with an activity that introduces the concept of carbon-14 radioactive dating of archeological remains. The task provides an introduction to radioactive dating, followed by questions whereby students are required to calculate percentage reduction of carbon-14 . Finally, students can then calculate the approximate year when Richard III died based on the half life of carbon-14.

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students (or high ability GCSE students) that provides questions on how different limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis. The emphasis is on interpretation of rate of reaction graphs, with logical reasoning being used to identify and explain the main limiting factors. Answers to all the questions are provided on the second page of the worksheet. Key words: limiting factor, photosynthesis, graph, plateau, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet is ideal as a starter task (or alternatively as a homework preparation/background reading exercise) that covers the reasons why meiosis takes place and the nature of gametes produced from meiosis. This is a useful exercise to conduct with students to establish the 'big picture' prior to study of individual stages of meiotic cell division. Keywords: meiosis, chromosomes, interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, haploid, diploid, reduction division, independent assortment, variation, genetic, evolution

A comprehensive six page worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource deals with all the major aspects of how a nerve impulse originates and is propagated along a neurone. The worksheets include diagrams that show the different open and closed positions of sodium and potassium channels with space for students to show their own positions of the relevant ions (this is with reference to an online animation - weblink included on the worksheet). The worksheet also has a labelling exercise for the classic action potential graph as well as details on saltatory conductance and factors affecting speed of impulse transmission. Key words: nerve, neurone, depolarisation, repolarisation, refractory period, action potential, resting potential, sodium, potassium, diffusion, ATP, ATPase pump

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

This resource consists of two worksheets, each of which contains a task on identifying structures associated with the lungs and thorax, followed by a table which requires students to identify the key events that occur during ventilation. Each worksheet contains slightly different terminology, making one more suitable for A-Level and one more suitable for GCSE. The worksheets can be used as a starter or plenary task to recap student's knowledge. Key words: Intercostal, lungs, pressure, Boyle's law, diaphragm, ribs, contract, relax, trachea, cartilage, alveoli, bronchus, bronchi

A worksheet aimed at biology students aged 14-18 years, this resource provides a series of prompts and questions to help students plan an investigation into osmosis. The practical investigation is a classic one involving potato chips and different concentrations of sucrose solution - the worksheet asks students to consider the variables involved, the range and concentrations of sucrose solution required and then asks students to produce a written plan based on these considerations.

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet provides a written schedule for the extraction of chlorophyll from leaves followed by analysis via chromatography. Rf values for various pigments are included in a reference table (including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, phaeophytin, xanthophyll and carotene); students can attach their chromatograms to the worksheet, calculate Rf values for each pigment and identify using the reference table. This is a good practical exercise to cover at the start of a topic on photosynthesis, and emphasises the fact that various pigments are responsible for harnessing light energy during the light dependent reactions. Key words: Light dependent, chlorophyll, Rf value, chromatography, chromatogram, solvent front, extraction, leaf, phaeophytin, xanthophyll, carotene, absorption spectra, action spectrum

Worksheet starter task to recap the basics of amino acid structure