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 comprehensive worksheet aimed at Advanced Biology students that deals with the fundamentals of heart structure and function. The worksheet begins with a simple labelling task of the heart, followed by questions on its structure and layout. The worksheet then moves on to a sequencing task which requires ordering of the vents of the cardiac cycle. Finally, there is a series of questions that require students to identify the reasons for valves opening and closing during the cardiac cycle. Two additional worksheets are also included which provides a shorter, edited format more useful as a short starter activity and a worksheet that includes a pressure change graph for students to reference when they complete the activity on valves opening and closing. Key words: cardiac, heart, structure, atria, ventricles, valves, cycle, pressure

A summary worksheet that simplifies information required for two statistical tests: chi-squared and 95% confidence limits + standard error. The first pages of the worksheet focus on the need to conduct statistical tests and an understanding of what the mean and standard deviation tells us about data. Key words: standard deviation, mean, chi squared, 95% confidence limits, standard error

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, the first page of this resource provides a sequencing activity on the topic of DNA replication. The second page of the worksheet focuses on evidence for semi-conservative replication and requires students to follow the work of Meselsohn and Stahl by colouring radioactively labelled strands of DNA in successive generations.

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 worksheet aimed at A-Level Biology students that requires students to read a passage of text, study diagrams and answer questions that require application of knowledge on the Carbon Cycle. The stimulus material is in the context of space science research and mapping of the Earth's oceans. Phytoplankton are a major carbon sink and their numbers are declining, possibly as a result of global warming. This worksheet considers the implications of this change. Keywords: Phytoplankton, Carbon cycle, space, satellite, envisat, sink. oceans, greenhouse, global warming

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource is useful as a starter exercise on the topic of gas exchange in insects. The worksheet includes questions on the anatomical layout of gas exchange vessels (spiracles, tracheae and tracheoles) along with a question requiring calculation of the magnification of a diagram. Key words: Insect, gas exchange, tracheae, tracheole, spiracle, diffusion

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students, this worksheet requires students to identify each key component of a chloroplast and link to its role in photosynthesis. This is a useful starter activity that can be used following an initial lesson on the basics of chloroplast structure or it could be used as a homework research task before teaching a topic on photosynthesis. Answers to all of the questions are provided on the second worksheet. Key words: chloroplast, photosynthesis, chlorophyll, absorb, light, light dependent, light independent, thylakoid, stroma, envelope, photosystems, granum, grana, starch

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 carbon 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 carbon cycle. Finally, the whole class can be brought together to discuss the best way of joining these statements together into an agreed Carbon Cycle. Key words: Carbon, cycle, decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, fossilisation, assimilation, feeding, herbivore, carnivore, carbonate, ocean, diffusion

A method sheet that discusses how to extract your own DNA from cheek cells. Highly engaging and suitable as a starter activity for any biology topic involving nucleic acids. Much more interesting than the usual extraction of DNA from Kiwi fruit or onions!

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource recaps understanding of the movement and appearance of chromosomes during meiosis. The worksheet also asks students to consider the underlying reasons for an unusual karyotype (Klinefelter's syndrome) and how this relates to the process of meiotic cell division. Keywords: Klinefelter's syndrome, meiosis, division, chromosomes, cells, non-disjunction, mutation, disorder, genes, loci, haploid, diploid

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet provides a diagram of a transverse section of dicotyledenous root with associated questions. The questions focus on labelling each tissue layer within the root, identifying the route that water and minerals would take as they move through the root and how active transport of minerals leads to absorption of water by osmosis. Key words: osmosis, water potential, apoplast, symplast, cell wall, casparian strip, active transport, minerals, epidermis, endodermis, root hair cells, cortex, xylem

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 biology students, this worksheet provides a series of questions requiring one word answers on the topic of the immune system. Areas covered include non specific defence, specific defence, inflammation, barriers, phagocytes, lymphocytes, antibodies, antigens, T-cells, B-cells. Useful as a resource to recap key terminology, questions can be deleted or added as required. Answers to all the question are given on the second page of the worksheet.

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 post-16 biology students, this worksheet contains a list of written instructions for students to draw in order to recreate a diagram of a typical prokaryotic cell. This task can be given to the whole class and then a printed diagram of a prokaryotic cell 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 a prokaryotic cell and are asked to describe each structure 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. The worksheet finishes by asking students to research the role of each organelle. Key words: DNA, prokaryotic, nucleus, chromosome, flagellum, pilus, cell wall, murein, mesosome, ribosome, plasmid

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource focuses on the structure and layout of cells in the retina. The worksheet includes reference to the phenomena of retinal convergence, structure of rods and cones, bleaching and dark adaptation. 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 provides 21 factual questions (a 'what am I?' quiz) that recaps key word vocabulary on the topic of the kidney and osmoregulation. The worksheet continues with a sequencing exercise on the negative feedback mechanisms of osmoregulation. 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 resource designed for A-Level Biology students, this worksheet provides questions and diagrams to develop and consolidate student's understanding of the circulatory system layout and structure of the heart. The first page contains questions relating to the dual circuit found in mammals and clarifies the nature of arteries, veins and oxygenated/deoxygenated blood. The second page contains a detailed and labelled diagram of the heart that would provide a useful reference during a heart dissection. The final questions are ideal follow up questions to answer post-dissection or possibly to act as prompts for a teacher to ask during the dissection. The resource is differentiated - the first worksheet provides a diagram of the heart with full labels. The second worksheet has number prompts instead and an instruction to use available textbooks, etc to provide the labels. If you have planned to deliver a heart dissection practical, this is very much a self-contained resource that will serve as a starter and plenary for your session. Key words: heart, dissection, valves, atria, ventricles, aorta, pulmonary, artery, vein

A starter worksheet aimed at 14-16 year old biology students, this resource provides a recap of binary fission in bacterial cells. The worksheet covers several areas including the conditions necessary for optimal growth of bacteria, calculation of how many bacteria will be produced after a given time period, aseptic technique and a final challenge question requiring students to calculate magnification of a bacterial cell diagram. An ideal resource to recap several different concepts and skills in the topic of microbiology. Key words: microbiology, bacteria, agar, aseptic, colonies, binary fission