(i) the types of plant responses
(ii) practical investigations into phototropism and geotropism
*To include the response to abiotic stress and herbivory e.g. chemical defences (such as tannins, alkaloids and pheromones), folding in response to touch (Mimosa pudica) AND the range of tropisms in plants. PAG11 *
the roles of plant hormones
To include the role of hormones in leaf loss in deciduous plants, seed germination and stomatal closure.
the experimental evidence for the role of auxins in the control of apical dominance
the experimental evidence for the role of gibberellin in the control of stem elongation and seed germination
practical investigations into the effect of plant hormones on growth
PAG11
the commercial use of plant hormones
To include the use of hormones to control ripening, the use of rooting powders and hormonal weed killers.
the organisation of the mammalian nervous system
To include the structural organisation of the nervous system into the central and peripheral systems AND the functional organisation into the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
the structure of the human brain and the functions of its parts
To include the gross structure of the human brain AND the functions of the cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
reflex actions
*To include knee jerk reflex and blinking reflex, with reference to the survival value of reflex actions. PAG11 *
the coordination of responses by the nervous and endocrine systems
To include the ‘fight or flight’ response to environmental stimuli in mammals AND the action of hormones in cell signalling (studied in outline only) with reference to adrenaline (first messenger), activation of adenylyl cyclase, and cyclic AMP (second messenger).
the effects of hormones and nervous mechanisms on heart rate
PAG10, PAG11
(i) the structure of mammalian muscle and the mechanism of muscular contraction
(ii) the examination of stained sections or photomicrographs of skeletal muscle
To include the structural and functional differences between skeletal, involuntary and cardiac muscle AND the action of neuromuscular junctions AND the sliding filament model of muscular contraction and the role of ATP, and how the supply of ATP is maintained in muscles by creatine phosphate. PAG1, PAG10, PAG11