Practical and lab skills, including data analysis and drawings in the new guide

TOPICSkills from the SL (Core) topics of the guide1.1Microscopy of tissues, incl. scales and magnification - Obligatory practical 11.2Drawing of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells from electron micrographs1.2Using electron micrographs to identify organelles and deduce function1.2Analysis of data which led to the adoption or rejection of the Davson-Danielli and Singer-Nicolson models for cell membrane structure1.3Drawing the fluid mosaic model of cell membranes1.4Estimation of osmolarity of tissues - Obligatory practical 21.5Analysis of Pasteur's results to show spontaneous generation does not occur1.6Identification of stages of mitosis and deriving the mitotic index from microscope or micrographs (or root tip squash prep)2.1Drawing glucose, ribose, saturated fatty acid and amino acid and recognising from molecular diagrams2.3Use of molecular visualisation software to compare some bio macro-molecules2.3Calculation of BMI by calculation or nomogram2.4Denaturation of proteins2.5Investigation of the effect of pH, temperature & concentration on enzyme activity, incl. drawing graphs and showing trends - Obligatory practical 32.6Simple model drawing of DNA2.7Analysis of Meselson and Strahl's results to confirm semi-conservative replication of DNA2.7Use of a table of the genetic code to show the relationships between DNA, mRNA, tRNA and amino acid synthesis2.8Analysis of results obtained from respirometer used with germinating seeds and invertebrates2.9Drawing absorption and action spectra for photosynthesis2.9Testing the limiting factors of photosynthesis2.9Investigating photosynthesis pigments by chromatography - Obligatory practical 43.1Use of a database to compare base sequence in a gene in different species (Genbank and cytochrome C?)3.2Use of a karyogram for determining sex and Down's syndrome3.2Use of databases to identify the locus of a human gene and its polypeptide product3.3Drawing the stages of meiosis from slides3.4Drawing and using punnett grids for monohybrid crosses3.4Comparing predicted and actual outcomes of genetic crosses using real data3.4Analysis of pedigree charts3.5Design of an investigation into one factor affecting the rooting of stem cuttings3.5Analysis of actual DNA profiles3.5Analysis of data survival of monarch butterfly and use of Bt in crops4.1Setting up and analysing a sealed mesocosm - Obligatory practical 54.1Use of quadrats and assessing the association between two species using the chi-squared test4.2Using data to draw energy pyramids quantitatively and to scale4.3Analysis of air monitoring data4.3Drawing the carbon cycle5.3Full classification of one species5.3Recognition features of different plant and animal groups5.3Construction and use of a dichotomous key5.4Analysis and use of cladograms6.1Modelling the gut, using dialysis tubing6.1Identification of small intestine tissues from microscope slides and micrographs6.2Blood vessel histology and identification6.2Heart dissection to compare tissues and chambers6.4Monitoring of ventilation rates at rest and after exercise - Obligatory practical 66.4Drawing of alveolus and adjacent capillaries6.5Analysis of oscilloscope traces for resting and action potential6.6Annotated diagrams of male and female reproductive systems

TOPICSkills from the AHL topics of the guide7.1Analysis of Hershey and Chase's experimental results7.1Using molecular visualisation software to analyse the association of DNA and histone proteins within a nucleosome7.3Identification of polysomes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, from micrographs7.3Using molecular visualisation software to analyse structure of tRNA and eukaryotic ribosomes8.1Use of databases to identify anti-malarial drugs8.1Calculating and plotting rates of reaction from experimental data8.1Distinguishing different types of inhibition from graphs8.2The use of electron tomography to show active mitochondria8.2Annotation of diagrams of mitochondria to relate structure and function8.3Annotation of diagrams of chloroplasts to relate structure with function9.1The adaptations of xerophytic & halophytic plants9.1Modelling of water transport in xylem, using simple materials9.1Xylem, phloem, stem & root histology, using microscope slides9.1Use of a potometer to measure transpiration rates - Obligatory practical 79.1Investigation to test hypotheses about the effect of temperature or humidity on transpiration rates9.2Analysis of data of phloem transport rates, using aphids and radio-actively labelled carbon dioxide9.3Micropropagation of plant tissues on nutrient gels with plant hormones9.4Drawings of internal seed structure9.4Drawings of flower structure9.4Investigation into factors affecting seed germination10.1Drawing diagrams showing chiasmata10.2Use of punnett squares to show results of dihybrid crosses10.2Chi-squared tests on data from dihybrid crosses11.1Analysis of epidemiological data from a vaccination programme11.2Annotation of a diagram of the human elbow11.2Drawing labelled diagrams of the structure of a sarcomere11.2Measurement of sarcomere length from microscope slides and micrographs (incl. use of graduated eyepiece lens on microscope)11.3Annotation of diagrams of a nephron11.4Annotation of diagrams of testes and ovaries to show gametogenesis11.4Annotation of diagrams of sperm and egg cell to compare structure and function

TOPICSkills from the Options of the guideOption A: Neurobiology and behaviourA 1Annotation of diagrams of embryonic tissue in XenopusA 2Analysis of parts of brain from photographs, diagrams or scansA 2Analysis of correlation between brain and body size in different animalsA 3Annotation of a diagram of the retinaA 3Labelling diagrams of the human eye and earA 4 HLInvertebrate behaviour investigationsA 4 HLDrawing and labelling pain withdrawal reflex arcA 5 HLEvaluation of data of MDMA on brain

Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformaticsB 1Gram staining of bacteriaB 1Zone of inhibition due to bactericides in bacteria culturesB 1Production of biogas from a small fermenterB 2Evaluation of data on environmental impact of glyphosate-tolerant soy beansB 2Identification of an ORFB 3Analysis of data or media reports about environmental impact of biofilms B 4 HLAnalysis of a simple microarrayB 4 HLInterpretation of the results of an ELISA diagnostic testB 5 HLExplore chromosome 21 in databasesB 5 HLUse software to construct simple cladograms and phylogramsB 5 HLUse of software to align two protein sequences

Option C: Ecology and conservationC 1Observation of the interactions of species in local communitiesC 1Using data sets to establish fundamental and realised nichesC 1Use of a transect to demonstrate distribution of a species against an abiotic variableC 2Comparing different ecosystems through energy pyramidsC 2Analysis of climograph and ecosystemsC 2Construction of Gersmehl diagramsC 2Analysis of data showing primary successionC 2Investigation of effect of an environmental disturbance on an ecosystemC 3Analysis of bio-magnification dataC 3Analysis of eradication programmes and bio-control of alien speciesC 4Case study of a captive breeding and reintroduction programmeC 4Comparing biodiversity in two local communities using Simpson's IndexC 5 HLCapture-mark-releaseC 5 HLModelling population growth using yeast or LemnaC 5 HLDrawing and labelling diagram of nitrogen cycleC 6 HLInvestigating the nutrient content of soil samples

Option D: Human physiologyD 1Determination of food energy content by combustionD 1Dietary analyses using databasesD 2Use of electron micrographs to identify exocrine glands and villus epithelial cellsD 4Measurement and interpretation of heart rate under different conditionsD 4Interpretation of systolic and diastolic heart pressure dataD 4Mapping the cardiac cycle to a normal ECG traceD 4Analysis of epidemiological data on coronary heart diseaseD 6 HLAnalysis of dissociation curves for haemoglobin and myoglobinD 6 HLIdentification of pneumocytes, capillary endothelium and blood cells in light and electronmicrographs of lung tissue