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🧬Group 4 — Sciences

Biology

HL AvailableSL Available

Complete IB Biology coverage from cell biology to genetics and human physiology. Every definition, diagram description, and HL extension topic included.

520
Total Cards
11
Topics Covered
300
HL Cards
220
SL Cards

Full Syllabus Coverage

Every topic in the official IB Subject Guide — nothing missed.

Topic 1 — Cell Biology
  • Cell theory: statements, evidence, exceptions (skeletal muscle, aseptate hyphae)
  • Prokaryotic cells: structure (nucleoid, plasmid, 70S ribosomes, cell wall)
  • Eukaryotic cells: structure (nucleus, ER, Golgi, mitochondria, chloroplasts)
  • Membrane structure: fluid mosaic model (Singer & Nicolson)
  • Membrane function: passive transport (diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis)
  • Active transport: sodium-potassium pump, endocytosis, exocytosis
  • Cell division: mitosis (IPMAT), cytokinesis, tumour formation
Topic 2 — Molecular Biology
  • Water: hydrogen bonding, properties (cohesion, specific heat, solvent, transparent)
  • Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, glycosidic bonds, polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose)
  • Lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids, saturated vs unsaturated fatty acids
  • Proteins: amino acids, peptide bonds, primary–quaternary structure, denaturation
  • Enzymes: active site, induced fit, substrate concentration, inhibition
  • DNA structure: Chargaff's rules, Watson & Crick, antiparallel strands
  • DNA replication: semi-conservative, helicase, DNA polymerase, Okazaki fragments
  • Transcription: RNA polymerase, mRNA, template strand
  • Translation: ribosomes, codons, anticodons, tRNA, peptide chain formation
  • Cell respiration: glycolysis, link reaction, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain, ATP yield
  • Photosynthesis: light reactions (photolysis, photophosphorylation), Calvin cycle
Topic 3 — Genetics
  • Genes, alleles, loci — definitions
  • Meiosis: stages, crossing over, independent assortment, genetic variation
  • Genotype vs phenotype, dominant vs recessive
  • Mendel's laws: segregation and independent assortment
  • Monohybrid and dihybrid crosses; Punnett squares
  • Co-dominance (e.g. ABO blood groups) and incomplete dominance
  • Sex linkage: X-linked traits (e.g. haemophilia, colour blindness)
  • Polygenic inheritance and continuous variation
  • Mutations: gene mutations, chromosome mutations (Down syndrome — non-disjunction)
  • Karyotyping and genetic screening
Topic 4 — Ecology
  • Species, population, community, ecosystem — definitions
  • Autotrophs, heterotrophs, decomposers
  • Energy flow: trophic levels, food chains, food webs, ecological pyramids
  • Carbon cycle: photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, decomposition
  • Nitrogen cycle: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification
  • Population growth: J-curve, S-curve, carrying capacity, limiting factors
  • Measuring species diversity: Simpson's diversity index
  • Biomagnification and impact of pollution on ecosystems
Topic 5 — Evolution and Biodiversity
  • Evidence for evolution: fossil record, selective breeding, homologous structures, DNA evidence
  • Natural selection: variation, heritability, selection pressure, differential survival
  • Speciation: geographic isolation, reproductive isolation, allopatric speciation
  • Classification: binomial nomenclature, hierarchy (Domain → Species)
  • Cladistics: clades, cladograms, shared derived characteristics
  • Classification of organisms: animals, plants, fungi, protists, eubacteria, archaebacteria
Topic 6 — Human Physiology
  • Digestion: salivary amylase, stomach (pepsin, HCl), small intestine (bile, lipase, protease)
  • Absorption: villi, microvilli, capillaries, lacteals
  • Cardiovascular system: heart structure, cardiac cycle, blood vessels, blood pressure
  • Blood: erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, plasma — roles
  • Immune system: innate vs adaptive immunity, B cells, T cells, antibodies, memory cells
  • Vaccination: active vs passive immunity
  • Lungs: ventilation, gas exchange at alveoli, haemoglobin dissociation curve
  • Neurones: structure, resting/action potential, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters
  • Hormones: insulin and glucagon (blood glucose regulation), ADH, adrenaline
  • Reproduction: male and female reproductive systems, menstrual cycle, fertilisation, IVF
Topic 7 — Nucleic Acids (HL only)HL Only
  • DNA structure in detail: deoxyribose, phosphate, bases; major and minor grooves
  • Replication enzymes: helicase, primase, DNA polymerase III, DNA polymerase I, ligase
  • Transcription in detail: promoter, RNA polymerase binding, elongation, termination
  • Post-transcriptional modification: 5' cap, poly-A tail, splicing of introns
  • Translation in detail: initiation, elongation, translocation, termination
  • Gene expression regulation: lac operon (E. coli), transcription factors
Topic 8 — Metabolism, Cell Respiration and Photosynthesis (HL only)HL Only
  • Metabolism: anabolic vs catabolic reactions, metabolic pathways
  • Enzymes in detail: cofactors, coenzymes, allosteric regulation, competitive vs non-competitive inhibition
  • Cell respiration in detail: NAD, FAD, chemiosmosis, ATP synthase, P/O ratio
  • Photosynthesis in detail: photosystems I and II, Z-scheme, cyclic vs non-cyclic photophosphorylation
  • Calvin cycle: RuBisCO, carbon fixation, G3P, RuBP regeneration
Topic 9 — Plant Biology (HL only)HL Only
  • Plant structure: root hair cells, xylem, phloem, mesophyll
  • Transport in plants: transpiration stream, cohesion-tension theory, stomata regulation
  • Phloem: source-to-sink, mass flow hypothesis
  • Plant hormones: auxins (phototropism, gravitropism), gibberellins, abscisic acid
  • Reproduction in flowering plants: pollination, fertilisation, seed/fruit development
Topic 10 — Genetics and Evolution (HL only)HL Only
  • Meiosis in detail: chiasmata, recombination frequency, gene mapping
  • Inheritance patterns: autosomal linked genes, sex-linked genes
  • Chi-squared test for genetic data
  • Hardy-Weinberg principle and assumptions
  • Speciation mechanisms: allopatric vs sympatric
  • Punctuated equilibrium vs gradualism
Topic 11 — Animal Physiology (HL only)HL Only
  • Antibody structure and the immune response in detail
  • Monoclonal antibodies and their uses
  • Kidney: filtration, selective reabsorption, ADH and osmoregulation
  • Sexual reproduction: hormonal control of menstrual cycle (FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone)
  • In vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure
  • Muscle contraction: sliding filament theory, actin, myosin, troponin, tropomyosin, Ca²⁺

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