Syllabus Statements 1.1.U2 Organisms consisting of only one cell carry out all functions of life in that cell (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 8).
Outline eight functions of life.
1.1.A2 Investigation of functions of life in Paramecium and one named photosynthetic unicellular organism (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 9).
Describe characteristics of Paramecium that enable it to perform the functions of life.
Describe characteristics of Chlamydomonas that enable it to perform the functions of life.
1.1.U1 According to the cell theory, living organisms are composed of cells (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 2).
State the three parts of the cell theory.
Outline evidence that supports the cell theory.
Compare the use of the word theory in daily language and scientific language.
1.1.NOS1: Looking for trends and discrepancies - although most organisms conform to cell theory, there are exceptions (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 3).
Define “trend” and “discrepancy.”
Explain why “trends and discrepancies” are useful in scientific study.
List features of cells that would be considered a “trend”.
List examples of cell types or organisms that are “discrepancies” to the cell theory.
1.1.A1 Questioning the cell theory using atypical examples, including striated muscle, giant algae and aseptate fungal hyphae (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 7).
Describe features of striated muscle fibers that make them an atypical example cell.
Describe features of aseptate fungal hyphae that make them an atypical example cell.
Describe features of giant algae that make them an atypical example cell.
1.5.U1: Cells can only be formed by division of pre-existing cells (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 45).
Discuss two implications of all cells being formed from preexisting cells.
1.5.NOS: Testing the general principles that underline the natural world- the principles that cells only come from preexisting cells needs to be verified (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 47).
Explain historical thinking about spontaneous generation (what did people think and why did they think it?).
Define conformity bias and give an example of conformity bias in the historical study of life.
Outline the experiments of Redi and Spallanzani.
List reasons why biologists now universally accept that cells only come from preexisting cells.
1.5.A1: Evidence from Pasteur's experiments that spontaneous generation of cells and organisms does not now occur on Earth (Oxford Biology Course Companion page 47).
Define spontaneous generation.
Describe Pasteur’s experiments about spontaneous generation.
Explain why Pasteur’s experiments did not support the idea of spontaneous generation.