Topic 4: Biodiversity and natural resources
MY NOTES
Plant cells
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Plant organs, tissues and specialised cells
Differences between animal and plant cells
Identify structures, including cell wall, chloroplasts, amyloplasts, vacuole,
tonoplast, plasmodesmata, pits and middle lamella
Identify role/function of each plant structure
Structure and function of the polysaccharides starch and cellulose
Cellulose microfibril arrangement in plant cell walls and secondary thickening
in relation to the physical properties of plant fibres
Structures, position in the stem and function of sclerenchyma fibres and xylem
vessels
Identify sclerenchyma fibres and xylem vessels using a light microscope
How humans use plant fibres based on their properties, including their
contribution to sustainability
Plant mineral requirements
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importance of water and inorganic ions (nitrate, calcium ions and magnesium
ions) to plants.
Drugs from plants
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Historic drug testing vs contemporary drug testing protocols, including
William Withering’s digitalis soup; double blind trials; placebo; three phase
testing.
How to set up a clinical trial
Biodiversity
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Define the terms biodiversity and endemism
Measuring biodiversity within a habitat using species richness
Measuring biodiversity within a species using genetic diversity
Define the term niche
Examples of how organisms can be adapted to their habitat in terms of
behavioural, physiological and anatomical adaptations
How natural selection can lead to adaptation and evolution
Taxonomy and Conservation
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Define taxonomy
Identify how new taxonomic groupings have formed based on molecular
phylogeny
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Define the term endangered and extinct
Methods of conservation of endangered species using zoos and seedbanks as
examples