Tracing the biological building blocks of health and life.

• Properties of water as a biological solvent
• Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides
• Glycosidic bonds and carbohydrate function

Water and carbohydrates form the core chemical foundation for cellular life.

• Structure of triglycerides and phospholipids
• Ester bonds and saturated vs. unsaturated fatty acids
• Amino acids, peptide bonds, and protein folding structures

Understanding lipid and protein architecture explains cell structure and function.

• The need for mass transport systems in large organisms
• Structure and function of blood vessels
• Heart architecture and the cardiac cycle

Mass flow transport ensures efficient delivery of nutrients and gases throughout animal tissues.

• Hemoglobin affinity and the oxygen dissociation curve
• The Bohr effect in respiration
• Development and pathology of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

Connects respiratory gas exchange to human cardiovascular health.

• National Vacation (Sep 23–24)
• Analysis of lifestyle, diet, genetic, and environmental CVD risk factors
• Blood pressure and cholesterol management

A short holiday week combined with vital analysis of human public health risks.

• Epidemiological study design (cohort vs. case-control)
• Evaluating correlation vs. causation
• Sampling bias and study validity

Teaches scientific literacy and critical evaluation of clinical health research.

• Fluid mosaic model of cell membranes
• Role of membrane-bound proteins
• Introduction to nucleic acids and gene expression concepts

Transitions from macro-level transport down to micro-level cellular boundaries.

• Fick's Law of Diffusion
• Adaptations of gas exchange surfaces
• Phospholipid bilayer permeability

Explains physical laws governing diffusion and cellular gas exchange efficiency.

• Diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis
• Active transport and ATP usage
• Endocytosis and exocytosis mechanisms

Fundamental transport mechanisms maintaining cellular homeostasis.

• Enzymes as biological catalysts
• Activation energy and active site specificity
• Effects of temperature, pH, and substrate concentration on enzyme activity

Enzymes drive virtually every biochemical reaction in living organisms.

• Nucleotide structure and phosphodiester bonds
• DNA double helix structure and hydrogen bonding
• RNA structure types (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA)

Lays the chemical blueprint foundation for molecular genetics.

• Transcription process in the nucleus
• Translation process on ribosomes
• The genetic code (codons, degenerate code)

Explains how genetic code is translated into functional cellular proteins.

• Types of gene mutations (substitution, insertion, deletion)
• Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene
• Impact of CFTR mutations on mucus viscosity and organs

Demonstrates how a single genetic mutation alters physiological function.

• No classes scheduled all week

Mid-semester rest period to recharge.

• Reviewing Unit 3 past exam questions
• Mark scheme analysis for genetics and mutations
• Exam technique and structured answering

Sharpens exam performance through direct application to real test questions.

• Reviewing biological molecules and transport systems
• Solving extended response questions
• Identifying key marking criteria

Reinforces early-semester topics to ensure long-term retention.

• Cellular transport, membranes, and enzyme kinetics review
• Data analysis and graph interpretation practice

Deepens problem-solving skills with practical data evaluation.

• Comprehensive past paper practice across all Unit 1 topics
• Targeted revision and addressing knowledge gaps

Final preparation strategy prior to the semester examination period.

• Semester 1 examination period begins
• Cumulative testing across taught modules

Formal evaluation of all Unit 1 and Unit 3 learning objectives.

• Completion of Semester 1 examination schedule
• Semester conclusion and academic wrap-up

Final closure of the first semester academic term.