MEDOGIST’S ADVANCED BIOLOGY SERRIES

                           

ACSEE Biology Revision Guide

               Volume; 01

Author; Mohamed J (Medogist)

Mobile Phone; 0766-952-163

About the author

Mohamed Jumanne is currently in his second of three years of studies, pursuing biology degree at the collage of natural and mathematical sciences (CNMS) of the university of Dodoma. He is interested in parasitology, microbiology, vertebrate anatomy and physiology, and molecular genetics.

CONTACTS;

Mobile phone; 0766-952-163

    E-mail; medjumanne@gmail.com

    Facebook; Mohamed Biologist

    Also visit the online learning site at– abstanzania.blogspot.com

Watch teaching videos on YouTube at– 

This handout is dedicated to my parents.

 “One day I’ll be successful and people will ask me which college I went to. I’ll say, ‘It doesn’t matter because it is my parents who made me what I am today”.

                                        Preface

  Advanced biology is an exceptionally broad subject encompassing numerous topics as diverse as cell biology, biochemistry, nutrition, regulation, coordination, classification of living things, reproduction, growth and development and organic evolution.

A-level student needs presentation of the topics in as simple and enjoyable manner as possible. This handout meet such criterion and thus it serve as a suitable revision guide for the student preparing for the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) as  per current ACSEE biology syllabus.

This revision guide also serves as an important tool for teachers as a resource material since it is organized as class notes.

To be an efficient revision guide, this handout is designed to present biological concepts in a way that can be clearly understood. Therefore, many aids are included to make the task of learning more efficient and enjoyable.

This volume contain five topics to be covered during form five. The rest of the topics  will be covered in the second volume of this series. The topics are contained in five chapters, each divided into several units so that the concepts can be explained as clearly and simple as possible.

The handout is organized flexibly so that chapters, topics and units may be arranged in almost any order. Each chapter has been made as self-contained as possible to promote this flexibility.

I look forward to receive comments and criticism from readers of this handout because they are of great significance in the improvement of this work.

                                                                                       Mohamed Jumanne

                                                                                         JANUARY 2017

Acknowledgement

    First of all and foremost, I would like to thank my parents for their love and support throughout my life. Thank you both for giving me strength to reach for the stars and chase my dreams. My sister and brother desire my wholehearted thanks as well.

I would like to sincerely thank all my teachers throughout my entire academic journey for their  guidance and support throughout my studies and especially for their confidence in me.

To all my friends, thank you for understanding and encouragement in many, many moments of crisis. Your friendship makes my life a wonderful experience. I cannot mention all names here, but you are always on my mind.

All praise is due to God alone ( "Alhamdulillah"  ) for always being there for me.

This handout is only the beginning of my journey.

Finally, I would like to leave the all remaining space in memory of late Omary Jumanne-my young brother.

                                                  Mohamed Jumanne

                                                  JANUARY 2017

This volume is organized into five chapters, covering one topic each. The topics included in this volume are all covered in form five. The next volume (volume 2) of this series will cover the remaining topics, including those covered in form six.

   

Chapter One; The cell– this chapter covers all aspects from the cell theory, cell structure and function through to organic constituent of the cell( biochemistry).

   

Chapter Two; Nutrition– this covers both plant and animal nutrition. Photosynthesis and animal digestion are efficiently discussed.

    Chapter Three; Gaseous exchange and Respiration– both plant and animals gaseous exchange and respiration are discussed under this chapter.

   

Chapter Four; Regulation– the general concepts of homeostasis, temperature regulation, excretion and osmoregulation are covered under this chapter.

   

Chapter Five; Coordination- Nervous coordination in Mammals, The Nerve  impulse, Receptors, Hormonal Coordination in mammals, Coordination in Plants, Tactic responses and Nastic responses  are all covered under this chapter.

Chapter One

Chapter outline

· The cell theory

· Cell structure and function

· Prokaryotic cell

· Eukaryotic cell

· Organic constituent of the cell                 

¨ Carbohydrates

¨ Lipids

¨ Proteins

¨ Enzymes                                         

¨ ATP

             

           What Is a Cell?

   Trees in a forest, fish in a river, horseflies on a farm, lemurs in the jungle, reeds in a pond, worms in the soil — all these plants and animals are made of the building blocks we call cells. Like these examples, many living things consist of vast numbers of cells working in concert with one another. Other forms of life, however, are made of only a single cell, such as the many species of bacteria and protozoa. Cells, whether living on their own or as part of a multicellular organism, are usually too small to be seen without a light microscope.

Cells share many common features, yet they can look wildly different. In fact, cells have adapted over billions of years to a wide array of environments and functional roles. Nerve cells, for example, have long, thin extensions that can reach for meters and serve to transmit signals rapidly. Closely fitting, brick-shaped plant cells have a rigid outer layer that helps provide the structural support that trees and other plants require. Long, tapered muscle cells have an intrinsic stretchiness that allows them to change length within contracting and relaxing biceps.

Still, as different as these cells are, they all rely on the same basic strategies to keep the outside out, allow necessary substances in and permit others to leave, maintain their health, and replicate themselves. In fact, these traits are precisely what make a cell a cell.

Definition; The cell (from Latin cella, meaning "small room") is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. A cell is the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently, and cells are often called the "building blocks of life". The study of cells is called cell biology (cytology).