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Free resources & downloadable answers for the Scottish Curriculum - Biology

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National 4 Biology (Course Code: C707 74)

Scqf level 4 (24 scqf credit points).

Why study Biology?

Biology is the study of all living things, from the tiniest organisms to the largest lifeforms. You will learn how nature and the human body work, and how different forms of life eat, make energy and reproduce. You will also find out how Biology is helping to find solutions to world problems.

There are many career opportunities connected with biology, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, physiotherapy, food science, sport science, pharmacology and beauty therapy.

Career Pathways

To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:

• Animals, Land and Environment
• Hairdressing, Beauty and Wellbeing
• Health and Medicine

Science and Maths

• Teaching and Classroom Support
• Uniformed and Security Services

What do I need to get in?

Entry is at the discretion of the school or college but you would normally have achieved one of the following:

• National 3 Biology
• National 3 Chemistry
• National 3 Environmental Science
• National 3 Physics
• National 3 Science

What will I study?

Biology is a practical, hands-on subject that develops your skills of scientific enquiry, and helps you to solve problems and make decisions. You will learn about plants, animals and people. You will find out how population growth is affecting the variety of life on earth (known as biodiversity). You will develop your skills in carrying out biological experiments in laboratories.

The course has three compulsory units plus an added value unit that assesses your practical skills.

Cell Biology (6 SCQF credit points)

In this unit you will:

• develop your skills of scientific inquiry, investigation and analytical thinking by studying cell division, DNA, genes and chromosomes, enzymes, microorganisms, and photosynthesis.

Biology: Multicellular Organisms (6 SCQF credit points)

• learn about sexual and asexual reproduction and their importance for survival of species
• learn about propagating and growing plants;
• explore the commercial use of plants, genetic information and growth and development of different organisms
• learn how organisms respond to internal and external changes in order to maintain stable body conditions.

Biology: Life on Earth (6 SCQF credit points) In this unit you will:

• learn how animal and plants species depend on each other
• study the impact of population growth on biodiversity, the nitrogen cycle, fertiliser design
• learn what impact fertilisers have on the environmental
• explore the adaptations for survival and learned behaviour in response to stimuli.

Added Value Unit: Biology Assignment (6 SCQF credit points)

• carry out an investigation on a biological topic, drawing on the skills you have learned from the other units and present your findings in an assignment.

How will I be assessed?

Your work will be assessed by your teacher on an ongoing basis throughout the course. Items of work might include:

• practical work - such as experiments
• written work - research assignments and lab reports
• class-based exams.

You must pass all the units including the practical assignment to gain the course qualification.

Study Materials

BBC Bitesize National 4 Biology

What can I go on to next?

If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:

• National 5 Biology
• National 5 Environmental Science

Further study, training or employment in:

• Science and Mathematics

Which jobs are related to this subject?

• Biology - Related Careers

Where can my parents find out more?

Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.

They can also read the information leaflet(s):

Nationals in a Nutshell - Biology (National 4)

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Biology Homework & Revision

Revision links:.

BBC N4 Biology: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/z3ykjxs N4 Biology eTextbook: http://nat4biopl.edubuzz.org/ BBC N5 Biology: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zync87h Oronsay Biology: http://www.oronsay.org/Nat5.htm N5 Biology eTextbook: https://sites.google.com/a/edubuzz.org/nat5biopl/ SQA Past Papers at all levels: http://www.sqa.org.uk/pastpapers/findpastpaper.htm?subject=Biology Scholar: http://scholar.hw.ac.uk

Homework, Learning Outcomes and Revision Notes:

S3 Biology Homework 1-cell-division 2-dna-genes-chromosomes 3-therapeutic-uses-of-cells

S3 Biology Learning Outcomes

S3 Biology Revision Notes S3 Biology Summary Notes – Unit 1

National 3 Biology Homework

National 3 Biology Learning Outcomes N3 Cell Biology Learning outcomes

National 3 Biology Revision Notes N3 Cell Biology N3 Multicellular Organisms N3 Life on Earth

National 4 Biology Homework

Cell-Division Homework GM Homework Photosynthesis Homework Respiration Homework

National 4 Biology Learning Outcomes

Cell Biology Life on Earth Multicellular Organisms

National 4 Biology Revision Notes

Unit 1 Summary notes Cell Biology Summary Notes Multicellular Organisms Summary Notes Life On Earth Summary Notes

National 5 Biology Homework

Cell Biology (Unit 1)

Cell structure and membranes homework Mitosis Homework Producing new cells and DNA Enzymes homework DNA and Genetic Engineering Respiration Homework Photosynthesis Homework

Multicellular Organisms (Unit 2)

Stem Cells and Meristems Control and Communication (Task 1) Control and Communication (Task 2) Reproduction (Task 1) Reproduction (Task 2) Variation and Inheritance (Task 1) Variation and Inheritance (Task 2) The Need for Transport (Task 1) The Need for Transport (Task 2) The Need for Transport (Task 3)

Exam Revision Questions

N5 Cell Biology Exam Questions N5 Cell Biology Exam Questions (2) N5 Life on Earth Exam Questions N5 Multicellular Exam Questions

National 5 Biology Learning Outcomes Cell Biology Life on Earth Multicellular Organisms

National 5 Biology Revision Notes Proteins and Enzymes Variation and Inheritance Adaptation, Natural selection and Evolution

Higher Biology Homework Higher Biology Learning Outcomes Higher Biology Revision Notes

Higher Human Biology

Higher Human Biology Homework Higher Human Biology HW 1 Higher Human Biology HW 2 Higher Human Biology HW 3 Higher Human Biology HW 4 Higher Human Biology HW 5 (part 1) Higher Human Biology HW 5 (part 2)

Unit 3 Homework

Past Paper Questions – by unit HH-Unit-1-PPQs HH-Unit-2-PPQs HH-Unit-3 PPQs HH-Unit-4-PPQs

Higher Human Biology Learning Outcomes Unit 1 learning outcomes Unit 2 learning outcomes Unit 3 learning outcomes Unit 4 learning outcomes

Higher Human Biology Revision Notes Reproduction Summary Notes Cardiovascular System Summary Notes

Adv. Higher

Advanced Higher Biology Homework AH Bio HW 1 AH Bio HW 2 AH Bio HW 3 AH Bio HW 4 Advanced Higher Biology Learning Outcomes AH Unit 1 Learning Intentions  Advanced Higher Biology Revision Notes

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National 5 Problem Solving

You can access the National 5 Problem Solving Help Sheet below:

National 5 Problem Solving Help Sheet

You can access the full National 5 Problem Solving Booklet below:

National 5 Problem Solving Booklet Questions

National 5 Problem Solving Booklet Marking Scheme

You can access problem solving questions by category using the links below:

Biological Keys Questions | Biological Keys Marking Scheme

Calculation Questions | Calculations Marking Scheme

Graphs, Charts & Experiments Questions | Graphs, Charts & Experiments Marking Scheme

Ratio Questions | Ratio Marking Scheme

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National 5 Biology Revision

Welcome to your interactive National 5 Biology Revision site. Here you will find past papers and marking instructions, summary notes, problem solving activities and much more.

Each section has a link to BBC Bitesize, a selection of past paper questions and a youtube video.

Course Content

National 5 Biology consists of 3 units of work: Cell Biology, Multicellular Organisms and Life on Earth.

Cell Structure

Transport across the cell membrane

Proteins and Enzymes

Genetic engineering, respiration.

Producing new cells

Control and communication

Reproduction

Variation and inheritance, transport in plants, transport in animals, absorption of materials.

Photosynthesis

Food production.

Evolution of Species

Cells are the most basic units of life. There are a few cell types you need to be able to identify and state the functions of their organelles. Below you will find links to BBC bitesize and a google document with past paper questions.

Transport Across the Cell Membrane

All cells are enclosed by a cell membrane, which is selectively permeable. Molecules can move into or out of cells by diffusion and active transport. Cells can gain or lose water by osmosis.

DNA carries the genetic information in the cells of all living organisms. It contains codes for the assembly of amino acids into all the proteins required in the body.

Proteins consist of combinations of amino acids. Body proteins include structural proteins, enzymes, hormones and antibodies. The shape of an enzyme allows it to speed up a biological reaction.

Bacteria exchange DNA using plasmids; viruses invade cells by first inserting their genetic material. Genetic engineering is the transfer of DNA between organisms using biotechnology.

Most cell activity requires chemical energy. Respiration is the cellular process of releasing energy from food and storing it as ATP.

Producing New Cells

Cell division allows for growth and replacement of dead cells. Most multicellular organisms are made of different cell types that are specialised to carry out specific functions.

Control and Communication

Communication between cells in a multicellular organism occurs by use of nerve impulses or hormones. The central nervous system produces electrical impulses for rapid response.

New organisms are produced when male and female haploid gametes fuse. In mammals, gametes are produced in the testes or ovaries of individuals but anthers and ovaries are on the same flowering plant.

The phenotype for a characteristic like eye colour is the result of the combination of alleles. If the alleles in the parental genotype are dominant or recessive, probable outcomes can be predicted.

Multicellular organisms require transport systems to supply their cells and remove waste products. Plants transport substances through xylem and phloem.

Multicellular organisms require transport systems to supply their cells and remove waste products. The heart uses blood vessels to transport these substances around the body.

Humans require transport systems to supply their cells and remove waste products. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs and food molecules are absorbed by the digestive system.

An ecosystem is a community of animals, plants, micro-organisms, non-living things and their shared environment. Find out about energy transfer, niches and competition in ecosystems.

Abiotic factors are non-living variables. Biotic factors are the interactions between organisms. Both affect diversity and distribution. Sampling helps us to estimate numbers of organisms in an area.

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight energy to make their own food. It takes place inside the chloroplasts of plant cells.

All organisms require energy. The feeding relationship in an ecosystem can be shown in a foodchain. Learn about pyramids of biomass, energy and numbers.

A growing human population demands increased food production. Farmers try to meet that demand by intensive farming, using fertilisers and pesticides that are impacting on the environment.

Mutations can alter the genes of individuals in a beneficial or detrimental way and introduce variety into a species.

Problem Solving

Below you will find examples of scientific literacy questions, problem solving and extended response questions.

Are Mathematicians, Physicists and Biologists Irrational? Intransitivity Studies vs. the Transitivity Axiom

• Published: 18 September 2024

Cite this article

• Alexander Poddiakov   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6793-9985 1  

2 Altmetric

The status of the axioms of transitivity of dominance (“if x dominates y and y dominates z , then x dominates z ” and “if a person prefers A to B and B to C, then that person should prefer A to C”) as key components of rationality is discussed. The discussion is conducted in the context of modern mathematical and natural science studies of systems in objectively intransitive (rock—paper—scissors) relations contradictory to the transitivity axioms. Experiential studies of solving problems about various intransitive objects and relations are described. From an epistemological point of view, it seems reasonable to distinguish between 4 types of situations. (1) Relations are objectively transitive, and problem solvers: (1a) make correct conclusions about them; or (1b) wrongly consider the relations as intransitive. Most cognitive studies are conducted in this paradigm. (2) Relations are objectively intransitive, and problem solvers: (2a) make correct conclusions about them; or (2b) wrongly consider the relations as transitive (e.g., because of taking the transitivity axiom for granted). This has been minimally studied in cognitive psychology. In general, for objectively transitive options, intransitive choices are fallacies. For objectively intransitive options, fallacies are transitive choices of the intransitive options. Topological and graph theoretic approaches are more appropriate to present objectively intransitive objects and systems than metric approaches. Models of intransitive relations in biological studies are worthy of special interest in this context. Teaching intransitivity problem solving should be based on studies how abilities develop in this area and broader educational studies.

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Acknowledgements

I am most grateful to Reviewer 1 and Reviewer 2 for their comments and recommendations.

The work is supported by research grant No. 23-18-00695 “Logical and Cognitive Approach to Reasoning: Modeling the Interplay between the Normative and the Descriptive” from Russian Science Foundation.

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Department of Psychology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia

Alexander Poddiakov

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Alexander Poddiakov wrote the article.

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About this article

Poddiakov, A. Are Mathematicians, Physicists and Biologists Irrational? Intransitivity Studies vs. the Transitivity Axiom. Hu Arenas (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-024-00442-1

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Received : 11 July 2024

Revised : 13 August 2024

Accepted : 31 August 2024

Published : 18 September 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-024-00442-1

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• Rationality
• Transitivity axiom
• Intransitive objects
• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Cognition of complex systems

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