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Bioenergetics

Metabolism

Metabolism

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Biology practicals

Investigating specimens using microscopes

Investigating the effect of pH on amylase activity

Investigating molecules in food using food tests

Investigating osmosis in potatoes

Investigating the effect of antimicrobials

Investigating limiting factors of photosynthesis

Investigating the rate of respiration

Using field-work techniques

Ecosystems and material cycles

Ecosystems, competition and environmental changes

Trophic levels and biomass transfer

Human impacts on biodiversity

Conservation and maintaining biodiversity

The carbon cycle

The water cycle

Obtaining potable water

The nitrogen cycle

Pollution indicators - Higher

Decomposition and biogas

Exchange and transport in animals

Specialised exchange surfaces

Factors affecting the rate of diffusion

Human circulatory system

Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

The human endocrine system

Hormones: adrenaline and thyroxine - Higher

Hormones in human reproduction

Treating infertility - Higher

Homeostasis and blood glucose

Controlling body temperature

The urinary system

Plant structures and their functions

Photosynthesis and limiting factors

Factors limiting the rate of photosynthesis - Higher

Water and mineral transport in plants

Plant adaptations

Plant hormones

Health, disease and the development of medicines

The relationship between health and disease

Communicable disease

Sexually transmitted infections

How the body fights disease

Vaccination, immunisation and medicines

Aseptic techniques

Drug development and testing

Monoclonal antibodies and their uses - Higher

Non-communicable diseases

Calculating BMI and the waist-to-hip ratio

Cardiovascular disease and treatment

Plant defences and diseases

Natural selection and genetic modification

Evolution by natural selection

Fossils as evidence for evolution

Classifying living organisms

Selective breeding

Uses and evaluation of genetic engineering

The process of genetic engineering - Higher

Uses of genetic engineering

Genetics

Meiosis, sexual and asexual reproduction

Sexual and asexual reproduction

DNA: structure, genes and chromosomes

Protein synthesis - Higher

Inheritance and genetic diagrams

Inherited disorders

Blood groups, co-dominance and haemophilia

Types and sources of variation

The human genome project

Cells and control

The cell cycle and stages of mitosis

Cell differentiation, stem cells and ethics

The structure of the brain

The nervous system and the reflex arc

The eye: structure, reflexes and defects

Key concepts

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Specialised animal and plant cells

Types of microscopes and calculations

Enzymes

Calorimetry and energy calculations

Transport systems in cells

Practical skills

Measuring techniques

Safety and ethics

Designing experiments

Methods of heating substances

Working with electronics

Random sampling and sampling methods

Comparing results using percentage change

Working scientifically

The scientific method

Science communication and ethics

Evaluating risks and hazards

Collecting data

Processing and presenting data

Units and equations

Structuring a scientific report and drawing conclusions

Uncertainties and evaluations

Explainer Video

Tutor: Holly

Summary

Metabolism

In a nutshell

Metabolism is all of the chemical reactions that happen inside an organism. These reactions are controlled by enzymes. The reactions can build up molecules or break them down.



Building up molecules

Some chemical reactions can build up molecules. 


Example

Glucose is an example of a sugar molecule. Lots of glucose molecules can be joined together to form starch, glycogen and cellulose. Starch is a storage molecule in plant cells, glycogen is the equivalent storage molecule in animal cells and cellulose strengthens the plant cell wall.


Example

Lipids are made from three fatty acids and one molecule of glycerol. Glucose is used to make the glycerol which combines with the three fatty acids.


Example

Glucose can be used to make proteins. Sugar molecules will join nitrate ions to form amino acids. Lots of amino acids join together to form proteins.



Breaking down molecules

Some chemical reactions can break down molecules. 


Example

Respiration is the process of breaking down glucose into carbon dioxide and water. This process transfers energy to other metabolic reactions in the body such as protein synthesis.


Example

Urea is formed through the breakdown of excess proteins. The urea is then excreted in urine.


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Learn with Basics

Learn the basics with theory units and practise what you learned with exercise sets!
Length:
Exothermic and endothermic reactions and catalysts

Unit 1

Exothermic and endothermic reactions and catalysts

Enzymes

Unit 2

Enzymes

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Optional

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Metabolism

Unit 3

Metabolism

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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of metabolism breaking down molecules?

Respiration is the process of breaking down glucose into carbon dioxide and water. This process transfers energy to other metabolic reactions in the body such as protein synthesis.

What is an example of metabolism building up molecules?

Glucose is an example of a sugar molecule. Lots of glucose molecules can be joined together to form starch, glycogen and cellulose.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism is all of the chemical reactions that happen inside an organism.

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