Smart Study Wiki

IGCSE-Bio-Index

5 min read

IGCSE Biology Index

→ Master-Index — Unified hub for all subjects and sections.

Summary: Complete index of IGCSE Biology (0610) concepts organised by Cambridge syllabus topic. Covers all 21 sections from Characteristics of Living Organisms to Biotechnology and Genetic Modification. Tags: index igcse biology hub Created: 2026-07-16 Last Updated: 2026-07-16

1. Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

2. Organisation of the Organism

  • Cell Structure and Organisation — Cell theory, animal and plant cell organelles, specialised cells, levels of organisation (cell → tissue → organ → system → organism), magnification calculations

3. Movement Into and Out of Cells

  • Movement Into and Out of Cells — Diffusion, osmosis (water potential, hypotonic/hypertonic/isotonic), active transport, factors affecting rate of movement, surface area to volume ratio

4. Biological Molecules

  • Biological Molecules — Carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides), lipids (fats and oils), proteins (amino acids, polypeptides), DNA structure, water as a solvent, food tests (Benedict’s, iodine, Biuret, emulsion test)

5. Enzymes

  • Enzymes — Lock-and-key model, specificity, factors affecting enzyme activity (temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration), enzymes in industry (biological washing powders, food production, lactose-free milk), enzymes in digestion

6. Plant Nutrition

  • Plant Nutrition — Photosynthesis (word and chemical equations), limiting factors (light, CO₂, temperature), leaf structure (palisade mesophyll, spongy mesophyll, stomata), mineral requirements (nitrate, magnesium)

7. Human Nutrition

  • Human Nutrition — Balanced diet (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, fibre, water), digestive system (mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine), digestive enzymes (amylase, protease, lipase), absorption in the ileum (villi)

8. Transport in Plants

  • Transport in Plants — Xylem (water and mineral ions, transpiration stream), phloem (sucrose and amino acids, translocation), transpiration (factors affecting rate: temperature, humidity, wind, light intensity), root hair cells

9. Transport in Animals

  • Transport in Animals — Circulatory system (heart structure, blood vessels: arteries, veins, capillaries), blood components (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, plasma), double circulation, coronary heart disease

10. Diseases and Immunity

  • Diseases and Immunity — Pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists), transmission of disease, body defences (skin, mucus, stomach acid), immune response (phagocytosis, lymphocytes, antibody production), vaccination, herd immunity

11. Gas Exchange in Humans

  • Gas Exchange in Humans — Respiratory system (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli), ventilation (intercostal muscles, diaphragm), gas exchange at alveoli (diffusion of O₂ and CO₂), composition of inhaled vs exhaled air

12. Respiration

  • Respiration — Aerobic respiration (glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy), anaerobic respiration in humans (glucose → lactic acid + energy), anaerobic respiration in yeast (glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide + energy), ATP, uses of energy in the body

13. Excretion in Humans

  • Excretion in Humans — Excretory organs (lungs, kidneys, skin), kidney structure (cortex, medulla, nephrons), urine formation (ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption), osmoregulation (ADH), kidney failure and dialysis

14. Coordination and Response

  • Coordination and Response — Nervous system (CNS, sensory/motor/relay neurones, reflex arc, synapses), the eye (accommodation, pupil reflex), endocrine system (hormones, adrenaline, insulin, glucagon), homeostasis (blood glucose regulation, thermoregulation, negative feedback), plant responses (tropisms: phototropism, geotropism, role of auxin)

15. Drugs

  • Drugs — Medicinal drugs (antibiotics — kill bacteria but not viruses), effects of drug abuse (heroin, alcohol, tobacco — effects on the body and society), performance-enhancing drugs (anabolic steroids), drug testing and clinical trials

16. Reproduction

  • Reproduction — Asexual vs sexual reproduction, reproductive systems (male: testes, sperm duct, urethra, penis; female: ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix, vagina), menstrual cycle (FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone), fertilisation and implantation, pregnancy (placenta, amniotic fluid), birth control (hormonal, barrier, surgical), STIs (HIV/AIDS, gonorrhoea)

17. Inheritance

  • Inheritance — Chromosomes, genes, alleles, DNA, mitosis (growth and repair, genetically identical daughter cells), meiosis (gamete formation, haploid cells, genetic variation), monohybrid crosses (Punnett squares, 3:1 ratio), codominance, sex determination (XX female, XY male)

18. Variation and Selection

  • Variation and Selection — Continuous vs discontinuous variation, causes of variation (genetic, environmental, both), mutations (gene mutations, chromosome mutations, Down syndrome), natural selection (survival of the fittest, antibiotic resistance in bacteria), selective breeding (artificial selection, desired characteristics)

19. Organisms and their Environment

  • Organisms and their Environment — Ecosystem definitions (population, community, habitat, ecosystem), food chains and food webs, energy transfer (10% efficiency, pyramids of numbers and biomass), carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, population growth

20. Human Influences on Ecosystems

  • Human Influences on Ecosystems — Deforestation (effects: habitat loss, soil erosion, flooding, increased CO₂), pollution (air, water, land, eutrophication), greenhouse effect and climate change, conservation (sustainable development, endangered species), biodiversity

21. Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

  • Biotechnology and Genetic Modification — Biotechnology (using microorganisms, fermentation, biogas production), genetic modification (restriction enzymes, ligase, vectors, GM crops), cloning (tissue culture, embryo cloning, adult cell cloning), advantages and ethical concerns of GM and cloning

Sources

  • BBC Bitesize GCSE Biology — IGCSE Biology topics, BBC (free educational resource)
  • OpenStax Biology 2e — Biology 2e, Rice University (free, CC BY 4.0)
  • Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 — Syllabus 2023–2025, Cambridge Assessment International Education
  • CK-12 Biology for High School — CK-12 Biology, CK-12 Foundation (free, CC BY-NC 3.0)
  • ZNotes IGCSE Biology — Biology 0610 notes, ZNotes (free educational resource)

Data Sources

  • Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus (2023–2025)
  • IGCSE Biology past papers and mark schemes
  • Biology content organised into 21 syllabus sections

Backlinks