Scheme of Work for Chapter 7

Cambridge Biology for the IB Diploma

Scheme of work for Chapter 7, Nucleic acids and proteins

Syllabus section / Content / Time required / Outline of lesson content / Coursebook resources / Worksheets / Teacher’s resources / Teaching ideas
7.1 / DNA structure / 1–2 lessons / Recall the structure of DNA and extend the detail to include descriptions of antiparallel strands, 3'–5' linkages and hydrogen bonding; describe the structure of nucleosomes and their importance in supercoiling
Distinguish between unique and repetitive sequences in DNA and state the difference between exons and introns / p170–172
Short-answer Qs p172
TOK p172
End-of-chapter Qs p189–193:
Q1, Q2, Q10 / Extension: Q2
Support: Q1, Q2 / Practical activity: modelling of DNA structure
Link to Chapter 3
Exemplar exam questions: MCQs
7.2 / DNA replication / 2 lessons / Explain the process of DNA replication and the role of enzymes and formation of Okazaki fragments; state that replication occurs in a 5'–3' direction and is initiated at many points in eukaryotes / p173–175
Short-answer Qsp175
End-of-chapter Qs p189–193:
Q3 / Support: Q2, Q3, Q4 / Practical activity: video clips
Exemplar exam questions: MCQs
7.3 / Transcription / 2 lessons / Explain the process of transcription in prokaryotes including the roles of the promoter region, RNA polymerase, nucleoside triphosphates and the terminator; state that transcription occurs in a 5'–3' direction and that the antisense strand is transcribed
Introns must be removed from eukaryotic RNA to form mature mRNA / p175–177
End-of-chapter Qs p189–193:
Q4 / Extension: Q2, Q3
Support: Q5 / Practical activity: video clips
Exemplar exam questions: MCQs
7.4 / Translation / 2 lessons / Outline the structure of tRNA and explain that each tRNA has a specific activating enzyme that binds a specific amino acid; identify the four stages of translation and state that it occurs in a 5'–3' direction
Explain the process of translation including the roles of ribosomes, polysomes and start and stop codons; draw a peptide bond between two amino acids and state that free ribosomes synthesize protein for use in the cell / p177–181
Short-answer Qsp181
End-of-chapter Qs p189–193:
Q5, Q8 / Extension: Q4 / Exemplar exam questions: MCQs
7.5 / Proteins / 1 lesson / Explain the four levels of protein structure; outline the structure of fibrous and globular proteins giving four examples and their functions; explain the significance of polar and non-polar amino acids in proteins / p182–185
End-of-chapter Qs p189–193:
Q6 / Extension: Q1 / Practical activity: 3D modelling of protein structure
Link to ICT: simulations
Exemplar exam questions: Q1
7.6 / Enzymes / 2 lessons / Describe the induced-fit model for enzyme action; explain that enzymes lower activation energy of reactions and that metabolic pathways consist of chains of enzyme-catalysed reactions
Explain competitive and non-competitive inhibition and explain how metabolic pathways are controlled by end-product inhibition and allosteric sites / p185–189
Short-answer Qsp189
End-of-chapter Qs p189–193:
Q7, Q9, Q11 / Extension: Q5
Support: Q6 / Link with Chapter 3 – opportunity for assessed practical on enzyme activity
Link to TOK: development of induced-fit hypothesis
Link to ICT: data logging
Exemplar exam questions: MCQs

Note: 1 lesson = approximately 40 minutes