Nature of biology 2: VCE units 3 & 4

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Cover Half Title Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Preface About eBookPLUS and studyON About this book Acknowledgements CHAPTER 1 Cells: a review Cells: the basic units of life Prokaryotes: no nuclear envelope! Plasma membrane: the gatekeeper Functions of the plasma membrane Crossing the plasma membrane The role of different organelles in the export of protein from the cell CHAPTER 2 Nucleic acids and proteins: a review Organic molecules Nucleic acids Gene structure Gene sequencing Nature of the genetic code Proteins A closer look at a gene Protein synthesis Transcription: copying the original Translation: decoding genetic instructions Genes have various functions Time and place for everything Gene regulation in bacteria CHAPTER 3 Enzymes and biochemical pathways The plague of the sea What is an enzyme? Explaining enzyme specificity Mode of action of enzymes Factors affecting enzyme activity Enzymes can be inhibited Enzyme’s little helpers CHAPTER 4 Energy transfers and transformations Life support in space Photosynthesis: energy from the sun Photosynthesis in action Rate of photosynthesis Dangers in confined spaces Purpose of cellular respiration Stages of aerobic respiration Mitochondria: the powerhouses CHAPTER 5 Cellular signals Signals for communication Stages in ‘cell chatter’ Chemical signals in animals Chemical signalling in plants Chemical signals: plant hormones Apoptosis: programmed cell death CHAPTER 6 Pathogens all around us Bubonic plague or black death The germ theory of disease Microbes are all around us Pathogens: cellular and non-cellular Meet some pathogens! Bacteria and human diseases Viruses: non-cellular pathogens Prions: a new kind of pathogen Other prion diseases Self or non-self? Transplantation in Australia CHAPTER 7 Immune defences against pathogens Inflammation of the gut Immunity: defence against infection The innate immune system Cells of the innate immune system Humoral innate immunity The inflammatory response The common cold Adaptive immunity Cells of adaptive immunity B cells: antibody factories T cells: helpers and killers Antigen-presenting cells Helper T cells CHAPTER 8 Immunity: types and deficiencies Gardasil: a protective vaccine Specific immunity Herd immunity The boy in the bubble Defects of the immune system Monoclonal antibodies CHAPTER 9 Changes in genetic make-up of populations Can you drink milk? Inherited variation in populations Genes in populations Change agents in populations Speciation Mutations: source of new alleles Types of mutations Manipulating gene pools Selective breeding in action Technologies in selective breeding CHAPTER 10 Changes in biodiversity over time Species: unchanging or not? Time scales in evolution How old is it? Changing life forms over time Fossils: evidence of past life Evidence of biological change over time Biogeography: biogeographic distributions Patterns of biological change CHAPTER 11 How are species related? Being related Comparing proteins Comparing DNA The ‘molecular clock’ concept Showing relatedness Cichlids of the African Lakes BMP4 in Darwin’s finches CHAPTER 12 Human changes over time Our place in the living world Classification of the human species Classifications can change Evolution of the primates Hominin evolution: where did it begin? The beginning: the prehuman hominins The prehuman hominin family The genus Homo: human at last! Views of human evolution Changing lifestyles of H. sapiens Changes in human populations CHAPTER 13 DNA manipulation techniques A recipe for gene editing Tools to manipulate DNA More tools for manipulating DNA Transforming bacteria CHAPTER 14 DNA applications in society Insulin: a life saver Making recombinant insulin using cloned genes Testing to identify genetic status Use of DNA in identification DNA profiling in Australia Identification in mass disasters DNA and paternity testing DNA profiles are not just for people! CHAPTER 15 Manipulating genes in organisms 1970s: Genetic engineering begins GMOs in agriculture Debate about GMOs continues CHAPTER 16 Biological knowledge in response to disease Death in war and peace Pandemic or epidemic? Meet the influenza A virus The changing influenza virus Rational drug design Identifying pathogens Defence against infection Drug resistance is emerging Appendix Glossary Index