Talk:IB Biology

How time passes! All the comments about the 'New Syllabus' are now superseded by the fact that there is an even newer syllabus published for first teaching in 2014 (August). Even the website of resources established for 2009 syllabus will be out of date from the end of the examination cycle in 2015.

New syllabus can be found here: http://www.edu.pe.ca/rural/IB%20Biology/files/Biology2009IB.pdf The following are NOT IB publications, but offer syllabus outcomes AND answers. They are not endorsed by the IBO. http://www.ibguides.com/biology/notes/2.1-cell-theory (This is a site that basically has the same purpose as this study guide. I would recommend this site for IB students looking for a quick source of info about the syllabus outcomes.) and https://docs.google.com/a/i-biology.net/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AuVTjWxKuHifdDJEUFRuNy1oUVpuY19EZWpsWUhVU1E&rm=full#gid=19 (This is an excellent source for the syllabus, as it divides the syllabus into HL and SL, with separate sheets for Options. I have communicated with Stephen Taylor, an IB teacher that created this spreadsheet, and he said that it was ok if users wanted to download it or make a copy to add to their Google Drive. It would be a good idea to thank him in the comments at the bottom here: http://i-biology.net/ibdpbio/command-terms/ )

If a new version of the sylabus is avalable, then why don't we retrofit the page to it? Is there anywhere we can get it? Senix1 (talk)

We still have to consider that current Y11 and Y12 IB Biology students are still using the 2009 syllabus. Perhaps we should fork the book into separate editions of the syllabus. CatanOverlord (discuss • contribs) 16:17, 5 March 2014 (UTC)

Before setting out to do loads of work on this, don't overlook the fact that the IB Biology syllabus has changed for exams from 2009. Students starting in sept 2007 will follow a new syllabus. Wouldn't it be better to use the structure of the new syllabus?

Why reinvent the wheel? This work has already been substantially covered by [Stephen Taylor]http://http://i-biology.net/ and [John Burrell] http://click4biology.info

This is amazing! I started, then abandoned this ages ago. Thanks for contributing to this article: another testament to how great collectivism can be! Akapsycho 18:33, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

If we all want the merging, I suggest that we keep the order of statements as how they are in the IB syllabus. 76.105.23.27 23:28, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

Help this cause please! Akapsycho 18:33, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)


 * It does seem to need some editing. Has a biologist read any of the statements? I'm not being cruel, it just seems the "answers" are often poorly framed. - marsh 04:46, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

It needs more than "some" editing. Even if the content is fine, the layout is a mess. I think that each topic needs to get its own page. This Wikibook should also start being more of a Wikibook than a more detailed copy of the IB syllabus. Splat 00:22, 14 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Oh good. It was not only me that noticed problems - marsh 04:47, 16 February 2006 (UTC)


 * The content needs a lot of editing since the objectives in the new Syllabus have changed almost completely! I'm not sure, but I think that this is the new Syllabus with all the new objectives (although I think it's HL): http://production-app2.ibo.org/publication/7/part/2/chapter/4/page/1   Now I personally think that the formatting is perfectly fine and readable, the only thing that we have to do is change the objectives until Exams 2009 (which I think are around May). Another thing I'm thinking is if these objectives are somehow creative commons? Can we just put them on here, or are they protected.  (Biology Student (talk) 18:09, 12 June 2008 (UTC))

Studying for IB exams
I've made some extensive notes. I'll add them here. Someone please correct my spelling though- it's generally atroscious. --Daniel.Stevens 11:20, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I decided to write out the principles of synaptic transmission (11.1.5)as clearly and consisely as possible, if you think it is worth adding, go ahead! Oh and good luck everyone with BIO HL tomorrow! A.Brown!
 * 1. Nerve impulse (action potential) reaches end of pre-synaptic neuron, (from depolarisation in the axon)
 * 2. Opens voltage gated calcium ion (Ca2+) channel, allowing influx of Calcium (into Pre-synaptic Neuron/ axoplasm)
 * 3. Causes vesicle containing neurotransmitters to move to pre-synaptic membrane
 * 4. Vesicle fuses with pre-synaptic membrane and exctretes neurotransmitter by exocytosis
 * 5. Neurotransmitter (eg. acetylcholine, dopamine, etc.) diffuses across the synaptic gap and binds to a receptor on the post-synaptic membrane
 * 6. This causes chemical gated Sodium channels on the post-synaptic membrane to open, letting Sodium ions into the post-synaptic neuron; causing depolarisation
 * 7. Enzymes break down the neurotransmitter bound to receptor.
 * 8. Broken down neurotransmitter reabsorbed by PRE-synaptic membrane and re-synthesised into neurotransmitter.
 * 9. Calcium ions in pre-synaptic neuron pumped back out into synaptic gap

''also, there's a problem with the light dependant reaction.. Cylic photophosphorylation only involve PS I not PSII !!! It is confusing! here is my suggestion.. though probably needs editing:''


 * 1, PHOTOLYSIS: the splitting of water by light energy to produce Oxygen, H+ ions and e-. Oxygen released as a waste proudct of photosynthesis . H+ ions combine with NADP to give NADPH+H
 * 2, Photoactivation of Photosystem II: PSII absorbs light energy and electrons are boosted to a higher energy level.
 * 3, Electrons lost from PSII are replaced by electrons from PHOTOLYSIS
 * 4, Photophosphorylation: electrons at high energy level fall in energy through a series of carriers. As they pass through the cytochrome complex, the energy released is used to pump protons (H+ ions) into the thykaloid interior, creating a high concentration.
 * 5, Protons (H+ ions) flow back into stroma by diffusion through ATP synthase, hence generating ATP.
 * 6, Electrons continue to fall in energy level and reach PS I.
 * 7, PHOTOACTIVATION of PS I :light energy absorbed by chlorophyl in PS I, excites electron
 * 8, Electon used to reduce NADP+ to NADPH + H+, using 2H+ (NON-CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION)
 * 9, OR, electron falls back to PS I through Cytochrome complex, generating more ATP due to concentration gardient of H+ discussed above. CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION
 * 10, Cyclic photophosphorylation uses only PS I (and ATP synthetase), not PS II

Topic 1
Isn't Topic 1 supposed to be "Statistical analysis"? 218.101.117.106 (talk) 04:22, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

It is on the new course, not on the old course which is here. This book should really say for first examinations year x (whatever the old course's first year was). Still lots the same though so just make sure if you're doing the new course and want to use this you check to make sure it's the same dot points for a given section.