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GCSE: Living Things in their Environment

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  • Marked by Teachers essays 28
  • Peer Reviewed essays 12
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  5. 13
  1. Marked by a teacher

    Research question - Is using dogs for work ethical?

    5 star(s)

    I will analyze the results and find out if dogs and humans should have similar equalities- whilst using perspective to give both sides of the argument. Or if the emotional and the physical torture of dogs on a racetrack is worth pleasing the fans of this sport? Do the dog race fans think it's ethical? Or do the dogs think it's ethical for themselves? Theory My theory is that the results of my questionnaire will show that most people would believe that using a dog for a position in the work force is ethical.

    • Word count: 5714
  2. Marked by a teacher

    Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistanceIntroduction:Escherichia coli, short E. coli is an important bacteria that are

    5 star(s)


    • Word count: 1905
  3. Marked by a teacher

    Taxonomy is the branch of biology that deals with the identification and naming of living organisms

    5 star(s)

    The current classification system divides all organisms into seven major categories, called taxa (singular: taxon). The categories are as follows: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. The modern classification system is based on increasingly more specific categories. The classification levels become more specific towards the bottom of the hierarchy. Many organisms belong to the same kingdom. Fewer belong to the same phylum, and even fewer belong to the same class and so on with species being the most specific classification. The categories from most general to most specific are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

    • Word count: 2711
  4. Marked by a teacher

    The effects of disinfectants and antibacterial soap on bacterial growth

    5 star(s)

    Finally, Clorox Bleach, commonly used to kill bacteria, was tested. Because hospital bacteria can be dangerous, bacteria was taken from the classroom instead and grown in broth. A single substance (disinfectant, soap, or deionized water) was added to various culture tubes containing broth and bacteria. One day later, sterile agar plates were inoculated with bacteria from each tube and incubated. Growth was examined first on the following day, and once again three days later. We hypothesized that not all cleaners would prove effcctivc, simply because of the precedent sent by the aforementioned experiment performed on antibacterial soaps. Materials and Method.

    • Word count: 3274
  5. Marked by a teacher

    Animal Testing

    4 star(s)

    Methods of Animal Testing: The draize test: this test is designed to test cosmetics, medicines and other chemicals such as cleaning detergents and tooth paste. The test involves putting drops of the test substance into one of the animal's eyes (see image on right). (In some cases the animal's eye is held open with metal clamps).The test eye is then checked over several days for swelling, bleeding, redness, ulceration or discharge. This test is usually carried out on rabbits. The skin irritancy test: a section of the animals' skin is shaved and several layers of skin are removed using cello-tape, then the substance is applied.

    • Word count: 2586
  6. Marked by a teacher

    Biology Recycling

    4 star(s)

    Do you think that recycling is beneficial for the environment? Yes No Not sure Why do you think recycling is beneficial or harmful for the environment? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What resources do you recycle? Plastic Glass Paper Metal Clothes Garden Waste 4. How often are your recycling bins collected? Twice a Week Weekly Fortnightly Once in a Month Other _________________ 5. What would you change about current recycling? No Change 6. Should we increase council tax for better recycling? Yes No Not sure 7. Should the amount you recycle be charged?

    • Word count: 661
  7. Marked by a teacher

    Biology- enzyme coursework

    4 star(s)

    I believe this because most chemical reaction happens faster when the temperature is higher. This invesigation was used to observe the reaction between starch and amylase to Maltose. As the temperature rises, the reacting molecules will have more kinetic energy. This increases the chances of a successful collision - meaning the rate increases. There is a certain temperature at which amylase's catalytic activity is at its greatest. This optimal temperature is usually around human body temperature (37oC) for the enzymes in human cells.

    • Word count: 1575
  8. Marked by a teacher

    In this experiment, mung bean seedlings and Brine shrimp eggs were used to study the effect of temperature on the rate of germination of seedlings and the rate of hatching of eggs.

    4 star(s)

    What is the effect of increased temperature on the rate of development of organisms? What is the best salinity of water for the development of living organisms? Hypothesis : Global warming does affect the rate of development of organisms. As the temperature increases, the rate of development of living organism increases until the optimum temperature that is room temperature of 25oC. Beyond the optimum temperature, the rate of development decreases with further increased in temperature. The rate of development of organism increases with higher salinity of solution until the optimum salinity of not more than 3%. Objective : 1. To investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of development of living organisms. 2.

    • Word count: 4091
  9. Marked by a teacher

    Does Traffic Pollution Cause Asthma?

    4 star(s)

    STATISTICS FOR ASTHMA IN CHILDREN * In 2005, 27 children (14 and under) died from asthma * 42% of people with asthma say that traffic fumes stop them from walking and shopping in congested areas * One in ten children have asthma and it is the most common long-term medical condition. * The UK has the highest prevalence of severe wheeze in children aged 13-14 years worldwide. * If one parent has asthma, the chance of their child developing asthma is approximately double that of children whose parents don't have asthma. * Every 19 minutes a child is admitted to hospital in England, Scotland or Wales because of their asthma.

    • Word count: 1351
  10. Marked by a teacher


    4 star(s)

    I was on the common for two days in total. On the first day the whole class went through methods such as how to carry out a line transect, how to check the soil depth, light intensity and took some samples of the pH of the soil. I decided to find out whether there was a species diversity difference in trampled and non-trampled areas because whilst carrying out the different forms of methods I noticed that in different parts of the grass there would be a higher concentration of grass to clover compared to a previous sample taken or a different amount of rye to plantain.

    • Word count: 3148
  11. Marked by a teacher

    Find out the relationship between the districution of bladders and the degree of exposure on the shore of bladder wrack seaweed

    4 star(s)

    Above the level of the highest tides is the splash zone, strongly affected by salt spray. The upper shore is not covered by every high tide, usually only those of spring tides. Very few species can tolerate the relatively dry conditions of the upper shore. Most seashore animals and plants live in the middle shore, the main area of the shore which is covered and uncovered by every tide. The lower shore is only exposed during the low tides of spring tides, and this is where many delicate species may be found - those that cannot withstand much exposure.

    • Word count: 1245
  12. Marked by a teacher

    A2 Biology Coursework -Investigation into the effect of different concentrations of antibiotics on the growth of bacteria

    4 star(s)

    This method provides a clear output which can easily be measured. The other 2 techniques, Dilution Plating and Heamocytometry could have been used but weren't favorable because they require human assessment as a person is required to count how much bacteria there is, making it prone to human error. Turbidimetery is another alternative but like Dilution plating and Heamocytometry it may produce errors as there are a lot of steps involved in this method. In conclusion I will be using the method of bioassay to enable me to determine the effectiveness of the antibiotic and the dependant variable will be the diameter of the clear zone.

    • Word count: 3821
  13. Marked by a teacher

    The effect of antibiotics on the growth of bacteria.

    4 star(s)

    Penicillin: Penicillin was the first naturally-occurring antibiotic discovered and was the first one to be used therapeutically Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1929. Penicillin is an antibiotic which is produced by the mould penicillium; penicillin kills only certain types of bacteria by disrupting the structure of their cell wall. As the bacterial cell is growing and making a new cell wall also dividing, a new cell wall must be made constantly to completely surround each of the dividing cells.

    • Word count: 1564
  14. Marked by a teacher

    Balance of Food Production and Conservation

    4 star(s)

    Unfortunately, most of these chemicals are passed onto other plants and animals in food chains. Some fish can be killed by only tiny quantities of herbicides and birds have suffered in a similarly as a result of the use of insecticides. Since nitrate and ammonium ions are very soluble, they do not remain in the soil for long and are quickly leached out, ending up in local rivers and lakes and causing eutrophication. Eutrophication refers to the effects of nutrients on aquatic ecosystems.

    • Word count: 1934
  15. Marked by a teacher

    The Issues of Pesticides.

    4 star(s)

    As this represents the loss without current control measures, it would clearly be catastrophic for mankind if control of insect pests were not attempted or should fail. (Pest Control and It's Ecology, Helmut F. van Emden, 1974) Pesticide application has been responsible for great increases in UK farm yields over the past fifty years (Ecology and Conservation, Fred Webber, 1994). Also Farmers can now protect their crops. Some crops can now be grown in areas or times of the year when before they could not be grown because of the presence of a successful pest, weed or disease (Food, Farming and the Environment, Damian Allen and Gareth Williams, 1997).

    • Word count: 1053
  16. Marked by a teacher

    Deforestation and its effects

    4 star(s)

    However, should we prioritise human survival over plant survival? In a forest that hasn't suffered any deforestation, there are many factors which make it a functional and healthy forest. Transpiration is able to take place, which releases the water content into the atmosphere. The trees intercept the precipitation, which in rainforests would be very harsh on the ground. The tree roots also allow extra support for the soil. These two factors combined prevent soil erosion. The forest also provides a habitat for plants and animals. Should these trees be removed there will be less transpiration so more water will be in contact with the ground.

    • Word count: 932
  17. Marked by a teacher

    Heat loss from animals

    4 star(s)

    Just like the polar bear other animals such as the camel have had to adapt to live in the desert conditions so therefore it needs to increase the amount of heat loss. Both these animals have had to adapt to the environment that they live in, in order to survive. In colder regions the animals tend to have a smaller surface area to volume ratio but lager in size, where as in hot regions animals are smaller which increases there surface area to volume ratio.

    • Word count: 2125
  18. Marked by a teacher


    4 star(s)

    Thus the benefits are great and widespread across all aspects of life: Environmental. Discoveries in biotechnology allow for certain key crops to have their own protection against insects and disease, meaning a reduction in the amount of chemicals used to protect them. Thus reducing the strain on the environment via the application and creation of these products. Agricultural. The ability to enhance crops so that better quality and more can be grown on the same patch of land. This means that the amount of food available to the world will increase and that the higher levels of nutrients in it will reduce the incidence of disease.

    • Word count: 1926
  19. Marked by a teacher

    Biology research - how animals area adapted to cold environments.

    3 star(s)

    They also have a layer of stored fat under the skin which gives additional insulation. Like many Arctic mammals, the polar bear has white fur made of hollow hairs, which traps and warms air. The polar bear has wide, large paws help them to walk in the snow. Ultra-violet light is funnelled from the sun down the hairs to the bearâs black skin, changing it into warmth. The dense undercoat is covered with an outer coat of long guard hairs.

    • Word count: 1034
  20. Marked by a teacher

    biology instinctive behaviour

    3 star(s)

    Another example of this from the animal kingdom is many mammals. They release an odour or pheromone when they are ready to mate which then attracts a male or female to them. An elephant is a great example of this. Female elephants can go into oestrus four times a year once they reach sexual maturity at about the age of 12, unless they are pregnant or nursing a calf. When a female elephant is in oestrus, she releases pheromones that attract male elephants to her. She also sounds loud mating calls to call to the males and let them know that she is ready to mate.

    • Word count: 3323
  21. Marked by a teacher

    Human Impact on the environment

    3 star(s)

    if this trend is to continue then the icebergs will melt away. Global warming is an overall increase in the world temperatures, which may be caused by additional heat being trapped by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are made out of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide, Ozone and chlorofluorocarbons also known as CFC's which contribute to causing global warming. Greenhouse gases are produced by: burning fossil fuels e.g. coal and petrol, deforestation and animal excretion which produces methane gas.

    • Word count: 1479
  22. Marked by a teacher

    biology coursework-recycling

    3 star(s)

    4( ) 5+( ) What makes you recycle? Less Landfills ( ) Save environment ( ) Law ( ) Cheaper ( ) Save resources ( ) Other ( ) What do you recycle the most? Glass ( ) Paper ( ) Plastic ( ) Metal ( ) Cardboard ( ) Other ( ) Why do you not recycle? Hassle ( ) Takes time ( ) Expensive ( ) Not beneficial ( ) Other ( ) Results How many people recycle? Approximately how many times people recycle in a month? Why many people recycle? What is recycled the most? Patterns in the results The results show that many people recycle, 33 out of 40 answered that they do recycle.

    • Word count: 2294
  23. Marked by a teacher


    3 star(s)

    However some people disagree with these methods and believe that conservation is perceived as a response to the pace of change. Plants should be left in their environment to create competition, this competition is what helps plants to adapt and create diversity. Taking these plants into conservation parks it's eliminating the everyday problems that plants might have to adapt to and in some sense does reduce biodiversity. I believe that conservation is a good, without this a lot of endangered species of plants would have died out; conservation also helps humans in the discovery of new uses of plants, e.g.

    • Word count: 2058
  24. Marked by a teacher

    Biology Coursework:Investigation of Speed of Woodlice in Areas of Different Light Intensities

    3 star(s)

    Prediction As the light intensity goes down and the lamp gets further away the speed of the woodlouse will decrease i.e. the time in which the woodlouse completes the course will increase as the light intensity goes down. The science of this is that the woodlouse shows a photo kinesis and changes speed. The two variables are directly proportionate. Enough reliable data will be obtained as lots of results will be taken with repeats at each distance.

    • Word count: 571
  25. Marked by a teacher

    An Investigation into a Woodlice's Preferred Choice of Environment.

    3 star(s)

    This serves the same purpose. Woodlice lack the waxy cuticle that many insects and also plants have to reduce water loss by evaporation, this makes them very different from them. this is why woodlice are very dependent on the conservation of their moisture. When exposed to light, woodlice are said to be negatively phototaxis, a reason for this could be the heat element that is associated with light. If a mammal encounters a lot of heat, it will produce sweat to cool its body down.

    • Word count: 3383

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Peer reviewed


Peer reviewed
