Summary

• Description:

  The PDF document comprises a complete set of Form 4 Biology Notes, covering all major topics for the year.

  The topics and sub-topics covered in the document include:

  • Genetics

  • • Introduction: Defines genetics and introduces concepts of inheritance, genes, and gametes.

    • Variation: Differentiates between continuous variations (e.g., height, weight) and discontinuous variations (e.g., blood groups, tongue rolling).

    • Chromosomes and DNA: Describes the structure of chromosomes, diploid numbers, and the double helix structure of DNA, including its components (nucleotides, base pairing).

    • Inheritance: Explains Mendel's First Law (Law of Segregation), monohybrid inheritance, and key genetic terms like genotype, phenotype, allele, homozygous, and heterozygous. Covers complete dominance, co-dominance (incomplete dominance), and the inheritance of ABO blood groups.

    • Sex Determination and Linkage: Details the XY system in humans and explains sex-linked traits like haemophilia and red-green colour-blindness.

    • Mutations: Discusses chromosomal mutations (e.g., Down's syndrome, Turner's syndrome) and gene mutations (e.g., sickle-cell anaemia).

    • Applied Genetics: Covers the practical applications of genetics in blood transfusion, plant and animal breeding, genetic counselling, and genetic engineering.

  • Evolution

  • • Origin of Life: Explores different theories, focusing on Special Creation and Chemical Evolution.

    • Evidence for Evolution: Presents evidence from various fields including fossil records (palaeontology), comparative anatomy (homologous and analogous structures), comparative embryology, and geographical distribution.

    • Mechanisms of Evolution: Contrasts Lamark's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics with Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Examples like industrial melanism in the peppered moth are used for illustration.

  • Reception, Response, and Co-ordination

  • • In Plants: Explains responses to stimuli, including tropisms (phototropism, geotropism) and nastic movements. It details the role of plant hormones (auxins, gibberellins, etc.) in controlling growth and responses like apical dominance.

    • In Animals: Describes the components and function of the nervous system, including the structure of neurons and the transmission of nerve impulses across a synapse. It covers the human brain, spinal cord, and reflex actions (simple and conditioned). The endocrine system is also detailed, with a table of major hormones and their functions.

    • Sense Organs: Provides a detailed study of the structure and function of the human eye (including accommodation and common defects) and the human ear (for both hearing and balance).

  4. Support and Movement

  • • In Plants: Explains the necessity for support and the role of different tissues (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, and xylem) in providing it.

    • In Animals: Discusses different types of skeletons (exoskeleton and endoskeleton). It provides a detailed look at the mammalian skeleton (axial and appendicular), including the different types of vertebrae, girdles, and limb bones.

    • Movement: Explains locomotion in fish and the role of joints and antagonistic muscles (e.g., biceps and triceps) in bringing about movement in mammals.

  1. 1. Practical Activities:

  • • The notes include suggestions for practical activities such as demonstrating variation, modeling mitosis and meiosis, investigating tropisms, and examining vertebrate limbs.

  These notes offer a complete and thorough guide to the Form 4 Biology syllabus. They are well-organized, neat, and printable, featuring clear explanations, diagrams, and tables. This makes them an excellent and comprehensive resource for students for their final year of study and KCSE revision, as well as for teachers in preparing their lessons.

• File Size:

  1.11 MB
• Length:

  56 pages
• Category:

  Lesson Notes
• Level:

  Form 4
• Subject:

  BIOLOGY
• Posted By:

  amingaskykrapper

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