Biology

In the UK we teach GCSE courses up to the age of 16 (year 11). As a former university lecturer (who also taught students skills in digital imaging) and now a biology teacher I was increasingly frustrated with the quality of textbooks in the UK, so with the advent of ebooks I decided to produce my own textbooks for my pupils. This book covers syllabus for the iGCSE biology in the UK. Of all of the biology courses I have taught, the iGCSE courses delivered by Edexcel and AQA are two of the best. They are a brilliant springboard for any pupil wishing to study biology further at A level, IB or biology at ages 16-18 prior to university. Alas the UK GCSEs are, generally, really a big disappointment and inadequate preparation for further studies in biology in my opinion. But this ebook will support and expand the reading of aspects of most of these courses too. For readers in other countries such as the US I have put a detailed list of the contents covered by this volume so that it can be seen what is offered here. This ebook and the two associated other volumes (General and Plant Biology) cover all of the topics for the Edexcel iGCSE and most of the topics covered by the AQA iGCSE in biology. This book specifically covers the topics directly linked to human biology. It covers the following topics; Digestion A healthy diet The digestive system structure Enzymic digestion Energy in food Reproduction Asexual reproduction Sexual reproduction in humans The menstrual cycle Breathing and respiration Structure of the lungs Aerobic and anaerobic respiration Diseases of the lungs The circulatory system Reasons behind the need for a circulatory system The heart The structure of blood vessels The blood composition Mammalian excretion The Kidneys Nervous and chemical signals Structure of the nervous system and nerves Electrical impulses The eye The brain The endocrine system Homeostasis Regulation of water in the body Regulation of blood sugar levels Regulation of body temperature Key experiments on these topics I have strived to ensure the text is as accurate and clear as possible with as many accompanying diagrams as possible. I will over time adjust texts or write new chapters depending on feedback I receive for these volumes. Where appropriate I have included animations or movies. I have usually used animations as they seem to be the best way to present information. At the end of each chapter I have included a series of questions to test the user on the chapter. I have tried to keep the cost to a minimum to broaden the appeal of these ebooks. Also available are ebooks to cover the General Biology and Plant Biology of these courses. If these books sell well I have a series of UK A level and IB textbooks that will soon follow and be published here. Dr Peter Scott