Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your learners.
Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting resources and examples to support your learners’ study. These
should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural background and learning context as well as complying with
your school policies and local legal requirements.

All candidates should be taught the Core subject content. Candidates who are only taught the Core subject content
can achieve a maximum of grade C. Candidates aiming for grades A* to C should be taught the Extended subject
content. The Extended subject content includes both the Core and the Supplement.

Scientific subjects are, by their nature, experimental. Learners should pursue a fully integrated course which allows
them to develop their experimental skills by doing practical work and investigations across a range of topics.

Practical work helps students to:

• use equipment and materials accurately and safely
• develop observational and problem-solving skills
• develop a deeper understanding of the syllabus topics and the scientific approach
• appreciate how scientific theories are developed and tested
• transfer the experimental skills acquired to unfamiliar contexts
• develop positive scientific attitudes such as objectivity, integrity, cooperation, enquiry and inventiveness
• develop an interest and enjoyment in science.

1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms

1.1 Characteristics of living organisms

Core Supplement
1 Describe the characteristics of living organisms
by describing:
(a) movement as an action by an organism or
part of an organism causing a change of
position or place
(b) respiration as the chemical reactions in cells
that break down nutrient molecules and
release energy for metabolism
(c) sensitivity as the ability to detect and
respond to changes in the internal or external
environment
(d) growth as a permanent increase in size and
dry mass
(e) reproduction as the processes that make
more of the same kind of organism
(f) excretion as the removal of the waste
products of metabolism and substances in
excess of requirements
(g) nutrition as the taking in of materials for
energy, growth and development

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

1.2 Concept and uses of classification systems

Core Supplement
1 State that organisms can be classified into groups 5 Explain that classification systems aim to reflect
by the features that they share evolutionary relationships
2 Describe a species as a group of organisms that
can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
3 Describe the binomial system of naming species
as an internationally agreed system in which the
scientific name of an organism is made up of two
parts showing the genus and species
4 Construct and use dichotomous keys based on
identifiable features
6 Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are
used as a means of classification
7 Explain that groups of organisms which share a
more recent ancestor (are more closely related)
have base sequences in DNA that are more
similar than those that share only a distant
ancestor

1.3 Features of organisms

Core Supplement
1 State the main features used to place animals 4 State the main features used to place all
and plants into the appropriate kingdoms organisms into one of the five kingdoms: animal,
plant, fungus, prokaryote, protoctist
2 State the main features used to place organisms 5 State the main features used to place organisms
into groups within the animal kingdom, limited into groups within the plant kingdom, limited
to: to ferns and flowering plants (dicotyledons and
(a) the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, monocotyledons)
birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish
(b) the main groups of arthropods: myriapods,
insects, arachnids, crustaceans
3 Classify organisms using the features identified in 6 Classify organisms using the features identified in
1.3.1 and 1.3.2 1.3.4 and 1.3.5
7 State the features of viruses, limited to a protein
coat and genetic material

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

2 Organisation of the organism

2.1 Cell structure

Core Supplement
1 Describe and compare the structure of a plant
cell with an animal cell, limited to: cell wall, cell
membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts,
ribosomes, mitochondria, vacuoles
2 Describe the structure of a bacterial cell,
limited to: cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm,
ribosomes, circular DNA, plasmids
3 Identify the cell structures listed in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
in diagrams and images of plant, animal and
bacterial cells
4 Describe the functions of the structures listed in
2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in plant, animal and bacterial cells
5 State that new cells are produced by division of
existing cells
6 State that specialised cells have specific
functions, limited to:
(a) ciliated cells – movement of mucus in the
trachea and bronchi
(b) root hair cells – absorption
(c) palisade mesophyll cells – photosynthesis
(d) neurones – conduction of electrical impulses
(e) red blood cells – transport of oxygen
(f) sperm and egg cells (gametes) – reproduction
7 Describe the meaning of the terms: cell, tissue,
organ, organ system and organism as illustrated
by examples given in the syllabus

2.2 Size of specimens

Core Supplement
1 State and use the formula:
magnification = image size ÷ actual size
2 Calculate magnification and size of biological 3 Convert measurements between millimetres (mm)
specimens using millimetres as units and micrometres (μm)

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Movement into and out of cells

3.1 Diffusion

Core Supplement
1 Describe diffusion as the net movement
of particles from a region of their higher
concentration to a region of their lower
concentration (i.e. down a concentration
gradient), as a result of their random movement
2 State that the energy for diffusion comes from
the kinetic energy of random movement of
molecules and ions
3 State that some substances move into and out of
cells by diffusion through the cell membrane
4 Describe the importance of diffusion of gases and
solutes in living organisms
5 Investigate the factors that influence diffusion,
limited to: surface area, temperature,
concentration gradient and distance

3.2 Osmosis

Core Supplement
1 Describe the role of water as a solvent in 7 Describe osmosis as the net movement of
organisms with reference to digestion, excretion water molecules from a region of higher water
and transport potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower
2 State that water diffuses through partially water potential (concentrated solution), through
permeable membranes by osmosis a partially permeable membrane
3 State that water moves into and out of cells by
osmosis through the cell membrane
4 Investigate osmosis using materials such as
dialysis tubing
5 Investigate and describe the effects on plant 8 Explain the effects on plant cells of immersing
tissues of immersing them in solutions of them in solutions of different concentrations
different concentrations by using the terms: turgid, turgor pressure,
plasmolysis, flaccid
9 Explain the importance of water potential and
osmosis in the uptake and loss of water by
organisms
6 State that plants are supported by the pressure
of water inside the cells pressing outwards on the
cell wall

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3.3 Active transport

Core Supplement
1 Describe active transport as the movement of 2 Explain the importance of active transport as
particles through a cell membrane from a region a process for movement of molecules or ions
of lower concentration to a region of higher across membranes, including ion uptake by root
concentration (i.e. against a concentration hairs
gradient), using energy from respiration
3 State that protein carriers move molecules or
ions across a membrane during active transport

4 Biological molecules
4.1 Biological molecules

Core Supplement
1 List the chemical elements that make up:
carbohydrates, fats and proteins
2 State that large molecules are made from smaller
molecules, limited to:
(a) starch, glycogen and cellulose from glucose
(b) proteins from amino acids
(c) fats and oils from fatty acids and glycerol
3 Describe the use of:
(a) iodine solution test for starch
(b) Benedict’s solution test for reducing sugars
(c) biuret test for proteins
(d) ethanol emulsion test for fats and oils
(e) DCPIP test for vitamin C
4 Describe the structure of a DNA molecule:
(a) two strands coiled together to form a double
helix
(b) each strand contains chemicals called bases
(c) bonds between pairs of bases hold the
strands together
(d) the bases always pair up in the same way:
A with T, and C with G (full names are not
required)

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

5 Enzymes
5.1 Enzymes

Core Supplement
1 Describe a catalyst as a substance that increases
the rate of a chemical reaction and is not
changed by the reaction
2 Describe enzymes as proteins that are involved
in all metabolic reactions, where they function as
biological catalysts
3 Describe why enzymes are important in all living
organisms in terms of a reaction rate necessary
to sustain life
4 Describe enzyme action with reference to 6 Explain enzyme action with reference to: active
the shape of the active site of an enzyme site, enzyme-substrate complex, substrate and
being complementary to its substrate and the product
formation of products 7 Explain the specificity of enzymes in terms of the
complementary shape and fit of the active site
with the substrate
5 Investigate and describe the effect of changes 8 Explain the effect of changes in temperature on
in temperature and pH on enzyme activity enzyme activity in terms of kinetic energy, shape
with reference to optimum temperature and and fit, frequency of effective collisions and
denaturation denaturation
9 Explain the effect of changes in pH on
enzyme activity in terms of shape and fit and
denaturation

6 Plant nutrition
6.1 Photosynthesis

Core Supplement
1 Describe photosynthesis as the process by
which plants synthesise carbohydrates from raw
materials using energy from light
2 State the word equation for photosynthesis as: 10 State the balanced chemical equation for
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen photosynthesis as:
in the presence of light and chlorophyll 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
3 State that chlorophyll is a green pigment that is
found in chloroplasts
4 State that chlorophyll transfers energy from light
into energy in chemicals, for the synthesis of
carbohydrates
continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

6.1 Photosynthesis continued

Core Supplement
5 Outline the subsequent use and storage of the
carbohydrates made in photosynthesis, limited
to:
(a) starch as an energy store
(b) cellulose to build cell walls
(c) glucose used in respiration to provide energy
(d) sucrose for transport in the phloem
(e) nectar to attract insects for pollination
6 Explain the importance of:
(a) nitrate ions for making amino acids
(b) magnesium ions for making chlorophyll
7 Investigate the need for chlorophyll, light
and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, using
appropriate controls
8 Investigate and describe the effects of varying
light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and
temperature on the rate of photosynthesis
9 Investigate and describe the effect of light and
dark conditions on gas exchange in an aquatic
plant using hydrogencarbonate indicator solution
11 Identify and explain the limiting factors of
photosynthesis in different environmental
conditions

6.2 Leaf structure

Core Supplement
1 State that most leaves have a large surface area
and are thin, and explain how these features are
adaptations for photosynthesis
2 Identify in diagrams and images the following
structures in the leaf of a dicotyledonous plant:
chloroplasts, cuticle, guard cells and stomata,
upper and lower epidermis, palisade mesophyll,
spongy mesophyll, air spaces, vascular bundles,
xylem and phloem
3 Explain how the structures listed in 6.2.2 adapt
leaves for photosynthesis

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

7 Human nutrition
7.1 Diet

Core Supplement
1 Describe what is meant by a balanced diet
2 State the principal dietary sources and describe
the importance of:
(a) carbohydrates
(b) fats and oils
(c) proteins
(d) vitamins, limited to C and D
(e) mineral ions, limited to calcium and iron
(f) fibre (roughage)
(g) water
3 State the causes of scurvy and rickets

7.2 Digestive system

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images the main organs
of the digestive system, limited to:
(a) alimentary canal: mouth, oesophagus,
stomach, small intestine (duodenum and
ileum) and large intestine (colon, rectum,
anus)
(b) associated organs: salivary glands, pancreas,
liver and gall bladder
2 Describe the functions of the organs of the
digestive system listed in 7.2.1, in relation to:
(a) ingestion – the taking of substances, e.g. food
and drink, into the body
(b) digestion – the breakdown of food
(c) absorption – the movement of nutrients from
the intestines into the blood
(d) assimilation – uptake and use of nutrients by
cells
(e) egestion – the removal of undigested food
from the body as faeces

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

7.3 Physical digestion

Core Supplement
1 Describe physical digestion as the breakdown of
food into smaller pieces without chemical change
to the food molecules
2 State that physical digestion increases the
surface area of food for the action of enzymes in
chemical digestion
3 Identify in diagrams and images the types of
human teeth: incisors, canines, premolars and
molars
4 Describe the structure of human teeth, limited
to: enamel, dentine, pulp, nerves, blood vessels
and cement, and understand that teeth are
embedded in bone and the gums
5 Describe the functions of the types of human
teeth in physical digestion of food
6 Describe the function of the stomach in physical
digestion
7 Outline the role of bile in emulsifying fats and
oils to increase the surface area for chemical
digestion

7.4 Chemical digestion

Core Supplement
1 Describe chemical digestion as the break down
of large insoluble molecules into small soluble
molecules
2 State the role of chemical digestion in producing
small soluble molecules that can be absorbed
3 Describe the functions of enzymes as follows: 6 Describe the digestion of starch in the digestive
(a) amylase breaks down starch to simple system:
reducing sugars (a) amylase breaks down starch to maltose
(b) proteases break down protein to amino acids (b) maltase breaks down maltose to glucose on
(c) lipase breaks down fats and oils to fatty acids the membranes of the epithelium lining the
and glycerol small intestine

4 State where, in the digestive system, amylase, 7 Describe the digestion of protein by proteases in
protease and lipase are secreted and where they the digestive system:
act (a) pepsin breaks down protein in the acidic
5 Describe the functions of hydrochloric acid conditions of the stomach
in gastric juice, limited to killing harmful (b) trypsin breaks down protein in the alkaline
microorganisms in food and providing an acidic conditions of the small intestine
pH for optimum enzyme activity
8 Explain that bile is an alkaline mixture that
neutralises the acidic mixture of food and gastric
juices entering the duodenum from the stomach,
to provide a suitable pH for enzyme action

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

7.5 Absorption

Core Supplement
1 State that the small intestine is the region where
nutrients are absorbed
3 Explain the significance of villi and microvilli in
increasing the internal surface area of the small
intestine
4 Describe the structure of a villus
5 Describe the roles of capillaries and lacteals in
villi
2 State that most water is absorbed from the small
intestine but that some is also absorbed from the
colon

8 Transport in plants
8.1 Xylem and phloem

Core Supplement
1 State the functions of xylem and phloem: 3 Relate the structure of xylem vessels to their
(a) xylem – transport of water and mineral ions, function, limited to:
and support (a) thick walls with lignin (details of lignification
(b) phloem – transport of sucrose and amino are not required)
acids (b) no cell contents
2 Identify in diagrams and images the position of (c) cells joined end to end with no cross walls to
xylem and phloem as seen in sections of roots, form a long continuous tube
stems and leaves of non-woody dicotyledonous
plants

8.2 Water uptake

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images root hair cells
and state their functions
2 State that the large surface area of root hairs
increases the uptake of water and mineral ions
3 Outline the pathway taken by water through the
root, stem and leaf as: root hair cells, root cortex
cells, xylem, mesophyll cells
4 Investigate, using a suitable stain, the pathway of
water through the above-ground parts of a plant

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

8.3 Transpiration

Core Supplement
1 Describe transpiration as the loss of water vapour
from leaves
2 State that water evaporates from the surfaces of
the mesophyll cells into the air spaces and then
diffuses out of the leaves through the stomata as
water vapour
4 Explain how water vapour loss is related to:
the large internal surface area provided by the
interconnecting air spaces between mesophyll
cells and the size and number of stomata
5 Explain the mechanism by which water moves
upwards in the xylem in terms of a transpiration
pull that draws up a column of water molecules,
held together by forces of attraction between
water molecules
3 Investigate and describe the effects of variation 6 Explain the effects on the rate of transpiration of
of temperature and wind speed on transpiration varying the following factors: temperature, wind
rate speed and humidity
7 Explain how and why wilting occurs

8.4 Translocation

Core Supplement
1 Describe translocation as the movement of
sucrose and amino acids in phloem from sources
to sinks
2 Describe:
(a) sources as the parts of plants that release
sucrose or amino acids
(b) sinks as the parts of plants that use or store
sucrose or amino acids
3 Explain why some parts of a plant may act as a
source and a sink at different times

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

9 Transport in animals
9.1 Circulatory systems

Core Supplement
1 Describe the circulatory system as a system of
blood vessels with a pump and valves to ensure
one-way flow of blood
2 Describe the single circulation of a fish
3 Describe the double circulation of a mammal
4 Explain the advantages of a double circulation

9.2 Heart

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images the structures of 7 Identify in diagrams and images the
the mammalian heart, limited to: muscular wall, atrioventricular and semilunar valves in the
septum, left and right ventricles, left and right mammalian heart
atria, one-way valves and coronary arteries 8 Explain the relative thickness of:
(a) the muscle walls of the left and right
ventricles
(b) the muscle walls of the atria compared to
those of the ventricles
9 Explain the importance of the septum in
separating oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
10 Describe the functioning of the heart in terms
of the contraction of muscles of the atria and
ventricles and the action of the valves
2 State that blood is pumped away from the heart
in arteries and returns to the heart in veins
3 State that the activity of the heart may be
monitored by: ECG, pulse rate and listening to
sounds of valves closing
4 Investigate and describe the effect of physical 11 Explain the effect of physical activity on the heart
activity on the heart rate rate
5 Describe coronary heart disease in terms of
the blockage of coronary arteries and state
the possible risk factors including: diet, lack of
exercise, stress, smoking, genetic predisposition,
age and sex
6 Discuss the roles of diet and exercise in reducing
the risk of coronary heart disease

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

9.3 Blood vessels

Core Supplement
1 Describe the structure of arteries, veins and 4 Explain how the structure of arteries and veins
capillaries, limited to: relative thickness of wall, is related to the pressure of the blood that they
diameter of the lumen and the presence of valves transport
in veins
2 State the functions of capillaries 5 Explain how the structure of capillaries is related
to their functions
3 Identify in diagrams and images the main blood 6 Identify, in diagrams and images, the main blood
vessels to and from the: vessels to and from the liver as: hepatic artery,
(a) heart, limited to: vena cava, aorta, pulmonary hepatic veins and hepatic portal vein
artery and pulmonary vein
(b) lungs, limited to: pulmonary artery and
pulmonary vein
(c) kidney, limited to: renal artery and renal vein

9.4 Blood

Core Supplement
1 List the components of blood as: red blood cells,
white blood cells, platelets and plasma
2 Identify red and white blood cells in 5 Identify lymphocytes and phagocytes in
photomicrographs and diagrams photomicrographs and diagrams
3 State the functions of the following components 6 State the functions of:
of blood: (a) lymphocytes – antibody production
(a) red blood cells in transporting oxygen, (b) phagocytes – engulfing pathogens by
including the role of haemoglobin phagocytosis
(b) white blood cells in phagocytosis and
antibody production
(c) platelets in clotting (details are not required)
(d) plasma in the transport of blood cells, ions,
nutrients, urea, hormones and carbon dioxide
4 State the roles of blood clotting as preventing 7 Describe the process of clotting as the conversion
blood loss and the entry of pathogens of fibrinogen to fibrin to form a mesh

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

10 Diseases and immunity

10.1 Diseases and immunity

Core Supplement
1 Describe a pathogen as a disease-causing
organism
2 Describe a transmissible disease as a disease in
which the pathogen can be passed from one host
to another
3 State that a pathogen is transmitted:
(a) by direct contact, including through blood
and other body fluids
(b) indirectly, including from contaminated
surfaces, food, animals and air
4 Describe the body defences, limited to: skin, 6 Describe active immunity as defence against a
hairs in the nose, mucus, stomach acid and white pathogen by antibody production in the body
blood cells 7 State that each pathogen has its own antigens,
5 Explain the importance of the following in which have specific shapes
controlling the spread of disease: 8 Describe antibodies as proteins that bind
(a) a clean water supply to antigens leading to direct destruction
(b) hygienic food preparation of pathogens or marking of pathogens for
destruction by phagocytes
(c) good personal hygiene
9 State that specific antibodies have
(d) waste disposal
complementary shapes which fit specific antigens
(e) sewage treatment (details of the stages of
10 Explain that active immunity is gained after an
sewage treatment are not required)
infection by a pathogen or by vaccination
11 Outline the process of vaccination:
(a) weakened pathogens or their antigens are
put into the body
(b) the antigens stimulate an immune response
by lymphocytes which produce antibodies
(c) memory cells are produced that give
long-term immunity
12 Explain the role of vaccination in controlling the
spread of diseases
13 Explain that passive immunity is a short-term
defence against a pathogen by antibodies
acquired from another individual, including
across the placenta and in breast milk
14 Explain the importance of breast-feeding for the
development of passive immunity in infants
15 State that memory cells are not produced in
passive immunity
continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

10.1 Diseases and immunity continued

Core Supplement
16 Describe cholera as a disease caused by a
bacterium which is transmitted in contaminated
water
17 Explain that the cholera bacterium produces a
toxin that causes secretion of chloride ions into
the small intestine, causing osmotic movement
of water into the gut, causing diarrhoea,
dehydration and loss of ions from the blood

11 Gas exchange in humans

11.1 Gas exchange in humans

Core Supplement
1 Describe the features of gas exchange surfaces
in humans, limited to: large surface area, thin
surface, good blood supply and good ventilation
with air
2 Identify in diagrams and images the following 6 Identify in diagrams and images the internal and
parts of the breathing system: lungs, diaphragm, external intercostal muscles
ribs, intercostal muscles, larynx, trachea, bronchi,
bronchioles, alveoli and associated capillaries
7 State the function of cartilage in the trachea
8 Explain the role of the ribs, the internal and
external intercostal muscles and the diaphragm
in producing volume and pressure changes in the
thorax leading to the ventilation of the lungs
3 Investigate the differences in composition 9 Explain the differences in composition between
between inspired and expired air using limewater inspired and expired air
as a test for carbon dioxide
4 Describe the differences in composition between
inspired and expired air, limited to: oxygen,
carbon dioxide and water vapour
5 Investigate and describe the effects of physical 10 Explain the link between physical activity and
activity on the rate and depth of breathing the rate and depth of breathing in terms of: an
increased carbon dioxide concentration in the
blood, which is detected by the brain, leading to
an increased rate and greater depth of breathing
11 Explain the role of goblet cells, mucus and
ciliated cells in protecting the breathing system
from pathogens and particles

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

12 Respiration
12.1 Respiration

Core Supplement
1 State the uses of energy in living organisms,
including: muscle contraction, protein synthesis,
cell division, active transport, growth, the
passage of nerve impulses and the maintenance
of a constant body temperature
2 Investigate and describe the effect of
temperature on respiration in yeast

12.2 Aerobic respiration

Core Supplement
1 Describe aerobic respiration as the chemical
reactions in cells that use oxygen to break down
nutrient molecules to release energy
2 State the word equation for aerobic respiration as: 3 State the balanced chemical equation for aerobic
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water respiration as:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O

12.3 Anaerobic respiration

Core Supplement
1 Describe anaerobic respiration as the chemical
reactions in cells that break down nutrient
molecules to release energy without using
oxygen
2 State that anaerobic respiration releases much
less energy per glucose molecule than aerobic
respiration
3 State the word equation for anaerobic respiration 5 State the balanced chemical equation for
in yeast as: anaerobic respiration in yeast as:
glucose → alcohol + carbon dioxide C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
4 State the word equation for anaerobic respiration
in muscles during vigorous exercise as:
glucose → lactic acid
6 State that lactic acid builds up in muscles and
blood during vigorous exercise causing an oxygen
debt
continued

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12.3 Anaerobic respiration continued

Core Supplement
7 Outline how the oxygen debt is removed after
exercise, limited to:
(a) continuation of fast heart rate to transport
lactic acid in the blood from the muscles to
the liver
(b) continuation of deeper and faster breathing
to supply oxygen for aerobic respiration of
lactic acid
(c) aerobic respiration of lactic acid in the liver

13 Excretion in humans
13.1 Excretion in humans

Core Supplement
1 State that carbon dioxide is excreted through the
lungs
2 State that the kidneys excrete urea and excess
water and ions
3 Identify in diagrams and images the kidneys, 4 Identify in diagrams and images the structure of
ureters, bladder and urethra the kidney, limited to the cortex and medulla
5 Outline the structure and function of a nephron
and its associated blood vessels, limited to:
(a) the role of the glomerulus in the filtration
from the blood of water, glucose, urea and
ions
(b) the role of the nephron in the reabsorption of
all of the glucose, some of the ions and most
of the water back into the blood
(c) the formation of urine containing urea,
excess water and excess ions
(details of these processes are not required)
6 Describe the role of the liver in the assimilation
of amino acids by converting them to proteins
7 State that urea is formed in the liver from excess
amino acids
8 Describe deamination as the removal of the
nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form
urea
9 Explain the importance of excretion, limited to
toxicity of urea

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

14 Coordination and response

14.1 Coordination and response

Core Supplement
1 State that electrical impulses travel along
neurones
2 Describe the mammalian nervous system in
terms of:
(a) the central nervous system (CNS) consisting
of the brain and the spinal cord
(b) the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
consisting of the nerves outside of the brain
and spinal cord
3 Describe the role of the nervous system as
coordination and regulation of body functions
4 Identify in diagrams and images sensory, relay
and motor neurones
5 Describe a simple reflex arc in terms of: receptor,
sensory neurone, relay neurone, motor neurone
and effector
6 Describe a reflex action as a means of
automatically and rapidly integrating and
coordinating stimuli with the responses of
effectors (muscles and glands)
7 Describe a synapse as a junction between two 8 Describe the structure of a synapse, including the
neurones presence of vesicles containing neurotransmitter
molecules, the synaptic gap and receptor
proteins
9 Describe the events at a synapse as:
(a) an impulse stimulates the release of
neurotransmitter molecules from vesicles
into the synaptic gap
(b) the neurotransmitter molecules diffuse
across the gap
(c) neurotransmitter molecules bind with
receptor proteins on the next neurone
(d) an impulse is then stimulated in the next
neurone
10 State that synapses ensure that impulses travel in
one direction only

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

14.2 Sense organs

Core Supplement
1 Describe sense organs as groups of receptor cells
responding to specific stimuli: light, sound, touch,
temperature and chemicals
2 Identify in diagrams and images the structures of
the eye, limited to: cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina,
optic nerve and blind spot
3 Describe the function of each part of the eye,
limited to:
(a) cornea – refracts light
(b) iris – controls how much light enters the
pupil
(c) lens – focuses light on to the retina
(d) retina – contains light receptors, some
sensitive to light of different colours
(e) optic nerve – carries impulses to the brain
4 Explain the pupil reflex, limited to changes in 5 Explain the pupil reflex in terms of the
light intensity and pupil diameter antagonistic action of circular and radial muscles
in the iris
6 Explain accommodation to view near and distant
objects in terms of the contraction and relaxation
of the ciliary muscles, tension in the suspensory
ligaments, shape of the lens and refraction of
light
7 Describe the distribution of rods and cones in the
retina of a human
8 Outline the function of rods and cones, limited
to:
(a) greater sensitivity of rods for night vision
(b) three different kinds of cones, absorbing light
of different colours, for colour vision
9 Identify in diagrams and images the position of
the fovea and state its function

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14.3 Hormones

Core Supplement
1 Describe a hormone as a chemical substance,
produced by a gland and carried by the blood,
which alters the activity of one or more specific
target organs
2 Identify in diagrams and images specific 5 State that glucagon is secreted by the pancreas
endocrine glands and state the hormones they
secrete, limited to:
(a) adrenal glands and adrenaline
(b) pancreas and insulin
(c) testes and testosterone
(d) ovaries and oestrogen
3 Describe adrenaline as the hormone secreted in 6 Describe the role of adrenaline in the control of
‘fight or flight’ situations and its effects, limited metabolic activity, limited to:
to: (a) increasing the blood glucose concentration
(a) increased breathing rate (b) increasing heart rate
(b) increased heart rate
(c) increased pupil diameter
4 Compare nervous and hormonal control, limited
to speed of action and duration of effect

14.4 Homeostasis

Core Supplement
1 Describe homeostasis as the maintenance of a 3 Explain the concept of homeostatic control by
constant internal environment negative feedback with reference to a set point
2 State that insulin decreases blood glucose 4 Describe the control of blood glucose
concentration concentration by the liver and the roles of insulin
and glucagon
5 Outline the treatment of Type 1 diabetes
6 Identify in diagrams and images of the skin: hairs,
hair erector muscles, sweat glands, receptors,
sensory neurones, blood vessels and fatty tissue
7 Describe the maintenance of a constant internal
body temperature in mammals in terms of:
insulation, sweating, shivering and the role of the
brain
8 Describe the maintenance of a constant internal
body temperature in mammals in terms of
vasodilation and vasoconstriction of arterioles
supplying skin surface capillaries

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

14.5 Tropic responses

Core Supplement
1 Describe gravitropism as a response in which 4 Explain phototropism and gravitropism of a shoot
parts of a plant grow towards or away from as examples of the chemical control of plant
gravity growth
2 Describe phototropism as a response in which 5 Explain the role of auxin in controlling shoot
parts of a plant grow towards or away from the growth, limited to:
direction of the light source (a) auxin is made in the shoot tip
3 Investigate and describe gravitropism and (b) auxin diffuses through the plant from the
phototropism in shoots and roots shoot tip
(c) auxin is unequally distributed in response to
light and gravity
(d) auxin stimulates cell elongation

15 Drugs
15.1 Drugs

Core Supplement
1 Describe a drug as any substance taken into the
body that modifies or affects chemical reactions
in the body
2 Describe the use of antibiotics for the treatment
of bacterial infections
3 State that some bacteria are resistant to 5 Explain how using antibiotics only when essential
antibiotics which reduces the effectiveness of can limit the development of resistant bacteria
antibiotics such as MRSA
4 State that antibiotics kill bacteria but do not
affect viruses

16 Reproduction
16.1 Asexual reproduction

Core Supplement
1 Describe asexual reproduction as a process
resulting in the production of genetically
identical offspring from one parent
2 Identify examples of asexual reproduction in
diagrams, images and information provided
3 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
asexual reproduction:
(a) to a population of a species in the wild
(b) to crop production

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

16.2 Sexual reproduction

Core Supplement
1 Describe sexual reproduction as a process 3 State that nuclei of gametes are haploid and that
involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes the nucleus of a zygote is diploid
to form a zygote and the production of offspring
that are genetically different from each other
2 Describe fertilisation as the fusion of the nuclei of
gametes
4 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
sexual reproduction:
(a) to a population of a species in the wild
(b) to crop production

16.3 Sexual reproduction in plants

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images and draw the
following parts of an insect-pollinated flower:
sepals, petals, stamens, filaments, anthers,
carpels, style, stigma, ovary and ovules
2 State the functions of the structures listed in
16.3.1
3 Identify in diagrams and images and describe the
anthers and stigmas of a wind-pollinated flower
4 Distinguish between the pollen grains of
insect-pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers
5 Describe pollination as the transfer of pollen
grains from an anther to a stigma
9 Describe self-pollination as the transfer of pollen
grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma
of the same flower or a different flower on the
same plant
10 Describe cross-pollination as the transfer of
pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the
stigma of a flower on a different plant of the
same species
11 Discuss the potential effects of self-pollination
and cross-pollination on a population, in terms of
variation, capacity to respond to changes in the
environment and reliance on pollinators
continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

16.3 Sexual reproduction in plants continued

Core Supplement
6 State that fertilisation occurs when a pollen 12 Describe the growth of the pollen tube and its
nucleus fuses with a nucleus in an ovule entry into the ovule followed by fertilisation
7 Describe the structural adaptations of (details of production of endosperm and
insect-pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers development are not required)
8 Investigate and describe the environmental
conditions that affect germination of seeds,
limited to the requirement for: water, oxygen and
a suitable temperature

16.4 Sexual reproduction in humans

Core Supplement
1 Identify on diagrams and state the functions
of the following parts of the male reproductive
system: testes, scrotum, sperm ducts, prostate
gland, urethra and penis
2 Identify on diagrams and state the functions of
the following parts of the female reproductive
system: ovaries, oviducts, uterus, cervix and
vagina
3 Describe fertilisation as the fusion of the nuclei
from a male gamete (sperm) and a female
gamete (egg cell)
4 Explain the adaptive features of sperm, limited
to: flagellum, mitochondria and enzymes in the
acrosome
5 Explain the adaptive features of egg cells, limited
to: energy stores and the jelly coat that changes
at fertilisation
6 Compare male and female gametes in terms of:
size, structure, motility and numbers
7 State that in early development, the zygote
forms an embryo which is a ball of cells that
implants into the lining of the uterus
8 Identify on diagrams and state the functions of 9 Describe the function of the placenta and
the following in the development of the fetus: umbilical cord in relation to the exchange of
umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic sac and dissolved nutrients, gases and excretory products
amniotic fluid between the blood of the mother and the blood
of the fetus
10 State that some pathogens and toxins can pass
across the placenta and affect the fetus

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

16.5 Sexual hormones in humans

Core Supplement
1 Describe the roles of testosterone and oestrogen
in the development and regulation of secondary
sexual characteristics during puberty
2 Describe the menstrual cycle in terms of changes 3 Describe the sites of production of oestrogen
in the ovaries and in the lining of the uterus and progesterone in the menstrual cycle and in
pregnancy
4 Explain the role of hormones in controlling the
menstrual cycle and pregnancy, limited to FSH,
LH, progesterone and oestrogen

16.6 Sexually transmitted infections

Core Supplement
1 Describe a sexually transmitted infection (STI) as
an infection that is transmitted through sexual
contact
2 State that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
is a pathogen that causes an STI
3 State that HIV infection may lead to AIDS
4 Describe the methods of transmission of HIV
5 Explain how the spread of STIs is controlled

17 Inheritance
17.1 Chromosomes, genes and proteins

Core Supplement
1 State that chromosomes are made of DNA,
which contains genetic information in the form
of genes
2 Define a gene as a length of DNA that codes for a
protein
3 Define an allele as an alternative form of a gene
4 Describe the inheritance of sex in humans with
reference to X and Y chromosomes
5 State that the sequence of bases in a gene
determines the sequence of amino acids used to
make a specific protein (knowledge of the details
of nucleotide structure is not required)
6 Explain that different sequences of amino acids
give different shapes to protein molecules
continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

17.1 Chromosomes, genes and proteins continued

Core Supplement
7 Explain that DNA controls cell function by
controlling the production of proteins, including
enzymes, membrane carriers and receptors for
neurotransmitters
8 Explain how a protein is made, limited to:
• the gene coding for the protein remains in
the nucleus
• messenger RNA (mRNA) is a copy of a gene
• mRNA molecules are made in the nucleus
and move to the cytoplasm
• the mRNA passes through ribosomes
• the ribosome assembles amino acids into
protein molecules
•
the specific sequence of amino acids is
determined by the sequence of bases in the
mRNA
(knowledge of the details of transcription or
translation is not required)
9 Explain that most body cells in an organism
contain the same genes, but many genes in a
particular cell are not expressed because the cell
only makes the specific proteins it needs
10 Describe a haploid nucleus as a nucleus
containing a single set of chromosomes
11 Describe a diploid nucleus as a nucleus containing
two sets of chromosomes
12 State that in a diploid cell, there is a pair of each
type of chromosome and in a human diploid cell
there are 23 pairs

17.2 Mitosis

Core Supplement
1 Describe mitosis as nuclear division giving rise to
genetically identical cells (details of the stages of
mitosis are not required)
2 State the role of mitosis in growth, repair of
damaged tissues, replacement of cells and
asexual reproduction
3 State that the exact replication of chromosomes
occurs before mitosis
4 State that during mitosis, the copies of
chromosomes separate, maintaining the
chromosome number in each daughter cell
5 Describe stem cells as unspecialised cells that
divide by mitosis to produce daughter cells that
can become specialised for specific functions

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

17.3 Meiosis

Core Supplement
1 State that meiosis is involved in the production
of gametes
2 Describe meiosis as a reduction division in which
the chromosome number is halved from diploid
to haploid resulting in genetically different cells
(details of the stages of meiosis are not required)

17.4 Monohybrid inheritance

Core Supplement
1 Describe inheritance as the transmission
of genetic information from generation to
generation
2 Describe genotype as the genetic make-up of an
organism and in terms of the alleles present
3 Describe phenotype as the observable features of
an organism
4 Describe homozygous as having two identical
alleles of a particular gene
5 State that two identical homozygous individuals
that breed together will be pure-breeding
6 Describe heterozygous as having two different
alleles of a particular gene
7 State that a heterozygous individual will not be
pure-breeding
8 Describe a dominant allele as an allele that is
expressed if it is present in the genotype
9 Describe a recessive allele as an allele that is only
expressed when there is no dominant allele of
the gene present in the genotype
10 Interpret pedigree diagrams for the inheritance of
a given characteristic
11 Use genetic diagrams to predict the results of 13 Explain how to use a test cross to identify an
monohybrid crosses and calculate phenotypic unknown genotype
ratios, limited to 1 : 1 and 3 : 1 ratios
12 Use Punnett squares in crosses which result in
more than one genotype to work out and show
the possible different genotypes continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

17.4 Monohybrid inheritance continued

Core Supplement
14 Describe codominance as a situation in
which both alleles in heterozygous organisms
contribute to the phenotype
15 Explain the inheritance of ABO blood groups:
phenotypes are A, B, AB and O blood groups and
alleles are IA, IB and Io
16 Describe a sex-linked characteristic as a feature
in which the gene responsible is located on
a sex chromosome and that this makes the
characteristic more common in one sex than in
the other
17 Describe red-green colour blindness as an
example of sex linkage
18 Use genetic diagrams to predict the results of
monohybrid crosses involving codominance or
sex linkage and calculate phenotypic ratios

18 Variation and selection

18.1 Variation

Core Supplement
1 Describe variation as differences between
individuals of the same species
2 State that continuous variation results in a range
of phenotypes between two extremes; examples
include body length and body mass
3 State that discontinuous variation results
in a limited number of phenotypes with no
intermediates; examples include ABO blood
groups, seed shape in peas and seed colour in
peas
4 State that discontinuous variation is usually
caused by genes only and continuous variation is
caused by both genes and the environment
5 Investigate and describe examples of continuous
and discontinuous variation
6 Describe mutation as genetic change 9 Describe gene mutation as a random change in
the base sequence of DNA
7 State that mutation is the way in which new 10 State that mutation, meiosis, random mating
alleles are formed and random fertilisation are sources of genetic
variation in populations
8 State that ionising radiation and some chemicals
increase the rate of mutation

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

18.2 Adaptive features

Core Supplement
1 Describe an adaptive feature as an inherited
feature that helps an organism to survive and
reproduce in its environment
2 Interpret images or other information about a
species to describe its adaptive features
3 Explain the adaptive features of hydrophytes and
xerophytes to their environments

18.3 Selection

Core Supplement
1 Describe natural selection with reference to: 4 Describe adaptation as the process, resulting
(a) genetic variation within populations from natural selection, by which populations
become more suited to their environment over
(b) production of many offspring
many generations
(c) struggle for survival, including competition
for resources
(d) a greater chance of reproduction by
individuals that are better adapted to the
environment than others
(e) these individuals pass on their alleles to the
next generation
5 Describe the development of strains of antibiotic
resistant bacteria as an example of natural
selection
2 Describe selective breeding with reference to:
(a) selection by humans of individuals with
desirable features
(b) crossing these individuals to produce the
next generation
(c) selection of offspring showing the desirable
features
3 Outline how selective breeding by artificial 6 Outline the differences between natural and
selection is carried out over many generations to artificial selection
improve crop plants and domesticated animals
and apply this to given contexts

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

19 Organisms and their environment

19.1 Energy flow

Core Supplement
1 State that the Sun is the principal source of
energy input to biological systems
2 Describe the flow of energy through living
organisms, including light energy from the
Sun and chemical energy in organisms, and its
eventual transfer to the environment

19.2 Food chains and food webs

Core Supplement
1 Describe a food chain as showing the transfer of
energy from one organism to the next, beginning
with a producer
2 Construct and interpret simple food chains
3 Describe a food web as a network of
interconnected food chains and interpret food
webs
4 Describe a producer as an organism that makes
its own organic nutrients, usually using energy
from sunlight, through photosynthesis
5 Describe a consumer as an organism that gets its
energy by feeding on other organisms
6 State that consumers may be classed as primary,
secondary, tertiary and quaternary according to
their position in a food chain
7 Describe a herbivore as an animal that gets its
energy by eating plants
8 Describe a carnivore as an animal that gets its
energy by eating other animals
9 Describe a decomposer as an organism that gets
its energy from dead or waste organic material
10 Use food chains and food webs to describe the
impact humans have through overharvesting of
food species and through introducing foreign
species to a habitat
11 Draw, describe and interpret pyramids of 15 Draw, describe and interpret pyramids of energy
numbers and pyramids of biomass
12 Discuss the advantages of using a pyramid of 16 Discuss the advantages of using a pyramid of
biomass rather than a pyramid of numbers to energy rather than pyramids of numbers or
represent a food chain biomass to represent a food chain
13 Describe a trophic level as the position of an
organism in a food chain, food web or ecological
pyramid continued

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19.2 Food chains and food webs continued

Core Supplement
14 Identify the following as the trophic levels in
food webs, food chains and ecological pyramids:
producers, primary consumers, secondary
consumers, tertiary consumers and quaternary
consumers
17 Explain why the transfer of energy from one
trophic level to another is often not efficient
18 Explain, in terms of energy loss, why food chains
usually have fewer than five trophic levels
19 Explain why it is more energy efficient for
humans to eat crop plants than to eat livestock
that have been fed on crop plants

19.3 Nutrient cycles

Core Supplement
1 Describe the carbon cycle, limited to:
photosynthesis, respiration, feeding,
decomposition, formation of fossil fuels and
combustion
2 Describe the nitrogen cycle with reference to:
• decomposition of plant and animal protein to
ammonium ions
• nitrification
• nitrogen fixation by lightning and bacteria
• absorption of nitrate ions by plants
• production of amino acids and proteins
• feeding and digestion of proteins
• deamination
• denitrification
3 State the roles of microorganisms in the nitrogen
cycle, limited to: decomposition, nitrification,
nitrogen fixation and denitrification (generic
names of individual bacteria, e.g. Rhizobium, are
not required)

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

19.4 Populations

Core Supplement
1 Describe a population as a group of organisms of
one species, living in the same area, at the same
time
2 Describe a community as all of the populations
of different species in an ecosystem
3 Describe an ecosystem as a unit containing the
community of organisms and their environment,
interacting together
4 Identify and state the factors affecting the rate
of population growth for a population of an
organism, limited to food supply, competition,
predation and disease
5 Identify the lag, exponential (log), stationary 7 Explain the factors that lead to each phase in
and death phases in the sigmoid curve of the sigmoid curve of population growth, making
population growth for a population growing in an reference, where appropriate, to the role of
environment with limited resources limiting factors
6 Interpret graphs and diagrams of population
growth

20 Human influences on ecosystems

20.1 Food supply

Core Supplement
1 Describe how humans have increased food
production, limited to:
(a) agricultural machinery to use larger areas of
land and improve efficiency
(b) chemical fertilisers to improve yields
(c) insecticides to improve quality and yield
(d) herbicides to reduce competition with weeds
(e) selective breeding to improve production by
crop plants and livestock
2 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of
large-scale monocultures of crop plants
3 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of
intensive livestock production

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

20.2 Habitat destruction

Core Supplement
1 Describe biodiversity as the number of different
species that live in an area
2 Describe the reasons for habitat destruction,
including:
(a) increased area for housing, crop plant
production and livestock production
(b) extraction of natural resources
(c) freshwater and marine pollution
3 State that through altering food webs and food
chains, humans can have a negative impact on
habitats
4 Explain the undesirable effects of deforestation
as an example of habitat destruction, to include:
reducing biodiversity, extinction, loss of soil,
flooding and increase of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere

20.3 Pollution

Core Supplement
1 Describe the effects of untreated sewage and 4 Explain the process of eutrophication of water,
excess fertiliser on aquatic ecosystems limited to:
• increased availability of nitrate and other
ions
• increased growth of producers
• increased decomposition after death of
producers
• increased aerobic respiration by decomposers
• reduction in dissolved oxygen
• death of organisms requiring dissolved
oxygen in water
2 Describe the effects of non-biodegradable
plastics, in both aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems
3 Describe the sources and effects of pollution of
the air by methane and carbon dioxide, limited
to: the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate
change

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

20.4 Conservation

Core Supplement
1 Describe a sustainable resource as one which is
produced as rapidly as it is removed from the
environment so that it does not run out
2 State that some resources can be conserved and 5 Explain how forests can be conserved using:
managed sustainably, limited to forests and fish education, protected areas, quotas and replanting
stocks 6 Explain how fish stocks can be conserved using:
education, closed seasons, protected areas,
controlled net types and mesh size, quotas and
monitoring
3 Explain why organisms become endangered
or extinct, including: climate change, habitat
destruction, hunting, overharvesting, pollution
and introduced species
4 Describe how endangered species can be 7 Describe the reasons for conservation
conserved, limited to: programmes, limited to:
(a) monitoring and protecting species and (a) maintaining or increasing biodiversity
habitats (b) reducing extinction
(b) education (c) protecting vulnerable ecosystems
(c) captive breeding programmes (d) maintaining ecosystem functions, limited
(d) seed banks to nutrient cycling and resource provision,
including food, drugs, fuel and genes
8 Describe the use of artificial insemination (AI)
and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in captive breeding
programmes
9 Explain the risks to a species if its population size
decreases, reducing genetic variation (knowledge
of genetic drift is not required)

21 Biotechnology and genetic modification

21.1 Biotechnology and genetic modification

Core Supplement
1 State that bacteria are useful in biotechnology 2 Discuss why bacteria are useful in biotechnology
and genetic modification due to their rapid and genetic modification, limited to:
reproduction rate and their ability to make (a) few ethical concerns over their manipulation
complex molecules and growth
(b) the presence of plasmids

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21.2 Biotechnology

Core Supplement
1 Describe the role of anaerobic respiration in yeast
during the production of ethanol for biofuels
2 Describe the role of anaerobic respiration in yeast
during bread-making
3 Describe the use of pectinase in fruit juice
production
4 Investigate and describe the use of biological
washing powders that contain enzymes
5 Explain the use of lactase to produce lactose-free
milk
6 Describe how fermenters can be used for the
large-scale production of useful products by
bacteria and fungi, including insulin, penicillin and
mycoprotein
7 Describe and explain the conditions that need to be
controlled in a fermenter, including: temperature,
pH, oxygen, nutrient supply and waste products

21.3 Genetic modification

Core Supplement
1 Describe genetic modification as changing the 3 Outline the process of genetic modification using
genetic material of an organism by removing, bacterial production of a human protein as an
changing or inserting individual genes example, limited to:
(a) isolation of the DNA making up a human
gene using restriction enzymes, forming
sticky ends
(b) cutting of bacterial plasmid DNA with
the same restriction enzymes, forming
complementary sticky ends
(c) insertion of human DNA into bacterial
plasmid DNA using DNA ligase to form a
recombinant plasmid
(d) insertion of recombinant plasmids into
bacteria (specific details are not required)
(e) multiplication of bacteria containing
recombinant plasmids
(f) expression in bacteria of the human gene to
make the human protein
continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

21.3 Genetic modification continued

Core Supplement
2 Outline examples of genetic modification:
(a) the insertion of human genes into bacteria to
produce human proteins
(b) the insertion of genes into crop plants to
confer resistance to herbicides
(c) the insertion of genes into crop plants to
confer resistance to insect pests
(d) the insertion of genes into crop plants to
improve nutritional qualities
4 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
genetically modifying crops, including soya,
maize and rice

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