IB Diploma Biology SL practical skills

The practical skills you can be asked about in the exam, each with its method, variables, safety points and expected results. The internal assessment, a scientific investigation, is worth 20% of the grade at SL and HL. Paper 1B also tests experimental work through data-based questions.

1Microscopy skillsCells (Unity and diversity) · Cell structure · spec A2.2.2 Read

2Chromosome numbers and karyogramsOrganisms (Unity and diversity) · Diversity of organisms · spec A3.1.6, A3.1.7 Read

3Unity and diversity of genomesOrganisms (Unity and diversity) · Diversity of organisms · spec A3.1.8, A3.1.9, A3.1.10 Read

4Evidence for and causes of the biodiversity crisisEcosystems (Unity and diversity) · Conservation of biodiversity · spec A4.2.5, A4.2.6 Read

5Amino acids and peptide bondsMolecules (Form and function) · Proteins · spec B1.2.1, B1.2.2 Read

6Effect of pH and temperature on protein structureMolecules (Form and function) · Proteins · spec B1.2.5 Read

7Organelles, the nucleus and compartmentsCells (Form and function) · Organelles and compartmentalization · spec B2.2.1–B2.2.3 Read

8Cell size and surface area-to-volume ratioCells (Form and function) · Cell specialization · spec B2.3.5, B2.3.6 Read

9Ventilation and lung volumesOrganisms (Form and function) · Gas exchange · spec B3.1.5, B3.1.6 Read

10Transpiration and stomatal densityOrganisms (Form and function) · Gas exchange · spec B3.1.9, B3.1.10 Read

11Structure and adaptations of arteries and veinsOrganisms (Form and function) · Transport · spec B3.2.2, B3.2.3, B3.2.5 Read

12Pulse rates and occlusion of the coronary arteriesOrganisms (Form and function) · Transport · spec B3.2.4, B3.2.6 Read

13Tissues in dicotyledonous stems and rootsOrganisms (Form and function) · Transport · spec B3.2.9, B3.2.10 Read

14Abiotic variables and range of toleranceEcosystems (Form and function) · Adaptation to environment · spec B4.1.3, B4.1.4 Read

15Dentition and diet in the HominidaeEcosystems (Form and function) · Ecological niches · spec B4.2.8 Read

16Effects of temperature, pH and substrate concentrationMolecules (Interaction and interdependence) · Enzymes and metabolism · spec C1.1.8, C1.1.9 Read

17Variables affecting the rate of cell respirationMolecules (Interaction and interdependence) · Cell respiration · spec C1.2.6 Read

18Separating photosynthetic pigments by chromatographyMolecules (Interaction and interdependence) · Photosynthesis · spec C1.3.4 Read

19Investigating limiting factors on photosynthesisMolecules (Interaction and interdependence) · Photosynthesis · spec C1.3.7 Read

20Carbon dioxide enrichment experimentsMolecules (Interaction and interdependence) · Photosynthesis · spec C1.3.8 Read

21Populations and random samplingEcosystems (Interaction and interdependence) · Populations and communities · spec C4.1.1, C4.1.2, C4.1.3 Read

22Population growth curvesEcosystems (Interaction and interdependence) · Populations and communities · spec C4.1.7, C4.1.8 Read

23Trophic levels and energy pyramidsEcosystems (Interaction and interdependence) · Transfers of energy and matter · spec C4.2.10, C4.2.11 Read

24PCR and gel electrophoresisMolecules (Continuity and change) · DNA replication · spec D1.1.4 Read

25Phases of mitosisCells (Continuity and change) · Cell and nuclear division · spec D2.1.7, D2.1.8 Read

26Osmosis in plant tissue: the practicalCells (Continuity and change) · Water potential · spec D2.3.4 Read

27Sexual selection and Endler's guppiesEcosystems (Continuity and change) · Natural selection · spec D4.1.7, D4.1.8 Read

28Mesocosms and keystone speciesEcosystems (Continuity and change) · Stability and change · spec D4.2.4, D4.2.5 Read