Biology

 Theoretical Part :

Cell Biology

 Structure & function of Cell

• Chemical components - Monosaccharides; disaccharides; polysaccharides - Lipids -
Proteins: amino acids, three letter symbol; structure of proteins; . chemical
classification of proteins: simple proteins and conjugated proteins . functional
classification of proteins: structural proteins and enzymes - Enzymes . Chemical
structure: apoenzyme and coenzyme . Model for enzyme action: enzyme binds with
substrate . Denaturation . Nomenclature - Nucleic Acids : DNA, RNA - Other
important compounds . ADP and ATP . NAD+ and NADH . NADP+ and NADPH

• Organelles nucleus -nuclear envelope - (nucleohyaloplasm) - chromosomes -

nucleoli cytoplasm -cell membrane - hyaloplasm - mitochondria - endoplasmatic
reticulum - ribosomes - Golgi apparatus - lysosomes - vacuole membrane -
proplastides - plastides . chloroplasts . chromoplasts . leucoplasts (e.g. amyloplasts)
Plant cells are surrounded with a cell wall

• Cell metabolism - Breakdown of carbohydrates . Anaerobic break down (anaerobic

respiration) of glucose: glycolysis . Aerobic break down (aerobic respiration) of
glucose: glycolysis citric acid cycle oxidative phosphorylation - Dissimilation of fats
and proteins - Assimilation . Photosynthesis . Light reaction . Dark reaction (Calvin
cycle)

• Protein synthesis - Transcription - Translation - Genetic code

• Transport through membranes - Diffusion - Osmosis, plasmolysis - Active transport

• Mitosis and meiosis Appendix I: content Theoretical part International Biology

Olympiad 35 - Cell cycle: interphase (replication) and mitosis (prophase - metaphase -
anaphase - telophase) - Chromatids, equatorial plate, haploid and diploid, genome,
somatic and generative cells, gamete, crossing over - Meiosis I and meiosis II.

 Microbiology
 Biotechnology

Animal Anatomy & Physiology

Structure and function of organs and tissues involved in

• Digestion and nutrition - Digestive tract (including liver, gall bladder and pancreas)
- Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food - Absorption - Food components
(water, minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats) • Respiration Appendix I:
content Theoretical part International Biology Olympiad 36 - Breathing mechanism -
Gas exchange - Respiratory organs

• Circulation - Blood : blood plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, blood platelets
- Blood circulation : arteries, capillaries, veins, heart - Lymphatic system : tissue
fluid, lymph • Excretion - Structure of the renal system - Urine production

• Regulation (neural and hormonal) - Nervous system : peripheral nervous system,

central nervous system (spinal cord and brain), autonomic nervous system
(sympathetic and parasympathetic), reflexes, sense organs (eyes and ears) - Endocrine
system : pituitary gland, thyroid gland, islets of Langerhans, adrenal medulla, adrenal
cortex, ovaries and testes

• Reproduction and development - Structure and function of male and female

reproductive systems - Ovulation and menstrual cycle - Fertilization - Formation of
ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm - Embryonic membranes

• Immunity - Antigens, antibodies

Plant Anatomy & Physiology

Structure and function of tissues and organs involved in:

• Photosynthesis, transpiration and gas exchange - Leaf : structure; function stomata

• Transport of water, minerals and assimilates - Root : structure (endodermis) -

Stem : structure (vascular bundles)

• Growth and development - Apical meristem and cambium - Germination

• Reproduction (ferns and mosses included) - Asexual reproduction (clone forming) -

Sexual reproduction . Structure of flowers . Pollination . Double fertilization -
Alternation of generation in seed plants, ferns and mosses
Genetics & Evolution
• Variation : mutation and modification

• Mendelian inheritance - Monohybrid cross - Dihybrid cross - Polyhybrid cross

• Multiple allelism, recombination, sex linkage

• Hardy-Weinberg principle

• Mechanism of evolution - Mutation - Natural selection Appendix I: content

Theoretical part International Biology Olympiad 37 - Reproductive isolation -
Adaptation - Fitness

Ecology
• Individual Organisms - Unitary and modular organisms

• Population - Population structure . dispersion, age, size and sex structure -

Population dynamics . birth rate, death rate . exponential and logistic growth, carrying
capacity - Population regulation . metapopulation dynamics

• Biotic Communities - Species richness and diversity - Niche, competition exclusion

principle - Interspecific Interactions . competition, predation, symbiosis - Community
dynamics . succession - Terrestrial biomes - Aquatic biomes

• Ecosystems - Trophic structure . food webs - Trophic levels . producers, consumers,

decomposers - Energy flow - Productivity . gross and net primary productivity .
energy transfer efficiencies - Matter flux through ecosystems - Global biogeochemical
cycles

• Biosphere and man - Human population growth - Pollution . threats to biodiversity .

in situ conservation . ex situ conservation

Ethology
• Methodology of Ethology
• Innate and Learned Behaviour
• Communication and Social Organization
• Foraging Behaviour
• Defensive Behaviour
• Mating systems and Parental care
• Biological rhythms
Biosystematics

 Skills for Experimental \ Practical Part :

Science Process Skills

 Observation.
 Measurement.
 Grouping or classification.
 Relationship finding .
 Calculation.
 Data organization and presentation: graphs, tables, charts, diagrams,
photographs.
 Prediction / projection.
 Hypothesis formulation .
 Operational definition: scope, condition, assumption.
 Variable identification and control.
 Experimentation: experimental design, experimenting, result/data
recording, result interpretation and drawing conclusions.
 Representing numerical results with appropriate accuracy (correct
number of digits).

Basic Biological Skills

 Observation of biological objects using magnifying glasses .
 Work with a microscope (objective max. 45 x) .
 Work with a stereo-microscope .
 Drawing of preparations (from a microscope, etc.).
 Exact description of a biological drawing using tables of biological
terms marked with a numerical code.
Biological Methods
Competitors in the IBO should know the following methods and be able to use them.
If any method requires extra specific information concerning procedures that depend
on special technical equipment, instruction will have to be provided.

 Cytological Methods
 Maceration and squash technique
 Smear method
 Staining of cells and slide preparation

 Methods to Study Plant Anatomy & Physiology

 Dissection of plant flower and deduction of flower formula

 Dissection of other plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, fruits
 Free - hand sectioning of stems, leaves, roots
 Staining (for example lignin) and slide preparation of plant tissues
 Elementary measurement of photosynthesis
 Measurement of transpiration

 Methods to Study Animal Anatomy & Physiology

 Dissection of invertebrates. Dissection of fish or parts or organs from vertebrates

bred for the consumption is allowed, too. Animals being used, as dissection
material should be dead before being submitted to the students.
 Whole - mount slide preparation of small invertebrates .
 Elementary measurement of respiration.

 Ethological Methods

 Determination and interpretation of animal behaviour

 Ecological & Environmental Methods

 Estimation of population density
 Estimation of biomass
 Elementary estimation of water quality 4 Elementary estimation of air quality
 Taxonomic Methods
 Use of dichotomous keys.
 Construction of simple dichotomous keys.
 Identification of the most common flowering-plant families .
 Identification of insect orders.
 Identification of phyla and classes of other organisms.

 Physical & Chemical Methods

 Separation techniques: chromatography, filtration, centrifugation.
 Standard tests for monosaccharides, polysaccharides, lipids, protein (Fehling, I2
in KI(aq), biuret) .
 Titration .
 Measuring quantities by drip and strip methods.
 Dilution methods .
 Pipetting, including use of micropipettes .
 Microscopy, including use of counting chambers .
 Determination of absorption of light .
 Gel electrophoresis.

 Microbiological Methods
 Preparing nutrient media
 Aseptic techniques (flaming and heating glass material)
 Inoculation techniques

 Statistical Method

 Probability and probability distributions

 Application of mean, median, percentage, variance, standard deviation, standard
error, T test, chi-square test

 Handling Equipment
Due to differences in the equipment between IBO member countries, these skills can
only be evaluated if the competitors have been informed beforehand about the
algorithm, how to use the equipment, how to proceed with a particular experiment