Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification – GCSE Edexcel Higher Biology revision notes

What this topic covers

Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification has 5 subtopics:

• Variation and evolution
• The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
• Classification of living organisms
• Food production (biology only)
• Additional Edexcel Topic 4 anchors

Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification lessons by subtopic

30 lessons, grouped by subtopic.

Variation and evolution

• What is Evolution?
• How Evolution Works Through Natural Selection
• Formation of New Species
• What is Selective Breeding and How Does it Work?
• The Impact and Problems of Selective Breeding
• The Process of Genetic Engineering
• Applications of Genetic Engineering
• Benefits, Risks and Ethics of Genetic Engineering
• Animal Cloning Techniques
• Plant Cloning Methods

The development of understanding of genetics and evolution

• Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection
• The Publication and Controversy of Evolution
• Comparing Theories of Evolution
• Darwin and Wallace: Developing the Theory of Evolution
• Wallace's Contributions and the Impact on Biology
• The Process of Speciation
• Evidence for Evolution
• Darwin's Theory and Modern Evidence
• What are fossils and how are they formed?
• Fossils as evidence for evolution
• Understanding Extinction and Its Causes
• How Antibiotic Resistance Develops
• Preventing Antibiotic Resistance

Classification of living organisms

• The Three-Domain System
• The Linnaean Classification System
• Evolution of Classification and Evolutionary Trees

Food production (biology only)

• Biotechnology Solutions for Food Production
• GM Crops and Improved Nutrition

Additional Edexcel Topic 4 anchors

• Tissue culture in plant breeding
• Agricultural solutions and genetic engineering evaluation

More in this course

Go back to the full GCSE Edexcel Higher Biology topic list, or practise this topic with past-paper questions.