1. AS
Science in Society

2. Topics Covered The Germ Theory of Disease Infectious Diseases
Transport Issues
Medicines to Treat Disease
Ethical Issues in Medicine
Reproductive Choices
Radiation: Risks and Uses
Lifestyle and Health
Evolution
The Universe
Are We Alone in the Universe?
Reading and Writing in Science

3. The Germ Theory of Disease and Infectious Diseases
All living things are composed of cells
Many diseases are caused by microbes which can be passed on from infected individuals
How bacteria, fungi and viruses cause disease
The contributions of scientists Semmelweis, Snow, Pastuer and Koch in the Germ Theory

4. The body can defend itself against disease using the immune system
The history of vaccinations and how they work
How antibiotics work and problems with resistance

5. Reproductive Choices
The function of chromosomes, genes (alleles) and DNA
Patterns of inheritance (including inheriting genetic diseases)
How certain diseases can be a result of both inheritance and environmental factors
Antenatal testing; the reliability and interpreting information
Screening for inherited diseases
Genetic counselling
The use of IVF and PGD

6. Medicines to Treat Disease and Ethical Issues in Medicine
The stages of drug development and the ethical issues involved in these stages.
The legal and moral obligations of pharmaceutical companies.
The use of control groups, placebos and double blind studies.
Reasons for choosing alternative medicines.

7. Stem cells, the potential uses and the ethical issues.
Cloning of animal cells and reproductive cloning.
The legal and moral responsibility of scientists.

8. Evolution
To know about the theory of evolution of Lamark (before Darwin)
To know about the theory of evolution from both Darwin and Wallace.
To know about natural selection and its implication on organisms.
To know the importance of competition in natural selection.
To know how Darwin came up with his ideas (observations).

9. To know the new evidence which also supports Darwin’s theory.
To know about some peoples objections to evolution. .