← Biotechnology syllabus

SingaporeBiotechnology

Introduction to Biotechnology

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Cells and molecules are far too small to see, so how do we measure and talk about their size in a laboratory?

Use appropriate units to describe the size of cells, molecules and laboratory volumes, and convert between them
A focused answer to the O-Level outcome on scale and units. The units used for cells, molecules and volumes, how to convert between them, and how to estimate the number of cells in a culture.
9 min answer →

Who actually works in biotechnology, and how does a discovery in a laboratory become a product people can buy?

Describe the structure of the biotechnology industry, its main sectors, and the range of careers it offers
A focused answer to the O-Level outcome on the biotechnology industry. The main sectors, the path from research to product, the role of regulation, and the careers the sector offers.
8 min answer →

How is the brewing our ancestors did thousands of years ago connected to today's gene-editing laboratories?

Distinguish between traditional and modern biotechnology and describe how techniques have developed over time
A focused answer to the O-Level outcome on traditional versus modern biotechnology. The fermentation roots of the field, the DNA revolution, and how the two approaches differ in control and precision.
8 min answer →

What do we actually mean by biotechnology, and why does using living things to make products matter today?

Define biotechnology and describe how living organisms and their parts are used to make useful products and provide services
A focused answer to the O-Level outcome on defining biotechnology. What it is, the living tools it uses, the main fields it covers, and why it matters for medicine, food and the environment.
8 min answer →