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Synergy

There are two GCSE Combined Science courses: Trilogy and Synergy. Do you know that "trilogy" means "a group of three"? As the name suggests, the Trilogy Combined Science curriculum is structured into three main sections: biology, chemistry and physics. However, you may not have come across the term "synergy". This relates to the combined interaction of the three sciences coming together to have a more significant overall effect. But how does this correlate to GCSE Combined Science and its course structure?

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Synergy

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There are two GCSE Combined Science courses: Trilogy and Synergy. Do you know that "trilogy" means "a group of three"? As the name suggests, the Trilogy Combined Science curriculum is structured into three main sections: biology, chemistry and physics. However, you may not have come across the term "synergy". This relates to the combined interaction of the three sciences coming together to have a more significant overall effect. But how does this correlate to GCSE Combined Science and its course structure?

Synergy Definition

An orchestra is an excellent example of synergy. Think about all the different instruments coming together, from saxophones to violins to triangles! They all work together and harmonise to make a symphony. Each orchestra member has strengths and contributions that they bring to the final sound.

Individually, they may sound a little flat, but together they can create a masterpiece!

Synergy is the combined power of a group of things working together. This power is greater than if the things worked separately.

Synergy is often used in business contexts. Think teamwork! A group of people can achieve more working together than one person can by themselves. In other words, it is the process of individuals combining their knowledge, efforts and resources to achieve something more productive and effective than if done alone.

Synergy Examples in Nature

Examples of synergy don't only occur in business or orchestras. It can be seen all throughout nature. Synergistic relationships exist between living organisms, where their combined effort, or 'teamwork', produces a more significant result than if the organisms did not interact. A few types of synergistic relationships occur in nature, such as mutualism, group living, altruism and reciprocity.

Parasitism is another type of synergistic relationship found in nature. However, it is more damaging than beneficial as it can have detrimental effects on the host organism.

Parasitism refers to the close relationship between different species, where one, the parasite, lives on or inside the host organism, causing it harm.

The parasite is usually adapted in some way to live its life like this. It is a non-mutual relationship as the parasite doesn't work together with the host but instead takes from the host, causing damage and even death in some cases.

Examples of parasites include tapeworms, fleas, viruses and protozoa.

Mutualism

Mutualistic relationships are positive interactions between different species. Both species perform a “service” for each other that they can't perform by themselves. Mutualism can be thought of as an example of synergy.

Sea Anemones and Clownfish

  • Sea anemones repel clownfish predators by stinging them with their tentacles. Clownfish skin has a protective layer, preventing them from accidentally getting stung.
  • Clownfish scare off predators of the anemone.

Living in Groups

Animals obtain benefits from living and working together as a group. Thus, group living is a synergistic interaction.

Benefits of Living in Groups

  • Reduced predation
  • Improved foraging and hunting
  • Group movement and democracy

Animals that live in groups often experience altruism and reciprocity.

Altruism

Altruism is behaviour that benefits other organisms but not yourself. It is a synergistic interaction because it provides more benefit to the group than if every individual acted selfishly.

Vampire Bats

  • Despite their scary-sounding name, vampire bats are very caring animals.
  • Sometimes, bats regurgitate their food and offer it to other bats in the colony who haven't been able to eat that day.
  • This behaviour ensures the colony survives.

Reciprocity – “if you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.”

Reciprocity is returning an altruistic favour. It's hard to prove in nature, but a few examples do exist.

Rats

  • An experiment tested if rats would help unfamiliar rats.
  • Rats who received help were 20% more likely to help other rats.

Synergy in Combined Science

You might be wondering how the concept of synergy relates to the structure of your science GCSE. So synergy is all about working together, right? In this course, you learn the three sciences together. The Synergy course is split into several topics. Each contains components of biology, chemistry, and physics.

Here's an overview of the course structure. Each subtopic has a few questions that summarise their content and, hopefully, get you feeling inquisitive!

Building Blocks of Science

This topic provides the physical, chemical, and biological foundations for your course - the building blocks for developing scientific thinking and understanding by covering everything from tiny atoms to cells to the nature of particles to show how ideas are linked.

Key Themes of Building Blocks of Science

States of Matter:

  • What are the three states of matter?

  • How do the particles behave in each state of matter?

  • How can you change an object's state of matter?

Atomic Structure:

  • How has the theory of atomic structure changed over time?

  • What is the atomic model?

  • How do subatomic particles influence the properties of an element?

Cells:

  • How do microscopes work?

  • What functions do Cell Organelles carry out?

  • How do cells reproduce?

Waves:

  • What are waves?

  • What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

  • What are the everyday applications of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Transport Over Larger Distances

This topic focuses on the internal systems that work together to keep animals and plants alive. It's zooming out a little compared to the previous module by looking at the delicate balance of the multiple systems and processes needed to transport various states of matter over more considerable distances.

Key Themes of Transport Over Larger Distances

Systems in the Human Body:

  • How do humans respire?

  • How do the heart and lungs work together to support respiration?

  • How do organ systems work together?

Photosynthesis:

  • What is photosynthesis?

  • How are plants adapted for photosynthesis?

  • How do plants transport chemicals?

Interactions with the Environment

This topic examines how human health can be impacted by the natural environment or our own decisions. This one may seem a little confusing just by its title, but it is about the balance of lifestyle, the surrounding environment and health.

Key Themes of Interactions with the Environment

Lifestyle and Health:

  • What are non-communicable diseases?

  • How can your lifestyle affect your health?

  • How does contraception influence the female hormone cycle?

Radiation and Risk

  • What is radioactive decay?

  • How can radiation affect your health?

Diseases:

  • How are communicable diseases spread?

  • How can the body defend itself against pathogens?

  • How can we prevent and treat diseases?

Explaining Change

One of the main aims of science is to build and organise thoughts to explain changes and make predictions about the universe. This topic uncovers and explores how the natural world has changed over time, including the influence of humans.

Key Themes for Explaining Change

The Earth's Atmosphere:

  • How did Earth's atmosphere develop?

  • How are carbon and water cycled around the planet?

  • How have humans impacted the physical world?

Ecosystems and Biodiversity:

  • How are ecosystems organised?

  • How do organisms interact with one another?

  • How have humans affected ecosystems?

Inheritance:

  • How do our genes affect who we are?

  • How do our genes determine our sex?

Variation and Evolution:

  • How do genetic changes lead to variation?
  • What is natural selection?
  • How can humans manipulate variation?

Building Blocks for Understanding

This topic draws on your understanding of atomic structure and its effects on elements. This more chemical-based module covers all things periodic table, chemical equations and patterns between the various elements.

Key Themes of Building Blocks for Understanding

The Periodic Table:

  • What is the periodic table?
  • How are elements categorised in the periodic table?
  • What properties do different groups of the periodic table have?

Chemical Quantities:

  • How do you write an equation for a chemical reaction?
  • What is formula mass?
  • Why is mass always conserved during a chemical reaction?

Interactions over Small and Large Distances

This topic investigates the physical laws that govern the world. Think about the various forces between atoms and larger molecular structures and how these interact and can be applied to industry.

Key Themes of Interactions Over Small and Large Distances

Forces and Energy Changes:

  • How do forces work?

  • How do you calculate energy?

  • Can energy be stored?

Structure and Bonding:

  • What types of chemical bonds are there?

  • How do chemical bonds affect the properties of a substance?

Magnetism and Electromagnetism:

  • How do magnets work?
  • What are magnetic fields?
  • What is electromagnetism?

Movement and Interactions

This physics-based topic will help you gain an understanding of the forces behind movement and its varying speeds. You'll also learn how the movements of electrons create electric currents to keep our homes and cities running.

Key Themes of Movement and Interactions

Forces and Motion:

  • How can you measure motion?

  • What is kinetic energy?

  • What are Newton's Laws?

Electricity:

  • What is electricity?
  • How does current travel in a circuit?
  • How do we get electricity in our homes?

Acids and Alkali

This topic covers the chemical substances of acids and alkalis — what they are, how they react, and how to measure them. It's about characterising these substances so that predictions about chemical changes can be established and patterns can be observed.

Key Themes of Acids and Alkali

Reactions of Acids:

  • What products are formed when acids react?

  • What is a neutralisation reaction?

  • How does energy change during a reaction?

The pH Scale:

  • What is the pH scale?
  • How can you measure acidity and alkalinity?
  • What ions affect pH?

Chemical Reactions

Think about the many variables that can manipulate the speed of a reaction, such as catalysts and the energy changes accompanying the formation and breaking of bonds. This topic shines a light on chemical reactions and the factors that affect them.

Key Themes of Chemical Reactions

Reaction Rates:

  • What factors affect reaction rates?
  • What is activation energy?
  • What are catalysts used for?

Reversible Reactions

  • What are reversible reactions?
  • What is dynamic equilibrium?

The Reactivity Series

  • What is the reactivity series?
  • What is electrolysis?
  • How can you test for different gases?

Sustainability

In this topic, you'll get to grips with natural resources and how we can alter our consumption to provide a sustainable future for our planet. It's about the search for sustainable solutions to the many challenges humans face.

Key Themes of Sustainability

Carbon Chemistry

Metal Extraction

  • How can we extract metals by the reduction of oxides?

  • How can we extract metals using electrolysis?

Energy Resources

  • What are the different types of energy resources?

  • How can we make energy use more efficient?

  • What is energy efficiency?

Material Resources

  • What is a Life Cycle Assessment?
  • How does Recycling benefit the environment?

Working Scientifically

This final topic doesn't have any facts or concepts to learn. Instead, it teaches you the skills to work like a scientist. You'll learn how to think scientifically through researching, developing hypotheses and having a keen eye for detail.

Experiments are an essential part of science. By the end of this course, you will have acquired the skills and strategies to plan and perform an experiment. After the experiment, you'll know how to analyse and evaluate your results.

Get ready to draw some graphs!

Finally, this topic will teach you how to write like a scientist. Using proper vocabulary, units and symbols is important and will be needed in your exams.


1. Andrew Spacey, Altruism: Examples of How Wild Animals Care for Their Own and Others, Owlcation, 2022

2. AQA, GCSE Combined Science: Synergy Specification, 2019

3. Cambridge Dictionary, Synergy, 2022

4. Claudia Rutte, Generalized Reciprocity in Rats, PLoS Biology, 2007

5. Nicholas B. Davies, An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology, 2012

6. Scott Auerbach, Examples of Synergy in Nature, Sciencing, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions about Synergy

Synergy is a variation of the GCSE Combined Science course.

The Synergy course teaches the three sciences altogether, whilst the Trilogy course teaches them separately.

Combined Science: Synergy is worth two GCSEs.

Lots of animals live in groups and obtain benefits (such as improved hunting) from this teamwork.

The synergistic effect in chemistry occurs when combining two chemicals produces a greater effect than the effects of both individual chemicals.

Final Synergy Quiz

Synergy Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

Define osmosis in terms of water potential.

Show answer

Answer

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules down a water potential gradient, through a semipermeable membrane.

Show question

Question

What is the water potential of pure water?


Show answer

Answer

0kPa.

Show question

Question

What are the three types of tonicity?


Show answer

Answer

Hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic.

Show question

Question

Compare plant cells placed in a hypertonic solution to plant cells placed in a hypotonic solution.


Show answer

Answer

In a hypertonic solution, plant cells will undergo plasmolysis and will become flaccid. 


But in a hypotonic solution, planning cells will become turgid and firm.

Show question

Question

Compare animal cells placed in a hypertonic solution to animal cells placed in a hypotonic solution. 


Show answer

Answer

In a hypertonic solution, animal cells will become crenated and shrink. 


But in a hypotonic solution, animal cells will undergo cytolysis (cell bursting).

Show question

Question

Under what tonicity do plant cells and animal cells perform best?


Show answer

Answer

Plant cells perform best in hypotonic solutions. 


Animal cells perform best in isotonic solutions.

Show question

Question

What is turgor pressure (hydrostatic pressure)?

Show answer

Answer

Turgor pressure is the pressure exerted by water molecules as they press against the cell wall.

Show question

Question

What structure in plant cells helps withstand an increase in turgor pressure?


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Answer

Cell wall made of cellulose.

Show question

Question

 Why do animal cells undergo cell bursting much more easily than plant cells?


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Answer

Unlike plant cells, animal cells do not contain cell walls to help them withstand an increase in turgor pressure.

Show question

Question

Describe a plant cell that is turgid.


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Answer

A turgid plant cell is swollen, firm and upright with water.

Show question

Question

What kind of membrane protein are aquaporins?


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Answer

Aquaporins are channel proteins.

Show question

Question

Animal blood is an ____ solution. 


Show answer

Answer

Isotonic.

Show question

Question

What are the main structures in the nephron that are involved in water reabsorption via osmosis?


Show answer

Answer

The proximal convoluted tubule and the descending limb.

Show question

Question

What are the main factors that affect the rate of osmosis?


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Answer

Water potential gradient, surface area, temperature, and the presence of aquaporins.

Show question

Question

What kind of membrane proteins are aquaporins?


Show answer

Answer

Aquaporins are channel proteins that span the length of the cell membrane.

Show question

Question

Describe the function of aquaporins.


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Answer

Aquaporins speed up the rate of osmosis as the rate of diffusion is not sufficient to maintain metabolic processes. Aquaporins are selective for water molecules and only allow their passage through the cell membrane.

Show question

Question

What are calibration curves used for?


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Answer

Calibration curves are used to determine an unknown concentration by comparing the unknown sample with known standard concentrations.

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Question

Define active transport.

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Answer

Active transport is the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient, using carrier proteins and energy in the form of ATP.

Show question

Question

Carrier proteins are _______ proteins, as they span the length of the cell membrane. 


Show answer

Answer

Transmembrane.

Show question

Question

Where does ATP hydrolysis take place in active transport, and what is the importance of this?


Show answer

Answer

ATP hydrolysis takes place in the carrier protein. This is important as the Pi resulting from ATP hydrolysis attaches to the carrier protein, allowing the carrier protein to change its conformational shape. This enables the molecule to be pumped to the other side of the cell membrane.

Show question

Question

What other process, other than active transport, involves carrier proteins?


Show answer

Answer

Facilitated diffusion.

Show question

Question

What are the three types of active transport?


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Answer

Uniport, symport and antiport.

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Question

What is uniport?


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Answer

Uniport is the movement of one type of molecule in one direction.

Show question

Question

What is symport?


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Answer

Symport is the movement of two types of molecules in the same direction. The movement of one molecule down its concentration gradient is coupled to the movement of the other molecule against its concentration gradient.

Show question

Question

What is antiport?


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Answer

Antiport is the movement of two types of molecules in opposite directions.

Show question

Question

Why does mineral uptake in plants rely on active transport?


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Answer

The concentration of mineral ions in the soil is less than the concentration of mineral ions in the plant root hair cell. This concentration means that the mineral ions need to be pumped against their concentration gradient into the plant root hair cell.

Show question

Question

In terms of active transport, what is the problem with waterlogged plants?

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Answer

Waterlogged plants cannot obtain sufficient oxygen for cellular respiration. This means less ATP is produced, and thus less ATP is available for active transport in mineral uptake.

Show question

Question

What kind of carrier protein is the Na + / K + ATPase pump? Describe what the Na + / K + ATPase pump transports. 


Show answer

Answer

To antiporter. 


The Na + / K + ATPase pump transports 3 Na + out of the cell and two K + into the cell.

Show question

Question

What is cotransport?

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Answer

Cotransport (also called secondary active transport) occurs when the movement of one molecule down its concentration gradient is coupled to the movement of another molecule against its concentration gradient.

Show question

Question

What are the three kinds of transport that occur in glucose absorption in the ileum? Identify the membrane protein responsible for each type. 


Show answer

Answer

Active transport by the Na + / K + ATPase pump. 


Co-transport (symport) by the Na + / glucose cotransporter pump. 


Facilitated diffusion by glucose transporters.

Show question

Question

Define bulk transport and the two types of bulk transport.

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Answer

Bulk transport is the movement of large macromolecules into or out of cells. The two types of bulk transport include endocytosis and exocytosis.

Show question

Question

What is endocytosis? Describe the steps involved. 


Show answer

Answer

Endocytosis is the bulk transport of molecules into cells. 


The cell membrane will invaginate around the molecules and enclose them into a vesicle. 


The vesicle will move into the cell.

Show question

Question

What are the three types of endocytosis?


Show answer

Answer

Phagocytosis, pinocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Show question

Question

What is exocytosis? Describe the steps involved.


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Answer

Exocytosis is the bulk transport of molecules out of cells. 


Vesicles containing molecules fuse with the cell membrane. 


This will empty the contents of the vesicles out into the extracellular environment.

Show question

Question

What is radiation?

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Answer

The emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.

Show question

Question

Is sunlight a form of radiation?

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Answer

Yes, it is.

Show question

Question

Is radiation useful in medicine?

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Answer

Yes, it is.

Show question

Question

Can wave radiation be distinguished by wavelength?

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Answer

Yes, it can.

Show question

Question

Which of these are natural sources of radiation?

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Answer

Sunlight, cosmic rays, lighting, and heavy element disintegration.

Show question

Question

What is ionising radiation?

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Answer

High energy radiation that can modify the structure of matter.

Show question

Question

Is radar technology based on radiation?

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Answer

Yes, it is.

Show question

Question

What is non-ionising radiation?

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Answer

Low energy radiation that cannot modify the structure of matter.

Show question

Question

Which of the following is a type of non-ionising radiation with a large wavelength?

Show answer

Answer

Radio waves.

Show question

Question

Which of the following is a type of ionising radiation with a short wavelength?

Show answer

Answer

Gamma rays.

Show question

Question

Are x-rays a form of radiation?

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Answer

Yes, they are a form of radiation produced by electromagnetic waves.

Show question

Question

Where are x-Rays used?

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Answer

In medicine.

Show question

Question

Do microwaves use radiation?

Show answer

Answer

Yes, they do.

Show question

Question

What is an unstable nucleus?

Show answer

Answer

An atom that has more neutrons than protons.

Show question

Question

What happens when an atom has an unstable nucleus?

Show answer

Answer

The atom can break up and decay.

Show question

Question

How long can an unstable nucleus last?

Show answer

Answer

Some can last millions of years, while others last only a few seconds.

Show question

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

What is radiation?

Which of these are natural sources of radiation?

What is ionising radiation?

Next

Flashcards in Synergy1877

Start learning

Define osmosis in terms of water potential.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules down a water potential gradient, through a semipermeable membrane.

What is the water potential of pure water?


0kPa.

What are the three types of tonicity?


Hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic.

Compare plant cells placed in a hypertonic solution to plant cells placed in a hypotonic solution.


In a hypertonic solution, plant cells will undergo plasmolysis and will become flaccid. 


But in a hypotonic solution, planning cells will become turgid and firm.

Compare animal cells placed in a hypertonic solution to animal cells placed in a hypotonic solution. 


In a hypertonic solution, animal cells will become crenated and shrink. 


But in a hypotonic solution, animal cells will undergo cytolysis (cell bursting).

Under what tonicity do plant cells and animal cells perform best?


Plant cells perform best in hypotonic solutions. 


Animal cells perform best in isotonic solutions.

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