Biology for the IB Diploma Coursebook

The International Baccalaureate Diploma course is designed to provide a broad education for students who will become our future citizens. Unlike other courses, the programme of study requires the study of six academic subjects, one of which must be an experimental science.
Biology has advanced at a rapid rate over recent decades and is truly the science of the 21st century. Advances in genetics, biochemistry, medicine and cell biology have kept the subject in the forefront of international news. To keep pace with new developments, the IB Biology course is regularly updated so that IB students can understand not only the principles of modern science but also the processes and the ethical implications that go with them. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) provides a cross-curricular link between di erent subjects and stimulates thought andconsideration of these issues.
Biology may be studied at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) and both share a common core of six
compulsory topics, which are covered in Chapters 1–6. At HL the core is extended to include a further  ve topics,
covered in Chapters 7–11. In addition, at both levels, students then chose two Options to complete their studies.
Options A – C are additional topics for SL only, Options D – G can be studied at either level with extra material
covered at HL, and Option H is for HL only. All the topics required for the core at both SL and HL, as well as all eight Options, are included in this book.