APPENDIX I:

Content Theoretical part of the IBO

The IBO theoretical examination should concentrate on biological

concepts applied to the majority of organisms of the same group. It
should not contain specific facts, exceptions or knowledge about local
organisms that require special or local experiences.
The majority of questions should test students' understanding, science
process skills and application of their biological knowledge. The
questions testing only knowledge should be as few as possible and
they should not exceed 25 % of the total points.
After approval of the test questions by the International Jury the
maximum obtainable points for correct answers of each particular
question have to be stated in the examination papers.

Questions concerning Principles of Scientific Reasoning and Principles

of Biological Methods should be included in the Theoretical test, which
should cover the following 7 topics in the indicated proportions.

In the IBO tasks the names of organisms will be the national names
(no description) together with the scientific names (Latin) in brackets.
Any description instead of name is prohibited. The organizers should
construct the questions so that the name of the organism is not a key
element for answering; otherwise they should use very well known
organisms (general representatives of a group) mentioned in the list for
biosystematics.

I Cell biology : (20 %)6

Structure and function of cells

* Chemical components
- Monosaccharides; disaccharides; polysaccharides
- Lipids
- Proteins: amino acids, three letter symbol; structure of
proteins;
. chemical classification of proteins:
simple proteins and conjugated proteins
. functional classification of proteins:
structural proteins and enzymes
- Enzymes
. Chemical structure: apoenzyme and coenzyme
6
Percentage representing points in the test

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Appendix I: Theoretical Content International Biology Olympiad

. Model for enzyme action: enzyme binds with substrate

. Denaturation
. Nomenclature
- Nucleic Acids : DNA, RNA

- Other important compounds

. ADP and ATP
. NAD+ and NADH
. NADP+ and NADPH

* Organelles

nucleus - nuclear envelope

- (nucleohyaloplasm)
- chromosomes
- nucleoli

cytoplasm - cell membrane

- hyaloplasm
- mitochondria
- endoplasmatic reticulum
- ribosomes
- Golgi apparatus
- lysosomes
- vacuole membrane
- proplastides
- plastides . chloroplasts
. chromoplasts
. leucoplasts)
(e.g. amyloplasts)

Plant cells are surrounded with a cell wall

* Cell metabolism
- Breakdown of carbohydrates
. Anaerobic break down (anaerobic respiration) of glucose:
glycolysis
. Aerobic break down (aerobic respiration) of glucose: glycolysis
citric acid cycle
oxidative phosphorylation
- Dissimilation of fats and proteins
- Assimilation
. Photosynthesis
. Light reaction
. Dark reaction (Calvin cycle)
* Protein synthesis

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Appendix I: Theoretical Content International Biology Olympiad

- Transcription
- Translation
- Genetic code
* Transport through membranes
- Diffusion
- Osmosis, plasmolysis
- Active transport
* Mitosis and meiosis
- Cell cycle: interphase (replication) and mitosis (prophase -
metaphase - anaphase - telophase)
- Chromatids, equatorial plate, haploid and diploid, genome,
somatic and generative cells, gamete, crossing over
- Meiosis I and meiosis II.

Microbiology
* Prokaryotic cell organization
* Morphology
* Phototrophy and chemotrophy

Biotechnology
* Fermentation
* Genetic manipulation of organisms

II Plant anatomy and physiology (15 %)

(with emphasis on seed plants)

Structure and function of tissues and organs involved in:

* Photosynthesis, transpiration and gas exchange

- Leaf : structure; function stomata
* Transport of water, minerals and assimilates
- Root : structure (endodermis)
- Stem : structure (vascular bundles)
* Growth and development
- Apical meristem and cambium
- Germination

* Reproduction (ferns and mosses included)

- Asexual reproduction (clone forming)
- Sexual reproduction
. Structure of flowers
. Pollination
. Double fertilization
- Alternation of generation in seed plants, ferns and mosses

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Appendix I: Theoretical Content International Biology Olympiad

III Animal anatomy and physiology (25 %)

(with emphasis on vertebrates and especially man)

Structure and function of organs and tissues involved in

* Digestion and nutrition
- Digestive tract (including liver, gall bladder and pancreas)
- Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food
- Absorption
- Food components (water, minerals, vitamins, proteins,
carbohydrates and fats)
* Respiration
- Breathing mechanism
- Gas exchange
- Respiratory organs
* Circulation
- Blood : blood plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, blood
platelets
- Blood circulation : arteries, capillaries, veins, heart
- Lymphatic system : tissue fluid, lymph
* Excretion
- Structure of the renal system
- Urine production
* Regulation (neural and hormonal)
- Nervous system : peripheral nervous system, central nervous
system (spinal cord and brain), autonomic nervous system
(sympathetic and parasympathetic), reflexes, sense organs
(eyes and ears)
- Endocrine system : pituitary gland, thyroid gland, islets of
Langerhans, adrenal medulla, adrenal cortex, ovaries and
testes
* Reproduction and development
- Structure and function of male and female reproductive
systems
- Ovulation and menstrual cycle
- Fertilization
- Formation of ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm
- Embryonic membranes

* Immunity
- Antigens, antibodies

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Appendix I: Theoretical Content International Biology Olympiad

IV Ethology (5 %)

* Methodology of Ethology
* Innate and Learned Behavior
* Communication and Social Organization
* Foraging Behavior
* Defensive Behavior
* Mating systems and Parental care
* Biorhythms

V Genetics and Evolution (20 %)

* Variation : mutation and modification

* Mendelian inheritance
- Monohybrid cross
- Dihybrid cross
- Polyhybrid cross
* Multiple allelism, recombination, sex linkage
* Hardy-Weinberg principle
* Mechanism of evolution
- Mutation
- Natural selection
- Reproductive isolation
- Adaptation
- Fitness

VI Ecology (10 %)

* Individual Organisms
- Unitary and modular organisms
* Population
- Population structure
. dispersion, age, size and sex structure
- Population dynamics
. birth rate, death rate
. exponential and logistic growth, carrying capacity
- Population regulation
. metapopulation dynamics
* Biotic Communities
- Species reachness and diversity
- Niche, competition exclusion principle
- Interspecific Interactions
. competition, predation, symbiosis
- Community dynamics
. succession
- Terrestrial biomes

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- Aquatic biomes
* Ecosystems
- Trophic structure
. food webs
- Trophic levels
. producers, consumers, decomposers
- Energy flow
- Productivity
. gross and net primary productivity
. energy transfer efficiencies
- Matter flux through ecosystems
- Global biogeochemical cycles
* Biosphere and man
- Human population growth
- Pollution
. threats of biodiversity
. in situ conservation
. ex situ conservation

VII BIOSYSTEMATICS (5 %)

- Structure and function, evolutionary and ecological relationships

among typical organisms in the following groups. Knowledge of
scientific terms will not be required for successful solution of the
tasks. However, competitors should know what the named
representatives of genera mentioned below look like.

Domain Archaea Methanobacterium,

Halobacterium,Thermoplasma,
Sulfolobus

Domain Bacteria Agrobacterium, Anabaena,

Bacillus, Escherichia,
Rhizobium, Salmonella,
Streptomyces

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Protista
D. Rhodophyta Chondrus
D. Phaeophyta Sargassum
D. Bacillariophyta Navicula
D. Euglenophyta Euglena
D. Chlorophyta Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra,
Chlorella, Ulothrix
P. Rhizopoda Amoeba
P. Zoomastigophora Trypanosoma

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P. Apicomplexa Plasmodium
P. Ciliophora Paramecium

Kingdom Fungi
D. Zygomycota Mucor
D. Ascomycota Claviceps, Penicillium,
Saccharomyces
D. Basidiomycota Agaricus

Kingdom Plantae
D. Bryophyta Polytrichum, Sphagnum
D. Hepatophyta Marchantia
D. Rhynophyta Rhynia
D. Lycopodiophyta Lycopodium
D. Equisetophyta Equisetum
D. Polypodiophyta Pteridium
D. Ginkgophyta Ginkgo
D. Pinophyta Pinus
D. Cycadophyta Cycas
D. Magnoliophyta
C. Magnoliopsida
F. Magnoliaceae Magnolia
F. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus, Pulsatilla
F. Rosaceae Rosa, Malus, Prunus
F. Fabaceae Pisum
F. Oleaceae Syringa
F. Fagaceae Quercus
F. Cactaceae Opuntia
F. Brassicaceae Brassica
F. Lamiaceae Lamium
F. Solanaceae Solanum
F. Asteraceae Helianthus
C. Liliopsida
F. Liliaceae Lilium, Allium
F. Orchidaceae Orchis
F. Poaceae Zea, Triticum, Bambusa
F. Arecaceae Cocos
F. Araceae Monstera

Kingdom Animalia
P. Porifera Euspongia
P. Cnidaria
C. Hydrozoa Hydra
C. Scyphozoa Aurelia
C. Anthozoa Corallium
P. Platyhelminthes

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C. Turbellaria Polycellis
C. Trematoda Fasciola
C. Cestoda Taenia
P. Nematoda Ascaris, Trichinella
P. Mollusca
C. Gastropoda Helix, Arion
C. Bivalvia Ostrea, Mytilus
C. Cephalopoda Sepia, Octopus
P. Annelida
C. Polychaeta Nereis
C. Oligochaeta Lumbricus
C. Hirudinea Hirudo
P. Arthropoda
SP. Crustacea Astacus, Daphnia, Cyclops
SP. Chelicerata
C. Arachnida Euscorpius, Araneus, Ixodes
SP. Myriapoda
C. Chilopoda Scolopendra
C. Diplopoda Julus
SP. Hexapoda
C. Insecta
O. Thysanura Lepisma
O. Odonata Libellula
O. Blattodea Blatta
O. Phasmatodea Carausius
O. Isoptera Kalothermes
O. Orthoptera Gryllus, Locusta
O. Phthiraptera Pediculus
O. Hemiptera
SO. Homoptera Aphis, Cicada
SO. Heteroptera Gerris, Nepa, Cimex
O. Coleoptera Calosoma, Leptinotarsa,
Ips,Tenebrio, Dytiscus
O. Diptera Anopheles, Drosophila, Musca
O. Lepidoptera Papilio, Bombyx
O. Hymenoptera Ichneumon, Apis, Formica
O. Siphonaptera Pulex
P. Echinodermata
C. Asteriodia Asterias
C. Echinoidea Echinus
C. Holothuroidea Holothuria
P. Chordata
SP. Urochordata Ascidia
SP. Cephalochordata Branchiostoma
SP. Vertebrata
S
C. Agantha Petromyzon

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S
C. Gnathostomata
C. Chondrichthyes Scyliorhinus, Carcharodon
C. Osteichthyes
SC. Actinopterygii Acipenser, Clupea, Salmo,
Carassius, Muraena
SC. Sarcopterygii Lepidosiren, Latimeria
C. Amphibia
O. Caudata Salamandra
O. Anura Rana, Bufo
C. Reptilia
O. Testudinata Testudo
O. Crocodylia Crocodylus
O. Squamata Lacerta, Vipera
C. Aves
O. Struthioniformes Struthio
O. Sphenisciformes Spheniscus
O. Ciconiiformes Ciconia
O. Anseriformes Anser
O. Falconiformes Falco
O. Galliformes Gallus
O. Columbiformes Columba
O. Strigiformes Strix
O. Piciformes Dryocopus
O. Passeriformes Parus, Passer
C. Mammalia
O. Monotremata Ornithorhynchus
O. Marsupialia Macropus
O. Insectivora Erinaceus, Talpa
O. Chiroptera Myotis
O. Rodentia Mus, Rattus
O. Carnivora Ursus, Canis, Felis
O. Proboscidea Elephas
O. Perissodactyla Equus
O. Artiodactyla Sus, Bos
O. Cetacea Delphinus
O. Primates Cebus, Macaca, Hylobates,
Pan, Gorilla, Pongo, Homo

“Virales” Bacteriophage
“Lichenes” Parmelia, Cladonia

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