IB DP Biology

This video course provides a comprehensive exploration of Topic A: Unity and Diversity from the IB Diploma Programme (DP) Biology 2025 syllabus, tailored for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students. Designed to support learners in understanding key biological principles that connect all living organisms, this topic emphasizes the shared features of life while also exploring the rich diversity that results from evolution, speciation, and classification. The course is divided into a series of short, engaging video lessons, each focusing on a specific subtopic, including cell structure, evolutionary processes, evidence for common ancestry, and the classification of life forms.

The aim is to make complex ideas accessible, while staying true to the rigor of the IB curriculum. The content aligns directly with the prescribed learning objectives and integrates real-world examples, animations, and IB-style questions to prepare students not only for exams, but also for scientific thinking in general. For SL students, the course covers core content such as the characteristics of life, evidence for evolution, and the principles of taxonomy and systematics.

Students are introduced to key concepts like homologous structures, molecular similarities, and natural selection. They also explore how life is classified into domains and kingdoms, and how this system is informed by both morphological and genetic data. For HL students, the course extends into greater depth.

Advanced learners delve into phylogenetic trees, cladistics, and molecular clocks. They analyze how bioinformatics tools are used to compare DNA sequences and construct evolutionary relationships. Special attention is given to the origin of eukaryotic cells via endosymbiosis, a key HL concept that links cell biology with evolutionary theory.