Biology

Essential Questions

• What is cell theory and how does it reveal the difference between cells and viruses?
• What are the parts of a microscope and which ones are commonly used by biologists?
• How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ?
• What is the basic structure of cells?
• What are cell organelles and their functions?
• How do the cell organelles differ between an animal and plant cell?
• How are plant cells different from animal cells?
• What role does the shape and structure of a cell play in its function?
• What is the structure of the cell membrane and how does it help maintain homeostasis?
• What do the terms hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic mean relating to solutions?
• What do the terms osmosis and diffusion mean and how do they relate?
• What is the difference between active and passive transport?
• What role do proteins play in active transport?

Skills/Objectives

• Describe the basic structure of all living things.
• Recognize the contributions by scientists that led to the cell theory.
• Label the parts of a microscope and compare compound light and scanning electron microscopes.
• State the cell theory.
• Describe how cells and viruses are different.
• Compare and contrast the structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
• Identify and label the cell organelles in different types of cells.
• Compare and contrast plant and animal cells.
• Explain how organelle structures are important for their function in plant and animal cells.
• Explain that differentiated cells develop from stem cells.
• Explain that the structure of the cell membrane acts as a selectively permeable layer and maintains homeostasis.
• Model the function of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in the functioning of the cell membrane.
• Compare and contrast osmosis and diffusion.
• Describe the functions of proteins in active cellular transport.
• Compare and contrast active and passive transport.

Essential Questions

• What are the levels of organization in biological systems and how do they relate to each other, to other systems, and to the whole system?
• How do organ systems work together to maintain an organism?
• What is homeostasis and how does the body maintain it?
• What are the key components and functions of the human body systems, including the integumentary, muscular, skeletal, circulatory and cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, respiratory, and digestive systems?
• What are the main functions and the major bones of the skeletal system?
• What are the types of joints in the human body and how do they aid in movement?
• What are the types of muscles and how do they contract?
• What are the key muscle groups in the body?
• What are the structures of the heart and the functions of each?
• How is blood flow maintained in the body and what is its pathway?
• What are the types of blood vessels in the human body?
• What are the components of blood?
• What are the two main divisions of the human nervous system?
• What are the main parts of the nervous system and the function of each?
• What are the parts of the brain called?
• What is a neuron?
• How does the lymphatic system help fight disease?
• What determines the rate of respiration?
• What are the key components, processes, and functions of the digestive system?
• What are the two types of digestion?
• What are the body systems in plants?
• What are the key components, processes, and functions of plant cells, tissues, and organs?
• What is the difference between xylem and phloem?

Skills/Objectives

• Identify the organ systems of the human body and the major components of each system.
• Identify the major levels of organization in living organisms from simplest to most complex.
• Describe homeostasis in the body.
• Identify the organ systems of the human body and the major components of each system.
• Explain the function and role of the integumentary system.
• Discuss the function of the accessory organs/glands of the skin.
• State the functions of the skeletal system.
• Distinguish among types of joints and how joint structure affects mobility.
• Compare and contrast skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle tissue by their structure and function.
• Identify the characteristics and role of skeletal muscles in movement.
• Describe the general features of the heart.
• Trace blood flow through the heart, identifying major blood vessels, chambers, and heart valves.
• Explain how blood flow is maintained.
• Describe the three types of blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillary).
• Describe the role of capillaries for absorption and exchange between cells and their surroundings.
• Describe the composition of blood (plasma, platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells).
• Identify the component parts of the nervous system (brain, nerves, and neurons).
• Draw and label the structure of a neuron (cell body, axon, dendrites, myelin sheath, axon terminals).
• Describe the differences between central and peripheral nervous systems.
• List the major regions of the brain and determine the actions of the body they control.
• Describe the structure of nervous tissue and neuron anatomy.
• Describe the functions of the endocrine system and the system’s contributions to maintaining homeostasis.
• Identify the role of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
• Describe the major components of the lymphatic system and their functions: vessels, fluid, lymph organs.
• Identify the importance of lymphocytes and where they are found in the body.
• Identify the roles of blood, lymph, and white blood cells in the immune system.
• List the steps involved in the two different immune responses.
• Describe the muscles involved in respiratory movements by relating the muscular system to the respiratory system.
• Trace the passage of air while describing the factors that influence the rate of respiration.
• Describe the basic processes performed by the digestive system.
• Trace the passage of food through the digestive system, describing the anatomy and function of each organ involved.
• Describe features, functions, and composition of plant organs, tissues, and cell types.
• Distinguish the functions and locations of the three types of plant tissues (ground, dermal, vascular).
• Compare and contrast xylem and phloem.
• Identify the structures and functions of roots, stems, and leaves.

Essential Questions

• How are the equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration interdependent?
• What cellular structures and molecules are involved in photosynthesis?
• How is energy from the sun converted into chemical energy that can be used by the cell?
• What are the processes of cellular respiration?
• How do cells release energy from food in the presence of oxygen and without oxygen?
• What are the four major groups of organic molecules and why are they important?
• What are the structures and functions of each of the four organic macromolecules?
• Where do humans obtain these macromolecules and why are they needed?
• What substances contain organic macromolecules, and how can we test for them?
• What is the role of enzymes in biological processes?
• How does the structure of an enzyme affect its function?
• What factors affect the activity of enzymes, and how?
• How does activation energy affect the reaction rate in an enzymatic reaction?
• How do changes in pH, temperature, concentration, and salinity impact the function of enzymes?
• How are reactants changed during hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis reactions?
• Through what mechanism are polymers formed from monomers?

Skills/Objectives

• Describe the reactants and products of photosynthesis.
• Identify the cellular structures and molecules involved in photosynthesis.
• Understand the differences between the light dependent and light independent reactions.
• Examine the energy transfer throughout the process of photosynthesis.
• Identify the factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis.
• Identify the basic steps of and differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration.
• Compare and contrast cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
• Compare and contrast two types of anaerobic cellular respiration.
• Identify and describe the characteristics, functions, and structure of the four main groups of organic macromolecules.
• Differentiate between monomer and polymer structures of macromolecules.
• Identify and describe the organic molecules found in human bodies, including where we get them and how they are used.
• Describe what an enzyme is and explain how the structure of an enzyme affects its function.
• Describe how enzymes function as catalysts and lower the activation energy of a reaction.
• Identify factors, such as pH and temperature, and describe their effect on enzyme activity.
• Describe the impact of different factors on enzyme activity by analyzing and interpreting graphical data.
• Identify the products and reactants of hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis reactions.
• Describe the role water plays in the formation and breaking down of polymers.

Essential Questions

• How was DNA discovered and why is it considered the blueprint of life?
• What are the components of DNA?
• What is the relationship between DNA’s shape and it’s function?
• How is DNA replicated and why is it an essential process to the cell cycle?
• What are the functions of DNA helicase, ligase, and polymerase?
• What is the cell cycle, and why is it important?
• What occurs during each phase of mitosis?
• What is the structure of chromosomes, and how do they change during the stages of cell division?
• What is cancer and how is it related to cell division?
• How do prokaryotic cells divide?
• What is meiosis, and how does it compare and contrast with mitosis?
• What is genetic diversity, and why is it important?
• What is crossing over, and how does it increase genetic diversity?

Skills/Objectives

• Describe the history of the discovery of DNA.
• Understand that DNA is found in all cells, including plants, animals, fungi, protists, or bacteria.
• Illustrate the specific pairing of nucleotides in DNA.
• Relate the structure of DNA to its function.
• Describe the process of DNA replication, including the role of enzymes.
• Describe the importance of the cell cycle.
• State and order the four phases of mitosis including cytokinesis.
• Model and describe the structure of chromosomes and their role in mitosis.
• Describe how cancer occurs, and how it is related to changes in the cell cycle.
• Explain how prokaryotic cells divide.
• Describe and model the process of binary fission.
• Compare and contrast the processes of mitosis and meiosis.
• Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis in terms of diversity.
• Explain that crossing over and the law of independent assortment and segregation increase genetic diversity.
• Compare and contrast meiosis I and meiosis II.

Essential Questions

• How does matter and energy flow through trophic levels demonstrated in food chains and food webs?
• What is the role of microorganisms important in maintaining and disrupting an ecosystem?
• Why is diversity important to the stability of an ecosystem?
• How does matter flow through the carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles?
• How do organisms interact in symbiotic relationships?
• What are the different levels of diversity and why are they important?
• What are some examples of group behavior and why are they important?
• How do changes in environmental stability impact the organisms in different ecosystems?
• What changes in ecological succession can affect populations and species diversity?
• What role do microorganisms play in the health of an ecosystem?
• What are some examples of invasive species and what are their impacts?

Skills/Objectives

• Understand that biological systems are composed of multiple levels.
• Explore the dynamics within an ecosystem and the interdependence of organisms.
• Calculate the amount of energy that is passed up the energy pyramid using the 10% rule.
• Analyze the flow of matter and energy through the trophic levels.
• Recognize the importance of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem.
• Understand the role of decomposers in the ecosystem.
• Construct a complete food web for an ecosystem.
• Describe the flow of matter through the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles.
• Examine and explain the interactions between organisms and their environment.
• Compare and contrast the biodiversity in organisms due to necessary variations and adaptations needed in different ecosystems.
• Explain the role of group behavior in species survival.
• Describe how environmental changes such as limiting factors, carrying capacity, weather, human impact, and climate change impact ecosystem stability.
• Analyze and summarize the role of microorganisms (such as fungi, bacteria, and protists) in maintaining and disrupting the health of organisms and ecosystems.
• Explain the impacts of invasive species on native species and ecosystems.

Essential Questions

• What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
• What are the roles of transcription and translation when making proteins?
• How does RNA read the code from DNA?
• How are proteins synthesized?
• What are the roles of mRNA and tRNA in the production of proteins?
• What are the effects of each of the major types of mutations?
• How do mutations affect DNA, RNA, and proteins?
• How is gene expression regulated?

Skills/Objectives

• Explain the purpose and process of transcription and translation.
• Explain that DNA is the code for making proteins, which are used for cellular structure and function.
• Recognize that gene expression is a regulated process.
• Identify and illustrate the types of genetic mutations and evaluate the significance of mutational changes.
• Recognize that all mutations are not harmful and that we are all born with a percentage of mutations.

Essential Questions

• What is genetics?
• How can you predict the possible traits of offspring?
• How can outcomes from a genetic cross be used to predict genotypes and phenotypes?
• What is the purpose of a pedigree, and how can we determine the possible patterns of inheritance?
• What is a GMO and why is it used today?
• How are genetic materials and reproductive processes manipulated to make desirable organisms and products, diagnose and treat disease, and identify individuals?
• What are the different methods of genetic engineering and how are they used?
• What are the benefits and ethical issues concerning genetic engineering?

Skills/Objectives

• Explain that traits are passed from parent to offspring in predictable patterns.
• Calculate and interpret monohybrid, dihybrid, and non-Mendelian Punnett square outcomes.
• Predict the outcomes of genetic crosses through non-Mendelian crosses, such as incomplete, codominance, polygenic, multiple alleles, and sex-linked.
• Describe and analyze a pedigree chart to determine a pattern of inheritance.
• Identify the fundamental differences between genetically engineered crops and non-genetically engineered crops.
• Explain the limitations to traditional breeding that are overcome by genetic engineering.
• List several present-day applications of genetic engineering.
• Explain the impact of GMOs on society.
• Define genetic engineering and describe the various types.
• Describe advantages and disadvantages of the use of technology (such as selective breeding, genetic engineering, or biomedical research) in influencing the transfer of genetic information.

Essential Questions

• What is taxonomy?
• What is the order of classification categories, and why do we need them?
• What are the parts of the domain and kingdom categories and their characteristics?
• What is a dichotomous key and how is it used?
• What is a cladogram?
• What are phylogenetic trees?
• How are phylogenetic trees used to describe evolutionary patterns?
• What evidence is used to construct phylogenetic trees?
• How are plants classified?
• How are characteristics of organisms used to create an evolutionary tree?

Skills/Objectives

• Explain the categories of taxonomy and the domains of living things.
• Examine the characteristics of the six kingdoms.
• Describe how to use dichotomous keys, and practice using them.
• Describe a cladogram, explain its purpose, and practice using one.
• Use phylogenetic trees to describe evolutionary events.
• Describe the characteristics of major plant categories.
• Build an evolutionary tree using multiple lines of evidence.

Essential Questions

• What is the theory of Evolution?
• What is natural selection?
• Who is Charles Darwin?
• What are some factors that affect natural selection?
• How does natural selection drive evolution?
• How does artificial selection compare to natural selection?
• What are the steps of natural selection?

Skills/Objectives

• Define and describe the aspects that affect evolutionary theory, including natural selection.
• Explain how Charles Darwin observed natural selection.
• Describe how natural selection drives evolution.
• List and describe the many factors that cause populations to change over time.
• Compare the processes and outcomes of artificial and natural selection.
• Investigate the natural selection of a population when environmental factors change.
• Describe the factors that affect natural selection.
• Demonstrate the ordering of the steps of natural selection.
• Explain the factors of natural selection that drive it.

Essential Questions

• What is biogeography and what are the various types?
• How has geographical isolation led to the evolution of species?
• What happens to island species over time?
• Why are animals and plants of isolated regions distinctive to those areas?
• Why is endemism and important factor of biogeography?
• What is evolution and the mechanisms that drive it?
• How are Lamarck and Darwin’s theories of evolution similar and different?
• How do fossil evidence, geographical location, and isolation of species provide evidence for evolution?
• How do structural evidence and comparative embryology explain evidence of common ancestry?
• How long does it take for evolution to occur?
• What are microevolution and macroevolution, and how do they differ?
• What is the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and how does it relate to species variation in populations?

Skills/Objectives

• Model and analyze evolution through biogeographical evidence.
• Define, describe, and give examples of the three types of biogeography.
• Describe earth’s major biogeographic regions.
• Recognize the role of fossil records as evidence for the tectonic plate theory.
• Describe the relationship between the fossil record and organism distribution.
• Describe the uniqueness of island species and how they change over time.
• Describe native and endemic species and identify adaptations that allow them to survive in their current conditions.
• Compare and contrast the theories of Darwin and Lamarck and why Darwin’s theories are still accepted.
• Describe the components of the theory of evolution.
• Describe how fossil records give evidence of evolution.
• Identify the different theories of the pace of evolution.
• Compare and contrast microevolution and macroevolution.
• Analyze fossils and embryos with homologous structures and interpret the evolutionary implications.
• Explain how molecular structures provide evidence for evolution.
• Describe and explain how genetic drift and gene flow drive evolution.
• Differentiate between genetic drift and gene flow mechanisms.
• State and describe the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with its use in genetic variation of a population.

Essential Questions

• What makes viruses non-living?
• How do the types of viruses differ in structure?
• Why does a virus exist in a host for only a limited amount of time?
• How do viruses replicate?
• What is the difference between a bacterial infection and a viral infection?
• How can we prevent bacterial and viral diseases from spreading?

Skills/Objectives

• Explain why viruses are not considered living organisms.
• Visualize and label the parts of a virus and describe how its structure relates to how it works.
• Identify and differentiate between other viral structures.
• Distinguish between the characteristics of bacteria and those of viruses.
• Explain and diagram how viruses replicate.
• Explain how viruses cause infection and ways we can prevent the spread of viral diseases.
• Describe common viral infections such as influenza, colds, and HIV.

Essential Questions

• Are plants living things?
  ● How are living things
  organized?
  ● What parts make up the
  plant’s organ systems?
  ● How do plants reproduce?
  ● How do the different structures
  of plants impact their function?
• How do plants respond to their
  environments?
  ● How do hormones impact
  plant growth?
  ● What is the life cycle of a
  simple flowering plant?
  ● How do microbes support the
  important role of keeping
  plants healthy for life on
  Earth?

Skills/Objectives

• Justify that plants are living things and
  describe how they exhibit each of the
  characteristics of life.
  ● Label the parts of each organ system
  and describe their functions (stems,
  leaves, roots).
  ● Describe how water and nutrients move
  through the plant.
• Describe the two types of reproduction
  in plants.
  ● Explain the structure and function of
  non-fruit bearing plants.
  ● Explain the structure and function of
  flowering plants.
  ● Distinguish between the different types
  of tropisms.
  ● Explain how plant hormones respond to
  their environments.
  ● Predict the life cycle of plants based
  upon sexual reproduction.
  ● Analyze the impact of decreasing
  microorganisms to plant ecosystems