Biology

Structure and Functions of Living Organisms

Ecosystems

Evolution and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Understand the relationship between the structures and functions of cells and their organelles.

Analyze the cell as a living system.

Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within their environment.

Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects the next).

Explain how traits are determined by the structure and function of DNA.

Understand how the environment, and/or the interaction of alleles, influences the expression of genetic traits.

Understand the application of DNA technology.

Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection as a mechanism for how species change over time.

Analyze how classification systems are developed based upon speculation

Understand how biological molecules are essential to the survival of living organisms.

Analyze the relationship between biochemical processes and energy use in the cell.

Summarize the structure and function of organelles in eukaryotic cells (including the nucleus, plasma membrane, cell wall, mitochondria, vacuoles, chloroplasts, and ribosomes) and ways that these organelles interact with each other to perform the function of the cell.

Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in terms of their general structures (plasma membrane and genetic material) and degree of complexity.

Explain how instructions in DNA lead to cell differentiation and result in cells specialized to perform specific functions in multicellular organisms.

Explain how homeostasis is maintained in a cell and within an organism in various environments (including temperature and pH).

Analyze how cells grow and reproduce in terms of interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis.

Explain how specific cell adaptations help cells to survive in particular environments (focus on unicellular organisms).

Analyze the flow of energy and cycling of matter (such as water, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) through ecosystems relating the significance of each to maintaining the health and sustainability of an ecosystem.

Analyze the survival and reproductive success of organisms in terms of behavioral, structural, and reproductive adaptations.

Explain various way organisms interact with each other (including predation, competition, parasitism, and mutualism) and with their environments resulting in stability within ecosystems.

Explain why ecosystems can be relatively stable over hundreds or thousands of years, even though populations may fluctuate (emphasizing availability of food, availability of shelter, number of predators and disease).

Infer how human activities (including population growth, pollution, global warming, burning of fossil fuels, habitat destruction and introduction of nonnative species) may impact the environment.

Explain the impact of humans on natural resources (e.g. resource depletion, deforestation, pesticide use and bioaccumulation).

Explain the double-stranded, complementary nature of DNA as related to its function in the cell.

Explain how DNA and RNA code for proteins and determine traits.

Explain how mutations in DNA that result from interactions with the environment (i.e. radiation and chemicals) or new combinations in existing genes lead to changes in function and phenotype.

Explain the role of meiosis in sexual reproduction and genetic variation.

Predict offspring ratios based on a variety of inheritance patterns (including: dominance, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked traits).

Explain how the environment can influence the expression of genetic traits.

Interpret how DNA is used for comparison and identification of organisms.

Summarize how transgenic organisms are engineered to benefit society.

Evaluate some of the ethical issues surrounding the use of DNA technology (including cloning, genetically modified organisms, stem cell research, and Human Genome Project).

Explain how fossil, biochemical, and anatomical evidence support the theory of evolution.

Explain how natural selection influences the changes in species over time.

Explain how various disease agents (bacteria, viruses, chemicals) can influence natural selection.

Explain the historical development and changing nature of classification systems.

Analyze the classification of organisms according to their evolutionary relationships (including dichotomous keys and phylogenetic trees).

Compare the structures and functions of major biological molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids) as related to the survival of living organisms.

Summarize the relationship among DNA, proteins and amino acids in carrying out the work of cells and how this is similar in all organisms.

Explain how enzymes act as catalysts for biological reactions.

Analyze photosynthesis and cellular respiration in terms of how energy is stored, released, and transferred within and between these systems.

Explain ways that organisms use released energy for maintaining homeostasis (active transport).