Biology
Essential Curriculum

Science Process

Objective 1 Recognize the role biology plays in current events.

Objective 2 Use the process of scientific reasoning to investigate scientific problems.

Objective 3 Distinguish between an observation and an inference when given a
scientific statement about an experiment.

Objective 4 Analyze and interpret experimental data.

Objective 5 Analyze and interpret visual representations of biological processes.

Objective 6 Recognize correct graphical representations of a data set.

Genetics

Objective 1 Recognize how traits, genes, and alleles are related.

Objective 2 Explain the relationship between genes and chromosome.

Objective 3 Identify the sex of a human based on its genotype.

Objective 4 Predict the phenotype of an organism given its genotype.

Objective 5 Indicate whether a genotype is homozygous or heterozygous.

Objective 6 Use a Punnett square to solve genetic problems for monohybrid and sex-linked traits.

Objective 7 Interpret a pedigree to determine an individual’s genotype / phenotype.

Objective 8 Explain how meiosis results in sex cells

Objective 9 Explain how DNA’s structure allows it to code for genes and replicate.

Objective 10 Explain DNA’s role in the creation of proteins.

Objective 11 Describe how a mutation is a change in the DNA or chromosome and the possible effects
on an organism or population.

Ecology

Objective 1 Distinguish between different levels of organization within the biosphere.

Objective 2 Apply concepts of the interdependence of living and non-living components of the
environment.

Objective 3 Predict the affects on an ecosystem given limitations and disruptions.

Objective 4 Recognize the relationship between organisms and the flow of energy in an ecosystem

Objective 5 Apply concepts of interactions among organisms within an ecosystem.

Classification

Objective 1 Identify what necessary for organisms to be considered members of the same species

Objective 2 Demonstrate how the major categories of biological classification scheme shows that some organisms are more closely related than others .

Objective 3 Recognize the necessity of scientific names.

Biodiversity

Objective 1 Identify examples of biodiversity at the genetic, species, and/or ecosystem level.

Objective 2 Identify how humans benefit from biodiversity.

Objective 3 List and discuss human impacts on biodiversity
• Habitat destruction- habitat restoration
• Invasive Species
• Population growth (human)
• Pollution
• Overharvesting

Structure and Function

Objective 1 Identify the basic structures and functions that allow organisms to obtain and use energy.
(Includes: unicellular, multicellular, animal, and plant)

Objective 2 Identify the basic structures and functions that allow organisms to exchange
(Includes: unicellular, multicellular, animal, and plant)

Objective 3 Identify the basic structures and functions that allow organisms to rid itself of
(Includes: unicellular, multicellular, animal, and plant)

Objective 4 Identify the basic structures and functions behind the transport of essential materials
in an organism.
(Includes: unicellular, multicellular, animal, and plant)

Objective 5 Identify the basic structures and explain the functions that allow an organism to pass on genetic information for the survival of the species.
(Includes: unicellular, multicellular, animal, and plant)

Biochemistry

Objective 1 Identify reactants and products in biochemical reactions.

Objective 2 Identify the structure and function of macromolecules .
(Includes Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids, Lipids, and Proteins)

Objective 3 Recognize the function of enzymes

Objective 4 Recognize the relationship of photosynthesis and cell respiration to cell energetics

Organization of Cells

Objective 1 Identify the basics components of cell theory.
•All living things are made of cells.
•Cells are the basic unit of structure and function.
•All cells come from pre-existing cells.

Objective 2 Compare and contrast eukaryotic with prokaryotic cells.
Major considerations include: •presence of a nucleus.
•Presence of membrane bound organelles.
•both living.
•both have plasma membranes and ribosomes.

Objective 3 Classify cell organelles according to their contribution to overall cell functions.
Include the following functions: Tansport (plasma membrane)
Energy ( chloroplast,mitochondria)
Manufacturing of macromolecules (ribosome)
Homeostasis (plasma membrane)
Structure (cell wall)

Objective 4 Compare and contrast plant cells and animal cells.
Features that distinguish plant from animal cells.

Objective 5 Recognize the cell processes that regulate the flow of substances in and out of the cell body.
Distinguish between: diffusion – osmosis – passive transport – active transport

Objective 6 Recognize that the cell cycle provides for genetic continuity, cell division, growth, and repair.

Evolution

Objective 1 Recognize evolution as change over time.

Objective 2 Recognize that natural selection is the primary process for evolutionary change.
(State the basic principles of natural selection)

Objective 3 Recognize the factors that lead to speciation

Objective 4 Recognize evidences that support the theory of evolution.
(e.g. molecular, homology, embryology, fossil, etc.)

Objective 5 Demonstrate an understanding that evolutionary theory provides an explanation
for the diversity of life on Earth.