Download Science 9 Objectives Checklist

Science 9 Objectives Checklist
Unit A: Biological Diversity (Social and Environmental Emphasis)
Focusing Questions:
 What is biological diversity?
 By what processes do diverse living things pass on their characteristics to future
generations?
 What impact does human activity have on biological diversity?
Key Concepts
The following concepts are developed in this unit and may also be addressed in other units at
other grade levels. The intended level and scope of treatment is defined by the outcomes below.
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biological diversity
inheritance
species
chromosomes, genes and DNA
(introductory treatment)
diversity within species
habitat diversity
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cell division includes binary fission
and formation of sex cells
niches
populations
natural and artificial selection of
genetic characteristics
asexual and sexual reproduction
Outcomes for Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Knowledge
1. Investigate and interpret diversity among species and within species, and describe how
diversity contributes to species survival
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identify variation within plants and animals
 identify examples of variation between different species
 identify examples of variation within the same species
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identify examples of niches within plants and animals
 explain how variation helps different species live and thrive in the same
ecosystem
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understand dependencies among species
 provide examples of how different species depend on each other to survive
 species can provide each other with food, shelter, or protection
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identify the role of variation in species survival under changing environmental conditions
 identify cases where a species changes as the ecosystem changes
 changes can be in the form of food sources, habitat, temperature, or climate
conditions
2. Investigate the nature of reproductive processes and their role in transmitting species
characteristics
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distinguish between sexual and asexual reproduction, and identify and interpret
examples of asexual and sexual reproduction in different species, by:
 describe the process of asexual reproduction
 provide examples of asexual reproduction
 fission
 budding
 spores
 describe the process of sexual reproduction
 describe and provide examples of sexual reproduction
 plants
 animals
 identify examples of organisms that are able to reproduce both sexually and
asexually
 explain how a zygote (or embryo) is formed in a plant (or animal) from
sexual reproduction
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discrete and continuous variation are examples of variation of characteristics within a
species
 identify and provide examples of discrete variation
 identify and provide examples of continuous variation
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characteristics are transmitted from parents to offspring, identify examples of
characteristics:
 identify examples of characteristics that are the same as both parents
 identify examples of characteristics that are the same as only one parent
 identify examples of characteristics that are intermediate between parent
characteristics
 identify examples of characteristics that are different from both parents
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distinguish between those characteristics that are heritable from those that are not
heritable, and identify characteristics for which heredity and environment may both
play a role
 identify characteristics that you can inherit
 explain how heredity plays a role
 identify characteristics that you cannot inherit
 explain how environment plays a role
 identify characteristics that can be influenced by both heredity and
environment
3. Describe, in general terms, the role of genetic materials in the continuity and variation of
species characteristics; and investigate and interpret related technologies
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describe, in general terms, the relationship of chromosomes, genes and DNA; and
interpret their role as repositories of genetic information
 describe the location and function of
 chromosomes
 genes
 DNA
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distinguish between cell division that leads to identical daughter cells, as in binary
fission and mitosis, and cell division that leads to formation of sex cells, as in
meiosis; and describe, in general terms, the synthesis of genetic materials that takes
place during fertilization
 identify how genetic information is passed on during cell division
 identify the number of chromosomes in a cell after mitosis
 identify the number of chromosomes in a cell after meiosis
 describe the purpose of mitosis
 describe the purpose of meiosis
 explain how genetic information is passed on during fertilization and sexual
reproduction
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compare sexual and asexual reproduction, in terms of the advantages and
disadvantages
 identify advantages of sexual reproduction
 identify disadvantages of sexual reproduction
 identify advantages of asexual reproduction
 identify disadvantages of asexual reproduction
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distinguish between, and identify examples of, natural and artificial selection
 explain how natural selection occurs
 identify examples of natural selection
 explain how artificial selection occurs
 identify examples of artificial selection
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describe, in simple terms, some of the newly emerging technologies for recombining
genetic material; and identify questions and issues related to their application
 identify examples of new technologies and genetic engineering
 identify issues and questions with new technologies and genetic engineering
4. Identify impacts of human action on species survival and variation within species, and
analyze related issues for personal and public decision making
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describe the relative abundance of species on Earth and in different environments
 describe the relationship between the number and variety of species as it
relates to an environment or ecosystem
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describe ongoing changes in biological diversity through extinction and extirpation of
native species, and investigate the role of environmental factors in causing these
changes
 define extinction and provide an example
 define extirpation and provide an example
 identify the causes of extinction and extirpation
 explain how the environment can effect extinction or extirpation
 describe how extinction and extirpation affect biological diversity
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evaluate the success and limitations of various local and global strategies for
minimizing loss of species diversity
 identify local projects that try to save endangered species
 identify global projects that work to save endangered species
 evaluate the success of these projects
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investigate and describe the use of biotechnology in environmental, agricultural or
forest management; and identify potential impacts and issues
 provide an example of biotechnology and its application
 environmental
 agriculture
 forest management