Download Honors Bio Course Syllabus

Honors Biology Course Syllabus
Semester One
Unit 1: Basis of Biology






Identify and demonstrate tools used in biology.
Identify the science and methods of biology
Identify careers related to the biological sciences.
Identify variables needed in graphing data and select appropriate graphs for presentations.
Identify and evaluate cooperative learning roles for inquiry labs/group assignments.
Identify and explain the characteristics universal to life.
Unit 2: Biochemistry








Relate the particle structure of an atom to the identity of elements.
Relate the formation of covalent and ionic chemical bonds to the stability of atoms.
Distinguish mixtures and solutions.
Define acids and bases and relate their importance to biological systems.
Relate water’s unique features to polarity.
Classify the variety of organic compounds and relate their importance to living things.
Describe how polymers are formed and broken down in organisms using condensation and
hydrolysis.
Explain the role of enzymes and how they work in the cell.
Unit 3: Cell Structure and Transport









Identify the main ideas of the cell theory.
Compare and contrast the structures of eukaryotic plant and animal cells and prokaryotic cells.
Understand the structure and function of the parts of a typical eukaryotic cell.
Review microscope skills and measure accurately with a microscope.
Explain how a cell’s plasma membrane functions.
Relate size of cell to permeability and efficiency.
Explain the processes of diffusion, osmosis, passive transport, and active transport occur and
why they are important to cells.
Predict the effect of a hypotonic, hypertonic, or isotonic solution on a cell.
Engage in all aspects of scientific investigation, reviewing main components of scientific method.
Unit 4: Cellular Reproduction





Sequence the events of the cell cycle
Describe what occurs in cancer and identify common carcinogens.
Identify all the steps of meiosis and analyze how meiosis maintains a constant number of
chromosomes within a species.
Differentiate between binary fission and mitosis, sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.
Compare and Contrast 2 organisms and the means by which they reproduce.
Unit 5: Cellular Energy








Explain why organisms need a supply of energy and how this energy is stored and released by
ATP.
Relate the structure of chloroplasts to the events in photosynthesis.
Describe light-dependent reactions.
Explain reactions and products of the light-independent Calvin Cycle.
Explain how cells obtain energy from cellular respiration and relate the structures involved.
Explain glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and electron transport chain as part of respiration.
Compare and contrast cellular respiration and fermentation.
Design a lab experiment using Vernier Instruments that illustrates how energy is cycled in plants.
Semester Two
Unit 6: DNA






Analyze the structure of DNA
Determine how the structure of DNA enables it to reproduce itself accurately.
Relate the concept of the gene to the sequences of nucleotides in DNA.
Sequence the steps involved in protein synthesis.
Simulate transcription and translation with code sequence of amino acids.
Categorize the different mutations that can occur in DNA and compare the effects these
different mutations can cause on cells and organisms.
Unit 7: Genetics







Review the steps of meiosis and analyze how meiosis maintains a constant number of
chromosomes within a species.
Analyze the results obtained by Gregor Mendel in his experiments with garden peas. (Use both
monohybrid and dihybrid crosses)
Relate Mendel’s laws of heredity to the events of meiosis.
Predict the possible offspring of a genetic cross by using a Punnett square.
Distinguish between incomplete, codominant alleles, multiple alleles, polygenic and sex-linked
inheritance, and give examples as they appear in humans.
Determine and give examples of human genetic disorders related to recessive alleles, extra
autosomal or sex chromosomes.
Choose a genetics topic to research and share information with the class.
Unit 8: Human Body (Nervous, Immune, Endocrine)



Recognize the functions of the major parts of the nervous system and how it is organized.
Analyze how nerve impulses travel within the nervous system and compare voluntary and
involuntary responses.
Define the role of senses in the human nervous system.







Identify the different classes of drugs and describe the effects of misuse of drugs on the body.
Identify the functions of some of the hormones secreted by the endocrine glands.
Summarize the negative feedback mechanism and contrast the actions of steroid and amino
acid hormones.
Using the endocrine and nervous system, explain the concept of homeostasis.
Compare nonspecific and specific immune responses.
Compare innate and acquired immune responses
Research, design, conduct multiple tests and report on one aspect of the nervous system. You
will turn in a lab report as well as share with the class all of your findings. The design and testing
will be done as a group but EACH individual is responsible for the lab report.
Unit 9: Evolution








Describe the organization of taxa in a biological classification system.
Compare/Contrast the six kingdoms of organisms and classify organisms by characteristics.
Summarize the major events of the Geologic Time Scale.
Analyze early experiments that support the concept of biogenesis.
Compare/Contrast modern theories of the origin of life
Summarize Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
Explain how the structural and physiological adaptations of organisms relate to natural
selection.
Explain various mechanisms of evolution.
Unit 10: Ecology/Plants













Identify and describe the functions of roots, stems, and leaves.
Explain the process of photosynthesis as it relates to plant structures
Describe the process of translocation and transpiration.
Compare the different levels of biological organization and important biotic/abiotic
relationships.
Identify types of symbiosis from examples.
Trace the path of energy and matter in an ecosystem.
Explain how an ecosystem can change with the introduction or elimination of one or more
species.
Analyze how nutrients are cycled in the abiotic and biotic parts of the biosphere.
Sequence the stages of ecological succession.
Identify the main factors of population growth and change.
Relate the reproductive patterns of different populations of organisms to models of population
growth.
Predict effects of environmental factors on populations.
Using Vernier Digital Equipment, design an experiment to test an ecological concept.