First Semester Objectives

Unit: Biochemistry
Topic: Intro – Science as a way of learning
Textbook Source: Biology – A Guide to the Natural World (Krogh 3rd ed)
 Chapter 1, pages 2 – 17. 

Objectives: Students will be able to:

  1. Describe why it is important to acquire a basic knowledge of Biology
  2. Explain the scientific method
  3. Differentiate between theory and hypothesis.
  4. Define life and the hierarchy of living things
  5. Explain the role of evolution as a unifying theme of Biology

Topic: Chemistry and Life
Textbook Source:  Biology – A Guide to the Natural World (Krogh 3rd ed)
Chapter 2 – pages 18 - 33

Objectives: Students will be able to:

  1. Distinguish between an atom, a molecule, an element, a compound, an ion, and an isotope.
  2. Explain the nature of matter and why different substances are fundamentally different.
  3. Describe the subatomic particles – protons, neutrons, and electrons – their weight charge, location and interactions with each other.
  4. Predict if elements will react and what type bonds they make based on their number of electrons.
  5. Differentiate between a molecular and structural formula.
  6. Describe the 3 types of bond – ionic, covalent, and hydrogen.
  7. Differentiate between polar and nonpolar covalent bonds.
  8. Explain the solubility of molecules in a solution.
  9. Describe free radicals and their importance to the cell.

Topic: Water, pH and Biological Molecules
Textbook Source:  Biology – A Guide to the Natural World (Krogh 3rd ed)
Chapter 3 – pages 34 - 67

Objectives: Students will be able to:

  1. Predict how a molecule will interact with water
  2. Define an acid and a base.
  3. Identify substances as acids or bases based on pH.
  4. Describe how acid rain forms and its effects.
  5. List the  four types of large organic molecules of living things and identify the following characteristics
    a) elements and basic structure of each organic molecule.
    b) building blocks (monomers) of each organic molecule.
    c) food sources  and examples of each organic molecule,.
    d) function(s) of each type in living organisms.
    e) reagent tests for each organic molecules and vitamin C and salt

  6. Discuss the different types of fats and their place in our diets.

  7. Describe the role of (synthesis, decomposition, and metabolism)
    dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis in building up and tearing down
    organic compounds

Unit: Cells
Topic: Microscope usage, cell organelles, and cell functions.  
Textbook Source: Biology - A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 4-pages 68-97 

Objectives: Students will be able to…  

1.   Identify the components and accurately use a compound light microscope.
2.   Use basic definitions to classify cells as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
3.   Describe the structure and function of eukaryotic organelles.
4.   Describe the process of protein production in a cell.
5.   Describe the process of cellular recycling.
6.   Describe the differences between a plant and an animal cell.
7.   Describe how cells communicate with surrounding cells.
8.   Describe the cellular structures that maintain cell shape and allow for movement.
9.   Identify structures of a cell using a compound light microscope.
10. Distinguish between animal and plant cells using a compound light microscope.
 

Unit: Cells
Topic: The Plasma Membrane 
Textbook Source: Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 5 – pages 98 – 117

Objectives: Students will be able to…  

      1.   Describe the basic structure and composition of the plasma membrane.
      2.   Describe the functions of each component of the plasma membrane.
      3.   Define the term semipermeable and relate to the plasma membrane.
      4.   Provide examples of substances that are allowed passage and denied passage through
            the plasma membrane.
      5.   Define the terms solute, solvent, and concentration gradient.
      6.   Define and provide an example for passive and active transport.
      7.   Differentiate between hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solutions.
      8.   Describe the process of exocytosis.
      9.   Describe the three types of endocytosis: pinocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis,
             and phagocytosis.

Unit:  Energy and its Transformations
Topic: Introduction to Energy
Textbook Source:   Biology – A Guide to the Natural World, Krogh, 3rd edition
Chapter 6, pages 118 – 131 / p. 410   Modes of Nutrition 

Objectives:  Students will be able to: 

  1. Define energy.
  1. Explain how energy is used by living things.
  1. Differentiate between exergonic and endergonic reactions and explain why reactions are coupled in living organisms.
  1. Explain how ATP serves as energy currency
  1. Explain why enzymes are so critical to living organisms and how enzymes function to hasten reactions.
  1. Explain the relationship between cellular respiration and photosynthesis by analyzing the Relationship between plant and animal Demo.
  1. Define autotrophy and heterotrophy.

Unit:  Energy and its Transformations
Topic: Cellular Respiration
Textbook Source:  Biology – A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 7, pages 132 -151

Objectives:  Students will be able to: 

  1. Explain how one exergonic reaction can fuel an endergonic reaction and how ATP and glucose metabolism fit together.
  1. Explain how electrons can be transferred between molecules, how electron carrier molecules work and why these reactions can help transfer energy.
  1. Explain where glycolysis occurs, what compounds are (or are not) required as starting materials, what compounds are generated and what organisms use this process as a sole source of energy.
  1. Explain why fermentation is performed in certain cells, where and when it occurs, what compounds are required and what compounds are generated.
  1. Follow the series of mitochondrial reactions from acetyl CoA formation, to the Krebs cycle and then to the electron transport chain.
  1. Describe how energy is trapped at each stage, where the majority of ATP is produced and how and why oxygen is required.

Unit:  Energy and its Transformations
Topic: Photosynthesis
Textbook Source:  Biology – A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 8, pages 132 -151 

Objectives:  Students will be able to: 

  1. Explain where photosynthesis occurs, what organisms can perform photosynthesis and why photosynthesis is so important for life on Earth.
  1. Explain why photosynthesis is broken down into two different stages and what each of the reactions achieves.
  1. Follow the series of steps where light energy is trapped by pigment molecules.
  1. Describe how light energy is transferred to electrons, carried by transfer molecules and used to generate ATP and NADPH.
  1. Understand what compounds are (or are not) required as starting materials for photosynthesis and what compounds are generated.
  1. Follow the series of Calvin cycle reactions and explain why they are performed.
  1. Describe why carbon dioxide, ATP and NADPH are required in the Calvin cycle.
  1. Explain why plants have problems dealing with water loss and temperature and describe two mechanisms plants have evolved to deal with these problems.

 Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: Genes, Mitosis, and Cytokinesis
Textbook Source:  Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
 Chapter 9, pages 170 – 189.

Objectives:    Students will be able to:

   1. Describe the connection between DNA, genes, and protein synthesis.
   2.  Describe the major steps in DNA replication.
   3.  Describe how DNA is packaged into chromosome.
   4.  Identify homologous chromosomes and karyotypes.
   5   Identify the major characteristics of the GO, G1, S and G2 phases of the cell cycle.
   6.  Identify the major characteristics of each of the phases of mitosis.
   7.  Differentiate between mitosis and cytokinesis.
   8.  Identify similarities and differences in mitosis of plant and animal cells.
   9.  Describe the process of cell division in prokaryotes.
  10. Describe the role of oncogenes in some cancers.

Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: Meiosis
Textbook Source:  Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 10, pages 190 – 205.

 Objectives:   Students will be able to:

1. Explain the purpose, importance, and major characteristics of the process of meiosis.
2. Identify similarities and differences between mitosis and meiosis.
3. Correctly use the following terms when describing the major events of phases of meiosis.
            Gametes                      Sperm   Homolog (Homologous)           Diploid (2n)
            Ovum (egg)                   Gonad             Haploid (monoploid) (n)           Ovary
            Testis                           Tetrad             Synapsis
4. Describe crossing over and independent assortment.
5. Describe the major events of spermatogenesis and oogenesis.
6. Identify major differences in the formation of gametes in human males and females.

 Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: Mendel and His Discoveries
Textbook Source: Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 11, pages 206 - 229

Objectives:   Students will be able to:

1.  Describe Mendel’s work with garden peas.
2.  Distinguish between an allele and a gene and give an example.
3.  Describe how Mendel’s principle of dominant / recessive, law of segregation and law of  
       independent assortment were deduced from his pea experiments.
4.  Apply the principles of probability to genetic problems.
5.  Use the following genetic terminology correctly:
     Homozygous (Purebred)                 Dominant
     Heterozygous (Hybrid)                   Recessive
     Genotype                                       P,  F1,  F2   Generation
     Phenotype                                      Dihybrid
     Allele                                              Trait
     Gene                                              Carrier
6. Show work while using the Punnett square or the FOIL method to solve the following types of genetic
     problems:
        One trait problems.
·        Codominance.
·        Incomplete Dominance.
·        Multiple allele.
·        Reverse problems.
·        Two trait problems.
·        Multifactorial problems.
·        Combination problems
7. Recognize traits that exhibit ‘non-mendelian’ types of inheritance.

 Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: Chromosomes and Inheritance
Textbook Source: Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 12, pages 230 - 249

 Objectives:   Students will be able to:

1. Describe X-linked inheritance and solve X-linked problems.
2. Identify several X-linked, and autosomal genetic traits (or disorders).
3. Construct a pedigree chart and use the chart to determine the type of inheritance exhibited by a trait.
4. Recognize genetic disorders that result from polyploidy and aneuploidy.
5. Interpret a karyotypes to determine a patient’s sex and chromosome number.
6. Describe nondisjunction and its impact on genetic disorders.
7. Recognize genetic disorders that result from structural aberrations in chromosomes.
8. Describe benefits to pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and identify ethical questions that
     this procedure raises.
9. Describe contributions of Thomas Hunt Morgan to genetics.

 Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: DNA Structure and Replication
Textbook Source: Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 13, pages 250 – 261.

 Objectives:   Students will be able to:

1.  Describe the major components of the Watson-Crick model of the double helix.
2.  Describe major characteristics of the semiconservative replication of DNA.
3.  Identify the roles of helicases and DNA polymerase in DNA replication.
4.  Describe how base pairing errors of replication are edited out.
5.  Recognize how mutations occur and examples of resulting conditions.
6.  Describe the contributions of Beadle and Tatum to our understanding of how genes work.

 Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: Genetic Transcription, Translation and Regulation
Textbook Source: Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 14, pages 262 – 283.

 Objectives:   Students will be able to:

1. Describe basic information about proteins.
2. Explain the purpose of transcription, and describe the differences between  RNA and DNA.
3. Distinguish between introns and exons in the processing of RNA transcript.
4. Describe the steps of translation and protein sysnthesis , including the location of each event and
     the  role of mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, ribosomes and amino acids.
5. Distinguish between codons and anticodons.
6. Describe major characteristics of ribosomes.
7. Define a gene.
8. Describe how genes are regulated using the lac operon as an example.
9. Recognize major characteristics of the ‘Genetic Code Dictionary’ for triplet codes.
10. Describe possible value in “Junk” DNA.

Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology
Topic: Biotechnology
Textbook Source: Biology : A Guide to the Natural World
Chapter 15, pages 286 – 306

 Objectives:   Students will be able to:

1. Define biotechnology.
2. Describe the role of restriction enzymes, plasmids, and bacteriophages in creating transgenic
     organisms.
3. Describe the steps involved in transformation of human genes into a plasmid.
4. Describe the basic technique used to create a clone of a mammal.
5. Describe PCR.
6. Recognize how STR patterns are used in DNA typing for forensics purposes.
7. Describe the major uses of biotechnology, giving examples of how it can help improve human
     health of the environment.
8. Discuss ethical concerns raised by biotechnology.

 

This page was last updated on:09/27/2007