2: Describe the biochemical basis of life and explain how energy flows within and between the living systems.

2.a: Explain and compare with the use of examples the types of bond formation (e.g., covalent, ionic, hydrogen, etc.) between or among atoms.

2.a.1: Subatomic particles and arrangement in atoms

Element Builder

2.c: Classify solutions as acidic, basic, or neutral and relate the significance of the pH scale on an organism?s survival (e.g., consequences of having different concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxide ions).

pH Analysis
pH Analysis: Quad Color Indicator

2.d: Compare and contrast the structure, properties, and principal functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in living organisms.

2.d.1: Basic chemical composition of each group

RNA and Protein Synthesis

2.d.3: Basic functions (e.g., energy, storage, cellular, heredity) of each group

RNA and Protein Synthesis

2.g: Analyze and explain the biochemical process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration and draw conclusions about the roles of the reactant and products in each.

2.g.1: Photosynthesis and respiration (reactants and products)

Cell Energy Cycle
Photosynthesis Lab

2.g.2: Light-dependent reactions and light independent reactions in photosynthesis, including requirements and products of each

Cell Energy Cycle
Photosynthesis Lab

2.g.3: Aerobic and anaerobic processes in cellular respiration, including products each and energy differences

Cell Energy Cycle

3: Investigate and evaluate the interaction between living organisms and their environment.

3.b: Provide examples to justify the interdependence among environmental elements.

3.b.1: Biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem (e.g., water, carbon, oxygen, mold, leaves)

Pond Ecosystem

3.b.2: Energy flow in ecosystems (e.g., energy pyramids and photosynthetic organisms to herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers)

Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem

3.b.4: Interrelationships of organisms (e.g., cooperation, predation, parasitism, commensalism, symbiosis, and mutualism)

Food Chain

3.c: Examine and evaluate the significance of natural events and human activities on major ecosystems (e.g., succession, population growth, technology, loss of genetic diversity, consumption of resources).

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Pond Ecosystem

4: Analyze and explain the structures and function of the levels of biological organization.

4.a: Differentiate among plant and animal cells and eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

4.a.1: Functions of all major cell organelles and structures (e.g., nucleus, mitochondrion, rough ER, smooth ER, ribosomes, Golgi bodies, vesicles, lysosomes, vacuoles, microtubules, microfiliaments, chloroplast, cytoskeleton, centrioles, nucleolus, chromosomes, nuclear membrane, cell wall, cell membrane [active and passive transport], cytosol)

Cell Energy Cycle
Cell Structure
Paramecium Homeostasis
RNA and Protein Synthesis

4.c: Differentiate between types of cellular reproduction.

4.c.1: Main events in the cell cycle and cell mitosis (including differences in plant and animal cell divisions

Cell Division

5: Demonstrate an understanding of the molecular basis of heredity.

5.a: Analyze and explain the molecular basis of heredity and the inheritance of traits to successive generations by using the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology.

5.a.1: Structures of DNA and RNA

Building DNA
RNA and Protein Synthesis

5.a.2: Processes of replication, transcription, and translation

Building DNA
RNA and Protein Synthesis

5.a.3: Messenger RNA codon charts

RNA and Protein Synthesis

5.b: Utilize Mendel?s laws to evaluate the results of monohybrid Punnett squares involving complete dominance, incomplete dominance, codominance, sex linked, and multiple alleles (including outcome percentage of both genotypes and phenotypes.)

Chicken Genetics
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Microevolution
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)

5.c: Examine inheritance patterns using current technology (e.g., pedigrees, karyotypes, gel electrophoresis).

DNA Analysis
Human Karyotyping

5.d: Discuss the characteristics and implications of both chromosomal and gene mutations.

5.d.2: Occurrence and significance of genetic disorders such as sickle cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disorder, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Downs Syndrome, color blindness

Human Karyotyping

6: Demonstrate an understanding of principles that explain the diversity of life and biological evolution.

6.a: Draw conclusions about how organisms are classified into a hierarchy of groups and subgroups based on similarities that reflect their evolutionary relationships.

6.a.4: Methods of sexual reproduction (e.g., conjugation, fertilization, pollination)

Pollination: Flower to Fruit

6.d: Analyze and explain the roles of natural selection, including the mechanisms of speciation (e.g., mutations, adaptations, geographic isolation) and applications of speciation (e.g., pesticide and antibiotic resistance).

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric