DP1 Biology Course Outline Summary

DP1 Biology Course Outline Semester 1-2024-2025

Week 1-4: A: Unity and Diversity: Molecules

  • Essential Idea: Life on Earth has never been possible without water. The structure and functions of biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, and nucleic acids) determine their functions.
  • A1.1 Water: Physical and chemical properties of water make it essential for life. Challenges and opportunities of water as a habitat.
  • A1.2 Nucleic Acids: Structure of DNA facilitates accurate replication.
  • B: Form and Function
  • B1.1 Carbohydrates and Lipids: Diversity in structure and function of carbohydrates and lipids.
  • B1.2 Proteins: Relationship between amino acid sequence and the diversity in form and function of proteins.
  • Objectives/Assorted Content:
    • Students should appreciate that the first cells originated in water and that water remains the medium in which most processes of life occur.
    • Practical work, using models as representations of the real world.
    • Assignments, using models as representations of DNA molecules.
  • Assessments/Activities: Test 1-pp 1A (week 4)

Week 5-8: A: Unity and Diversity: Cells

  • A2.2 Cell Structure: Cell structure and functions/Differences between cells.
  • A2.3 Viruses [HL only]: Explain why viruses are not regarded as living organisms. Diversity of structure in viruses. Evidence for several origins of viruses from other organisms.
  • A2.1 Origins of cells [HL only]: Evidence for a last universal common ancestor. Evolution of multicellularity
  • B: Form and Function
  • Membranes and their functions:
  • B2.1 Membranes and Membrane Transport: Membrane structure and methods of transport across the membrane (osmosis, diffusion, active transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis).
  • B2.2 Organelles and Compartmentalization: Compartmentalization in cells.
  • B2.3 Cell Specialization: Stem cells in multicellular organisms. Cell specialization.
  • Objectives/Assorted Content:
    • Students should be aware that deductive reason can be used to generate predictions from theories. Based on cell theory, a newly discovered organism can be predicted to consist of one or more cells.
    • Microscopy skills.
  • Assessments/Activities:
    • Homework Assignments
    • Group discussions and presentations
    • Test 2-pp2 (week 6)
    • Activity Microscopy SL/HL
    • Test 3-pp 1B (week 8)

Week 9, 10: Mid-Term Break

Week 11-13: Metabolism

  • C: Interaction and Interdependence - Molecules
  • C1.1 Enzymes and Metabolism:
    • Essential Idea: Enzymes interact with other molecules. Students should be able to interpret graphs showing the effects of enzymes.
    • Enzymes as catalysts. Role of enzymes in metabolism. Anabolic and catabolic reactions
    • Relationships between the structure of the active site, enzyme–substrate specificity, and denaturation.
    • Effects of temperature, pH, and substrate concentration on the rate of enzyme activity.
    • HL: Cyclical and linear pathways in metabolism (Use glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the Calvin cycle as examples).
    • HL: Competitive inhibition as a consequence of an inhibitor binding reversibly to an active site.
    • HL: Regulation of metabolic pathways by feedback inhibition.
    • HL: Mechanism-based inhibition as a consequence of chemical changes to the active site caused by the irreversible binding of an inhibitor.
  • C1.2 Cell Respiration:
    • Essential Idea: Energy is distributed and used inside cells.
    • Cell respiration as a system for producing ATP within the cell using energy released from carbon compounds.
    • HL: Role of NAD as a carrier of hydrogen and oxidation by removal of hydrogen during cell respiration.
    • HL: Conversion of glucose to pyruvate by stepwise reactions in glycolysis with a net yield of ATP and reduced NAD.
    • HL: Oxidation and decarboxylation of acetyl groups in the Krebs cycle with a yield of ATP and reduced NAD.
  • C1.3 Photosynthesis:
    • Essential Idea: Energy from sunlight is absorbed and used in photosynthesis. Abiotic factors interact with photosynthesis.
    • Process of photosynthesis.
    • Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis.
    • Light-dependent and light-independent stages of photosynthesis.
    • Regeneration of RuBP in the Calvin cycle using ATP.
  • Assessments/Activities:
    • Homework Assignments
    • Test 4 pp1A (week 12)
    • Formative tests.
    • Homework Assignments
    • Group discussions and presentations

Week 13-14: D: Continuity and Change-Molecules

  • D1.1 DNA Replication:

    • Essential Idea: Appreciate that DNA replication is required for reproduction and for growth and tissue replacement in multicellular organisms. Describe and explain the process of DNA replication.
    • DNA replication as production of exact copies of DNA with identical base sequences.
    • Semi-conservative nature of DNA replication and the role of complementary base pairing.
    • Role of enzymes in DNA replication.
    • Polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis as tools for amplifying and separating DNA.

  • D1.2 Protein Synthesis: Explain the process of protein synthesis.

    • Applications of polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis.
    • DNA profiling for paternity testing.
    • DNA proofreading.
    • Transcription as the synthesis of RNA using a DNA template.
    • Transcription as a process required for the expression of genes.
    • Translation as the synthesis of polypeptides from mRNA.
    • Roles of mRNA, ribosomes, and tRNA in translation.
    • Features of the genetic code.

  • D1.2 Mutations

  • D1.3 Mutations / Gene Editing:

    • D1.2.11 Mutations that change protein structure.
    • Post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotic cells.
    • Recycling of amino acids by proteasomes.
    • Gene mutations as structural changes to genes at the molecular level.
    • Causes and consequences of mutations.
    • Gene knockout as a technique for investigating the function of a gene by changing it to make it inoperative.
    • Use of the CRISPR sequences and the enzyme Cas9 in gene editing.
    • Hypotheses to account for conserved or highly conserved sequences in genes.

  • Assessments/Activities:

    • Test 5 pp2 (week 14)
    • Modelling the DNA replication.
    • Homework Assignments
    • Group discussions and presentations

Week 15-17: End of Semester 1 Exams

IBDP1 Biology Course Outline - Semester 2 (Term 2 & 3) 2024-2025

Term 2 (January-March)

Week 1-4: Metabolism
  • Essential Idea: Metabolic reactions are regulated in response to the cell’s needs.
  • C1.1 Enzymes and Metabolism:
    • Understand the types of metabolism.
    • Role of enzymes in metabolism.
    • Describe how enzymes work.
    • Explain the factors affecting enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
    • Explain the measurements in enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
  • C: Interaction and Interdependence - Molecules
  • C1.1 Enzymes and Metabolism
    • Explain the regulation of metabolic pathways by feedback inhibition.
    • Describe the mechanism-based inhibition as a consequence of chemical changes to the active site caused by the irreversible binding of an inhibitor.
  • C1.2 Cell Respiration:
    • Energy is converted to a usable form in cell respiration.
    • State and explain the differences between anaerobic and aerobic cell respiration in humans.
    • Describe the role of ATP in living organisms.
    • Role of NAD as a carrier of hydrogen and oxidation by removal of hydrogen during cell respiration.
    • Explain the process of glycolysis.
    • Explain anaerobic cell respiration in yeast and its use in brewing and baking.
    • Understand oxidation and decarboxylation of pyruvate as a link reaction in aerobic cell respiration.
    • Oxidation and decarboxylation of acetyl groups in the Krebs cycle with a yield of ATP and reduced NAD.
  • C1.3 Photosynthesis:
    • Light energy is converted into chemical energy.
    • Explain the process of photosynthesis.
    • Describe absorption spectra and action spectra.
    • Explain light-dependent and light-independent stages of photosynthesis.
  • Assessments/Activities:
    • Diagnostic test
    • Homework Assignments
    • Practical work:
      • Yeast Fermentation
      • Chromatography
      • Leaf Disc Experiment
      • Enzyme Inhibitor Experiment-HL ONLY
    • Test 1-PP1 (week 4)
    • Group discussions and presentations
Week 5-6 & 8: D: Continuity and Change - Molecules
  • D1.1 DNA Replication
    • The structure of DNA is ideally suited to its function.
    • Explain how new DNA is produced (semi-conservation).
    • Appreciate that DNA replication is required for reproduction and for growth and tissue replacement in multicellular organisms.
    • Explain the process of DNA replication.
    • Describe the role of enzymes in DNA replication.
    • Understand how knowledge of DNA replication has enabled applications in biotechnology.
  • D1.2 Protein Synthesis
    • Information transferred from DNA to mRNA is translated into an amino acid sequence.
    • Understand transcription as the synthesis of RNA using a DNA template.
    • Describe the process of transcription.
    • Understand translation as the synthesis of polypeptides from mRNA.
    • Explain the process of protein synthesis - translation.
  • Assessments/Activities:
    • Homework Assignments
    • Test 2-PP2 (week 6)
    • Week 6 - IA Brainstorming session
Week 7: Mid-Term Break
Week 8, 9-11: Genetics

  • D1.3 Mutations / Gene Editing

  • D2.2 Gene Expression [HL ONLY]

    • Information stored as a code in DNA is copied onto mRNA.
    • Describe how gene mutation occurs.
    • Explain the consequences of mutation.
    • Mutation as a source of genetic variation.
    • Understand the use of the CRISPR sequences and the enzyme Cas9 in gene editing.
    • Understand the hypotheses to account for conserved or highly conserved sequences in genes.
    • Understand how gene expression is changed in a cell.
    • Explain how patterns of gene expression can be conserved through inheritance.
    • Describe the regulation of transcription by proteins that bind to specific base sequences in DNA.
    • Explain the control of the degradation of mRNA as a means of regulating translation.
    • Understand methylation of the promoter and histones in nucleosomes as examples of epigenetic tags.
    • Describe the examples of environmental effects on gene expression in cells and organisms.

  • Assessments/Activities:

    • Test 3-Pp1B (week 8)
    • Epigenetics
    • Gene Linkage
    • Biotechnology-HL
    • SL: Review Genetics

Term 3 (April-June)

Week 1-4

  • D2.1 Cell and Nuclear Division

  • D3.2 Inheritance

    • Alleles segregate during meiosis allowing new combinations to be formed by the fusion of gametes. Every living organism inherits a blueprint for life from its parents. Genes may be linked or unlinked and are inherited accordingly.
    • Describe how large numbers of genetically identical cells can be produced.
    • Explain how eukaryotes produce genetically varied cells that can develop into gametes.
    • Phases of the cell cycle.
    • Explain the phases of mitosis and meiosis.
    • Distinguish between mitosis and meiosis.
    • Explain the roles of mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotes.
    • Explain the patterns of inheritance exist in plants and animals.
    • Understand the molecular basis of inheritance patterns.
    • Production of haploid gametes in parents and their fusion to form a diploid zygote as the means of inheritance.
    • Describe the effects of dominant and recessive alleles on phenotype.
    • Understand ways of presenting genetic information.
    • Explain inheritance of ABO blood groups as an example of multiple alleles.
    • Describe sex determination in humans and inheritance of genes on sex chromosomes.
    • Explain sex linkages in humans.
    • Understand how Pedigree charts are used to deduce patterns of inheritance of genetic disorders.

  • Assessments/Activities:

    • Test 1-PP1 (week 3)
    • Formative tests.
    • Homework Assignments
    • Group discussions and presentations
Week 5-9: D3.1 Reproduction
  • Sexual reproduction involves the development and fusion of haploid gametes. Reproduction in flowering plants is influenced by the biotic and abiotic environment.
    • Suggest how asexual or sexual reproduction exemplify themes of change or continuity.
    • Explain the changes within organisms that are required for reproduction.
    • Describe the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction.
    • Explain the role of meiosis and fusion of gametes in the sexual life cycle.
    • Outline the differences between male and female sexes in sexual reproduction.
    • Describe the structure of the male and female reproductive systems.
    • Explain the role of hormones in the menstrual cycle and reproduction.
    • Explain the use of hormones in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
    • Explain the process of spermatogenesis and oogenesis in humans.
    • D3.1.8 Sexual reproduction in flowering plants
      • Describe the structure of wind and insect-pollinated flowers.
      • Explain the types of pollination.
      • Explain the process of fertilization.
      • Explain how self-incompatibility mechanisms increase genetic variation within a species
      • Describe dispersal and germination of seeds
  • Assessments/Activities:
    • Test 2-PP2 (week 5)
    • Test 3-Practical skills (week 7)
    • Formative tests.
    • Homework Assignments
    • Group discussions and presentations
Week 10-12: Revision & End of Year Examinations
  • Essential agreements:
    • Arrive on time for lessons - Time management/self-management skills.
    • Have everything ready for each lesson - organization skills.
    • Maintain lab partners/study buddy/friend.
    • Effective collaboration - Skill for effective learning and application of knowledge.
    • Home learning tasks must be submitted on time.
    • No refilling water during the lesson.
    • We will be open-minded and principled when interacting with others.