Honors Biology Notes

Term I

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER)

• Identify the parts of a CER.
• Construct a CER given data or an experimental design.

Chemistry Reminders

• Atomic Structure: Describe the structure of an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• Key Elements of Life: Identify the six key elements of life: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur (CHNOPS).
• Chemical Bonds:
  • Describe ionic bonds (transfer of electrons).
  • Describe covalent bonds (sharing of electrons).
  • Describe hydrogen bonds (weak attraction between polar molecules).
• Water as a Unique Molecule:
  • Identify the properties that make water unique, such as cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, and solvent properties.
  • Describe the biological implications of water’s polarity, including its ability to dissolve polar substances and its role in temperature regulation.
• Molecules vs. Compounds: Describe the difference between a molecule (two or more atoms bonded together) and a compound (two or more different elements bonded together).
• Acids, Bases, and pH: Describe the difference between acidic, neutral, and basic substances, and relate this to the pH scale.

Chemistry of Life: Biological Molecules

• Four Biological Molecules: Identify the four biological molecules: lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.
• Monomers/Subunits: Identify the smaller monomer or subunit that each organic molecule is composed of (e.g., amino acids for proteins, monosaccharides for carbohydrates).
• Identification: Identify the organic molecules by composition, picture, and/or function.
• Description: Write a description of each organic molecule including its function and composition.
• Importance of Carbon: Discuss the importance of carbon in organic molecules, including its ability to form four covalent bonds and create diverse structures.

Enzymes

• Enzyme Function: Describe how an enzyme functions as a biological catalyst, speeding up reactions by lowering activation energy.
• Enzyme Interactions: Describe how enzymes interact with other molecules, including substrates and products.
• Importance of Enzymes: Explain the importance of enzymes in living organisms, including their role in metabolism and other biological processes.
• Hydrolysis vs. Dehydration Synthesis:
  • Compare and contrast hydrolysis (addition of water to break bonds) and dehydration synthesis (removal of water to form bonds).
  • Identify whether or not a reaction is hydrolysis or dehydration synthesis.
• Factors Affecting Enzyme Function: Explain how temperature, concentration, and pH affect enzyme function.
• Catabolic vs. Anabolic Reactions: Explain the difference between a catabolic reaction (breaking down molecules) and an anabolic reaction (building up molecules).
• Enzyme Function Diagram: Draw a series of pictures demonstrating how an enzyme functions, including substrate binding, transition state, and product release.
• Enzyme Inhibition: Explain enzyme inhibition and the different forms it takes, such as competitive and non-competitive inhibition.
• Metabolism and Enzyme Function: Describe the relationship between metabolism and enzyme function.
• Enzyme Activity Outside Optimal Conditions: Describe how enzyme activity changes outside of the optimal conditions.
• Cofactors and Coenzymes: Explain the role co-factors (inorganic ions) and coenzymes (organic molecules) play in enzyme function.

Digestion

• Organs of the Digestive System: Identify and correctly place in order the organs of the digestive system (mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, salivary glands).
• Mechanical vs. Chemical Digestion: Identify where chemical and mechanical digestion occur.
• Function of Digestive Organs: Describe the function of the organs of the digestive system (mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, salivary glands).
• Breakdown of Organic Molecules: Identify where in the digestive system each of the organic molecules are broken down.
• Macromolecule Conversion: Explain how the digestive system (mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, pancreas, salivary glands) converts macromolecules from food into smaller molecules that can be used by cells for energy and for repair and growth.
• Enzymes in Digestion: Explain the role enzymes play in digestion (amylase, pepsin, lipase).
• Diversity in Animal Digestive Systems: Describe how digestive systems vary in the animal kingdom.

Characteristics of Life

• Eight Characteristics of Life: Identify and recognize the 8 characteristics of life (e.g., reproduction, adaptation, cells, etc).
• Interpretation: Interpret, from a passage, what characteristics of life are exhibited and which ones are missing.

Ecological Organization

• Terminology Sequence: Sequence the terminology used to describe ecological organization (organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere).

Energy Flow

• Energy Flow Description: Be able to describe how energy flows through an ecosystem (sun → producers → consumers).
• Ecological Pyramids: Explain how ecological pyramids work, all three types (energy, biomass, numbers).
• Food Webs and Pyramids: Make and interpret food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramids.
• Pyramid Creation: Create ecological pyramids using an ecosystem description.
• 10% Rule: Explain the 10% rule (only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next).
• Bioaccumulation: Describe bioaccumulation, and explain an example of bioaccumulation (accumulation of toxins within an organism).
• Biomagnification: Describe biomagnification, and explain an example of biomagnification (increase in concentration of toxins as you move up the food chain).
• Toxin Accumulation: Determine which members of a food chain or food web would have the greatest accumulation of toxins due to biomagnification.

Community Interactions

• Abiotic vs. Biotic: Contrast and exemplify abiotic (non-living) versus biotic (living) components of an ecosystem.
• Keystone Species: Explain the importance of keystone species and provide an example of one (e.g., sea otters).
• Trophic Cascades: Explain how trophic cascades occur (effects on subsequent trophic levels after the removal or addition of a top predator).
• Positive and Negative Relationships: Identify the positive and negative relationships between community members (e.g., predator-prey).
• Habitat vs. Niche: Contrast and exemplify an organisms’ habitat (where it lives) versus its’ niche (its role in the ecosystem).
• Types of Symbiosis: Identify and explain the various types of symbiosis: parasitism, commensalism & mutualism.
• Intraspecific vs. Interspecific Competition: Contrast and exemplify intraspecific competition (within a species) with interspecific competition (between different species).
• Parasitism vs. Predation: Compare and contrast parasitism with predation.
• Avoiding Predation: Discuss how organisms avoid predation.
• Defense Mechanisms: Discuss examples of camouflage, mimicry (Batesian and Mullerian), mechanical and chemical defenses.

Herbivory Avoidance

• Discuss how plants avoid herbivory.

Populations

• Logistic vs. Exponential Growth: Describe a population as exhibiting logistic or exponential growth.
• Causes of Growth Patterns: Describe what causes logistic growth or exponential growth.
• Carrying Capacity: Describe carrying capacity and explain what causes carrying capacity to be reached.
• Population Change Calculation: Calculate population change (births + immigration - deaths - emigration).
• Population Density Calculation: Calculate Population density (number of individuals / area).
• Limiting Factors: Explain what a limiting factor is.
• Density Dependent vs. Independent Factors: Differentiate between density dependent (e.g., competition, disease) and density independent limiting factors (e.g., natural disasters).
• Effect of Limiting Factors: Describe how limiting factors affect populations.
• Dynamic Equilibrium: Describe dynamic equilibrium (population size fluctuates around carrying capacity).
• K & R Reproductive Strategies: Describe the K & R Reproductive strategies, provide examples of each strategy.

Biomes

• Characterizing Components: Describe the characterizing components of the various terrestrial biomes (temperature, precipitation, vegetation).
• Biome Identification: Identify terrestrial biomes from written descriptions.
• Aquatic Biomes Identification: Identify each of the aquatic biomes and describe how you would categorize them (salinity, depth, flow).
• Pond Zones: Identify the zones found in a pond on a picture or with a written description (littoral, limnetic, profundal).

Biogeochemical Cycles

• Biogeochemical Cycle Definition: Explain what a biogeochemical cycle is (movement of a substance through biotic and abiotic compartments).
• Water Cycle: Describe how water circulates between the biotic and abiotic.
• Carbon Cycle: Describe how carbon travels through the carbon cycle (process, changing molecules).
• Carbon Reservoirs & Fluxes: Identify carbon reservoirs (atmosphere, oceans, fossil fuels) and fluxes (photosynthesis, respiration, combustion).
• Cycle Differences: Describe how the water cycle is different from the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus cycle.
• Carbon Cycle Description: Describe the Carbon cycle.
• Role of Autotrophs: Explain the role autotrophs play in the carbon cycle (fix carbon via photosynthesis).
• Abiotic and Biotic Factors: Discuss abiotic and biotic factors affecting the circulation of carbon.
• Short vs. Long Carbon Cycle: Describe the short carbon cycle compared to the long carbon cycle (fossil fuel formation).
• Carbon vs. Hydrolytic Cycle: Compare and contrast the carbon and hydrolytic cycle
• Global Warming: Describe what global warming is and what causes global warming (increase in greenhouse gases).
• Carbon Cycle & Climate Change: Explain how the carbon cycle is linked to climate change.

Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles

• Nitrogen Cycle: Describe how nitrogen moves through biotic and abiotic.
• Role of Bacteria in Nitrogen Cycle: Explain how living things rely on bacteria to get the nitrogen they need (nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification).
• Why Organisms Need Nitrogen: Explain why organisms need nitrogen (proteins, nucleic acids).
• Phosphorus Cycle: Describe how phosphorous moves through biotic and abiotic.
• Obtaining Phosphorus: Explain how organisms rely on plants to obtain the phosphorous needed.
• Why Organisms Need Phosphorus: Explain why organisms need phosphorus (DNA, ATP, phospholipids).

Primary Productivity

• Primary Productivity Description: Describe primary productivity and how various abiotic factors affect primary productivity (light, temperature, nutrients).
• Productivity Prediction: Predict how primary productivity would change provided various situations of changing abiotic factors.

Human Impact

• Invasive Species: Explain what an invasive species is and how it impacts the environment.
• Invasive Species Example: Describe an example of an invasive species (e.g., zebra mussels).
• Bioaccumulation: Describe bioaccumulation, and explain an example of bioaccumulation
• Biomagnification: Describe biomagnification, and explain an example of biomagnification
• Toxin Accumulation: Determine which members of a food chain or food web would have the greatest accumulation of toxins due to biomagnification
• HIPPCO: Identify the parts of HIPPCO (Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Population growth, Pollution, Climate change, Overexploitation).
• Reducing Human Impact: Determine how you can make choices that reduce the impact of humans through HIPPCO.
• Tragedy of the Commons: Explain what the Tragedy of the Commons is (shared resource is depleted due to individual self-interest).

Human Population Growth

• Demographic Transition Model: Explain the demographic transition model and describe what factors cause the transitions (birth rates, death rates, economic development).
• Factors in Exponential Growth: Explain the events, factors, that have allowed the human population to grow exponentially (medical advances, agriculture ).
• Age Structure Diagrams: Interpret an age structure diagram and use an age structure diagram to predict future population growth.
• Model Phase Determination: Determine which phase of the demographic transition model a country occupies given population growth data.

Succession

• Primary and Secondary Succession Examples: Identify examples of primary succession and secondary succession.
• Succession Sequence: Describe the sequence of events and plants that would colonize an area during succession (pioneer, seral, and climax).
• Primary vs. Secondary Succession: Compare and Contrast primary and secondary succession.
• Ozone Depletion: Describe what ozone depletion is and what causes ozone depletion (CFCs).

Term II

Introduction to Cells

• Prokaryote vs. Eukaryote: Describe the major differences between a prokaryote and a eukaryote and provide an example of each.
• Prokaryote vs. Eukaryote Distinction: Distinguish between a Prokaryote and a Eukaryote.
• Plant vs. Animal Cell: Distinguish between a plant and animal cell.
• Cell Theory: List the three parts of the cell theory (all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, all cells come from pre-existing cells).

Cell Organelles

• Organelle Function: Describe the function of each organelle found in a cell.
• Organelle Recognition: Recognize a drawing of the organelle.
• Organelle Analogies: Create and interpret analogies of the cell organelles & parts.

Microscope Use

• Specimen Location: Use a microscope to find a specimen and focus under each of the objectives.
• Microscope Usage: Explain how to use a microscope.

Viruses

• Virus Identification: Identify a virus based on structure.
• Living vs. Non-living: Explain whether a virus is alive or not. Provide evidence to support your explanation.
• Viral Reproduction: Describe how viruses reproduce.
• Lytic vs. Lysogenic Cycles: Distinguish between the lytic and lysogenic cycles.
• Virus vs. Cell: Compare a virus to a cell.

Cell Membrane

• Cell Membrane Parts: Identify the parts of the cell membrane (phospholipid bilayer, proteins, carbohydrates).
• Cell Membrane Functions: Describe the functions of the cell membrane (selective permeability, transport, cell signaling).
• Structure-Function Relationship: Relate the structure of the cell membrane to the functions of the cell membrane.
• Cell Membrane Diagram: Draw diagram of the cell membrane

Cell Transport

• Active vs. Passive Transport: Distinguish between active and passive transport.
• Osmosis: Explain osmosis.
• Tonicity: Identify whether a solution is hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic compared to another solution.
• Water Movement: Determine which way water will move in differing scenarios and be able to use appropriate terminology in your explanation.
• Homeostasis Maintenance: Explain how a cell membrane maintains homeostasis.
• Cell Changes in Different Environments: Determine how cells will change when placed in different environments.

Osmotic Balance

• Dehydration and Hyponatremia: Describe dehydration and hyponatremia
• Dehydration and Hyponatremia Situations: Explain the situation in which dehydration and hyponatremia arise.

Respiratory System

• Path of Air: Describe the path air takes into the body (nose/mouth → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli).
• Diaphragm Action: Describe how the diaphragm contracts and relaxes to cause inhalation and exhalation.
• Gas Exchange: Explain how gas exchange occurs (diffusion of O2 and CO2 in the alveoli).
• Purpose of Alveoli: Explain the purpose of alveoli (increase surface area for gas exchange).
• Respiratory System Effectiveness: Identify which organisms have the most effective respiratory system and explain how crosscurrent flow leads to their efficient gas exchange.
• Breathing Underwater vs. Air: Determine the advantages and disadvantages of breathing underwater or in air.
• Desiccation Adaptations: Describe adaptations organisms have for preventing desiccation.

Circulatory System

• Open vs. Closed Circulatory System: Distinguish between an open circulatory system and a closed circulatory system.
• Heart Chamber Efficiency: Describe how increasing heart chambers leads to a more efficient pump (heart).
• Circulatory System Components: List the components of the circulatory system and describe their function (heart, blood vessels, blood).
• Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries: Compare and contrast arteries, veins and capillaries.
• Path of Blood Through Heart: Describe the path blood takes through the heart (right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary vein → left atrium → left ventricle → aorta).
• Pressure Changes: Discuss how pressure changes throughout the circulatory system.

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis Equation: Write out the equation for photosynthesis and identify the products and reactants of the light reactions and light independent reactions. (6CO2 + 6H2O +
  ewline Sunlight
  ewline
  ewline
  ewline
  ewline
  ewline
  ewline → C6H{12}O6 + 6O2)
• Molecular Changes: Identify how the molecules involved in photosynthesis change throughout the reactions.
• Chloroplast Structure: Describe the structure of a chloroplast and identify the parts of this organelle (thylakoids, grana, stroma).
• Structure-Function Relationship: Relate the structure of a chloroplast to the organelle’s function.
• Light Wavelengths: Explain which wavelengths of light are most useful to green plants.
• Role of Water: Describe the role water plays in the Light Dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis.
• NADPH Generation: Describe how NADPH is generated.
• ATP Generation: Describe how ATP is generated.
• Oxygen Production: Explain how oxygen is produced during photosynthesis.
• Calvin Cycle Steps: Briefly describe the three steps of the Calvin Cycle.
• Light Independent Reactions Dependence: Explain how the Light Independent Reactions depend on the Light Dependent Reactions.
• Factors Limiting Photosynthesis: What factors limit photosynthesis?
• Disruptions in Photosynthesis: Describe specifically how each of these factors may lead to a disruption in photosynthesis.
• Physical Adaptations: Describe several physical adaptations plants have to deal with environmental conditions that impact photosynthesis.
• C3, CAM, and C4 Plants: Compare and contrast, C3 plants, CAM plants and C4 plants
• Environments for CAM and C4 Plants: Explain which environments CAM plants and C4 plants are best suited to survive in.

Cellular Respiration

• Cellular Respiration Equation: Write out the equation for cellular respiration. (C6H{12}O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O +
  ewline Energy(ATP))
• Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Respiration: Distinguish between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.
• Mitochondria Diagram: Draw and label a mitochondria.
• Metabolic Processes: Identify the major accomplishments of each of the metabolic processes involved in aerobic respiration (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain).
• ATP Production: Identify the amount of ATP made in each of the metabolic processes involved in aerobic respiration.
• Need to Breathe: Explain why we need to breath.(specifically what is the oxygen breathed in used to do)
• Reactant Usage: Identify where (in what process) and how the reactants of aerobic respiration are used.
• Product Production: Identify where (in what process) and how the products of aerobic respiration are produced.
• Functions of Fermentation: Describe the functions of fermentation.
• Types of Fermentation: Compare and contrast the two types of fermentation (lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation).
• Mitochondria Form and Function: Describe how the form of the mitochondria relates to its function.
• Cellular Respiration vs. Photosynthesis: Compare and contrast cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
• Similarities in Reactions: Explain the similarities in reactions and processes between photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
• ATP Molecule: Recognize the ATP molecule and explain how energy is kept in it.

Term III

DNA Structure

• DNA Parts: Identify the parts of the structure of DNA (nucleotides, sugar-phosphate backbone, nitrogenous bases).
• DNA Diagram: Sketch a diagram of DNA.
• Major Contributors: List the major contributors to the discovery of DNA and what the contribution was (Watson and Crick, Franklin, Chargaff).
• Complementary Base Pairing: Describe complementary base pairing (A with T, C with G).
• Chargaff’s Rule: Explain Chargaff’s rule (amount of A = T, amount of C = G).
• DNA Directionality: Explain how directionality of DNA is determined (5’ and 3’ ends).

DNA Replication

• Role of Complementary Base Pairing: Describe the role of complementary base pairing in DNA Replication.
• Role of Enzymes: Describe the role enzymes play in DNA Replication (DNA polymerase, helicase, ligase).
• Leading vs. Lagging Strands: Compare the leading and lagging strands in DNA Replication.
• Semi-Conservative Replication: Explain how DNA replication is semi-conservative.

Cell Cycle

• Cell Cycle Parts: List the major parts of the cell cycle and briefly describe what happens in each (Interphase, Mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase), Cytokinesis).
• Cell Cycle Phases Identification: Identify the phases of the cell cycle in drawings or photographs (Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis).
• Mitosis Parts Labeling: Be able to label the parts of a cell going through the phases of mitosis.
• Reasons for Cell Division: Explain why cells may need to divide (growth, repair, reproduction).
• Checkpoints: Identify the checkpoints and what is verified at each point (G1, G2, M).
• Cell Cycle Control: Describe how the cell cycle is controlled (cyclins, Cdks).
• Cyclins and Cdks: How do the concentrations of cyclins and Cdks change through the cell cycle.
• Role of p53: Briefly explain the role of p53 in the cell cycle (tumor suppressor gene).
• Loss of Cell Cycle Control: Describe the result of losing control of the cell cycle (cancer).

Cell Differentiation

• Cell Differentiation Description: Describe what cell differentiation is.
• Reasons for Cell Specialization: Explain why cells specialize.
• Cell Potency: Identify the difference between totipotent, multipotent and differentiated cells.

Meiosis & Fertilization

• Meiosis Phases: Identify the phases of meiosis
• Meiosis Order: Place the phases of meiosis in chronological order.
• Meiosis Objectives: Identify the objectives of meiosis (reduction of chromosome number, genetic variation).
• Formation of Haploid Cells: Describe the events that lead to the formation of unique haploid cells (crossing over, independent assortment).
• Mitosis vs. Meiosis: Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis.
• Meiosis in Males vs. Females: Differentiate between meiosis in males and meiosis in females (spermatogenesis vs. oogenesis).
• Appropriate Terminology Use: Use appropriate terminology.
• Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction: Compare and contrast asexual reproduction & sexual reproduction
• External vs. Internal Fertilization: Describe the advantages and disadvantages of external and internal fertilization.
• Monozygotic vs. Dizygotic Twins: Explain the difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins

Chromosomes and Karyotypes

• Chromosome Description: Describe a chromosome
• Chromosome Formation: Identify when chromosomes form.
• Human Chromosome Number: Describe human chromosome number (46, 23 pairs).
• Karyotype Interpretation: Interpret a karyotype
• Nondisjunction: Describe how nondisjunction occurs
• Sex Determination: Explain how sex is determined.

DNA Function

• Transcription Outcome: Describe the outcome of transcription (RNA).
• DNA vs. RNA: Compare and contrast DNA with RNA.
• Role of Complementary Base Pairing: Explain the role of complementary base pairing in transcription.
• Coding vs. Template Strands: Describe the difference between the coding and template strands of DNA
• RNA Types Roles: Describe the roles each type of RNA (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) play in translation.
• Information Encoding: Explain how information is encoded in DNA.
• Translation Outcome: Describe the outcome of translation (protein).
• Transcription/Translation: Transcribe and/or translate a strand of DNA.
• Role of Complementary Base Pairing: Explain the role of complementary base pairing in translation.
• Initiation and Termination: Explain how transcription and translation are initiated and terminated.
• Polypeptide Chain vs. Protein: Compare a polypeptide chain with a protein.
• Protein Structure/Function: Identify what determines the structure and function of a protein.

Mutations

• Mutation Types: Describe and provide an example of a missense, nonsense and silent mutation.
• Base Pair Change Impact: Explain how the change in a single base pair can lead to a change in the function of the protein produced.
• Chromosomal Mutation: Describe a chromosomal mutation and how it occurs.
• Base Insertion/Deletion Severity: Explain the severity of a single base insertion or deletion and the result of the polypeptide change.
• Beneficial Mutations: Provide evidence to support the statement “Not all mutations are deleterious”

Regulation of Gene Expression

• Importance of Control: Explain the importance of controlling gene expression.
• Gene Regulation Example: Describe an example of how a gene may be regulated.
• Epigenetics: Describe what epigenetics is & what it can be used for
• Nature vs. Nurture: Discuss the influence of nature vs nurture on who we are
• Value of Identical Twins: Explain the value of identical twins in understanding the function of genes.

Term IV

Mendel’s Principles and Probability

• Mendel’s Principles: Determine which of mendel’s principles/laws applies to a given situation (segregation, independent assortment, dominance).
• Punnett Square: Use a punnett square to solve predict the inheritance of a single gene trait.
• Independent Events: Determine the likelihood independent events will happen together.
• Offspring Calculation: Calculate the number of offspring you expect to have a particular genotype or phenotype.
• Observed Results of Genetic Cross: Explain what happens to the observed results of a genetic cross as more and more crosses are completed.

Pedigrees

• Pedigree Drawing: Draw a pedigree using the correct symbols and arrangement of individuals.
• Pedigree Interpretation: Interpret a pedigree. (Determine the inheritance pattern and genotypes of individuals shown on the pedigree)

Dihybrid Cross

• Dihybrid Cross Inheritance: Determine the inheritance of two single gene traits together. (Dihybrid cross)

Non-Mendelian Inheritance

• Inheritance Pattern Identification: Identify the pattern or form of inheritance given a description
• Inheritance Problem Solving: Solve inheritance problems for codominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles and Polygenic inheritance patterns.

Blood Type Inheritance

• ### Blood Type Determination:
  Determine blood type given agglutination information.
• ### Inheritance Determination:
  Determine the inheritance of blood type (ABO & Rh factor) and predict offspring genotype and phenotype.
• Sex-linked Inheritance: Solve Sex-linked inheritance pattern problems and pedigrees
• Varied Expression: Explain why the inheritance of sex-linked genes varies from typical expression patterns.
• Parent Genotypes: Determine parent genotypes.
• All Types of Inheritance: Identify the type or pattern of inheritance given a description including simple, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, polygenic, epistasis, sex-linked, and lethal allele.

Classification

• Major Groups: The 8 major groups in today’s system of classification (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
• Problems with Common Names: Describe problems with common names (not specific, can vary by region).
• Taxonomic Key Usage: Use a dichotomous or taxonomic key
• Differences Among Domains: Identify the differences between the three domains and 6 kingdoms
• Differences in Animal Phyla & Classes: Identify the differences in the animal phyla and classes covered in class.
• Recognize Organisms: Recognize example organisms from the animal phyla and classes covered in class.
• Cladogram Interpretation: Interpret a cladogram
• Cladogram Construction: Construct a cladogram

Nervous System

• Function of the Nervous System: Describe the function of the nervous system
• Function of Muscular/Skeletal System: Describe the function of the muscular/skeletal system
• Different Types of Joints: Describe the different types of joint and provide an example of each.
• Nerve Labeling: Label a nerve.
• Parts of the Nervous System: List the parts of the nervous system.
• Different Types of Muscle Tissue: Describe the different types of muscle tissue.

Evolution

Early Earth:

Describe the endosymbiotic theory and evidence that supports the theory
Describe the evidence supports the formation of life on earth.
Describe the conditions present on early earth.
Describe the type of organisms that may have been present on early earth
Explain how early earth’s conditions were inhospitable to today’s life, and how these conditions changed over time.

Evolution through Selection (Agents of Evolution):

Describe Darwin’s theory of Natural selection utilizing statements like “struggle for existence” “natural variation” “survival of the fittest.
Compare and contrast Darwin and Lamarck’s ideas.
Identify the different types of selection, direction, stabilizing and disruptive.
Describe sexual selection, use examples
Discuss how natural selection and sexual selection cannot operate independently.
Compare the reproductive strategies of males and females.
Provide evidence that supports the theory of sexual selection.
Describe what circumstances could cause each of the types of selection

Evidence of Evolution

• Types of Evidence: Describe the different types of evidence that support the theory of Evolution and be able to provide examples of each.
• Analogy vs. Homology: Determine if a trait is an analogy or a homology.
• Whale Ancestry: Summarize and explain the evidence that supports whales have a common ancestor that walked on land.
• Transitional Fossils: Explain the importance of transitional fossils, provide an example of a transition fossil. (we have talked about two)
• Allele Frequencies: Explain how allele frequencies change in a population due to natural selection
• Hardy-Weinberg Principle: Define the Hardy-Weinberg principle and list the characteristics that must be present in a population in order to maintain genetic equilibrium.

Speciation

• Patterns of Evolution: Describe the different patterns of Evolution

• Pattern Examples: Provide examples of each pattern of Evolution

• Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium: Compare gradualism and punctuated equilibrium

• Speciation Description: Describe speciation.

• Events for New Species: Describe the events that must occur in order for new species to form

• Species Separation: Describe how are species separated?

• Ways Species Remain Separated: Describe five ways species remain separated.

• Allopatric vs. Sympatric Speciation: Compare and contrast allopatric speciation and sympatric speciation.

• Asexual v Sexual Reproduction: Compare and Contrast the advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction

• Sexual Reproduction Advantage Hypotheses: Describe the two hypotheses supporting the advantage of sexual reproduction.

Plants

• Major Groups of Plants: Identify the four major groups of plants and their distinguishing features.
• Evolutionary Events Leading to Major Groups: Describe the major evolutionary events that lead to each of the four major groups of plants.
• Angiosperm vs. Gymnosperm: Distinguish between angiosperm and gymnosperm
• Function of Major Organs of Plants: Describe the function of the four major organs of plants, roots, stems, leaves, reproductive organs.
• Microscope Images of Plant Parts: Identify microscope images of the leaf, root, stem, and pollen.
• Function of Fruits: Explain the function of fruits.
• Identify Fruits from Groups: Identify fruits from the following groups, Hesperidium, Berry, Peppo, Accessory, Drupe.
• Seed Dispersal Methods: Describe at least three different methods of seed dispersal and why such methods have evolved.

Excretory System

• Excretory System Function: Identify the function of the excretory system
• Organ System Function: Identify the organ systems associated with maintaining homeostasis in humans.

Nervous System

• Function of the Nervous System: Describe the function of the nervous system
• Nerve Labeling: Label a nerve.
• Parts of the Nervous System: List the parts of the nervous system.
• Autonomic v Somatic Systems: Distinguish between the autonomic and somatic nervous systems
• Central v Peripheral Systems: Distinguish between the central and peripheral nervous systems.
• Reflex Arc: Describe a reflex arc and give an example.
• Brain Parts and Functions: Identify the parts of the brain and their functions.
• Excretory System Parts: Identify the roles of skin, lungs, the liver and kidneys within the excretory system
• Nephron Location & Function: Describe the location of nephrons & their function
• Nephron Filtration & Reabsorption: Explain how a nephron does the job of filtration & reabsorption December 4
• Osmotic Balance Maintenance: Describe the different life strategies organisms have to maintain osmotic balance.
• Water Conservation and Toxicity of Nitrogenous Waste: Explain the relationship between water conservation and toxicity of nitrogenous waste.

Endocrine System

• Exocrine v Endocrine Organs: Identify the difference between exocrine and endocrine organs.
• Know the Location, Function and Secretions of the Major Glands: Know the location, function and secretions of the major glands
• Feedback Inhibition Loop Example: Be able to describe a feedback inhibition loop

Skeletal Muscular

• Exoskeletons vs Endoskeletons: Identify advantages & disadvantages of exoskeletons vs endoskeletons
• Functions of the Skeletal System: Identify the functions of the skeletal system
• Axial & Appendicular Skeletons: Compare and contrast the axial and appendicular skeletons
• Various Joint Types: Know the various types of joints and how they contrast
• How Muscle Contraction Works: Describe how muscle contraction works
• Skeletal & Muscular Coordination: Describe how the skeletal & muscular systems work together in providing movement