Honors Biology Resources

Biology North Carolina Standard Course of Study

With this being a high school requirement to graduate we have A LOT to cover this semester. This is everything we are covering this semester with the standards and objectives created by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Unit 1- Ecology (15% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.4 Analyze the relationships between matter and energy within ecosystems.     

     LS.Bio.4.1 Use models to illustrate how processes in organisms contribute to the flow of energy and the cycling of matter within an ecosystem.

     LS.Bio.4.2 Use models to explain the relationship between the flow of energy and cycling of matter among organisms in an ecosystem.

LS.Bio.5 Understand ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience.     

     LS.Bio.5.1 Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain how interactions between organisms (predator/prey, competition) affect carrying capacity and maintain stability in an ecosystem.

     LS.Bio.5.2 Engage in argument from evidence to evaluate various solutions to reduce the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem health. 

Unit 2- Organic Compounds (7% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.1 Analyze how the relationship between structure and function supports life processes within organisms.

     LS.Bio.1.1 Construct an explanation to illustrate relationships between structure and function of major macromolecules essential for life.

     LS.Bio.1.2 Carry out investigations to illustrate how enzymes act as catalysts for biochemical reactions and how environmental factors affect enzyme activity.

Unit 3- Cells: Structure and Function (7% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.1 Analyze how the relationship between structure and function supports life processes within organisms.  

      LS.Bio.1.3 Use models to explain how the structure of organelles determines its function and supports overall cell processes.

      LS.Bio.1.4 Construct an explanation to compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in terms of structures and degree of complexity.

Unit 4- Cell Processes (19% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.3 Analyze the relationship between biochemical processes and energy use.

     LS.Bio.3.1 Carry out investigations to explain how homeostasis is maintained through feedback mechanisms.

     LS.Bio.3.2 Use models to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into chemical energy.

     LS.Bio.3.3 Use models to illustrate how cellular respiration [aerobic and anaerobic] transforms chemical energy into ATP.

LS.Bio.2 Analyze the growth and development processes of organisms.

     LS.Bio.2.1 Use models to illustrate how cellular division results in the reproduction, growth, and repair of organisms.

     LS.Bio.2.2 Construct an explanation to illustrate that proteins regulate gene expression resulting in cellular differentiation, specialized cells with specific functions, and uncontrolled cell growth.

Unit 5- DNA and Protein Synthesis (4% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.1 Analyze how the relationship between structure and function supports life processes within organisms.

     LS.Bio.1.5 Construct an explanation to summarize how DNA and RNA direct the synthesis of proteins.

LS.Bio.6 Understand genetic mechanisms for variation.     

      LS.Bio.6.2 Construct an explanation to summarize how inheritable genetic variations may result from: new genetic combinations in meiosis, mutations during replication, or mutations caused by environmental factors. 

Unit 6- Biotechnology (7% of Course)

Standard and Objectives:

LS.Bio.8 Understand applications of genetics and biotechnology.

     LS.Bio.8.1 Analyze and interpret data to compare DNA samples.

     LS.Bio.8.2 Obtain and communicate information that summarizes the impact of biotechnology applications on the individual, society, and the environment, including agriculture and medicine.

Unit 7- Mendelian Genetics (19% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.6 Understand genetic mechanisms for variation.     

     LS.Bio.6.1 Use models to explain how DNA is passed from parents to offspring through the processes of meiosis and fertilization in sexual reproduction.

     LS.Bio.6.2 Construct an explanation to summarize how inheritable genetic variations may result from: new genetic combinations in meiosis, mutations during replication, or mutations caused by environmental factors. 

LS.Bio.7 Understand types of inheritance and how the environment can influence traits.                      

     LS.Bio.7.1 Use mathematics and computational thinking to predict the variation and distribution of expressed traits based on: Mendelian inheritance.

Unit 8- Advanced Genetics (above)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.7 Understand types of inheritance and how the environment can influence traits.                      

     LS.Bio.7.1 Use mathematics and computational thinking to predict the variation and distribution of expressed traits based on: Mendelian inheritance, codominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked inheritance.

     LS.Bio.7.2 Analyze and interpret data to explain how polygenic traits result in a wide range of phenotypes.

     LS.Bio.7.3 Construct an explanation to summarize how traits result from interactions of genetic factors (multiple genes and/or alleles) and environmental factors.

Unit 9- Evolution and Classification (22% of Course)

Standard and Objectives: 

LS.Bio.9 Understand natural selection as a mechanism for biological evolution.     

     LS.Bio.9.1 Analyze and interpret data to summarize how various factors such as geographic isolation, pesticide resistance, antibiotic resistance can influence natural selection.

     LS.Bio.9.2 Construct an explanation to illustrate how common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. 

     LS.Bio.9.3 Use models to illustrate the conditions required for natural selection, including the overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, and the struggle to survive.

     LS.Bio.9.4 Construct an explanation to explain how natural selection leads to adaptations within populations.

LS.Bio.10 Analyze evolutionary relationships among organisms.                      

    LS.Bio.10.1 Construct an explanation to illustrate how varying environmental conditions may result in: changes in the number of individuals of a species; the emergence of new species over time, or  the extinction of other species.

    LS.Bio.10.2 Use models (including dichotomous keys, scientific nomenclature, cladograms, phylogenetic trees) to identify organisms and exemplify relationships.