Life Sciences

‘Life Sciences’ is the scientific study of living things from molecular level to their interactions with one another and their environments. To be accepted as a science, it is necessary to use certain methods for broadening existing knowledge, or discovering new things. These methods must lend themselves to replication and a systematic approach to scientific inquiry. The methods include formulating hypotheses and carrying out investigations and experiments as objectively as possible to test these hypotheses. Repeated investigations are carried out and adapted. The methods and results are analysed, evaluated and debated before the community of scientists accepts them as valid.

Knowledge production in science is an ongoing endeavour that usually happens gradually but, occasionally, knowledge and insights take a leap forward as new knowledge, or a new theory, replaces what was previously accepted. As with all knowledge, scientific knowledge changes over time as scientists improve their knowledge and understanding and as people change their views of the world around them. Scientific investigations are mostly about things that are poorly understood or not understood at all. Scientists are frequently involved in debates and disagreements. As more people take on such investigations, they tend to reach consensus about the ways in which the world works. The science theory that is taught in schools has been tested and is generally accepted. A good teacher will inform learners of debates and arguments among the scientists who were the first to investigate a phenomenon.

Scientists continue to explore the unknown. They tackle questions to which no-one has definite answers, such as: ‘Why is the climate changing?’; ‘What is causing the universe to expand?’; ‘What causes the Earth’s magnetic field to change?’; and ‘What, exactly, is the human mind?’. No one knows for sure.

By studying and learning about Life Sciences, learners will develop:

1. Their knowledge of key biological concepts, processes, systems and theories

2. An ability to critically evaluate and debate scientific issues and processes

3. Greater awareness of the ways in which biotechnology and knowledge of Life Sciences have benefited humankind

4. An understanding of the ways in which humans have impacted negatively on the environment and organisms living in it

5. A deep appreciation of the unique diversity of past and present biomes in Southern Africa and the importance of conservation

6. An awareness of what it means to be a responsible citizen in terms of the environment and life-style choices that they make

7. An awareness of South African scientists’ contributions

8. Scientific skills and ways of thinking scientifically that enable them to see the flaws in pseudo-science in popular media

9. A level of academic and scientific literacy that enables them to read, talk about, write and think about biological processes, concepts and investigations

Grade 10

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Term 1:

• How Science works

• The Chemistry of Life

  • Molecules for life

  • Inorganic compounds

  • Organic compounds

• Cells: The Basic Units of Life

  • Molecular make-up

  • Cell structure and function: The roles of organelles

• Cell Division: Mitosis

  • The Cell Cycle including mitosis

  • Chromosomes

  • Role of mitosis

  • Cancer

• Plant and Animal Tissues

  • Introduction to tissues

  • Plant tissues

Term 2:

• Plant and Animal Tissues

  • Animal tissues

  • Applications of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and biotechnology

  • Organs

  • Leaf structure

• Support and Transport Systems in Plants

  • Anatomy of dicotyledonous plants

  • Transpiration

• Support Systems in Animals

  • Skeletons

  • Human skeleton

  • Functions of the skeleton

  • Joints

  • The roles of the following in human locomotion

Term 3:

• Transport Systems in Mammals (Humans)

  • Circulatory system

  • Lymph

• Biosphere to Ecosystem

  • Biosphere

  • Biomes

  • Environment

  • Ecosystems

  • Abiotic factors

  • Biotic factors

  • Energy flow

Term 4:

• Biodiversity and Classification

  • Biodiversity

  • Classification scheme

• History of Life on Earth

  • Life’s history: Change throughout the history of life on Earth

  • Geological timescale

  • Cambrian Explosion

  • Mass extinction

• Fossil Formation and Methods of Dating Them

  • Key events

  • Understanding fossils

  • Fossil tourism

Grade 11

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Term 1:

• Biodiversity and Classification of Microorgaisms

  • Biodiversity

• Biodiversity of Plants

• Reproduction in Plants

  • Asexual and sexual reproduction

  • Flowers as reproductive structures

  • The significance of seeds

• Biodiversity of Animals

  • 6 phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Chordata

Term 2:

• Energy Transformations to Sustain Life

  • Photosynthesis

  • Cellular respiration

  • Aerobic respiration

  • Anaerobic respiration

• Animal Nutrition (Mammals)

  • Human nutrition

  • Mechanical or physical digestion

  • Chemical digestion: Enzymes

  • Absorption

  • Assimilation

  • Homeostatic control

Term 3:

• Gaseous Exchange

  • Requirements of efficient Gas Exchange Organs

• Human Gas Exchange

• Excretion in Humans

  • Excretion in various organs

  • Urinary system

• Population Ecology

  • Population size

  • Interactions in the environment (predation, competition types, specialization, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism)

  • Social organizations

  • Human population

Term 4:

• Human Impact on the Environment

  • The atmosphere and climate change

  • Water

  • Food security

  • Loss of biodiversity

  • Solid waste disposal

Grade 12

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Term 1:

• DNA: The Code of Life

  • Deoxyribonucleic Acid

  • Ribonucleic Acid

• Meiosis

  • Mitosis and meiosis

• Reproduction in Vertebrates

  • Diversity of reproductive Strategies

• Human Reproduction

Term 2:

• Genetics and Inheritance

  • Genes

  • Inheritance and variation

  • Monohybrid crosses

  • Dihybrid crosses

  • Sex chromosomes

  • Mutations

• Responding to the Environment: Humans

  • Humans nervous system

  • Central Nervous System

  • Peripheral Nervous System

  • Autonomic Nervous System

  • Structure of a nerve

  • Reflex arc

  • Disorders

  • Injuries

  • Effects of drugs

• Receptors

  • Human eye

  • Human ear

Term 3:

• Human Endocrine System

  • Endocrine glands

• Homeostasis in Humans

  • Homeostasis

  • Negative feedback

  • Thermoregulation

• Responding to the Environment: Plants

  • Plant hormones

  • Geotropism and phototropism

  • Plant defense mechanisms

• Evolution by Natural Selection

  • Origin of ideas about origins

  • Artificial selection

  • Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection

  • Formation/emergence of new species

  • Mechanisms for reproductive isolation

  • Evolution in present time

• Human Evolution

  • Evidence of common ancestors for living hominids including humans

  • Out of Africa hypothesis

Term 4:

• Human Evolution Continued

  • Importance of the Cradle of Humankind: Main fossil sites in South Africa

  • Alternatives to evolution