Big Idea 3: Information

Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

• Enduring understanding 3.A: Heritable information provides for continuity of life.
  • 3.A.1: DNA, and in some cases RNA, is the primary source of heritable information.
  • 3.A.2: In eukaryotes, heritable information is passed to the next generation via processes that include the cell cycle and mitosis or meiosis plus fertilization.
  • 3.A.3: The chromosomal basis of inheritance provides an understanding of the pattern of passage (transmission) of genes from parent to offspring
  • 3.A.4: The inheritance pattern of many traits cannot be explained by simple Mendelian genetics.
• Enduring understanding 3.B: Expression of genetic information involves cellular and molecular mechanisms.
  • 3.B.1: Gene regulation results in differential gene expression, leading to cell specialization
  • 3.B.2: A variety of intercellular and intracellular signal transmissions mediate gene expression.
• Enduring understanding 3.C: The processing of genetic information is imperfect and is a source of genetic variation.
  • 3.C.1: Changes in genotype can result in changes in phenotype.
  • 3.C.2: Biological systems have multiple processes that increase genetic variation
  • 3.C.3: Viral replication results in genetic variation, and viral infection can introduce genetic variation into the hosts.
• Enduring understanding 3.D: Cells communicate by generating, transmitting and receiving chemical signals.
  • 3.D.1: Cell communication processes share common features that reflect a shared evolutionary history.
  • 3.D.2: Cells communicate with each other through direct contact with other cells or from a distance via chemical signaling
  • 3.D.3: Signal transduction pathways link signal reception with cellular response
  • 3.D.4: Changes in signal transduction pathways can alter cellular response
• Enduring understanding 3.E: Transmission of information results in changes within and between biological systems.
  • 3.E.1: Individuals can act on information and communicate it to others.
  • 3.E.2: Animals have nervous systems that detect external and internal signals, transmit and integrate information, and produce responses.

Sample Learning Objectives- What should I be able to do?

• Justify the selection of data from historical investigations that support the claim that DNA is the source of heritable information.
• describe models illustrating how genetic information is translated into polypeptides.
• predict how a change in DNA or RNA can result in changes in gene expression
• describe the events that occur in the cell cycle
• construct a representation that connects the process of meiosis to the passage of traits from parent to offspring
• explain how the inheritance patterns of many traits cannot be accounted for by Mendelian genetics.
• explain how the regulation of gene expression is essential for the processes that support cell function
• explain the connection between genetic variations in organisms and phenotypic variations in populations
• use models to describe how viral replication introduces genetic variation in the viral population.
• create representation(s) that depict how cell-to-cell communication occurs