Biology-I

3.1 Understand the structure and function of cells.

a. Demonstrate understanding that a small subset of elements (C, H, O, N, P, S) makes up most of the chemical compounds in living organisms by combining in many ways.

b. Recognize and differentiate the structure and function of molecules in living organisms, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

c. Demonstrate knowledge of evidence that living things are made of cells.

d. Analyze the similarities and differences among prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and viruses.

e. Demonstrate knowledge of organelles and their structures and functions in the cell and how differences in the structure of cells are related to cell function.

f. Demonstrate knowledge of the process and significance of protein synthesis.

3.2 Understand growth, development, and energy flow in organisms.

a. Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of mitosis and meiosis as processes of cellular and organismal reproduction.

b. Compare single-celled and multicellular organisms, including the role of cell differentiation in the development of multicellular organisms.

c. Recognize the hierarchical levels of organization (e.g., cells, tissues, organs, systems, organisms) in plants and animals.

d. Demonstrate knowledge of the major anatomical structures and life processes (e.g., reproduction, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, transpiration) of various plant groups.

e. Demonstrate knowledge of feedback mechanisms responsible for maintaining homeostasis in animals, including humans, and plants, including the anatomical structures and systems involved in regulating internal conditions.

f. Analyze the processes of cellular respiration (anaerobic and aerobic).

g. Demonstrate knowledge of the conversion, flow, and storage of energy in the cell.

3.3 Understand ecosystems: interactions, energy, and dynamics.

a. Demonstrate knowledge of the abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem and their relationship to the growth of individual organisms.

b. Demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationships within and among ecosystems and recognize factors that affect population types, size, and carrying capacity in ecosystems (e.g., availability of biotic and abiotic resources, predation, competition, disease).

c. Apply knowledge of energy flow, nutrient cycling, and matter transfer in ecosystems (e.g., food webs, biogeochemical cycles), including recognizing the roles played by photosynthesis and aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

d. Demonstrate knowledge of possible solutions for minimizing human impact on ecosystem resources and biodiversity.

3.4 Understand heredity: inheritance and variation of traits.

a. Demonstrate knowledge of the roles of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules in cells (e.g., storing genetic information, coding for proteins, regulatory functions, structural functions).

b. Apply knowledge of the structure of DNA and the process of DNA replication.

c. Apply knowledge of how genetic variation may be the result of errors that occur during DNA replication or mutations caused by environmental factors and explain their causes and effects.

d. Demonstrate knowledge of how the coding of DNA controls the expression of traits by genes and influences essential life functions (e.g., how DNA determines protein structure and other heritable genetic variations).

e. Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between genes and their interaction with the environment in terms of organisms' development and functions.

f. Compare and contrast sexual and asexual reproduction.

g. Apply knowledge of genotypes and phenotypes and the inheritance of traits that are determined by one or more genes (e.g., dominant, recessive, and sex-linked alleles; incomplete dominance).

h. Solve problems from representations of monohybrid and dihybrid crosses.

3.5 Understand biological evolution: unity and diversity.

a. Apply knowledge of anatomical, embryological, and genetic evidence of biological evolution and common ancestry and interpret branching diagrams (cladograms).

b. Demonstrate knowledge of the theory of natural selection, including how genetic variation and its expression leads to differences in characteristics among individuals in a population, adaptation, speciation, and extinction.

c. Demonstrate knowledge of major events that affected the evolution of life on Earth (e.g., climate changes, asteroid impacts).

d. Demonstrate knowledge of technologies that allow humans to influence the genetic traits of organisms.