Mrs. Casteleyn’s Biology Syllabus
2010-2011
Semester #1
Chapter 1 The Study of Life:
Properties of Life
Biological organization
Scientific Method
Spontaneous generation vs. biogenesis
Microscope
Chapter 2: Principles of Ecology
Characteristics of the biosphere
Trophic Levels
Food Chains / Webs Cycles
Chapters 3 and 4: Communities, Biomes, Ecosystems &
Population Ecology
Communities
Population growth
Limiting factors
Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Conservation
Environmental problems (ozone depletion, greenhouse
effect, acid rain, global warming, maintaining biodiversity)
Chapter 6: Chemistry in Biology
Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids
Water properties
Chapter 7: Cell structure and Function
Cell theory
Cell structures
Cell transport
Chapter 9 and 10: Cellular Reproduction
Surface area to volume
Cell cycle
Mitosis
Meiosis
Chapter 12: Molecular Genetics
DNA structure
DNA replication
Mutation
Chapter 10 and 11: Genetics & Complex Inheritance and
Human Heredity
Mendel
Mendel’s Laws
Punnett Squares
Pedigrees
Sex-linked traits and incomplete dominance
Semester #2
Chapter 15: Evolution
Darwinian evolution
Physical evidence of evolution
Mechanisms of evolution
Gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium
Chapter 17: Organizing Life’s Diversity
Classic classification
6-Kingdoms / Domain System
Phylogenic trees
Dichotomous keys
What is a Protist? What is a Fungus?
Chapter 18: Bacteria and Viruses
Viral structures and replication
Bacterial characteristics (reproduction and identification)
Immune System Basics
Chapter 21: Introduction to Plants
Lower Plants vs. Upper Plants
Gymnosperms / Angiosperms
Basics of Photosynthesis (Ch. 8)
Chapter 22: Plant Structure and Function
Plant transport
Plant tissue
Chapter 23: Reproduction in Plants
Plant Reproduction (Flowers, Fruits, Seeds)
Chapter 24: Introduction to Animals
Basic animal characteristics
Sponges
Cnidarians
**Basic Structures and Reproduction to be studied for each animal
phylum
Chapter 25: Worms and Mollusks
Flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms
Mollusks
Chapter 26: Arthropods
Arthropods
Chapter 27: Echinoderm and Invertebrate Chordates
Echinoderms
Invertebrates vs. vertebrates
Chapter 28:
Basic characteristics of fish
Basic characteristics of amphibians
Chapter 29:
Basic characteristics of reptiles
Basic characteristics of birds
Chapter 30:
Basic characteristics of mammals