BIOLOGY SYLLABUS
The fundamental mission of the course, BIOLOGY 1 -2 is to
instill in students the essentials of scientific inquiry,
exploration, methods, and research while fostering life-skills and learning through rigorous coursework; to
prepare students for future health opportunities.
Teacher: Mr. Thomas R. Larican
E-mail: tlarican@stockton.k12.ca.us
Room:
Phone:
11
(209) 933-7360
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will understand how:
 The fundamental life processes of plants and animals depend on a variety of chemical reactions that occur in
specialized areas of the organism's cells.
 Mutation and sexual reproduction lead to genetic variation in a population.
 A multicellular organism develops from a single zygote, and its phenotype depends on its genotype, which is
established at fertilization.
 Genes are a set of instructions encoded in the DNA sequence of each organism that specify the sequence of
amino acids in proteins characteristic of that organism.
 The genetic composition of cells can be altered by incorporation of exogenous DNA into the cells.
 Stability in an ecosystem is a balance between competing effects.
 The frequency of an allele in a gene pool of a population depends on many factors and may be stable or unstable
over time.
 Evolution is the result of genetic changes that occur in constantly changing environments.
 As a result of the coordinated structures and functions of organ systems, the internal environment of the human
body remains relatively stable (homeostatic) despite changes in the outside environment.
 Organisms have a variety of mechanisms to combat disease.
Grading System: Jupiter Grades log in
A+: 98% 
A : 93% - 97.9%
B+: 88% - 89.9%
C+: 78% - 79.9%
D+: 68% - 69.9%
B : 83% - 87.9%
C : 73% - 77.9%
D : 63% - 67.9%
A- : 90% - 92.9%
B- : 80% - 82.9%
C- : 70% - 72.9%
D- : 60% - 62.9%
F : 60% >
Grade Calculation
Ninety percent (90%) of the overall grade will be determined by the class grade and ten percent (10%) of the overall grade will be
determined by the final exam.
Class Grade*
Final Exam
90%
10%
*See Table below
The class grade will be calculated using the following weights:
Homework
Class work
Labs/Activities
Assessments
20%
20%
20%
40%
Grades sent home for progress reports will reflect an unweighted class grade until the final exam has been
taken.
Textbook and Interactive Notebook
The required textbook for this class is: Biology, McDougal Little (2008).
All students will be required to keep and maintain an Interactive Notebook (INB). A large, spiral
notebook is recommended. The INB is a vital component to class and needs to be brought to class
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every day in order for the student to be successful. Cornell Notes, Class Activities, Diagrams, etc. will be
included in the INB. It will be necessary that parents are involved with your INB, and they will be essential in
the INB grading process. Students should be teaching from their INBs as a form of reinforcement and selfassessment.
Student Folders
Each student will be provided with a folder required to organize his/her work in class. The folder will contain the
following:
 Class Information
 Completed Work (Graded and returned): Tests and Study Guides
 Vocabulary Building Activities
 Laboratory Reports
Classroom Rules & Expectations
1st.
2nd.
3rd.

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
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STAY IN YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT.
KEEP QUIET.
PAY ATTENTION & WORK.
No student has the right to interfere with another student’s right to learn. Student must do
his/her best to learn and succeed.
Be on task, stay in your seat until the teacher has dismissed you. Cooperate with team
members in group work.
Be respectful to peers and teacher. Follow teacher’s directions at all times.
DO NOT use disruptive, foul, offensive or rude language.
Do not eat, drink (except bottled water) or chew gum in class.
Raise your hand when answering or asking questions.
Stay in the classroom at all times, and only walk out with the permission of your teacher and a
hall pass. When leaving the room, ask to go quietly.
Be responsible for yourself and your things.
Be a self advocate and fight for your education…you have a right to it and you deserve it!
Rules and Procedures for Biology
The administration and faculty reserve the right to make accountability decisions relative to the nature of individual
situations and infractions.
 Students are to follow all SUSD as outlined in the Student Conduct Code.
 Students are to be in class every day of each school year.
 Students with excused absences will have the same number of days as they were absent to make up work.
Example: a student missing three (3) days of school will have three (3) days to make up the work missed.
 Students are to be in class on time. Students with unexcused absences will not receive credit for work completed
or turned in during classes missed.
 Students missing scheduled or unscheduled tests, quizzes and/or labs will be required to schedule a make-up
appointment using the “Quiz and Test Make Up Contract” or “Lab/Activity Make Up Contract”. However, only
tests, quizzes, labs and activities that coincide with an excused absence will receive this type of make up credit.
Note: Due to equipment and consumables availability, some labs and activities may not be made up.
 Students who miss class for a school sponsored event (athletic, leadership, journalism, etc.) must have a legal,
signed excused absence form from either a teacher or the administration for the day missed before makeup work
will be allowed. Failure to bring said form(s) will result in an unexcused absence and work will not receive credit.
 Biology is a hands-on, lab-based course. Due to lack of materials and excessive set up time, students will not be
able to make up many labs. However, any student who misses a lab will be allowed to do an alternative
assignment in these instances. Equal credit will be available to only those students with an excused absence
form.
 Students are expected to do their own work on ALL assignments unless otherwise directed by the teacher. If no
statement is made by the teacher then it should be assumed that all assignments are to be completed by the
individual. Students will not be permitted to take a quiz, test or participate in a lab until the signature portion of this
packet is signed and returned.
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Dear Parent,
It is a pleasure to have your child in my class. In order to create an organized and a healthy learning
environment, I have sent home a copy of the class syllabus and list of rules and expectations. Please review
them with your child, fill in the blanks and sign below.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Thomas Larican
Biology 1-2
Room 11
Contact Information: (209) 933-7115
E-mail: tlarican@stockton.k12.ca.us
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PERIOD:
PARENT’S PRINTED NAME ____________________________________________________
PARENT’S SIGNATURE: _______________________________________ DATE: _________
PARENT’S CONTACT NUMBER: ______________________________________
PARENT’S email address (if available): __________________________________________
STUDENT’S PRINTED NAME: __________________________________________________
STUDENT’S SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________
3
WRITE ALL ANSWERS (LETTERS ONLY) ON THE ANSWER SHEET PROVIDED.
BIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC TEST
PART 1: MICROSCOPY, BIOCHEMISTRY & CYTOLOGY
1. Reggie needs to know about the different shapes of bacteria. His biology teacher suggested examining
a prepared slide of a mixture of bacteria. Which of the following ocular and objectives will best help
him achieve his goal?
A. 5x and high power objective
C. 5x and oil immersion objective
B. 10x and high power objective
D. 10x and oil immersion objective
2. Which field of science studies the use of microorganisms that change raw materials into food, medicine
and other useful products?
A. Bacteriology
B.
Biotechnology
C. Ecology
D. Parasitology
3. The drawing below shows two experimental setups.
Which of
A.
B.
C.
D.
the following problems can be answered by this experiment?
What kind of soil is best for tomato seedlings?
How does sunlight affect the growth of tomato seedlings?
How does water supply affect growth of tomato seedlings?
How does fertilizer affect growth of tomato seedlings?
4. Which of the following describes biotechnology?
I.
It can be done only in the laboratory.
II.
It uses living cells, microorganisms or cells in culture.
III.
It includes activities such as production of biological pesticides and soy saucemaking.
IV.
It has little application to our life.
A. I and II
B.
II and III
C.
II and IV
D.
III and IV
5. A student observed a cell under the microscope and identified a cell plate. What kind of cell was it?
A.
muscle
B.
phloem
C. cheek
D. blood
6. A unicellular organism that lives in salt water is transferred to a freshwater aquarium. What will
happen to the organism? It will
A. Burst.
B. Mutate.
C. Shrink
D.
Adapt to its new environment
7. Which
A.
B.
C.
will explain for the wide distribution of mitochondria in the muscles of the arms and legs?
Muscle cells need much protein.
Muscle cells of these areas use up much energy.
Muscle cells contain lots of RNA.
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D. Muscle cells have a high metabolic rate.
8. What organelle is not present in a root cell?
A. Cell wall
B. Mitochondrion
C. Chloroplast
D. Nucleus
9. If the mitochondrion of a cell is removed, what physiological process is inhibited?
A. Nutrient absorption
C.
Release of waste materials
B. Cell production
D.
Energy production
10. The size of cells usually range from 1 to 100 micrometers. Which of the following best explains why
cells are usually very small?
A. Vacuoles in cells can only hold small amounts of waste materials.
B. Diffusion of materials in and out of a cell is easy and efficient.
C. The membrane that encloses the cell limits its size.
D. If a cell grows very large, it divides into two cells.
Use the diagram below to answer questions 11 and 12.
11. If structure 3 were green, what would its presence enable the cell to do? It would enable the cell to
A. exchange materials with its environment.
B. make more food through photosynthesis.
C. reproduce another organism of its own kind.
D . to secrete substances needed by the cell for growth.
12. What
A.
B.
C.
D.
would structure 2 allow to occur in the cell? It would allow
substances to be absorbed by the cell.
substances to be excreted out of the cell.
substances to pass in and out of the cell.
substances to be secreted by the cell organelles.
13. The main difference between a heterotroph and an autotroph is that autotrophs
A. can synthesize their own food using inorganic nutrients.
B. give off carbon dioxide and use oxygen.
C. absorb carbon dioxide for respiration.
D. convert heat energy to chemical energy.
14. Leaves of gumamela, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis appear green. Which supports this observation?
A. Its chlorophyll absorbs both blue and green light.
B. Its chlorophyll reflects both blue and green.
C. Its chlorophyll absorbs green light.
D. Its chlorophyll reflects green light.
15. A person feels tired after a long walk or heavy work. This is due to a condition in which
A. lactic acid is absent in muscle cells.
B lactic acid is accumulated in muscle cells.
C. glucose molecules are broken down by respiration in muscle cells.
D. glucose molecules are broken down by fermentation in muscle cells.
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The next 3 items are based on the following information:
A hydrilla sprig was placed in a small jar with water and was exposed to light. After 5 minutes, bubbles
were observed rising from the end of the sprig.
16. In this investigation, what data can you use to determine the rate of photosynthesis?
A. Count the number of leaves.
B. Measure the length of the hydrilla spring.
C. Measure the temperature of the water.
D. Count the number of bubbles produced in a specified period of time.
17. What
A.
B.
C.
D.
will happen if you move the hydrilla farther away from the light?
Photosynthesis will slow down.
Photosynthesis will proceed at a faster rate.
The temperature of the water will increase.
The metabolic rate of the hydrilla will increase.
18. Which of the following will happen if three guppies were placed in the jar?
A. Photosynthesis will be inhibited.
B. Photosynthesis will proceed at a faster rate.
C. The waste materials produced by the guppies will pollute the water.
D. The guppies will compete with the hydrilla for the nutrients.
19.
Why
A.
B.
C.
D.
is it more energy efficient to eat fruits and vegetables?
More nutrients are present in the producer level.
No energy at the producer level has been lost to the next level
Less waste materials are produced.
Humans need more vegetables for their fiber content.
20. Euglena and Paramecium are eukaryotes because they both
A.
have a nucleus.
B.
contain chloroplast.
C.
reproduce by sexual reproduction.
D.
have unicellular and multicellular stages.
PART 2: BOTANY
1.
In the classification group of plants, what specific group do dicots and monocots belong to?
A) gymnosperms
B) angiosperms
C) bryophytes
D) seedless vascular
2.
Elaine observed that some root hairs arise from the carrot she is dissecting, what region of the
root must she be looking at? A) elongation zone B) maturation zone
C) meristematic
zone D) root cap
3.
Using the same choices in number 2, what region is being observed if Mara observed new cells
being “born” and cells undergoing metaphase and anaphase?
4.
Charmelle together with her groupmate Diana noticed that some carrot root cells have their
cell walls expanding and vacuoles increasing in size, what zone of the root are they observing
using the choices in number 2?
5.
Matthew, James, and John were given a tray containing camote, carrot, ginger and radish. If
Peter would like to ask the group to give him a “true stem”, what plant should the group give?
A) camote
B) carrot
C) ginger
D) radish
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6.
Kerwin and Kenneth would like to differentiate a dicot root from a monocot root under the
microscope. Which criteria below must they use? A) presence of root hair
B) presence
of pith
C) type of leaf venation
D) number of petals
7.
Which of the following pair of tissues is found ONLY in the root and ABSENT in the stem? A)
epidermis and cortex
B) pericycle and endodermis C) xylem and phloemD) vascular cambium
and pith
8.
Which of the following is WRONGLY paired with its specialized leaf function?
A) cactus – spines for protection
B) rose – colored petals to attract pollinators
C) cabbage – large leaves for climbing D) pitcher plant – tube-shaped leaves to trap insects
9.
Which internal part of the leaf is the main site of photosynthesis?
A) stomata
B) vein
C) apex
D) mesophyll
10.
Gervic and Joyce observed that a celery stalk which was dipped in red iced tea showed its top
became red. In which part of the stem did the red tea rise?
A) cambium
B) cortex
c) xylem
D) phloem
PART 3: ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
1. Which of the following muscles is NOT involved in eating, drinking & laughing?
A. buccinator
C. masseter
B. gastrocnemius
D. sternocleidomastroid
2.
3.
Which will explain for the wide distribution of mitochondria in the muscles of Jed’s arms and
legs? Muscle cells
A. need much protein.
B. contain a lot of RNA.
C. have a high metabolic rate.
D. of the arms and legs use up much energy.
In which of the following actions are voluntary muscles used? To move
A.
the arm to turn the page of a book.
B.
blood to different parts of the body.
C.
food from the mouth to the stomach.
D.
waste materials from the kidney to the ureter.
4. Which of the following bones IS NOT a part of the axial division?
A.
Clavicle
C. Mandible
B.
Cranium
D. Vertebrae
5. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the red blood cells (RBC)?
A. Red blood cells are oxygen carriers.
B. They have nuclei when formed in the red marrow.
C. Hemoglobin fills the center of each mature red blood cell.
D. They are part of the immune system because they build antibodies.
6. Which of the following correctly describes blood?
A. It is a cell because blood is composed only of one type of cell.
B. It is a tissue because blood is made up of several kinds of cell.
C. It is an organ because blood is a part of the transport system of the body.
D. It is a system because blood cells circulate in a liquid medium called plasma.
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For numbers 7 – 10, select from the following options:
A. Deoxygenated, clean blood
C. Oxygenated, clean blood
B. Deoxygenated, dirty blood
D. Oxygenated, dirty blood
7.
8.
9.
10.
What
What
What
What
kind
kind
kind
kind
of
of
of
of
blood
blood
blood
blood
enters the right atrium?
exits the aorta?
exits the kidney?
enters the lungs?
11. Which adaptation in mammals prevents water loss from the body?
A. Slowing down of rate of metabolism
B. Outer layer of skin is dead and waterproof
C. Body temperature drops down to prevent sweating
D. Production of glucagons to restore body water levels
12. Which of the following structures is NOT derived from the epidermis?
A. Antler of deer
C. Finger Nails
B. Feathers of birds
D. Human hair
13. Which of the following diagrams shows the CORRECT PATHWAY of an impulse?
A. Motor neuron sensory neuron  response  interneuron  stimulus
B. Stimulus sensory neuron  interneuron  motor neuron  response
C. Interneuron  stimulus response  sensory neuron  motor neuron
D. Sensory neuron  response  motor neuron  stimulus interneuron
14. What type of neuron is FOUND ONLY WITHIN the central nervous system?
A. Interneuron B. Motor
C. Neurotransmitter D. Sensory
15. Which of the following body functions is NOT CONTROLLED by the hypothalamus?
A. Blood Pressure
C. Emotions
B. Body Temperature
D. Speech
16. Which of the following diagrams shows the CORRECT PATHWAY of an impulse?
A. Motor neuron sensory neuron  response  interneuron  stimulus
B. Stimulus sensory neuron  interneuron  motor neuron  response
C. Interneuron  stimulus response  sensory neuron  motor neuron
D. Sensory neuron  response  motor neuron  stimulus interneuron
17. Which of the illustrations below are NEURONS?
A.
C.
.
. D.
d.
B.
c.
o
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18. Which of the following is the CORRECT SEQUENCE of human reproduction?
A. Birth > Implantation > Copulation > Pregnancy > Fertilization
B. Copulation > Fertilization > Implantation > Pregnancy > Birth
C. Fertilization >Copulation > Implantation > Birth > Pregnancy
D. Pregnancy > Copulation > Birth > Implantation > Fertilization
19. Which pair below constitutes the primary sex organs of male and female respectively?
A. Penis and vagina
C. Testis and ovary
B. Testis and vagina
D. Penis and ovary
20. Ovulation is one event that occurs in the menstrual cycle. What happens during ovulation?
The egg
A. develops inside the ovary.
C. is released from the ovary.
B. moves through the fallopian tube.
D. produces large amounts of estrogen.
PART 4: GENETICS, TAXONOMY & ECOLOGY
1.
There are 46 chromosomes in human somatic cells. How many chromosomes are
in human sex cells?
A. 13
B.
20
C. 23
D. 46
2. The table below shows the number of chromosomes present at different stages in
cycle of a dog. In which stage is the number of chromosomes incorrect?
Stage in life
Number of
cycle
chromosomes
Fertilized egg
52
Adult
52
Sex organs
26
Sperm or egg
26
A.
B.
Adult
Fertilized Egg
found
the life
C. Sex organs
D. Sperm or Egg
3.
What genotypic ratio will be shown in the next generation of offspring from the genetic
cross Rr x Rr?
A. 1:2:1
C. 3:1
B. 1:1:1:1
D. 9:3:3:1
4.
Using the same options in number 23, what would be the resulting phenotypic ratio from
the dihybrid cross EeQq x EeQq ?
5. Which of the following sets of letters represents a gamete?
A. Y
C. XX
B. XY
D. XXY
6.
What must be the correct genotypes of the parents if all their offspring have a genotype
of Mm?
A. Mm and Mm
C. MM and mm
B. Mm and mm
D. MM and Mm
7. The DNA differs from RNA due to the presence of a sugar molecule. Which of the following sugars does
DNA contain?
a. glucose
c. deoxyribose
b. ribose
d. fructose
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8. In a DNA molecule, adenine pairs with
a. uracil
b. cytosine
c. thymine
d. guanine
9. Some chemicals can damage DNA by altering nucleotide bases resulting to a change in the DNA
sequence. Which of these terms describes this change in the DNA sequence?
a. translation
c. mutation
b. meiosis
d. protein synthesis
10. What is the correct flow of information in the synthesis of proteins?
a. DNA – RNA - protein
c. RNA – protein - DNA
b. RNA – DNA – protein
d. DNA – protein - RNA
11. Brown coat is dominant to white coat in cattle. Give the phenotypic ratio of the possible offspring
produced in a cross between two heterozygous brown-coated cattle.
a. 3 brown: 1 white
c. 2 brown: 2 white
b. 3 white: 1 brown
d. all white-coated
12. What
a.
b.
c.
d.
will likely happen if a change occurs in the base sequence of a DNA molecule?
the cell will not undergo mitosis
translation will not proceed
an altered protein will be synthesized
DNA will not be transcribed
13. What is the complementary strand of this DNA molecule which has the nucleotide sequence ATG
ATC
TAC?
a. ATG CGA ATC TAC
b. TAC ATC CGA ATG
c. UAC GCU UAG AUG
d. TAC GCT TAG ATG
CGA
14. A couple has four children, one son and three daughters. What is the probability that the fifth child of
a couple will be female?
a.
1/2
c. 1/5
b.
1/4
d. 1/20
15. In a family, the blood type of the father is A and the blood type of the mother is AB. What are the
possible blood types of the offspring?
a. A, B, AB
c. A, O, AB
b. A, B, O
d. B, AB, O
16. A mutation is responsible for a base sequence change in a DNA molecule. We can reasonably
conclude that
a. protein synthesis will not be affected.
b. the messenger RNA would also be altered.
c. the organism will die from the mutation.
d. the amount of proteins synthesized will decrease.
17.
Which of the following characteristics is common to ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms?
a. They develop from an embryo.
b. They are seed-producing plants.
c. They have structures to transport water and minerals.
d. They have structures to store food.
18.
Which of the following does not characterize birds?
a. All birds can fly.
b. All birds have feathers.
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c.
d.
19.
20.
21.
All birds have beaks to get food.
All birds have light bodies because their bones are hollow.
In a trip to Antarctica, a scientist discovered a new organism that does not contain a nucleus. Into
what group can this organism be classified?
a. fungi
b. plant
c. protist
d. monera
What is the structural basis for placing frog in a class different from that of dog and man?
a. The main respiratory organ of the frog is the lung.
b. The frog spends part of its development in water.
c. The frog has a three-chambered heart while dog and man have four-chambered hearts.
d. In frogs, the tongue is attached anteriorly while in dog and man, it is attached posteriorly.
Some species of mushrooms are always poisonous, other species are never poisonous. This
indicates that
a. poisonous mushrooms get this characteristic from the parent organism
b. these types of mushrooms use different materials for nutrition.
c. these types of mushrooms have different abilities to absorb chemicals from the soil.
d. poisonous mushrooms grow in a different type of soil than that of non-poisonous ones.
22. Which
a.
b.
c.
d.
of the following statements describes an ecosystem?
It is a group of living things whose members compete for survival.
It is an order of food relationships where an organism is eaten by another.
It is a community of organisms in a given area interacting with their physical environment.
It is a relationship where one organism is benefited and the other is not.
23. Did humans, other animals and plants evolve all at the same time?
a. Yes. Humans, animals and plants lived and evolved at around the same time.
b. No. Humans evolved from apes about 5 million years ago when plants and other animals were
already extinct.
c. No. An enormous number of other species of plants and animals had already evolved and
became extinct before humans appeared.
d. No. Many species living today evolved earlier when human evolution was occurring.
24. In a grassland, a new organism is introduced which can eat millipedes less than 25 mm long. In this
area, no millipede exceeds 20 mm in length. What is the most possible effect of the new organism in
this particular area?
a. Millipedes will mutate to be longer.
b. Millipedes will evolve to eat the new organism.
c. All millipedes will move to another area.
d. All millipedes will possibly be eaten by the new organism.
25. What are the factors that may bring about evolution by natural selection?
I.
mutation
II.
new gene combination
III.
genetic drift or variation
IV.
environmental change
a.
b.
I and III
I and II only
c. I, II and III only
d. I, II, III and IV
~ End ~
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NAME: ___________________________
GRADE: ____________
PERIOD: ______
BIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC TEST
ANSWER SHEET
PART 1:
Microscopy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
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PART 2:
Botany
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
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PART 3:
Anatomy &
Physiology
11.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
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14.
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PART 4:
Genetics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
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25.
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