SL Biology
Syllabus 2012-2013
Week
Week of:
# of Days


1
Sept. 5-7
3

2
Sept. 10-14
5
3
Sept. 17-21
4
4
Sept. 24-28
4

5
Oct. 1-5
4
Topics:
Introductions, textbooks, chemical & lab safety contract
o LAB SAFETY EXAM
Topic 1: Statistical Analysis
o Error bars
o Mean, standard deviation
o 68% = 1 SD
o Comparing means and data spread
o ‘t’ value
o Meaning of correlation and relationships
Topic 2: Cells
o Cell Theory

Outline cell theory

Evidence of cell theory

Unicellular organisms and functions of life

Relative size comparisons

Linear magnification

Surface area to volume as factor limiting cell size

Emergent properties

Gene expression and cell function

Stem cell division/differentiation

Therapeutic stem cell use
o Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryote examples (Escherichia coli, etc.)

Structures and functions (diagram)

Electron micrographs and structure identification

Binary fission
o Eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cell examples (liver cells, etc.)

Structures and functions (diagram)

Electron micrographs and structure identification

Prokaryotic v. eukaryotic cells

Plant v. animal cells

Roles of extracellular components
o Membranes

Membrane labeling, diagram

Hydrophilic v. hydrophobic properties of phospholipids

Membrane protein functions

Diffusion v. osmosis

Passive transport (simple and facilitated diffusion)

Protein pumps and ATP

Vesicles and rough ER, Golgi and membrane

Fluidity of membrane
o Cell Division

Cell cycle stages

Tumors and cancers

Significance of interphase

Events of mitosis stages

Genetically identical nuclei

Uses of mitosis (growth, development, etc.)
Topic 3: The Chemistry of Life
o Chemical Elements and Water

CHNOP

Sulfur, calcium, iron and sodium significance

Roles for each element

Polarity of water & hydrogen bonding (diagram an label)

Thermal, cohesive and solvent properties of water

Properties of water and uses in living organisms
o Carbohydrates, Lipids and Proteins

Organic v. inorganic compounds

Amino acids, glucose, ribose and fatty acid identification (diagram
Pages:
and labeling)
Examples of mono-, di- and polysaccharides
Function of glucose, lactose and glycogen in animals and fructose,
sucrose and cellulose in plants

Role of condensation and hydrolysis in macromolecule formation
and degradation

Function of lipids

Carbohydrates v. lipids in energy storage
o DNA Structure

DNA nucleotide structure (diagram & label)

Bases of DNA

Covalent bonding of nucleotides

DNA double helix, base pairing and hydrogen bonding

Molecular structure of DNA (diagram & label)
o DNA Replication

Role of helicase and DNA polymerase

Conservation of DNA base sequence

Semiconservative model of DNA
o Transcription & Translation

DNA v. RNA structure

RNA polymerases role

Triplets and the genetic code

Polypeptide formation

One gene, one polypeptide

Polypeptide, protein relationship
o Enzymes

Enzymes and active sites

Enzyme-substrate specificity

Temperature. pH and substrate concentration and enzyme activity
o Cell Respiration

Defining cell respiration

Breakdown of glucose via glycolysis into pyruvate and ATP yield

Anaerobic cell respiration and conversion of pyruvate into lactate
or ethanol and CO2 and ATP yield

Aerobic cell respiration and conversion of pyruvate in mitochondria
into CO2 , water and ATP yield
o Photosynthesis

Defining photosynthesis

Sunlight and wavelengths

Function of chlorophyll

Differences in wavelength absorption

Formation of ATP, oxygen and hydrogen from water and the role of
light energy in the process

ATP and hydrogen and carbon fixation

Determining the rate of photosynthesis via O2 production, CO2
uptake and/or biomass increases

Temperature, light intensity and CO2 concentration and rate of
photosynthesis
Topic 4: Genetics
o Chromosomes, genes, alleles and mutations

DNA and proteins in eukaryote chromosomes

Genes, alleles, and genomes

Gene mutations

Base substitution mutations in transcription and translation (sickle
cell anemia example)
o Meiosis

Reduction division concept

Homologous chromosomes

Meiosis process/stages

Non-disjunction and consequences

Karyotyping, chorionic villus and amniocentesis

Karyotype analysis and diagnosis
o Theoretical genetics

Defining genotype, phenotype, dominant/recessive alleles,
codominance, incomplete dominance, locus, homozygous,


6
Oct. 8-12
4
7
Oct. 15-19
5
8
Oct. 22-26
5

9
Oct. 29-Nov. 2
5
10
Nov. 5-9
3
11
Nov. 12-16
5
12
Nov. 19-23
2.5
13
Nov. 26-30
5

14
Dec. 3-7
5
15
Dec. 10-14
5
16
Dec. 17-21
4.5
heterozygous, carrier and test cross

Genotype and phenotypes determination via Punnett grid/square

Multiple alleles

ABO blood groups

Sex chromosomes and gender control

X-linked disorders, sex linkage and associated disorders

Females as carriers

Genotypic and phenotypic ratio determination

Pedigrees and genotype/phenotype determination
o Genetic engineering and biotechnology

Use of polymerase chain reaction to amplify quantities of DNA

Gel electrophoresis, it’s uses and how it works

DNA profiling for paternity and forensics

DNA profile analysis
o Genetic engineering and biotechnology (continued)

Complete human genome sequencing and possible outcomes

Transfer of genes between species and the universal code of DNA

Basic gene transfer techniques (plasmid, host cell, restriction
enzymes and DNA ligase

Genetically modified crops/animals

Benefits and detriments of genetic modification

Cloning; using differentiated animal cells

Human cloning and ethical issues associated with it
Topic 5: Ecology and evolution
o Communities and ecosystems

Defining species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and
ecology

Autotrophs v. heterotrophs

Consumers, detritivores and saprotrophs

Food chains and food webs and trophic levels

Food web development (10 organism minimum)

Sun’s role in trophic levels

Energy flow in food web/trophic levels

Inefficiency of energy transformations

Energy pyramids

Energy into and out of ecosystems; recycling of nutrients

Saprotrophic bacteria and decomposers (fungi) recycle
o The greenhouse effect

Carbon cycle and associated processes

Changes in carbon dioxide concentration and the historical record

Correlation between increased CO2, methane and nitrogen oxides
and greenhouse effect

Precautionary principal and need for action

Climactic change and effect on arctic ecosystems
o Populations

How natality, immigration, mortality and emigration affects
population size

Sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve

Exponential growth phase, plateau phase and transitional phase

Limits on population increase
o Evolution

Define evolution

Evidence for evolution: including fossil record, selective breeding
and homologous structures

Overproduction by species and survival

Variation and sexual reproduction’s role

Natural selection and evolution

Example s of evolution in response to environmental change
o Classification

Binomial nomenclature

Seven levels of hierarchy of taxa: kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus and species and examples from each

Distinguish between plant phyla: Bryophyte, Filicinophyta,
Coniferophyta, and Angiospermphyta

Distinquish between animal phyla: Porifera, Cnidarian,
Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca and Arthropoda
Design and apply taxonomic key for up to eight organisms
No school. Non-instructional period.
Topic 6: Human Health and Physiology
o Digestion

Significance of digesting large food molecules

Need for enzymes in digestion

Amylase, protease and lipase: sources, substrates, products and
optimum pH conditions

Draw and label digestive tract

Stomach, small intestine and large intestine: function and structure

Absorption v. assimilation

The villus: structure and function
o The transport system (cardiovascular system)

Diagram and label heart chambers, valves, blood vessels and blood
flow

Significance of coronary arteries and atherosclerosis

Phases of cardiac contraction

Intrinsic conduction system of heart, medulla and adrenaline

Arteries, capillaries and veins

Composition of blood and it’s function
o Defense against infectious disease (immune system)

Defining a pathogen

Effectiveness of antibiotics against bacteria, not viruses

Role of skin and mucous membranes in pathogen defense

Role of phagocytic leucocytes in blood and body tissues

Antigens v. antibodies

Antibody formation

HIV and the immune system

AIDS: cause, transmission and social implication
o Gas exchange (respiratory system)

Ventilation, gas exchange and cell respiration

Function of ventilation system

Adaptations of alveoli for gas exchange

Respiratory tract (diagram and label): trachea, lungs, bronchi,
bronchioles and alveoli

Mechanism of respiration/ventilation pertaining to pressure
changes, internal and external intercostals, diaphragm and
abdominal
o Nerves, hormones and homeostasis

Divisions of the nervous system

Motor neuron structure and function

Sensory v. motor neurons

Resting and action potentials; polarization and depoloarization

Myelinated v. non-myelinated nerve transmission

Synaptic transmission
o Nerves, hormones and homeostasis (continued)

Endocrine system and functions

Maintenance of homeostasis in the internal environment

Negative and positive feedback mechanisms

Body temperature maintenance

Blood glucose concentration

Diabetes I & II
o Reproduction

Male and female reproductive systems (diagram and label)

Hormones and the menstrual cycle (FSH, LH, oestrogen, and
progesterone)

Graph annotation with hormone levels and events of menstruation

Roles of testosterone

In-vitro fertilization (IVF)

Ethics of IVF
SL Option B: Physiology of exercise
o Muscles and movement

Roles of bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons and nerves in

17
Dec. 24-28
0

18
Dec. 31-Jan. 4
3
19
Jan. 7-11
4.5
20
Jan. 14-18
5
21
Jan. 21-25
4
22
Jan. 28-Feb. 1
5
23
Feb. 4-8
4.5
24
Feb. 11-15
5
25
Feb. 18-22
4

movement
Joints (label and diagram): type of joint, cartilage, synovial fluid,
joint capsule, bones and antagonistic muscle groups

Functions of joints

Joint comparisons

Structure of striated muscle fibers

Sliding filament theory
o Training and the pulmonary system

Total lung capacity, vital capacity, tidal volume and ventilation rate

Increase in tidal volume and ventilation rate during exercise

Training effects on the pulmonary system: ventilation rate,
maximum ventilation rate and vital capacity
o Training and the cardiovascular system

Heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and venous return

Changes in cardiac output and venous return during exercise

Distribution of blood flow at rest and during exercise

Effects of training on heart rate and stroke volume; at rest and
during exercise

Benefits and risks of using erythropoietin (EPO) and blood
transfusions for sporting purposes
o Exercise and respiration

Defining VO2 and VO2 max

Glycogen and myoglobin in muscle fibers

ATP production during varying duration and intensity of exercise

Creatine phosphate effectiveness

Relationship between intensity of exercise, VO2 and ratios of
carbohydrate and fat usage in respiration

Lactate production, the liver and oxygen debt

Repayment of oxygen debt
o Fitness and training

Defining fitness

Speed and stamina as a measure of fitness

Fast and slow twitch muscle fibers

Low, moderate and high intensity exercise effects of fast and slow
muscle fibers

Ethical issues pertaining to performance-enhancing substances
o Injuries

Benefit and types of warm-ups (metabolic/muscular priming)

Injury types and treatments
No school. Non-instructional period.
SL Option E: Neurobiology and behavior
o Stimulus and response

Stimulus, response and reflex

Receptors, sensory neurons, relay neurons, motor neurons,
synapses and effectors

Reflex arcs (spinal cord and spinal nerves, relay neuron, motor
neuron and effector

Natural selection affecting animal resonses
o Perception of stimuli

Receptor types/diversity: mechanoreceptor, chemoreceptors, etc.

Human eye (diagram and label)

Retina (diagram and label)

Rod v. cone cells

Visual stimuli processing: edge enhancement and contralateral
processing

Human ear (diagram and label)

Perception of sound (eardrum, ear bones, oval and round windows,
hairs of cochlea)
o Innate and learned behavior

Innate v. learned behavior

Experimental design to investigate innate behavior in invertebrates
(taxis or a kinesis)

Analysis of data from experiments to determine survival and
reproductive success

Learning and improved survival

26
Feb. 25-Mar. 1
5
27
Mar. 4-8
5
28
Mar. 11-15
5
29
Mar. 18-22
5
30
Mar. 25-29
0

31
Apr. 1-5
5
32
Apr. 8-12
5
33
Apr. 15-19
4.5
o
34
Apr. 22-26
5
o
35
Apr. 29-May 3
5
o
36
May 6-10
5
37
38
39
40
41
May 13-17
May 20-24
May 27-31
June 3-7
June 10-14
5
5
4
5
2.5?

Pavlov’s dogs and conditioning

Inheritance and learning: birdsong in young birds
Neurotransmitters and synapses

Presynaptic neurons: excitatory and inhibitory effects on
transmission

Decision making in the CNS: interaction between excitatory and
inhibitory neurons

The effects of psychoactive drugs

Examples of excitatory and inhibitory psychoactive drugs

THC and cocaine action on the synapse

Causes of addiction
The human brain

Medulla oblongata, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pituitary gland and
cerebral hemispheres (diagram and label)

Functions of parts of brain

Identifying brain activity via animal experiments, lesions and fMRI
(functional magnetic resonance imaging)

Sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart rate, iris control
and flow of blood to the gut

Pupil reflex

Brain death and the pupil reflex

Pain perception and the role of endorphins
Further studies of behavior

Honey bees and social organization

Natural selection and social organization

Altruistic behavior

Foraging behavior and food optimization

Mate selection and exaggerated tails

Rhythmical variations in activity and adaptive value
Overflow week
Overflow week
Overflow week
Overflow week
Final review