Unit
Unit 1:
Biology Basics of Life
Eligible Content Lessons
A.1.1.1: Describe the characteristics of life shared by all eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms
A.1.2.1: Compare cellular structures and their functions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
A1.2.2: Describe and interpret relationships between structure and function at various levels of biological organization
UEQs: In what ways do structure, function, and the levels of organization enable prokaryotes and eukaryotes to carry out the characteristics of life?
In what ways do prokaryotes and eukaryotes do this similarly and/or differently?
LEQs:
 What are the characteristics of life?
 How is cell theory used to explain the existence of life?
 In what ways can you compare and contrast the structures and function of a prokaryote
 and a eukaryote?
How is form related to function at all levels of
 organization?
What methods do organisms use to reproduce?

What are the structural and functional differences of the internal structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

What are the functions of each of the organelles in the cell?

How do organelles work together to carry out the characteristics of life?

What are the structural and functional differences between animal and plant cells?

In what ways do cells use nutrients to carry out daily functions?
Resources
Unit Map
1a and
Unit Map
1b
Anchor
Descriptor
Bio.A.1.1,
Bio.A.1.2
Linking Unit
Question:
Unit 2:
Chemistry of
Biology
A2.1.1.1: Describe the unique properties of water and how these properties support life on Earth
A2.2.2.1: Explain how carbon is uniquely suited to
UEQ: How does the structure of water and carbon-containing biomolecules enable organisms to carry out the chemical reactions that are needed to maintain homeostasis?
LEQs:
 How do the unique molecular and chemical properties of water enable the molecule to support life on earth?
Unit Map
2
Bio.A.2.1,
Bio.A.2.2,
Bio.A.2.3
# of
Days
1a = 10 classes,
1b = 19 classes
19 classes
Dates
8/14 - 8/28,
8/29 - 9/29
9/30 - 10/31

Linking Unit
Question:
Unit 3:
Bioenergetics form biological macromolecules
A2.2.2.: Describe how biological macromolecules form from monomers
A.2.2.3: Compare the structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in organisms
A.2.3.1: Describe the role of an enzyme as a catalyst in regulating a specific biochemical reaction
A.2.3.2: Explain how
 How does the tetrahedral atomic shape of carbon enable the element to be the



 backbone of biomolecules?
How are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids synthesized?
How do environmental factors affect the synthesis of biomolecules?
What are the classes of biomolecules and how do their structures relate to their functions within an organism?
How do enzymes affect chemical reactions within all levels of organization and how do environmental factors affect their function? factors such as pH, temperature, and concentration levels can affect enzyme function
How do macromolecules and enzymes get energy to carryout daily functions?
A.3.1.1: Describe the fundamental roles of plastids (e.g., chloroplasts) and mitochondria in energy transformations
A.3.2.1: Compare the basic transformation of energy during photosynthesis and cellular respiration
A.3.2.2: Describe the role of ATP in
UEQ: How do organisms obtain, transform, and use energy at all levels of organization to carry out life processes?
LEQs:
 How do organisms obtain energy from their environment?
 What are the specific energy requirements for life processes and how is the energy used to carry out those processes?
 What are the chemical reactions that occur during photosynthesis inside the chloroplast to capture energy from the
Unit Map
3
Bio.A.3.1,
Bio.A.3.2
22 classes
11/1-12/13

biochemical reactions environment? Which reactions are lightdependent and light-independent
 What are the chemical reactions that occur during cellular respiration inside the mitochondria that transform energy into usable forms for an organism?
 How are ATP and other energy storage molecules created and utilized by living organisms?
 How do CAM and the C4 pathways capture energy in non-ideal environmental conditions? How does fermentation provide energy for an organism when non-ideal conditions are present?
Comprehensive
Midterm exam
Linking Unit
Question:
A.1, A.2, A.3
How is energy used within the cell to move molecules across the cell membrane?
Unit 4:
Homeostasis and Transport
A.4.1.1: Describe how the structure of the plasma membrane allows it to function as a regulatory structure and/or protective barrier for a cell.
A.4.1.2: Compare and contrast the mechanisms that transport materials across the plasma membrane (i.e., passive transport -- diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion;
UEQ: How do organisms maintain a biological balance between their internal and external environments?
LEQs:

How do organisms maintain homeostasis
(biological balance) against fluctuations in both the internal and external environment?

What types of mechanisms enable water, ions, and molecules to move into and out of cells?

What are the types of passive transport?
Describe the mechanisms of substance movement.

What are the types of active transport?
Describe the mechanisms of substance movement.
Unit Map
4
Bio.A.4.1,
Bio.A.4.2
12/16-12/20
10 classes
1/6/2014-
1/21/2014

Linking Unit
Question:
Unit 5: Cell
Growth and
Reproduction active transport -- pumps, endocytosis, exocytosis)
A.4.1.3: Describe how endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and other membrane-bound cellular organelles facilitate transport of materials within cells.
A.4.2.1: Explain how organisms maintain homeostasis (e.g., thermoregulation, water regulation, oxygen regulation)
Why is the movement of molecules and ions necessary to perform cellular functions related to growth and reproduction?
Bio.B.1.1,
Bio.B.1.2
20 classes
1/22/2014 –
2/21/2014
B.1.1.1: Describe the events that occur during the cell cycle: interphase, nuclear division (i.e., mitosis or meiosis), cytokinesis.
B.1.1.2: Compare and contrast the processes and outcomes of mitotic and meiotic nuclear divisions.
B.1.2.1: Describe how the process of DNA replication results in the transmission and/or conservation of genetic information.
UEQ: How do cells grow and reproduce?
LEQs:

What factors cause cells to grow?

How do prokaryotic cells divide to form new cells?

What is the process of eukaryotic cell division? Explain the process of mitosis and cytokinesis.

How do cells differentiate to form multicellular organisms?

How do specialized cells within a multicellular organism function together to maintain the characteristics of life?

How are gametes created in sexually reproducing organisms? Explain the process of meiosis.

How do gametes from both parents combine
Unit Map
5

Linking Unit
Question:
Unit 6: DNA and Genetic
Inheritance
B.1.2.2: Explain the functional relationships among
DNA, genes, alleles, and chromosomes and their roles in inheritance. to form new life?
How do prokaryotes and eukaryotes transfer genetic material to create biodiversity?
B.2.1.1: Describe and/or predict observed patterns of inheritance (i.e., dominant, recessive, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, sexlinked, polygenic, and multiple alleles).
B.2.1.2: Describe processes that can alter composition or number of chromosomes (i.e., crossing-over, nondisjunction, duplication, translocation, deletion, insertion, and inversion).
B.2.2.1: Describe how the processes of transcription and translation are similar in all organisms.
UEQ: Why is DNA called the "blueprint of life?"
LEQs:

What is the basic molecular structure of
DNA?

What are the nucleotide bases in DNA and how do they form the genetic code?

How does DNA replication differ in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

How is DNA transcribed into RNA?

What are the three types of RNA and what are their functions in protein synthesis?

What is the process of translation? How can codons and anticodons be used to predict amino acid sequence?

What other processes are required, beyond translation, to form a fully functioning protein?

Which factors determine gene expression?

How are genes expressed?

Where are genes located on chromosomes?

What are the functional consequences of abnormalities in gene expression?

How does the inheritance of multiple alleles of a gene affect gene expression?

How does the principle of dominance relate to genotype? How can genotype predict phenotype?
Unit Map
6a and
Unit Map
6b
Bio.B.2.1,
Bio.B.2.2,
Bio.B.2.3
6A – 20 classes
6B – 15 classes
2/24/2014 –
3/27/2014
3/28/2014 –
4/25/2014

Linking Unit
Question:
Unit 7:
Evolution
B.2.2.2: Describe the role of ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and the nucleus in the production of specific types of proteins



How does a Punnett Square predict probability of inheritance?
What is genetic recombination? How does it affect gene expression?
How do chromosomal abnormalities affect organismal function and development?
B.2.3.1: Describe how genetic mutations alter the
DNA sequence and may or may not affect phenotype (e.g., silent, nonsense, frame-shift).
Could gene mutations that alter gene expression be a good thing?
B.3.1.1: Explain how natural selection can impact allele frequencies of a population.
B.3.1.2: Describe the factors that can contribute to the development of new species (e.g., isolating mechanisms, genetic drift, founder effect, migration).
B.3.1.3: Explain how genetic mutations may result in genotypic and phenotypic variations within a population.
UEQ: How do we scientifically explain the evidence and mechanisms for biological evolution?
LEQs:

How do mutations in a gene alter gene expression? What are the mechanics of gene mutation?

How do environmental factors affect the frequency of allele distribution or inheritance?

Why and how do speciation occur?

What evidence can be used to indicate that species have evolved from common ancestors?

How do modern scientists use the concepts of inheritance and evolution to genetically engineer superior organisms?

What are the ethical and societal
Unit Map
7
Bio.B.3.1,
Bio.B.3.2,
Bio.B.3.3
15 classes
4/28/2014 –
5/16/2014

B.3.2.1: Interpret evidence supporting the theory of evolution (i.e., fossil, anatomical, physiological, embryological, biochemical, and universal genetic code).
B.3.3.1: Distinguish among the scientific terms: hypothesis, inference, law, theory, principle, fact, and observation.
A.4, B.1, B.2, B.3 implications inherent in genetic engineering?
5/19-5/22
If environmental factors can affect the evolution of organisms, how do organisms alter their environment for future generations?
Comprehensive
Final
Linking Unit
Question:
Unit 8:
Ecology
B.4.1.1: Describe the levels of ecological organization (i.e., organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere).
B.4.1.2: Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
BIO.B.4.2.1: Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem
(e.g., food chains, food webs, energy
UEQ: How do organisms interact and depend upon each other and their environment for survival?
LEQs:

What is the biosphere and how does it connect life on earth?

What are the biotic and abiotic factors that make biomes unique?

How do the biotic factors in a biome influence the abiotic factors, and vice versa?

How does energy flow through the organisms in a biome?

How does energy and matter flow through the abiotic factors in a biome?

How do environmental factors affect a population and/or the community as a whole, in a biome?
Unit Map
8
Bio.B.4.1,
Bio.B.4.2 added to 9th grade Int
Science or
General
Science course

pyramids).
B.4.2.2: Describe biotic interactions in an ecosystem (e.g., competition, predation, symbiosis).
B.4.2.3: Describe how matter recycles through an ecosystem
(i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle).
B.4.2.4: Describe how ecosystems change in response to natural and human disturbances
(e.g., climate changes, introduction of nonnative species, pollution, fires).
B.4.2.5: Describe the effects of limiting factors on population dynamics and potential species extinction