BIOLOGY TUTORIAL
2013-2014
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. DALLY
CONTACT: edally@casdfalcons.org
ROOM 303
COURSE OVERVIEW:
The course will emphasize the Keystone Assessment Anchors & Eligible
Content covered in Module A and B of the Pa Keystone Biology Exam which
includes:
 Unit 1: Basic Biological Principles
 Unit 2: The Chemical Basis of Life
 Unit 3: Bioenergetics
 Unit 4: Homeostasis and Transport
 Unit 5: DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis
 Unit 6: Cell Growth and Reproduction
 Unit 7: Patterns of Inheritance
 Unit 8: Biotechnologies
 Unit 9: Theory of Evolution
 Unit 10: Ecology
GOAL:
1. Prepare students for the Pa Biology Keystone Exam that will be
given at the end of the year to all students taking biology.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Textbook – Modern Biology: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
 All students will have an online textbook that you may access with a
provided code. Codes to access the textbook will be given out the
first week of school.
 If a student does not have access to a computer a hardcopy of the
textbook will be assigned to the student. (Textbook needs to be
covered)
 The teacher will keep a classroom set of textbooks in his room at all
times for in class assignments. (These books may not be removed from
the class!!!!)
Mr. Dally’s Homepage – My Homepage can be accessed directly through the
CAHS website (www.casdfalcons.org) and will include the following items:
 Class Calendar (test dates, assignment dates, project dates, etc)
 Assignments
 Biology Lecture Videos with corresponding note packets
 Biology Links
Materials – Folder and composition book (provided by instructor), and writing
utensil
GRADING:
EXAMS – Understanding of concepts taught in each Unit will be assessed
through a unit exam. Students will also be given a pre/post test to access
the knowledge gained throughout the 9 weeks. The post test will count as a
final exam and graded for that specific 9 weeks. Students will also take a
final exam for the year.
QUIZES – To access student knowledge students will be given unannounced
quizzes throughout the year.
HOMEWORK – Throughout the year, students will be assigned homework for
each chapter. Assignments will include: chapter study guides, power point
questions, and worksheets. All homework assignments are graded and
students are docked 2 points for everyday the assignment is late. Upon the
10th day late, students receive a 0% for the assignment.
IN CLASS ACTIVITIES - Throughout the year, students will be graded on
in class activities such as labs, group assignments, and individual assignments.
STUDY ISLAND – Each nine weeks students will be assigned sections to
complete from the Study Island Webpage. Each assignment will be worth 10
points.
DAILY WARM UP and WORD OF THE DAY – (To be completed in provided
composition book) On a daily basis, when students arrive to class they will
see a “Daily Warm Up” projected on the screen. Students are to read the
warm up and answer the question associated with it. They will record their
answer in the composition book along with the date and the title of the warm
up. Students will be given 5-8 minutes to complete it, and students will then
discuss their answers with the instructor. Following the discussion, students
will be given a “Word of the Day”. It is the responsibility of the student to
record the word of the day and its definition within the composition book
below the Daily Warm Up. From the composition book will come two grades
for each nine weeks. At the end of the nine weeks, the instructor will
collect each student’s composition book for a grade. The point total for the
composition book is 40 – 50 points. Students will also take a vocabulary
exam each nine weeks, based on the words of the day. Also throughout the
year, the instructor will perform random spot-checks of the composition
book for a grade.
MAKE UP WORK – It is the responsibility of the student to ask the
instructor for any make up work, which includes such things as: exams, labs,
homework, daily warm ups, and word of the day.
SCOPE AND SEQUENCE:
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Unit 1: Basic Biological Principles
o Characteristics of life
o Similarities and differences in structure between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.
o Common features/functions of cell structures in both prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells
o Levels of biological organization from organelle to multicellular organism and
relationship between form and function
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Unit 2: The Chemical Basis of Life
o Chemical structure of water
o Polarity of water/hydrogen bonding and related properties (adhesion,
cohesion, high specific heat, versatile solvent, and density of ice)
o Examples of how the properties of water make life on earth on possible
o Levels of biochemical organization (atoms, molecules, macromolecules)
o Chemical properties of carbon atoms
o Structural shapes of carbon molecules (straight chains, branched chains,
rings)
o Monomers vs. polymers
o Monomer that forms carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids
(monosaccharide, amino acid, nucleotide)
o Dehydration synthesis (condensation) and hydrolysis reactions
o Basic structure of the four major classes of biological macromolecules
o Importance and use of each macromolecule for biological functions
o Function and characteristics of enzymes
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Unit 3:
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Unit 4:
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Bioenergetics
Double membrane structure of mitochondria
Double membrane structure of chloroplasts
Roles of mitochondria and chloroplasts in energy transformations
Catabolic vs. anabolic chemical reactions
Overall (summary) chemical equations for photosynthesis and cellular
respiration
Basic energy transformations during photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Molecular structure of ATP
ATP-ADP cycle
Importance of ATP as the energy currency (fuel) for cell processes
Homeostasis and Transport
Chemical structure of the plasma membrane (Phospholipid bilayer)
Fluid mosaic model
Functions of the plasma membrane
Passive transport mechanisms
Active transport mechanisms
Role of the endoplasmic reticulum and golgi apparatus in cell transport
Examples of: thermoregulation, water regulation, oxygen regulation, and
chemical regulation
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Unit 5:
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DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis
Structure of DNA
Structure of eukaryotic chromosomes
Similarities and differences between DNA and RNA
Transcription uses DNA to make RNA
Translation uses RNA to make a protein
Role of ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in assembling,
transporting, packaging and modifying different proteins
Phenotype as a function of gene expression (DNA to protein to phenotype)
Different types of gene mutations
Possible effect of mutation (change in the DNA sequence) on phenotype
Environmental influences on phenotype
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Unit 6:
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Unit 7: Patterns of Inheritance
o Common patterns of inheritance
o Tools for predicting patterns of inheritance (Punnett square, Pedigree, and
Mathematics of probability)
o Relationship between genotype and phenotype
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Unit 8: Biotechnologies
o Tools of genetic engineering
o Applications of genetic engineering
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Unit 9:
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Theory of Evolution
Principles of inheritance as they relate to evolution
Fundamental principles of natural selection
Types of natural selection
Factors that contribute to speciation
Types of genetic mutations and their impact on genotype and phenotype
Examples of variation in populations
Evidences of evolution
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Unit 10:
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Ecology
The levels of ecological organization
Abiotic components of an ecosystem
Biotic components of an ecosystem
Characteristic abiotic and biotic components of earth’s aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems.
The ultimate energy source is the sun.
Structure and components of a food chain or food web.
Implications of the 10% rule/law (energy pyramids)
Habitat and niche (fundamental and realized)
Symbiotic interactions within an ecosystem
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Cell Growth and Reproduction
Cell cycle in a non-reproductive, eukaryotic cell
Phases of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
Phases of meiosis in diploid, germ-line stem cells
Importance of mitosis and meiosis
Outcomes of mitosis and meiosis
Importance of chromosome composition and number in controlling phenotype
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Biogeochemical cycles
Examples of natural disturbances affecting ecosystems
Carrying capacity
Limiting factors
Effects of limiting factors on population dynamics