Biology Essential Elements
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Identify the characteristics of life.
2. Describe homeostasis, and its importance.
3. Define species.
4. Identify the steps in the scientific method.
5. Recognize the difference between dependent and independent variables.
6. Distinguish between variables and controls in an experiment.
7. Interpret experimental data to draw conclusions.
8. Analyze experimental designs and methods of data analysis for sources of bias.
9. Differentiate among hypothesis, theory, and principle.
10. Demonstrate understanding of safe laboratory practices.
11. Demonstrate the proper use of a compound microscope.
12. Explain and use a variety of slide preparation techniques.
13. Determine the size of microscopic specimens in micrometers.
14. Explain and use correct procedures for counting microscopic samples.
15. Identify possible sources of error in experimental design.
16. Define the terms anterior, posterior, dorsal and ventral.
17. Explain and use a variety of methods to classify, including dichotomous keys, field guides, deductive
reasoning, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
18. Recognize the hierarchy of organization in living things (organism, species, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, and biosphere).
19. Differentiate between habitat and niche.
20. Evaluate the interdependence of organisms in a food web.
21. Define trophic levels, and trace the flow of energy through them.
22. Describe the role of decomposers and bacteria (legumes) in nutrient cycling.
23. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors in the environment
24. Describe how nutrients cycle through the biotic and abiotic factors in the environment – water, carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorus.
25. Explain the different types of symbiotic relationships – mutualism, commensalism, parasitism.
26. Compare how organisms satisfy their nutritional needs, i.e., autotroph vs. heterotroph (omnivore,
carnivore, herbivore, decomposer).
27. Define ranges of tolerance and limiting factors, and how they affect populations.
28. Describe the conditions under which primary and secondary succession take place.
29. Compare and contrast the biomes of Earth.
30. Distinguish between linear and exponential population growth (S and J curves).
31. Interpret a population growth curve.
32. Predict the effects of environmental factors on population growth.
33. Relate the reproductive patterns of different populations to models of population growth.
34. Distinguish between density-dependent and density-independent factors.
35. Explain the importance of biological diversity.
36. Recognize the primary elements found in living things (C, H, O, N, P, S).
37. Identify the importance of acids and bases in biological systems.
38. Identify how the process of diffusion occurs, and why it is important to cells.
39. Distinguish between diffusion and osmosis.
40. Explain how a cell reacts in isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions.
41. Identify the 4 major types of organic compounds.
42. Describe the role that enzymes play in biological reactions.
43. Describe the components of the cell theory.
44. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
45. Compare and contrast plant and animal cells.
46. Identify the structure and function of the plasma membrane.
47. Compare and contrast passive and active transport.
48. Distinguish between endocytosis, exocytosis, pinocytosis, and phagocytosis.
49. Relate the structure of cell organelles to their function.
50. Sequence the stages of cell division (mitosis).
51. Identify the relationship between the cell cycle and cancer.
52. Identify the reactants and products of photosynthesis.
53. Identify the reactants and products of respiration.
54. Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
55. Describe the role of ATP in energy transfer.
56. Predict the possible offspring of a genetic cross by using a Punnett square.
57. Sequence the stages of meiosis.
58. Distinguish between phenotype, genotype, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive.
59. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis.
60. Relate the structure of DNA to its function, and its ability to reproduce itself accurately.
61. Explain the significance of mutations.
62. Describe the 4 nitrogenous bases of DNA (adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine).
63. Explain the role of DNA and RNA in protein production.
64. Distinguish between transcription and translation.
65. Describe the 3 types of RNA.
66. Compare and contrast DNA and RNA.
67. Interpret a pedigree.
68. Determine the inheritance of sex-linked traits.
69. Differentiate between codominance and incomplete dominance.
70. Interpret a karyotype.
71. Predict the results of a cross involving blood type.
72. Analyze how mapping the human genome is benefiting human life.
73. Define genetic engineering, and identify pros and cons.
74. Identify the evidence of evolution (anatomy, embryology, biochemistry, and fossils).
75. Analyze modern theories of the origin of life.
76. Summarize Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
77. Interpret a phylogenetic tree.
78. Compare and contrast primates and their adaptations.
79. Explain the meaning of a scientific name.
80. Organize the levels in a biological classification system (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus,
species).
81. Interpret a dichotomous key.
82. Identify the structural adaptations of plants to their terrestrial environment (roots, stems, and leaves).
83. Interpret a cladogram.
84. Compare and contrast vascular and nonvascular plants.
85. Compare the functions of the xylem and phloem.
86. Describe the characteristics of flowers, seeds, and fruits.
87. Identify the relationship between methods of plant reproduction and life cycles.
88. Distinguish between the characteristics of monocots and dicots.
89. Identify 3 characteristics of each kingdom.
90. Identify cell differentiation in the developmental stages of animals.
91. Identify and interpret animal body plans.
92. Describe an adaptation and evaluate the significance of each of the invertebrate classes (sponges,
cnidarians, flatworms, roundworms, mollusks, segmented worms, arthropods, echinoderms, and
invertebrate chordates).
93. Compare and contrast the vertebrate classes (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals).
94. Describe several social behaviors found in many animal groups (courtship, forming packs, prides, or
flocks, and mating for life).
95. Compare and contrast types of innate and learned behaviors.
96. Identify the structures and characteristics of viruses and bacteria.
97. Explain how viruses and bacteria reproduce.
98. Describe two types of harmful and beneficial bacteria.
99. Identify the structure and function of each of the 11 human body systems.
100. Recognize the hierarchy within living things (cell, tissue, organ, organ system).