Mrs. MacColl's Biology Page

Honors Biology & Biology Curriculum

The curriculum for Biology IH and Biology I is essentially the same. However, Biology IH goes into greater depth and detail depending on the topic of study. Biology IH students are expected to have a solid foundation of Biology. Students may have to independently review topics that will not be discussed in class to make time to explore various topics in more depth.
1^st Quarter Unit 1 – The Nature of Life Science of Biology Characteristics of Life Levels of organization Chemistry – organic inorganic macromolecules
Unit 2 – Cell Biology Cell structure and function Microscope proficiency Cells and their environment Cell growth, division, and repair Cell transport Chromosomes and cell reproduction
2^nd Quarter Unit 3 – Genetics DNA and RNA Genetic variation influenced by fertilization DNA replication and translation Protein synthesis Genetic engineering The Humane Genome
Unit 4 – Evolution Darwin’s theory of evolution Genotypic an phenotypic variation Natural selection and biodiversity Environmental factors and biodiversity Evidence for organic evolution Biological classification systems
3^rd Quarter Unit 5 – Ecology The biosphere – populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes Energy flow Biogeochemical cycles Biotic and abiotic factors Population statistics
Unit 6 – Exploring Diversity Introduction to the kingdom of life Viruses and bacteria Protists Fungi
Unit 7 – Exploring Plants Roots, stems, and leaves Plant reproduction and seed plants Plant responses and adaptations Photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Unit 8 – Invertebrates Sponges and cnidarians Worms and mollusks Arthropods and echinoderms
Unit 9 – Vertebrates Fishes and amphibians Reptiles and birds Mammals
4^th Quarter Unit 10 – Exploring Human Biology Introduction to body structure Skeletal, muscular, and integumentary systems Circulatory and respiratory systems Digestive and excretory systems Nervous system Endocrine system Immune system

The curriculum for Biology IH and Biology I is essentially the same. However, Biology IH goes into greater depth and detail depending on the topic of study. Biology IH students are expected to have a solid foundation of Biology. Students may have to independently review topics that will not be discussed in class to make time to explore various topics in more depth.

1^st Quarter

Unit 1 – The Nature of Life

Science of Biology
Characteristics of Life
Levels of organization
Chemistry – organic inorganic macromolecules

Unit 2 – Cell Biology

Cell structure and function
Microscope proficiency
Cells and their environment
Cell growth, division, and repair
Cell transport
Chromosomes and cell reproduction

2^nd Quarter

Unit 3 – Genetics

DNA and RNA
Genetic variation influenced by fertilization
DNA replication and translation
Protein synthesis
Genetic engineering
The Humane Genome

Unit 4 – Evolution

Darwin’s theory of evolution
Genotypic an phenotypic variation
Natural selection and biodiversity
Environmental factors and biodiversity
Evidence for organic evolution
Biological classification systems

3^rd Quarter

Unit 5 – Ecology

The biosphere – populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes
Energy flow
Biogeochemical cycles
Biotic and abiotic factors
Population statistics

Unit 6 – Exploring Diversity

Introduction to the kingdom of life
Viruses and bacteria
Protists
Fungi

Unit 7 – Exploring Plants

Roots, stems, and leaves
Plant reproduction and seed plants
Plant responses and adaptations
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration

Unit 8 – Invertebrates

Sponges and cnidarians
Worms and mollusks
Arthropods and echinoderms

Unit 9 – Vertebrates

Fishes and amphibians
Reptiles and birds
Mammals

4^th Quarter

Unit 10 – Exploring Human Biology

Introduction to body structure
Skeletal, muscular, and integumentary systems
Circulatory and respiratory systems
Digestive and excretory systems
Nervous system
Endocrine system
Immune system