Biology Outline
2001-02
First Semester
1. Introduction (1 week)
A. Nature of science
B. Biotic vs abiotic
C. Characteristics of life
2. Ecology (7 weeks)
A. Climate & seasons
B. Biomes & ecosystems
C. Energy transfer within ecosystems (food pyramids)
D. Cycles within ecosystems (carbon, nitrogen, water)
E. Populations & communities
F. Environmental issues (pollution, global warming, invasive & endangered species)
3. Chemistry of life (3 weeks)
A. Structure of matter
B. Chemical bonds & equations
C. Energy (photosynthesis, respiration, energy transfer)
D. Exothermic & endothermic reactions
E. Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates & nucleic acids
F. Enzymes
4. Cell biology (2 weeks)
A. Cell organelle structure & function
B. Homeostasis (diffusion, osmosis, active transport)
C. Energy (respiration & fermentation)
5. Genetics (5 weeks)
A. DNA structure & function
B. Cell division (mitosis, meiosis, cancer)
C. Monohybrid & dihybrid crosses
D. Sex-linked traits & pedigrees
E. Ethical issues


Second Semester
6. Earth Evolution (4 weeks)
A. Revisit nature of science
B. Geologic time scale
C. Chemistry & dating methods
D. Earth formation
E. Plate tectonics
F. Rock cycle
G. Fossils & sedimentary rock
H. Erosion & weathering
7. Biological Evolution (3 weeks)
A. Origins of life
B. Evolution & speciation
C. Darwin & natural selection
8. Classification & biodiversity (2 weeks)
A. Dichotomous keys
B. Introduction to kingdoms
CIM TEST (April)
9. Survey of kingdoms (9 weeks)
A. Viruses
B. Archaebacteria & bacteria
C. Protists
D. Fungi
E. Plants
F. Animals