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Cell Biochemistry (return to top) |
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1. In multicellular organisms, including humans, cells perform specialized functions as parts of sub-systems (e.g., tissues, organs, and organ networks) which work together to maintain optimum conditions for the benefit of the whole organism. Function is related to structure. (AKSci - A.10. A.14c) |
• Investigate one current development in cell biology and discuss implications for future use. • Perform dissections on organisms in order to determine the similarities and differences between systems. |
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2. Specialized cells or groups of cells that monitor stimuli from the organism's internal and external environment enabling the organism to respond to changing environmental conditions accomplish coordination of these functions. (AKSci - A.14b, A.14c) |
• Examine and observe small, live organisms (i.e.: meal worms, planaria) to study animal behavior. |
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3. Every cell is covered by a membrane that controls what can enter and leave the cell. Within the cell are specialized parts for the transport of materials, energy capture and release, protein building, waste disposal, information feedback, and movement. In addition to these basic cellular functions common to all cells, most cells in multicellular organisms perform some special functions that others do not. (AKSci - A.10) |
• Discuss that the many body cells in an individual can be very different from one another, even though they are all descended from a single cell and thus have essentially identical genetic instructions. Different parts of the instructions are used in different types of cells, influenced by the cell's environment and past history. |
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4. Protein molecules are long, usually folded chains made from a combination of up to 20 different kinds of amino-acid molecules. The function of each protein/enzyme molecule depends on its specific sequence of amino acids and the shape the chain takes is a consequence of attractions between the chain's parts. (AKSci - A.10) |
• Compare amino acid sequences for specific proteins among different species. • Verbally describe the process of transcription and translation. |
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Genetics and Biotechnology (return to top) |
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1. The genetic information passed from parents to offspring is coded in DNA molecules. This information provides instructions for protein synthesis. The code used is virtually the same for all life forms. (AKSci - A.11) |
• Extract DNA from onion cells or human cheek cells. • Make a visual demonstration or model of protein synthesis. |
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2. The sorting and recombination of genes in sexual reproduction results in countless possible gene combinations from the offspring of any two parents. (AKSci - A.11) |
• Read a karyotype and determine whether the individual is normal or has mutations. • Grow and utilize "fast plants" to demonstrate the many possible combinations of crossbreeding. |
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3. Genes are segments of DNA molecules. Inserting, deleting, or substituting DNA segments can alter genes. These alterations can occur randomly or by such things as radiation and chemicals. An altered (mutated) gene may be passed on to every cell that develops from it. The resulting features may help, harm, or have little or no effect on the offspring's success in its environment. (AKSci - A.11) |
• Perform dominant/recessive and sex-linked fruit fly crosses. • Compare normal versus mutant fruit fly chromosomes, from salivary glands, using electrophoresis. |
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4. Biotechnology is any use or alteration of organisms, cells or molecules for practical purposes. (AKSci - A.11) |
• Research and present a multimedia presentation on genetically engineered plants and animals. • Perform a transformation experiment involving bacteria. |
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5. Modern technology uses genetic engineering to achieve these specific goals: a) understand more about inheritance and gene expression; b) better treat genetic diseases; c) generate economic benefits, including better agricultural organisms and valuable biological molecules. (AKSci - A.11) |
• Debate ethical issues relative to the human genome project and manipulation of human cells. |
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Hot Topics (return to top) |
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1. Current biological issues relate to the science of biology (i.e., drugs, alcohol, HIV, smoking, cloning). (AKSci - D.1, D.2, D.4, D.5, D.6) |
• Investigate and conduct a panel discussion select biological issues, relative to cultural ethics and impact on society and modern culture. • Use the internet to make a "web quest" on a particular hot topic. |
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Evolution (return to top) |
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1. Historical ideas, perspectives, and philosophies have provided the basis for modern evolutionary theory. (AKSci - A.13) |
• Discuss the role of historical ideas, perspectives, and philosophies, which provide the basis for modern evolutionary theory. • Articulate historical strengths and criticisms of evolutionary theory. |
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2. Chemical evolution on a young Earth set the stage for the origin of life. (AKSci - A.13) |
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3. Evolution builds on what already exists, so the more variety there is, the more there can be in the future. Evolution does not imply long-term progress in some set direction. (AKSci - A.13) |
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4. Populations, not individuals, evolve. Evolution is a change in the gene frequency in a population over time. (AKSci - A.13, A.14b) |
• Apply the Hardy-Weinberg principle to demonstrate factors affecting changes in gene frequency in evolving populations. |
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5. The processes by which populations evolve include mutation, gene flow, small population size, non-random mating, and natural selection. (AKSci - A.13, A.14b) |
• Gather data, summarize findings, and present critical analysis of evolution on the basis of anatomical and molecular characteristics of species. |
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6. A great diversity of species increases the chance that at least some living things will survive in the face of large-scale, catastrophic changes in the environment. (AKSci - A.12, A.13) |
• Conduct a laboratory investigation or a simulation to demonstrate that variations within a species may enable organisms to survive large-scale environmental change. Examples could include exposure of bacteria to UV radiation or aquatic organisms to chlorine. |
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7. Natural selection provides the following mechanism for evolution: Some variation in heritable characteristics exists within every species, some of these characteristics give individuals an advantage over others in surviving and reproducing, and the advantaged offspring, in turn, are more likely than others to survive and reproduce. The proportion of individuals that have advantageous characteristics will increase. (AKSci - A.13) |
• Participate in natural selection simulation activities to determine how environmentally favored traits are perpetuated over generations, while less favorable traits decrease in frequency. Discuss the relationship and significance of genetic variation, natural selection, and the ability to reproduce. |
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8. Molecular evidence substantiates the anatomical evidence for evolution. Additional detail about the sequence in which various lines of descent branched off from one another and the degree of kinship between organisms or species can be estimated from the similarity of their DNA sequences. (AKSci - A.13) |
• Discuss mitochondrial DNA as a marker for genetic variation and implications in evolutionary development. • Recognize the importance of molecular analysis of chlorophyll in the evolution of plants. |
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9. Organisms are classified into a hierarchy of groups and subgroups, based on morphological and biochemical similarities, and evolutionary relationships. (AKSci - A.12, A.13) |
• Classify selected plants and animals to their genus and species using a taxonomic key. |
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Ecology (return to top) |
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1. Available resources including energy, water, oxygen, and minerals limit the abundance and diversity of organisms any environment can support. Intraspecific and interspecific competition are also components of survival. (AKSci - A.9) |
• Demonstrate the impacts of available resources on yeast populations in a laboratory investigation. |
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2. The chemical elements that make up the molecules of living things pass through food webs and are combined and recombined in different ways. Energy is stored and lost throughout the process. Continual input of energy from photosynthesis and chemosynthesis keeps the process going. (AKSci - A.9) |
• Develop a model or experiment to simulate the effects of biological magnification on living systems. • Conduct an experiment showing the energy loss from one trophic level to the next. (i.e.: measure food intake relative to weight gain in a mouse.) |
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3. Human beings are part of the earth's ecosystems. Human activities do, deliberately or inadvertently, alter the equilibrium in ecosystems. (AKSci - A.14a, A.14b, A.14c, D.2) |
• Research and create a presentation on the changes of the ecosystem due to the impact of humans and the survival of selected species. |
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Human Biology (return to top) |
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1. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other parasites may infect the human body and interfere with normal body function. (AKSci - A.9) |
• Identify common human diseases, the symptoms, their means of infection, and the organisms that cause the disease. |
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2. The length and quality of human life are influenced by many factors, including sanitation, diet, medical care, gender, genes, environmental conditions and personal health behaviors. (AKSci - D.1, D.2, D.3, D.4, D.5) |
• Investigate the role minerals, vitamins, and macromolecules play in nutrition. • Discuss aging in relation to genetics and biochemical cellular changes and the possible implications of cloning in this process. |
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3. Faulty genes and gene mutation can cause body parts or systems to function abnormally. (AKSci - A.10, A.11) |
• Research and develop a multimedia presentation on a human disease or cancer. |
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4. Development is a process by which an organism proceeds from a fertilized egg through adulthood. Reproduction is the process by which an organism proceeds from adulthood to fertilized egg. (AKSci - A.10) |
• Identify stages of embryo development. View slides of chicken embryos at various stages under the microscope. • Research the terotogenic effect of one substance on the human embryo. |
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5. Differentiation is the specialization of embryonic cells into different cell types with different functions. During development, cell differentiation occurs by the stimulation and repression of specific genes. (AKSci - A.10) |
• Compare reproductive systems among vertebrate organisms. Identify the monthly hormonal and biological occurrences in the human female reproductive system. |
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6. Chemical substances, dietary habits, and some behaviors may influence one's health. Some effects show up immediately, others years later. (AKSci - A.2, A.10, D.1) |
• Research and discuss the influences of life-long fitness. • Conduct research on the feeding habits of Alaskan animals in order to determine the potential health effects on future generations. |
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Botany (return to top) |
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1. Vascular plants have specialized organ systems including vascular tissue and reproductive structures. (AKSci - A.10) |
• Conduct a laboratory dissection to make comparisons and identify the anatomy of monocot and dicot plants. • Compare and contrast a cross-section of a stem from a monocot and a dicot plant after viewing it under the microscope. |
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2. Plants reproduce both sexually and asexually (alternation of generations). AKSci - A.10, A.13) |
• Conduct laboratory investigations to compare and contrast a monocot and a dicot seed. |
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3. Plants have a variety of hormones that influence growth. (AKSci - A. 2, A.10) |
• Conduct a laboratory investigation of plant hormones and their affect on plant growth. |
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