Biology 12

Unit 1: Genetic Continuity

The cellular and molecular basis of heredity: the cell cycle, mitosis and cancer, meiosis and chromosome disorders, DNA structure, replication, protein synthesis, mutations, Mendelian and human genetics, and biotechnology.

• The cell cycle
• Chromosomes and chromosome number
• Controls on cell division
• Mitosis and cancer (p53)
• Treating cancer

• Observing chromosomes
• Cyclin-dependent kinases
• Telomeres and telomerase
• Stem cell technology

• Meiosis and cytokinesis
• Chromosome reduction
• Chromosomes and heredity
• Crossing over
• Karyotypes
• Non-disjunction

• Discovery of the gene
• Nucleic acids
• The DNA double helix
• DNA replication
• Replication terms

• Types of RNA
• Protein synthesis
• Gene mutations
• Causes of mutations
• RNA processing
• Gene regulation

• Mendel's work
• Mendelian genetics
• Complex inheritance
• Probability in genetics
• Monohybrid and dihybrid crosses
• Polyploidy
• Genotype and phenotype

• Sex-linkage
• Sex-linked defects in males
• Sex-linked crosses
• Environment and gene expression
• Pedigree charts

• Human genome research
• Genetic engineering techniques
• Restriction enzymes
• Genetically modified organisms
• Risks and benefits of biotechnology
• Current genetic engineering technologies
• Topics in human genomics

Unit 2: Evolution, Change and Diversity

The origin and diversity of life, the theory of evolution and its mechanisms (variation, natural selection, adaptation), and population genetics through the Hardy-Weinberg principle.

• Origin and diversity of life
• Historical and cultural contexts
• The theory of evolution
• Key evolution terms
• Modern theory of evolution
• Genes and variation
• Variation, mutation, and selection

• Hardy-Weinberg principle
• Environmental pressures on evolution
• Hardy-Weinberg and chi-square

Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium II

Homeostasis at the systems level: the nervous system and impulse transmission, the endocrine system and feedback control, the brain and senses, and human reproduction and development.

• Neuron structure
• Types of neurons
• Impulse transmission
• Compounds in neuron function
• Ion distribution on the membrane
• Transmitters and inhibitors
• The central nervous system

• The peripheral nervous system
• Reflex arcs
• Nervous system and homeostasis
• Nervous system disorders
• Drugs disrupting homeostasis
• Drugs maintaining homeostasis

• Endocrine glands
• Endocrine system and homeostasis
• Neural and endocrine control together
• Hormones and target cells
• Protein and steroid hormones
• Investigating the endocrine system

• Feedback mechanisms
• Discovery of insulin
• Health and feedback loops
• Endocrine disorders

• The brain
• The eye
• The ear
• Diseases and injury of brain, eye, and ear

• Male reproductive system
• Sperm structure
• Male reproductive hormones
• Female reproductive system
• Egg cell structure
• Female reproductive hormones

• Journey to fertilization
• Fraternal and identical twins
• Hormones of pregnancy
• Embryonic development
• Primary membranes
• Placenta and umbilical cord

• Monitoring development
• Diagnosing genetic problems
• Drugs and fetal development
• Fertility technologies
• Contraceptive effectiveness
• Birth control and demographics
• Debating fertility funding