Biology 11

Unit 1: Matter and Energy for Life

The cell as the unit of life: cell theory, microscopy, organelle structure and function, cell size, and the matter-and-energy accounting of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

• How cell theory developed
• Microscope technique and recording data
• Observing and describing organelles
• Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells
• Organelles and cell processes
• Investigating cell size
• Investigating photosynthesis and respiration
• Matter and energy in photosynthesis and respiration

Unit 2: Biodiversity

Classifying life: taxonomic systems and nomenclature, the principles of taxonomy applied to local organisms, the evolving nature of classification, and the anatomy, physiology, and life cycles of representatives across the kingdoms and viruses.

• Classification systems and nomenclature
• Applying taxonomy to local organisms
• How classification knowledge changes
• Arguing biodiversity decisions from evidence

• Anatomy and physiology across kingdoms
• Life cycles across kingdoms

Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I

Homeostasis at the systems level: how nutrition, fitness, behaviour, and body systems maintain a stable internal environment; the chemistry of body systems; and how organisms respond to viruses, disease, and environmental stress.

• Nutrition, fitness, and homeostasis
• Behaviour and homeostasis

• Investigating body systems
• How body-support systems improved over time
• How plant and animal systems maintain homeostasis
• Chemicals in body systems
• Viruses, disease, and disrupted homeostasis

Unit 4: Interactions among Living Things

Population and community ecology: comparing biomes across continents, the factors driving population growth and interactions, and the ecological and social issues surrounding carrying capacity and natural-resource demand.

• Comparing biomes across continents
• Population growth and interactions
• Carrying capacity and resource demand