Welcome to Honors Biology! An in-depth and detailed course for 10-12 graders. This course covers the core concepts of Biology, including molecules and cells, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and cell division.
This course includes:
• 41 Instructional Videos
• 5 Units
• 20 Worksheets With Answer Sheets and Explanation Videos
• 6 Exams With Keys
Course Goals
Upon course completion:
- The student will understand and be able to articulate examples of the importance of structure and function, at microscopic and macroscopic scales.
- The student will understand and be able to describe the cell as the basic unit of organisms’ structure.
- The student will be able to provide examples of energy production and transfer, and understand and describe
the importance of energy availability for organisms and ecosystems.
- The student will understand principles of information storage and transfer in cells.
This video-course is primarily intended for 10th-12th grade
Course Requirements: A background in Chemistry is useful, but not necessary.
COURSE TOPICS AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1: Macromolecules
You will know:
• Know and understand the following terms:
o Elements, compounds, atom, proton, electron, neutron, atomic mass (mass number), atomic number, atomic weight, isotope, electron shells, chemical bonds, ionic bond, covalent bond, electronegativity, polarity, solute, solvent, aqueous solution
• Identify and use functional groups to synthesize/hydrolyze polymers.
• Explain what it means that biological function is at the chemical level and state which elements are essential for life.
• Know and understand the following terms:
o Organic compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon backbone (carbon skeleton), isomers, macromolecules, polymer, monomer, dehydration synthesis, hydrolysis, carbohydrate, mono-, di-, and polysaccharide, phospholipids, enzyme, peptide bond, denaturation
• Explain the characteristics and properties of the four macromolecules and their role in a cell.
Section 2: Properties of Water and Cell Membranes
You will know:
• How the polarity of water molecules results in hydrogen bonding.
• The four emergent properties of water.
• The energy transfer process that occurs when ATP is hydrolyzed.
• Cell membrane structure and function, and be familiar with the following terms: Selective permeability, fluid mosaic model, receptors, signal transduction, concentration gradient, passive transport, diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport.
• Osmosis and how tonicity effects water balance between cells.
Section 3: The Cell
You will know:
• The principles of the light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope; distinguish between magnification and resolving power
• The difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
• The structure and function of all the organelles in a eukaryotic cell.
• How the organelles are dependent or independent of each other.
• The structure and functions of the cytoskeleton.
• The structure, monomers, and functions of microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments.
Section 4: Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis
You will know:
• Enzyme function and be familiar with the following terms: Activation energy, substrate, active site, induced fit, cofactors, coenzyme, competitive inhibitor, noncompetitive inhibitor.
• The process of cellular respiration to produce ATP.
• The process of photosynthesis to create oxygen and sugar.
Section 5: Cell Division
You will know:
• What happens during each stage of the cell cycle.
• What happens during each stage of mitosis.
• The structure of chromosomes.
• Each stage of meiosis and which stages are important for introducing genetic variability.
• How gamete formation is different in males and females.
