Grade 12 Biology - University Preparation
This course provides students with the opportunity for in-depth study of the concepts and processes that occur in biological systems. Students will study theory and conduct investigations in the areas of biochemistry, metabolic processes, molecular genetics, homeostasis, and population dynamics. Emphasis will be placed on the achievement of detailed knowledge and the refinement of skills needed for further study in various branches of the life sciences and related fields. Please note that the focus of much of this course is on the molecular aspects of biology, which builds on the organismal concepts learned in grade 11 U biology. As a result, this course is quite different from the grade 11 prerequisite.
- Course Outline & Expectations (2014-2015)
- Safety Rules and Procedures and Agreement
- Textbook Damages Form
- Position Paper Assignments - tips
- Position Paper Rubric
- Formal Lab Report Rubric
- Communicating Scientific Inquiry - Lab Report Checklist
- APA Style Referencing - a tutorial
- Test yourself to see if you are prepared for 12 Biology
- Explore Learning! - Use the gizmos
- Why isn't bottled water allowed in Mr. Roach's class?
- Smarter Science - Template
Turnitin codes:
- Mrs. Lowe Class ID - 7655350
Explorelearning codes:
- Mrs. Lowe - WLDTPS5J4Q
Exam Outline and Review:
Unit One: Biochemistry
Class resources
- Biochemistry Learning Goals
- Video handout: The Unity and Diversity of Life
- Video handout: Chemical Foundations of Life
- Biochemistry Part I - Chemical Fundamentals (ppt)
- Biochemistry Part II - Organic Molecules (ppt)
- Biochemistry Part III: Macromolecules (ppt)
- Biochemistry IV: Plasma Membrane and Cell Transport (ppt)
- Biochemistry V: Enzymes (ppt)
- Biologically Important Molecules (review sheet)
- Chemicals of Life Practice questions
- Cooling Curve activity results (DataStudio file)
- Cooling Curve activity results (txt file)
- Active Transport Diagrams
- assignment: Keyword Article Summary
- assignment:
Web resources and animations
- Molecules of Life: 3-D Models
- How to view 3-D molecules
- 3-D molecule files (zip file)
- Dissolving NaCl (animation) - dissociation
- Dissolving Sugar (animation) - dissolving
- Macromolecules (animations)
- Prokaryotic cell structure - (article)
- Inner Life of the Cell - (animations)
- Osmosis in Three Cell Types - (tutorial)
- Osmosis Virtual Lab
- Passive Transport (animation)
- Facilitated Diffusion - featuring aquaporins in claymation!
- Active Transport (animation)
- Endocytosis (animation)
- Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis (animation)
- Plasma membrane (video)
- Passive transport (video)
- Active transport (video)
- Endocytosis (video)
- Vesicle use with Lysosomes (animation)
- How Enzymes Work (animation)
Unit Two: Metabolic Processes
Class resources
- Video handout: The Power of Metabolism
- Metabolism I - Energy, Entropy and ATP (ppt)
- handout: Cellular Respiration in a Bat
- handout: Glycolysis and Kreb's Cycle review
- handout: Geranium Photosynthesis Lab
- handout: Photosynthesis Diagrams
- Photosynthesis (ppt)
- Pea Seed Respiration Lab Activity
- Lorenzo's Oil Handout
- Rainforest Depletion Position Paper Rubric
- Rainforest paper student example Level 4
- Rainforest paper student example Level 3
- assignment: Mitochondrial Disease Presentation
- lab assignment:
Web Resources and animations
- Food as Fuel (video)
- Sand Castles and Entropy (video)
- Thermodynamics - (tutorial)
- Gibbs Free Energy - (video)
- The Virtual Cell: Glycolysis overview
- The Virtual Cell: Glycolysis reactions
- The Virtual Cell: Citric Acid Cycle
- The Virtual Cell: The Electron Transport Chain
- Source of Oxygen in Photosynthesis (animation)
- Photophosphorylation (animation)
- Melvin Calvin's experiments (animation)
- The Virtual Cell: Photosynthesis
- The Virtual Cell: Photosystem II
- A complete metabolic map - Just for kicks!
Unit Three: Molecular Genetics
Class resources
- Molecular Genetics overhead transparencies
- RFLP analysis activity
- Switched at Birth activity
- Sanger Dideoxy Sequencing Simulation activity
- Unit Two Review Solutions
- Complex Issues in Agriculture and Food Production
- Protein Synthesis Practice
Web resources and animations
- DNA from the beginning - covers heredity, molecular genetics and gene control and expression
- DNA timeline
- DNA replication
- DNA replication and protein synthesis animated video
- Meselson-Stahl Experiment
- Protein Synthesis
- The Virtual Cell: Transcription
- The Virtual Cell: mRNA Processing
- The Virtual Cell: mRNA Splicing
- The Virtual Cell: Translation
- The Virtual Cell: lac Operon
- lac operon
- lac operon including positive feedback control using cAMP
- Cloning Basics
- Restriction Enzymes
- Calcium Chloride transformation
- DNA extraction virtual LAB
- Gel electrophoresis
- Gel electrophoresis virtual LAB
- Polymerase chain reaction
- Polymerase chain reaction virtual LAB
- DNA Sequencing (Sanger dideoxy method)
- Chromosome 11 flyby
- Your Genes Your Health
- Who Owns Your Body?
- Intellectual Property and Gene Patenting (article)
- Classical vs Transgenic Breeding - video
Unit Four: Homeostasis
Class resources
- Homeostasis video questions
- Hormones to know
- Immersion in cold water (articles)
- Hormonal Control of Metamorphosis worksheets
- Hormone Levels During the Menstrual Cycle worksheets
- Central Nervous System (ppt)
- Homeostasis Unit Review solutions
- Sperry's Split Brain Experiments
- Nervous and Endocrine Practice Quiz
- Invertebrate Repsonses to External Stimuli Lab
- Jasminder's Stress Response
- lab assignment:
Web resources and animations
- Hormonal Communication (using ADH as an example)
- The Pituitary Gland
- Pituitary Hormones and their targets
- Blood sugar regulation in diabetics
- Female Reproduction hormones
- Positive and Negative Feedback (using FSH and progesterone as examples)
- "What's Inside?" Report Summary, The Dirty Dozen, Wallet Pamphlet
- Zero Bio (good quizzes and games)
- Many good homeostasis animations
- Resting potential and action potential
- Sodium-Potassium Pump
- Action potential propagation (one-way flow)
- Chemical Synapse
- Gated channels during action potential
- Mouse Party - the effects of drugs on mice
- Optical Illusions - 94 to try!
- Sound waves on cochlear structures (hearing)
- The Split Brain Experiments (interactive)
- Split Brain - A Tale of Two Halves (Nature)
- Cambridge Brain Sciences - test your brain!
Unit Five: Population Dynamics
- Population Dynamics PPT Lesson
- Population Dynamics Online lessons
- Ecology Online Companion (some useful practice)
- Characteristics of Populations (ppt)
- Population Dynamics Portfolio
- Investigation 14.1.1 - Estimating Population Size
- Population Ecology Interactive (NOVA)
- Rat Attack (NOVA)
- Population Age Structure Data
- Essay - "There is no environmental population or resource crisis." - Julian L. Simon
- Essay - "The Fundamental Failure of Environmentalism" - David Suzuki