Biology 30

Course Name and Abbreviation

Biology 30 , Bio30

Grade Level:

Grade 12

Summary Course Content and Activities:

Biology 30 is the second course in the Biology 20-30 sequence.
This course includes the following strands:
- Coordination and Regulation in Humans
- Continuity of Life
- Heredity
- Change in Populations and Communities

Who should be taking this course? For whom is this course designed and intended:

This is an academic course for the grade 12 student who
- Has successfully completed Biology 20.
- Is intending to graduate from NorthStar Academy, or any other high school, with an academic diploma
- Is intending to pursue university, college, or vocational training upon graduation from high school.

Philosophy statement for and/or behind teaching this course:

Biology is the study of life and living systems from the molecular level to the biosphere. Through the study of biology, learners are given an opportunity to explore and understand the natural world that God created. They will become aware of the profound influence of biology in their lives. Relating the study of biology to what the learners already know, deem personally useful and consider relevant facilitates learning. Learning proceeds best when it originates from a base of concrete experiences presenting an authentic view of science in the context of biology. In Biology 20-30, students learn biology in relevant contexts and engage in meaningful activities. Students are encouraged to appreciate it as a scientific endeavor with practical impact on their own lives and on society as a whole.

Major Course Goals:

Students will be able to:
- describe the structure and explain the function of nervous and hormonal control systems that enable the human organism to maintain internal equilibrium among its systems while simultaneously interacting and maintaining equilibrium with the external environment; and explain the role of selected hormones in metabolism and homeostasis
- describe mitosis and the cell cycle; and compare mitosis with meiosis and explain the significance to a species of chromosome number reduction and crossing over during meiosis; describe gametogenesis, fertilization, fetal development and reproductive technologies in humans; and compare and contrast alternation of generations in a range of vascular plants and animals
- describe the anatomy and physiology of single neurons in relation to the initiation, formation and transmission of electrochemical impulses; and explain how sensory receptors, such as the eye and ear, act as energy converters
- describe the anatomy of human reproductive systems; and explain the hormonal control and maintenance of reproductive systems in adults; and describe how sexually transmitted diseases interfere with system function; describe and explain the physiological events in the fetus that result in the formation of male and female genitalia
- explain heredity; describe direct and indirect evidence for chromosomes, genes, alleles and the influence of crossing over and sex chromosomes, and explain the role of this evidence in formulating the principles of inheritance; explain the molecular basis of inheritance by describing DNA structure, expression and mutation; and explain the significance of genomes to species and the influence of biotechnology on genes and genomes
- explain the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to gene pools, and the significance of gene pool change over time; describe the chaos theory and explain and analyze, quantitatively, the factors and strategies that influence population growth

Pre-requisite(s):

Students taking Biology 30 are presumed to have reached the acceptable standard or better in Biology 20.

Number of credits the course is worth:

5

Materials and resources provided by NSA, purchased by student, and/or recommended:

Provided by NSA:

Nelson Biology

Purchased by student:

Microsoft Office 97 (or greater) especially Word and Excel
Scientific Calculator (approved graphing calculator is acceptable)

Forecasted amount of time required to complete each week's lesson:

Semester students can expect to complete the course in about 8 hours per week over twenty weeks. Full year students will complete the course in about 4 hours per week over forty weeks.

Description of student evaluations, quizzes and tests:

There are four major grading periods, one after each quarter. Exams are weighted more heavily than regular assignments.

Provincial Final Exam Mark (50% of the final mark)

Criteria for teacher approval of and willingness to grant assignment/test extensions to students beyond the automatic extension period:

None - For more information on the school's policies concerning extensions and completion, please refer to the school policy document.

NorthStar Academy Canada
#107, 1001 - 20th Avenue, Didsbury, AB
Email: cdninfo@nsaschool.ca
1-403-335-9587
1-877-335-1171 (toll free)
1-403-335-9513 (fax)