Describe ideas and findings about cells as the basis of life, exchange of nutrients and wastes, and cellular energy, gas exchange and plant physiology.
Apply understanding of cells as the basis of life, exchange of nutrients and wastes, and cellular energy, gas exchange and plant physiology.
Analyse data about cells as the basis of life, exchange of nutrients and wastes, and cellular energy, gas exchange and plant physiology.
Interpret evidence about cells as the basis of life, exchange of nutrients and wastes, and cellular energy, gas exchange and plant physiology.
Evaluate processes, claims and conclusions about cells as the basis of life, exchange of nutrients and wastes, and cellular energy, gas exchange and plant physiology.
Investigate phenomena associated with cells as the basis of life, exchange of nutrients and wastes, and cellular energy, gas exchange and plant physiology.
Topic 1: Cells as the Basis of Life
Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Identify key organelles and their functions, including the nucleus, mitochondria, rough ER, ribosomes, smooth ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles and chloroplasts.
Describe how stem cells originate through the process of mitosis and differentiate into specialised cells to form tissues.
Distinguish between unipotent, multipotent, pluripotent and totipotent stem cells.
Describe how the hierarchical organisation of cells, tissues, organs and systems allow multicellular organisms to:
Obtain nutrients, e.g. digestive and circulatory systems.
Exchange gases, e.g. respiratory and circulatory systems.
Remove wastes, e.g. respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems.
Explain that each body system contains specialised cells and tissues that are structurally suited to function, including:
Size and shape (SA:V ratio).
Organelle composition.
Describe the structure and function of the cell membrane based on the fluid mosaic model, including the role of protein channels, phospholipids, cholesterol and glycoproteins.
Explain how the cell membrane regulates movement of substances into and out of the cell via:
Osmosis.
Simple diffusion.
Facilitated diffusion.
Protein-mediated active transport.
Endocytosis and exocytosis.
Compare active and passive transport.
Explain how the size of a cell is limited by surface area-to-volume ratio and rate of diffusion.
Interpret data from an experiment investigating the effect of surface area-to-volume ratio on the rate of diffusion.
Science Inquiry
Use a light microscope or photographs to:
View tissues from the respiratory, circulatory, excretory, digestive and/or plant systems
Compare epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissues
Calculate total magnification and field of view
Compare organelle composition of different cell types using electron micrographs
Investigate the effect of surface area-to-volume ratio on rate of diffusion
Explore the safety, ethics and efficacy of stem cell technologies
Topic 2: Exchange of Nutrients and Wastes
Describe the structure and function of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.
Describe the roles of amylase, protease and lipase in chemical digestion.
Explain how structural features of exchange surfaces in the digestive and circulatory systems of mammals (e.g. villi and capillaries) allow for efficient nutrient exchange.
Describe how closed circulatory systems facilitate the efficient transport of materials to and from all cells in the body.
Identify the parts of a nephron and their functions in the production of urine, i.e. glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, proximal tubule, Loop of Henle, distal tubule and collecting duct.
Explain how glomerular filtration, selective reabsorption and secretion across nephron membranes contribute to the removal of waste.
Explain how metabolic processes, such as digestion, are controlled and regulated by enzymes.
Describe the structure and function of enzymes, including the role of the active site.
Compare the induced-fit and lock-and-key models of enzyme function.
Explain how enzyme activity is affected by factors such as temperature, pH, presence of inhibitors and substrate concentration.
Interpret data from an experiment investigating factors affecting enzyme activity.
Science Inquiry
Investigate the effect of temperature/pH/substrate concentration on the reaction rate of different enzymes
Explore how understanding enzymes, and their roles in metabolism, can be used to diagnose and treat metabolic disease
Topic 3: Cellular Energy, Gas Exchange and Plant Physiology
Distinguish between catabolism and anabolism.
Explain how ATP allows energy from catabolic reactions to be used in anabolic reactions.
Describe the process of aerobic respiration, identifying the location in the cell and net inputs and outputs of:
Explain how structural features of exchange surfaces in the respiratory and circulatory systems of mammals (alveoli and capillaries) allow for efficient gas exchange.
Analyse data to predict the direction that materials will be exchanged between:
Alveoli and capillaries.
Capillaries and muscle tissue.
Describe the process of photosynthesis, identifying the location in the cell and net inputs and outputs of:
Light-dependent reactions.
Light-independent reactions.
The overall reaction (6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2).
Compare the structure and function of xylem and phloem tissues.
Explain how stomata and guard cells facilitate gas exchange in plants.
Interpret data from an experiment investigating the effect of light intensity, temperature, wind or humidity on the rate of transpiration.
Science Inquiry
Investigate:
Factors affecting the rate of transpiration in different plants
Adaptations that allow for efficient nutrient and/or gas exchange in plants or animals
Explore how understanding natural systems can be used to design new technologies, e.g. artificial leaves that convert solar energy into liquid fuel
Unit 2: Maintaining the Internal Environment
Unit Objectives
Describe ideas and findings about homeostasis, and infectious disease and epidemiology.
Apply understanding of homeostasis, and infectious disease and epidemiology.
Analyse data about homeostasis, and infectious disease and epidemiology.
Interpret evidence about homeostasis, and infectious disease and epidemiology.
Evaluate processes, claims and conclusions about homeostasis, and infectious disease and epidemiology.
Investigate phenomena associated with homeostasis, and infectious disease and epidemiology.
Topic 1: Homeostasis
Science Understanding
Explain how the nervous and endocrine systems use negative feedback to coordinate responses to internal/external stimuli and maintain homeostasis (stimulus-response model).
Identify different types of sensory receptors and their stimuli: chemoreceptors, thermoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, photoreceptors, and nociceptors.
Describe the structure and function of nerve cells: dendrites, soma, axon, myelin sheath, nodes of Ranvier, axon terminal, and synapse.
Distinguish between sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.
Explain the passage of a nerve impulse in terms of action potential transmission and synaptic transmission.
Describe hormone messaging via circulatory or lymphatic systems.
Explain receptor binding and its effects on cellular activity.
Analyze feedback-control diagrams in different scenarios.
Explain thermoregulatory mechanisms of endotherms.
Explain human thermoregulation, including sweating, shivering, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction.
Explain osmoregulation in humans, including ADH and kidney function.
Explain plant water balance mechanisms, including stomata, vacuoles, cuticle, and abscisic acid.
Interpret data comparing stomatal distribution in different plant environments.
Science Inquiry
Investigate tolerance limits for water or salt balance on plant growth.
Investigate homeostatic mechanisms in different species.
Investigate the use of hormones in agriculture.
Compare stomatal distribution in plants adapted to different environments.
Topic 2: Infectious Disease and Epidemiology
Science Understanding
Distinguish between infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Identify key features of prions, viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, and parasites.
Explain adherence factors, invasion factors, capsules, and toxins in pathogenesis.
Explain self vs. non-self recognition in host cells.
Identify the three lines of defense in vertebrates.
Describe the inflammatory response and key immune cells.
Explain the adaptive immune response, including humoral and cell-mediated responses.
Compare active and passive immunity.
Interpret long-term immune response data.
Describe innate immune responses in plants.
Interpret antimicrobial agent experiments.
Describe disease transmission modes.
Explain factors affecting disease spread.
Explain measures to control disease spread.
Analyze data related to outbreaks and transmission.
Science Inquiry
Investigate antimicrobial effects on microorganism growth.
Investigate how regional and global movement affects disease transmission.
Investigate effectiveness of health programs for disease prevention.
Explore vaccine development and contributions of key scientists.
