• Describing the steps of the scientific method

• Comparing controls, dependent variables, and independent variables

• Identifying safe laboratory procedures when handling chemicals and using Bunsen burners and laboratory glassware

• Using appropriate SI units for measuring length, volume, and mass

• Identifying functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in cellular activities

• Comparing the reaction of plant and animal cells in isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions

• Explaining how surface area, cell size, temperature, light, and pH affect cellular activities

• Applying the concept of fluid pressure to biological systems

Examples: blood pressure, turgor pressure, bends, strokes

• Identifying scientists who contributed to the cell theory

Examples: Hooke, Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow, van Leeuwenhoek

• Distinguishing between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

• Identifying various technologies used to observe cells

Examples: light microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope

• Recognizing that cells differentiate to perform specific functions

Examples: ciliated cells to produce movement, nerve cells to conduct electrical charges

• Comparing sperm and egg formation in terms of ploidy

Example: ploidy-haploid, diploid

• Comparing sexual and asexual reproduction

• Defining important genetic terms, including dihybrid cross, monohybrid cross, phenotype, genotype, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant trait, recessive trait, incomplete dominance, codominance, and allele

• Interpreting inheritance patterns shown in graphs and charts

• Calculating genotypic and phenotypic percentages and ratios using a Punnett square

• Explaining relationships among DNA, genes, and chromosomes

• Listing significant contributions of biotechnology to society, including agricultural and medical practices

Examples: DNA fingerprinting, insulin, growth hormone

• Relating normal patterns of genetic inheritance to genetic variation

Example: crossing-over

• Relating ways chance, mutagens, and genetic engineering increase diversity

Examples: insertion, deletion, translocation, inversion, recombinant DNA

• Relating genetic disorders and disease to patterns of genetic inheritance

Examples: hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, Down's syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, color blindness, phenylketonuria (PKU)

• Sequencing taxa from most inclusive to least inclusive in the classification of living things

• Identifying organisms using a dichotomous key

• Identifying ways in which organisms from the Monera, Protista, and Fungi kingdoms are beneficial and harmful

Examples:

- beneficial-decomposers,

- harmful-diseases

• Justifying the grouping of viruses in a category separate from living things

• Writing scientific names accurately by using binomial nomenclature

• Describing the histology of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers

• Recognizing chemical and physical adaptations of plants

Examples:

- chemical-foul odor, bitter taste, toxicity;

- physical-spines, needles, broad leaves

Examples:

- skeletal structure-vertebrates, invertebrates;

- fertilization-external, internal;

- reproduction-sexual, asexual;

- body symmetry-bilateral, radial, asymmetrical;

- body coverings-feathers, scales, fur;

- locomotion-cilia, flagella, pseudopodia

• Identifying ways in which the theory of evolution explains the nature and diversity of organisms

• Describing natural selection, survival of the fittest, geographic isolation, and fossil record

• Describing the interdependence of biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem

Examples: effects of humidity on stomata size, effects of dissolved oxygen on fish respiration

• Contrasting autotrophs and heterotrophs

• Describing the niche of decomposers

• Using the ten percent law to explain the decreasing availability of energy through the trophic levels

• Relating natural disasters, climate changes, nonnative species, and human activity to the dynamic equilibrium of ecosystems

Examples:

- natural disasters-habitat destruction resulting from tornadoes;

- climate changes-changes in migratory patterns of birds;

- nonnative species-exponential growth of kudzu and Zebra mussels due to absence of natural controls;

- human activity-habitat destruction resulting in reduction of biodiversity, conservation resulting in preservation of biodiversity

• Describing the process of ecological succession

Example: tundra-permafrost, low humidity, lichens, polar bears

Examples:

- density-dependent-disease, predator-prey relationships, availability of food and water;

- density-independent-natural disasters, climate

• Discriminating among symbiotic relationships, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism