4^th Quarter

Understand how genetic information (DNA) in the cell is encoded at the molecular level and provides genetic continuity between generations.

Analyze the scientific evidence used to develop the theory of biological evolution and the concepts of natural selection, speciation, adaptation, and biological diversity.

Week 1

Identify or describe the role of chromosomes in reproduction (i.e. parents pass chromosomes, which contain genes, to their offspring).

Week 2

Identify or describe possible results of mutations in DNA (e.g. only mutations in sex cells can be passed on to offspring, mutations in other cells can only be passed to descendant cells).

Week 3

Identify or describe how organisms pass on genetic information via asexual life cycles (i.e. replication of genes in asexual reproduction results in the same gene combinations in the offspring as those of the parent).

Week 4

Identify or describe how organisms pass on genetic information via sexual life cycles (i.e. the sorting and recombination of genes in sexual reproduction results in a great variety of possible gene combinations and resultant variations in the offspring of any two parents).

Week 5-6

Identify or describe the factors that drive natural selection (i.e. overproduction of offspring, genetic variability of offspring, finite supply of resources, competition for resources, differential survival).

Week 7-8

Identify, describe, or explain how natural selection and adaptation leads to organisms well-suited for survival in particular environments (e.g. speciation, biological diversity).

Week 9 Culminating Project

Identify or describe the degree of evolutionary relationship between organisms based on biochemical, genetic, anatomical, and/or fossil record similarities and/or differences.

Document Respository