Recall basic chemical concepts: bonding, formulas, concentration, the principle of balancing chemical equations, radiometric dating/radioactive decay Recall basic mathematical concepts and techniques: logarithms, exponentials, solving simple algebraic equations, slopes and intercepts, graphing and interpreting simple graphs
Compare and contrast the fundamental features of mitosis and meiosis with emphasis on the movement of homologous chromosomes during these cellular reproductive processesCreate scientific questions, propose a written hypothesis as a tentative answer to that question and generate observable predictions consistent with that hypothesis in the context of a particular experiment.Define Mendel’s two laws of heredity that explain the transmission of traits from one generation to the nextDescribe the basic chemical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), and their function in the processes of replication, transcription, and translation of genetic information.Describe the basic features of competition and predator-prey interactionsDescribe the basic mechanism of adaptation by natural selection and predict when adaptation is likely or not likely to occurDescribe the basic structure and function of organellesDescribe the components of photosynthesis and the main steps and products of each componentDescribe the effects of disturbance on species diversity and other aspects of community structureDescribe the mechanisms that drive primary and secondary successionDesign a simple experiment and identify the design elements of an existing experiment.Identify the regulatory elements and how they function in the control of gene expression of inducible and repressible operons in prokaryotesRecall how cells communicate and process signaling informationRecall the major biogeochemical cycles on the planet (e.g. water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus)Recognize the influence of stochastic variation in the changes in population numbersUnderstand the basic principles of DNA technology/Biotechnology, its applications and the ethical and societal implications of this technological revolutionUse and know when to make use of common biological research tools such as compound microscopes, gel electrophoresis units, pipettors and micropipettors, bioinformatics tools, and enzyme assays.Analyze data using basic statistical techniques (mean, standard deviation, n, chi-square test).Collect both quantitative and qualitative data through careful observationsDescribe the basic structure and function of biological membranesDescribe the different macromoleculesDescribe the mechanisms of photosynthesis and respiration in meeting the energy needs of the cellInterpret data (e.g., graphs and tables) to assess hypotheses and generate conclusionsRecall how cells produce and utilize ATPReport data using written descriptions, graphs, tables, and sketchesUse simple models to describe unlimited (exponential) and limited (logistic) population growth
