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Reporting Category 1: Molecular and Cellular Biology

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does the structure of each organelle suit the job it does in the cell?

Relate structure to function for the components of plant and animal cells, including the major organelles (NGSSS SC.912.L.14.2; Reporting Category 1, Molecular and Cellular Biology).
A benchmark-level answer on organelles for the Florida Biology 1 EOC: the nucleus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, lysosomes, and the cell wall and vacuole, each as a structure-and-function pair.
13 min answer →

What does cell theory say, and how does its history show the way science actually works?

Describe the scientific theory of cells (cell theory) and relate the history of its discovery to the process of science (NGSSS SC.912.L.14.1; Reporting Category 1, Molecular and Cellular Biology).
A benchmark-level answer on cell theory for the Florida Biology 1 EOC: the three parts of the modern theory, the scientists and microscopes behind its discovery, and how that history shows the nature of scientific theories.
12 min answer →

How are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells alike and different, and what does a nucleus let a cell do?

Compare and contrast the general structures of plant and animal cells and of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (NGSSS SC.912.L.14.3; Reporting Category 1, Molecular and Cellular Biology).
A benchmark-level answer on cell types for the Florida Biology 1 EOC: the shared features of all cells, the prokaryote versus eukaryote split, the difference a nucleus makes, and the plant versus animal cell comparison.
12 min answer →

What kinds of microscopes do biologists use, and how do we measure their power to magnify and resolve?

Compare and contrast the structure and function of major types of microscopes, and apply magnification to interpret cell images (NGSSS SC.912.L.14.4; Reporting Category 1, Molecular and Cellular Biology).
A benchmark-level answer on microscopy for the Florida Biology 1 EOC: light versus electron microscopes, magnification versus resolution, calculating total magnification, and choosing the right tool for a sample.
11 min answer →

How does a cell divide in an orderly cycle, and what happens when that control breaks down?

Explain the cell cycle and mitosis, and the relationship between mutation, the cell cycle, and uncontrolled cell growth that can result in cancer (NGSSS SC.912.L.16.5; Reporting Category 1, Molecular and Cellular Biology).
A benchmark-level answer on the cell cycle for the Florida Biology 1 EOC: interphase and the phases of mitosis, the purpose of mitosis, checkpoints that regulate division, and how mutations cause uncontrolled growth and cancer.
12 min answer →

How does the cell membrane control what enters and leaves, and which kinds of transport need energy?

Explain the role of the cell membrane as a highly selective barrier through passive transport (diffusion and osmosis) and active transport (NGSSS SC.912.L.14.2; Reporting Category 1, Molecular and Cellular Biology).
A benchmark-level answer on membrane transport for the Florida Biology 1 EOC: the selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer, passive transport (diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion), active transport, and predicting osmosis in different solutions.
13 min answer →