Tennessee · TDOESyllabus
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Tennessee Biologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms (Biochemistry and Energy)
Module overview →- How does cellular respiration release the energy stored in glucose, and how does it connect to photosynthesis?Use a model to explain how cellular respiration releases energy from glucose as ATP, and how it relates to photosynthesis in cycling matter and energy (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How do enzymes speed up reactions, and what changes their activity?Construct an explanation of how enzymes lower activation energy to speed up reactions, and how temperature and pH affect enzyme activity (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- What are the four macromolecules of life, and how do their structures suit their functions?Construct an explanation that the essential functions of life are carried out by the four macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) built from monomers (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).13 min answer →
- How does photosynthesis capture light energy and store it in sugar?Use a model to explain how photosynthesis transforms light energy into the chemical energy of sugars, using carbon dioxide and water (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- Why is water so important to life, and how do its properties support living things?Construct an explanation of how the properties of water (polarity, hydrogen bonding, cohesion, and its role as a solvent) support life (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms (Cells and Transport)
Module overview →- How does the structure of each organelle suit the job it does in the cell?Develop and use models to relate the structure of cell organelles to their function in plant and animal cells (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).13 min answer →
- What is cell theory, and how do we know all living things are made of cells?Use evidence and models to explain the three parts of cell theory and how it was built as microscopes improved (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).13 min answer →
- How does meiosis halve the chromosome number and create genetic variation?Use a model of meiosis to explain how sexual reproduction halves the chromosome number and creates genetic variation through crossing over, independent assortment, and random fertilization (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).12 min answer →
- How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ, and why does the eukaryotic design matter?Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using structural and functional evidence (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How does a cell grow and divide, and what happens when the controls on division fail?Use a model of the cell cycle to explain how mitosis produces identical cells for growth and repair, and how a loss of cycle control leads to cancer (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How does the cell membrane control what enters and leaves a cell, and how does that maintain homeostasis?Develop and use a model of the cell membrane to explain how passive and active transport move substances and maintain homeostasis (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).13 min answer →
LS2: Ecosystems (Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics)
Module overview →- How do carbon, nitrogen, and water cycle through an ecosystem?Construct an explanation for how matter cycles through ecosystems, including the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles, and the role of photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposers (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).13 min answer →
- What keeps an ecosystem stable, and how does it recover from disturbance?Analyze and interpret data on how biodiversity, species interactions, and disturbance affect ecosystem stability and resilience, including succession (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).13 min answer →
- How does energy flow through an ecosystem, and why does it decrease at each level?Use a model to illustrate how energy flows through an ecosystem from producers to consumers and decomposers, and why it decreases at each trophic level (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).13 min answer →
- How do human activities affect ecosystems, and what can reduce the harm?Evaluate evidence about how human activities (habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and overuse) affect ecosystems and biodiversity, and how conservation can reduce the impact (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).12 min answer →
- What limits the size of a population, and what is carrying capacity?Use mathematical or graphical representations to explain how carrying capacity and limiting factors control population size (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS2).13 min answer →
LS4: Biological Change (Unity and Diversity)
Module overview →- What is biodiversity, and why does it matter for ecosystems and humans?Communicate information about biodiversity, how it arises through evolution, and how it supports ecosystem stability and benefits humans (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS4).12 min answer →
- How do scientists classify organisms, and how do trees show evolutionary relationships?Use classification systems (domains, kingdoms, and the taxonomic hierarchy) and phylogenetic trees to organize organisms by evolutionary relationship (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS4).12 min answer →
- What lines of evidence show that living things share common ancestors?Analyze and interpret evidence from fossils, anatomy, embryology, and molecular biology that supports common ancestry (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS4).13 min answer →
- How does natural selection lead to adaptation and change in populations?Construct an explanation of how natural selection acts on heritable variation to produce adaptation and change a population over time (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS4).13 min answer →
- How do populations change over time, and how do new species form?Use a model to explain how changes in environmental conditions and reproductive isolation can cause populations to change and new species to form (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS4).12 min answer →
LS3: Heredity (Inheritance and Variation of Traits)
Module overview →- How do scientists manipulate and study DNA, and what are the uses and concerns?Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about biotechnology, including genetic engineering, GMOs, DNA fingerprinting, and their applications and ethical considerations (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).12 min answer →
- How is DNA structured, and how does it copy itself so accurately?Develop and use a model of DNA's structure to explain how the sequence of nucleotides stores information and how DNA replicates (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).13 min answer →
- How do Punnett squares predict the genotype and phenotype ratios of a cross?Use mathematics and Punnett squares to predict the genotype and phenotype ratios and probabilities of monohybrid crosses (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).13 min answer →
- What are mutations, and how can they change a protein and a trait?Construct an explanation of how mutations in DNA can change proteins and traits, and may be harmful, beneficial, or neutral (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).12 min answer →
- How do inheritance patterns beyond simple dominance work?Explain non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance, including incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked traits (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).13 min answer →
- How does the cell use the DNA code to build a protein?Construct an explanation of how genetic information in DNA is expressed as proteins through transcription and translation (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS3).13 min answer →
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms (The Human Body and Homeostasis)
Module overview →- How does the body keep its internal conditions stable, and how do feedback loops work?Construct an explanation of how organisms use feedback mechanisms to maintain homeostasis (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How is a multicellular body organized, and how do its systems work together?Use a model to explain the levels of biological organization and how organ systems interact to support the functions of a multicellular organism (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How does the body defend itself against pathogens, and how do vaccines work?Construct an explanation of how the immune system defends the body against pathogens, including the role of white blood cells, antibodies, and vaccination (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How do the nervous and endocrine systems control the body and respond to change?Construct an explanation of how the nervous and endocrine systems detect and respond to stimuli and coordinate the body to maintain homeostasis (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →
- How do the circulatory and respiratory systems transport materials and exchange gases?Use a model to explain how the circulatory and respiratory systems transport materials and exchange gases to supply cells and remove wastes (Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, Biology I, BIO1.LS1).12 min answer →