BiologyQ&A by dot point

Describe the structure of bacteria as prokaryotic cells, how they reproduce, and the beneficial and harmful roles they play in other organisms and the environment (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.4.b, BIO.4.d).

Explain the germ theory of infectious disease, the evidence that supports it, how pathogens are transmitted, and how the spread of disease can be prevented (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.4.e).

Explain how the human immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies in response, including the role of memory cells and how vaccines provide immunity (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.4.c).

Explain that viruses depend on a host cell for reproduction: describe their basic structure, how they hijack host machinery, and why they are not classified as living cells (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.4.a).

Identify the major cell organelles and relate each structure to its function, showing how organelles work together to support life processes (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.3.a).

State the cell theory and the evidence for it, and distinguish prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells and plant from animal cells (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.3.a).

Describe meiosis as the division that produces gametes with half the chromosome number, and explain how crossing over, independent assortment, and fertilization create genetic variation (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.3.d, supporting BIO.5).

Describe the cell cycle and mitosis as the process that produces two genetically identical cells for growth and repair, and relate uncontrolled cell division to cancer (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.3.c, BIO.3.d).

Explain that the cell membrane is selectively permeable and describe passive transport (diffusion and osmosis) and active transport, including the role of concentration gradients (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.3.b).

Explain cellular respiration as the release and transformation of stored energy: glucose and oxygen are broken down in mitochondria to release energy (ATP), with carbon dioxide and water as products, and compare aerobic respiration with fermentation (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.e).

Explain that enzymes are protein catalysts with specific functions: they lower activation energy, act on specific substrates at an active site, and are affected by temperature, pH, and concentration (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.c, BIO.2.d).

Describe the four classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), their monomers, and their roles in maintaining life processes (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.b).

Explain photosynthesis as the capture, transformation, and storage of energy: light energy and the reactants carbon dioxide and water are converted in chloroplasts into glucose and oxygen (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.e).

Explain how the chemistry of water influences life processes: its polarity and hydrogen bonding give it cohesion, adhesion, a high specific heat, and its role as the universal solvent and a reactant (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.2.a).

Explain how energy flows through ecosystems through food chains, food webs, and trophic levels, including the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers and the ten percent rule (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.8.b).

Explain how natural events and human activities influence local and global ecosystems and may affect the flora and fauna of Virginia, including the Chesapeake Bay watershed, invasive species, and eutrophication (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.8.d).

Describe how the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles move nutrients through ecosystems, and explain primary and secondary ecological succession (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.8.b and BIO.8.c).

Explain population dynamics, including carrying capacity, limiting factors, growth curves, and density-dependent and density-independent factors (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.8.a).

Explain the basis of the modern classification system, compare the domains and kingdoms, use dichotomous keys, and analyze relationships using phylogenetic trees and cladograms (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.6.a, BIO.6.b, BIO.6.c, and BIO.6.d).

Describe the evidence supporting the theory of evolution by natural selection, including the fossil record, comparative anatomy, embryology, molecular evidence, and biogeography (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.7.a).

Explain how the role of variation and mutations drives natural selection, producing adaptation and changing the heritable traits of a population over generations (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.7.b).

Explain how speciation occurs and the effects of reproductive isolation and geographic isolation on the formation of new species (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.7.c, BIO.7.d, and BIO.7.e).

Describe biotechnologies (selective breeding, genetic engineering, GMOs, cloning, gene therapy, and DNA fingerprinting) and discuss their implications and applications for the individual and society (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.5.d).

Describe the structure of DNA (the antiparallel double helix and base pairing) and explain how complementary base pairing allows DNA to be replicated accurately (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.5.a).

Use alleles, genotype and phenotype, dominant and recessive, and Punnett squares to predict the genotype and phenotype ratios and probabilities of monohybrid crosses (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.5.b).

Explain that a mutation is a change in the DNA base sequence with harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects, and that genetic variation (from mutation and sexual reproduction) is important to the survival of a species (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.5.c).

Describe patterns of inheritance beyond simple dominance (incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked traits) and interpret pedigrees (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.5.b).

Explain protein synthesis: how transcription copies DNA into mRNA and translation reads codons at the ribosome to build a protein, linking the DNA base sequence to the trait (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.5.a, supporting BIO.2.d).

Construct and interpret data tables and graphs: organize data, choose an appropriate graph type, read trends and values from a graph, and calculate simple quantities such as means and rates from data (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.1.c).

Plan and carry out controlled investigations: ask a testable question, form a hypothesis relating an independent and a dependent variable, identify the variables that must be controlled, and explain the role of the control group (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.1.a, BIO.1.b).

Develop and use models to explain and predict, judging their merits and limitations, and obtain, evaluate, and communicate scientific information from reliable sources (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.1.e, BIO.1.f).

Construct and critique conclusions and explanations: make a claim supported by evidence and reasoning, judge whether the data support the hypothesis, and identify sources of error and uncertainty in an investigation (Virginia 2018 Biology SOL BIO.1.d).