Biological Sciences

WACE Course

Biological Sciences

/ 2B / QSP Biology: A contextual approach
Textbook / QSP Biology: A contextual approach
Student Activity Manual
* indicates there are accompanying support materials on the eBiology disc
IT interactive tutorial available on the eBiology disc / Biology 1 VCE
Textbook / Biology 1 VCE Student Workbook
WS—Worksheet
SAT—Sample assessment task
PA—Practical activity / Biology 2 VCE Textbook / Biology 2 VCE Student Workbook
WS—Worksheet
SAT—Sample assessment task
PA—Practical activity /
Ecosystems: biodiversity and sustainability / Population size, density, distribution and growth are affected by the features of the ecosystem. Human activities impact population dynamics and viability
Population dynamics
· relationships between organisms in communities and their impact on population size and distribution e.g. competition, predator/prey, mutualism, collaboration, parasitism and commensalism and disease
· causes of population change including density dependent and density independent factors e.g. natural disasters, disease, availability of resources, predator control, pest species, human activities
· carrying capacity of an ecosystem
· impact of population growth on ecosystems
· the influence of population dynamics including birth, death and migration rates on
o population size
o density
o composition
o distribution
· population calculations using birth, death and migration rates. / 80–92 / 1.11*: A numbers game / 426–443
447–457 / WS44: Population dynamics
WS45: Fluctuating figures: population dynamics
PA10: Plants in their place: using line transects
PA11: The flatweed census: population estimation
PA12: A numbers game: factors affecting population size
SAT 1: In the field: a report on an ecosystem
Continuity of species / Reproductive processes influence the success of populations in providing genetically diverse individuals to survive in various environmental conditions.
Cell division—mitosis
· the cell cycle
· mitosis
· mitosis in growth, repair and asexual reproduction. / 342–345 / 2.39*: Division for growth / 73–80 / WS9: Cell cycle: cell replication
WS10: Mitosis mixer: nuclear division in somatic cells / 270–272
Types of reproduction
· asexual reproduction e.g. binary fission, vegetative reproduction of plants
· sexual reproduction in flowering plants including structures involved in pollination and fertilisation
· sexual reproduction in animals including an example of
o an aquatic and
o a terrestrial animal
· compare advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction for survival of species in stable and in changing environments. / 346–350
366–369
93
354–361 / 2.24*: Nature’s clones
2.25*: It works for us!
2.26: Investigation: going troppo!
2.27: Variations on a theme
2.28*: Of mice and men / 185–207 / WS21: Ways of reproducing
WS22: Reproductive routines: asexual reproduction
WS23: Propagating plants and people: sexual reproduction in flowering plants and mammals
Adaptations for improving species survival
· strategies for the survival of offspring e.g. seed dispersal, parental care, number of offspring. / 94
370–371 / 1.13*: Wattles—the fire weeds
2.29: From seed to plant / 342–347
353–355 / WS36: Practical parenting: strategies for offspring survival
Life cycles
· life cycles e.g. flowering plants, mammals, parasites
· metamorphosis e.g. insects, amphibians. / 355 / 2.33*: Survival
2.24*: Nature’s clones
IT: Lifecycle of a parasite / 339–341 / PA6: Variations on a theme: flower structure and reproduction
WS35: Lifecycles and reproductive strategies / IT: Lifecycle of a parasite
Cell division—meiosis
· processes of meiosis for gamete production (names of stages not required)
· roles of meiosis and fertilisation in the change of chromosome number in a life cycle. / 351–353 / 2.40*: Division for gametes
IT: Meiosis / 273–274 / WS30: Cell reproduction
WS31: Marvellous meiosis: a mixture of gametes
WS32: True or false?: karyotypes, alleles and mutations
WS33:Counting on karyotypes: chromosomal diagnoses
IT: Meiosis
Principles of genetics
· structure and function of
o DNA
o genes and
o chromosomes
· prediction of the frequencies of genotypes and phenotypes of offspring from monohybrid crosses for
o autosomal
o sex-linked conditions
o co-dominance
o incomplete dominance
· interpretation of pedigree charts for
o patterns of inheritance
o probabilities. / 460–463
483–486
502–507
508–523 / 3.4: Genetic roulette
3.5*: One, two or more genes / 229
289–294
311–318
322–323
328–330
333–347 / WS25: Molecular genetics
WS34: Genotype, phenotype and crosses
WS36: Linkage and pedigrees
WS37: Puzzling pedigrees: analysing family histories
PA7: Genetic roulette: people and pedigrees
SAT 1: Betting on barley
Influence of the environment
· environmental interactions with genotypes e.g. flower colour and soil pH
· determination of sex by chromosomes or the environment e.g. temperature. / 511–512 / 3.6: Growing up in the hills / 319–321
Working as a biologist / Planning and conducting biological research
· identification and reformulation of a problem as a testable hypothesis
· plan and carry out an investigation involving a number of controlled variables
· study of ecosystems by field sampling methods e.g. quadrats, transects, capture-recapture, pit trapping, net-trawling, radio-tracking
· use of biological field techniques e.g. quadrats within a scientific investigation
· computer technology or other tools to model population dynamics e.g. to demonstrate exponential growth or predator/prey relationships
Evaluating and communicating as a biologist
· written or oral report on the investigation, highlighting essential components of the investigation
· critical reflection on investigations / 1.4: Plants in profile
1.5: The weed census