Biology I Can Statements
DNA
Ecology
Evolution
Classification/Diversity of Life
- I can name and identify the basic structure of a DNA molecule.
- I can summarize DNA replication.
- I can name and identify the basic structure of an RNA molecule and describe four ways it differs from DNA.
- I can sequence and describe the steps of protein formation from a DNA molecule, including transcription, translation, and amino acid assembly.
Ecology
- I can differentiate between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem, and illustrate how both influence the types of organisms in an ecosystem and their lifestyles.
- I can explain how energy and matter move through an ecosystem.
- I can construct an accurate food web given organisms and their energy requirements (heterotroph vs. autotroph).
- I can describe the role of a particular species in its ecosystem in terms of its energy requirements, predator/prey relationships, limiting factors, and community interactions.
- I can analyze the effects of symbiotic relationships between species within an ecosystem.
- I can predict the impact of specific changes within an ecosystem on organisms and their habitat.
- I can describe how human population growth has affected ecosystems in the biosphere.
Evolution
- I can restate Darwin’s Postulates for Natural Selection: More organisms are born that will survive, there are variations between organisms in populations, therefore organisms with favorable variations will survive to pass on those variations.
- I can provide an accurate definition for evolution in terms of what it is and what it is not.
- I can describe evidence for evolution including: fossils, homologous structures, embryology, and genetics/molecular biology.
- I can explain a species distribution using natural selection theory.
- I can map speciation and establish evolutionary relationships given fossil evidence.
Classification/Diversity of Life
- I can define classification vocabulary: eukaryotic, prokaryotic, heterotrophic, autotrophic, unicellular, multicellular.
- I can describe organisms from each Kingdom of Life (Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protist, Fungi, Plant, & Animal) using the classification vocabulary (see #1).
- I can infer an organism’s Kingdom based on its characteristics.
- I can accurately use a dichotomous key to identify an unknown organism.
- I can correctly order the taxonomic categories from least specific to most specific (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
- I can infer an organism’s Genus and species based on its scientific name.