BIOLOGY 30
Unit 1: Nervous and Endocrine Systems
This unit examines the role of the human nervous and endocrine systems in maintaining homeostasis with our external environment. While the nervous system contributes to homeostasis through electrochemical responses to internal and external stimuli, endocrine glands help to maintain homeostasis through the hormones they release into the blood. The interaction between these two systems is also examined as the functioning of the central and peripheral nervous systems is discussed in more depth.
Unit 2: Reproduction and Development
In this unit, the processes associated with human reproduction and development, as well as the regulation of these processes by hormones are reviewed. The influence of environmental factors on embryonic and fetal development is examined, as are various reproductive technologies and societal issues related to gender and reproduction.
Unit 3: Cell Division, Genetics and Molecular Biology
This unit examines two types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. Students learn about chromosomal behaviour during cell division and expand their knowledge of chromosomes by studying classical genetics, including solving problems which involve heritable traits. Classical genetics is further extended to a molecular level by exploring the basic structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), its role in protein synthesis, and the impact of mutation.
Unit 4: Population and Community Dynamics
Our final unit focuses on how population change over time can be examined quantitatively through the study of population genetics, or the Hardy-Weinberg principle. Individual members of populations interact with each other as well as with members of other populations, which can have an impact on the populations involved. Communities are a sum of all the different populations living together; as a result, communities may change over time as a result of natural or artificial events.