Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Search Home
 
Print this page
 
Biology Gateway Intervention III
  

Biology Gateway Intervention III

Recommended Prerequisites:  Biology and Biology Gateway Intervention I and II

Grades Offered:  9 – 12

Credit:  ½ - 1

SDE Course Code:  3280

MNPS Course Code:  SCI6142

 

Course Description:

Biology Gateway Intervention III is the third biology intervention course in a series of four. Students will work to strengthen their understanding of the Gateway Biology I indicators as indicated by testing.  This course will assist students to gain the skills and knowledge for which they have not yet been able to demonstrate mastery on the Gateway Biology Test.  Students who have been unsuccessful in passing the Biology I Gateway Test and Biology Gateway Intervention I and II are encouraged to take this elective.  This course cannot be used to fulfill the State requirement for Science, but may be used to earn elective credit. Students will be administered the TCAP Gateway Biology Test at the conclusion of this course.

 

Course of Study:

 

  • Cells
    • compare and contrast the chemistry of biomolecules and investigate their roles in cell structure and metabolism
    •  explore and compare the organelles of different cell types
    •  probe the composition of the cell membrane and its significance to homeostasis
    • analyze the various cell processes (e.g. osmosis and mitosis) in a laboratory setting

 

  • Interactions
    • compare and contrast the different types of symbiotic relationships
    • distinguish between the abiotic and biotic factors in an environment
    • analyze the flow of energy in an ecosystem using pyramids of energy and biomass
    •  analyze different behaviors to determine if they are learned or innate and relate this to survival of organisms
    •  investigate the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem
    •  examine the effects of human activity on ecosystems

 

  • Photosynthesis and Respiration
    • compare and contrast the light dependent and light independent reactions of photosynthesis
    •  investigate the relationship between the processes of photosynthesis and respiration in a laboratory setting
    •  analyze the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and water cycles in the biosphere
    •  explore the efficiency of aerobic and anaerobic respiration

 

  • Genetics and Biotechnology
    • investigate the structure and molecular composition of DNA and RNA
    • relate the structure of DNA and RNA to the processes of replication and protein synthesis
    • compare and contrast the asexual and sexual reproductive strategies used by organisms.
    • apply the principles of Mendelian inheritance to make predictions for offspring using Punnett Squares.
    • examine modes of inheritance involving sex-linkage, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, and polygenic traits.
    • investigate the causes and effects of mutations.
    • identify causes and effects of genetic diseases in plants and animals.
    • investigate the scientific and ethical ramifications of genetic engineering, recombinant DNA, selective breeding, hybridization, cell and tissue culturing, transgenic animals, and DNA fingerprinting.

 

  • Diversity
    • establish criteria for designing a system of classification and compare historically relevant systems of classification used in Biology.
    • infer the types of organisms native to specific environments included in the major biomes present on earth.
    • integrate a comparative study of plant and animal anatomical structures in a laboratory setting, so as to recognize relationships among organisms relating to structural components, symmetry, metamorphosis, and alternation of generations

 

  • Biological Evolution
    • in a laboratory activity, interpret and evaluate the evidence for biological evolution in the fossil record
    • investigate how natural selection, mutations, and adaptations impact the emergence of new species
    • recognize and report on the contributions of scientists, including Darwin, that led to the concept of evolution
    • research and apply current knowledge of DNA and comparative anatomy to provide evidence for biological evolution

 

Standards:      MNPS standards for Biology can be accessed at:
http://www.mnps.org/PageFactory.aspx?PageID=3353

 

State Gateway Biology standards can be found at:  http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/cistandards2001/sci/ciscibiology1.htm

 

 

Textbooks:  Modern Biology; Holt Rinehart, and Winston

                       

 

Recommended/Required Resources:

  • Laboratory facility with access to a source of water and electricity for lab equipment; required
  • Microscopes (one per two students); required
  • Flexible camera apparatus (flex cam) and video monitor; recommended
  • Dissection equipment/tools and specimens (earthworm, crayfish, and frog) recommended.
  • Access to computers that are web-accessible; recommended
  • Various types of lab equipment and apparatus for inquiry investigations; required