Unit 1: The Science of Biology
What is Science? How is science different from other disciplines (subjects of study)? What kind of things can science answer? What types of questions can't it answer? Understand the scientific method, and the requirements of a well-designed experiment. Know the definitions and differences between dependent variable, independent variable, controlled variable, and control group. How is hypothesis different from theory? What are the properties of living organisms? How would we define if something is living or not? Know the levels of biological hierarchy: Be able to define each and arrange them in order of increasing (or decreasing) complexity. What are the domains of life?
Unit 2: The Chemistry of Life
Define and compare the following: matter; elements; atoms. Know and define the parts of an atom. If provided a periodic table or an image of an element's information, be able to determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons. What are isotopes? How are they useful in science and medicine? What determines if atoms form bonds or not? Describe why some atoms like carbon easily form bonds but helium does not. Understand the basics of chemical reactions. Be able to define and compare the major bonds: Ionic, covalent, hydrogen. What are the properties of water that make it vital to all life? Define the following terms: hydrophobic, hydrophilic, adhesion, cohesion. Understand what the pH scale is and what it measures. What is the difference between an acidic substance and an alkaline (basic) substance? What are buffers?
Unit 3: Biological Macromolecules
What makes carbon so versatile? What is an organic compound? Define and contrast the following terms: Macromolecules, polymers, monomers.