Honors Biology
Honors Biology Online High School Course
COURSE LENGTH:
Full Year (30 Sessions)
Course Overview
Honors Biology is an honors-level course that follows an engaging storyline driven by three central questions relating to the study of life:
Module 1: How did life evolve?
Beginning with a robust exploration of the scientific method, the process of generating new knowledge in science is applied and practiced. By first exploring the nuances of the scientific method and how scientific research is performed, students gain an early ability to apply basic skills of experimentation and data analysis. A discussion of the theorized origin of life is followed by a survey of the biodiversity present on prehistoric and modern-day Earth. To fully appreciate this biodiversity and its molecular meaning, we identify the atomic building blocks of life and the myriad biochemical reactions required to organize and maintain cells. Diversity of cell types, sizes, and structures are closely studied, followed by applied demonstration of how surface area-to-volume ratios restrict cell size. The evolution of cells and multicellularity is examined before analyzing mechanisms of cell division and what happens when these mechanisms fail.
Module 2: How is life sustained?
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are explored within the framework of trophic structures within ecosystems, examining the extraction and transfer of the sun's energy within trophic webs. Cellular respiration is contextualized in the digestive, respiratory, and excretory systems, which maintain the complex chemical pathways governing energy input and waste output. Our understanding of metabolism is deepened through discussion of energetic demands on cells, energy sources, and mechanisms for energy transfer. Pollution and other human activities are closely examined, exploring climate change, climate justice, and conservation as the central pillars of modern-day ecosystem stability. The complex interactions between organisms and their environment are explored in order of biological hierarchy, beginning with how Earth’s geography contributes to biodiversity and ending with cell-to-cell communication in the reproduction system. Cell division is revisited as we explore how meiosis is used as a means of sexual reproduction. Various reproductive strategies and associated evolutionary advantages and disadvantages are analyzed and highlighted in regional contexts.
Module 3: How does life change over time?
Genetics and evolution are intricately overlapping fields of biology. The structure, function, and inheritance of DNA are discussed in detail as we evaluate how DNA stores genetic information to build an organism, how variations in genes set the stage for evolution, and how natural selection dually contributes to adaptation and extinction. The central dogma of biology reveals a core tenant of the field: DNA is copied to produce RNA, which is read and translated to build a phenotype; genotypes dictate phenotypes, which dictate adaptation. Mutations are discussed as the singular mechanism by which new genes evolve and alter genetic diversity in a population. The discovery of heritable material in the form of chromosomes revolutionized our understanding of genetics and how traits are inherited, paving the way for research on subjects in genetics ranging from disease treatments to cloning. The complex mechanisms of DNA replication and eukaryotic gene expression are analyzed and used to model how genotypes and associated traits change in a population over time.
In this honors-level course, asynchronous assignments will require students to practice multiple skills and will often have multiple steps of parts. Students in this honors-level course are expected to complete asynchronous work fully and on time and to participate regularly during synchronous sessions. Students will be asked to reflect often on their learning.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Approach science as a collaborative, objective, and revision-based process
Use evidence-based reasoning to support arguments
Identify, read, and interpret credible scientific sources
Apply scientific knowledge to novel situations and problems
Form and investigate hypotheses through observation and experimentation
Collect, interpret, and analyze a dataset
Explore and participate in a mock peer review process of scientific publication
Participate in and coordinate regional citizen science initiatives
Follow appropriate lab safety procedures and ethical guidelines
Develop a personalized passion for science