Biology 11, version 03 (4 credits)

It is recommended that students complete:
• Science 10 or equivalent

This course is challenging. Students who enrol should be seriously interested in the study of life. Expensive and fragile equipment and supplies must be handled with respect and maturity. The student will conduct simple but interesting and thought-provoking experiments.
In general the topics include:

  1. Basic cell biology
  2. Principles of ecology
  3. Classification
  4. Plant and animal diversity
  5. Biological environmental problems
  6. Critical study of prebiotic, and biotic evolution

A microscope is optional (but highly recommended) for this course. The type that will most aid the student’s understanding has 4x, 10x, and 40x objective lenses and a 10x ocular lens; the student is encouraged to borrow one of this type for Module 1; however, a microscope is not required for obtaining a high standing in the course.

Module 1:

Section 1: Introduction to Biology; The Microscope; The Micrometre; Cells
Section 2: The Chemical Basis of Life—The Chemical Nature of Matter; Energy; The Water Cycle; The Carbon Cycle; The Nitrogen Cycle
Section 3: Research Project
Section 4: Microbiology—Returning the Microscope; Myths About Bacteria; Viruses: Food Preservation; Observing Unicellular Organisms Microscopically
Module 1 Test covers the work of Module 1.

Module 2:

Section 1: Introduction to Ecology; A Forest Ecosystem; Food: Producers and Consumers; Population Relationships; Ecological Research
Section 2: Ecosystems; Desert and Arctic Tundra Ecosystems; Fresh-Water Lakes; Ocean Ecosystems; The Record of the Earth’s Past
Section 3: Biodiversity—Introduction to Diversity; The Biological Kingdoms; Classification of Metaphyteans; The Diverse World of Metazoa; Applying the Principles of Classification
Section 4: Blue-Green Algae and Protists—Identification of Blue-green Algae; Importance of Algae; Protozoans
Module 2 Test covers the work of Module 2.

Module 3:

Section 1: Seed Plants—Metaphyta Adaptation to Terrestrial Conditions; Exotic Gymnosperms; Surveying the Diversity of Flowering Plants; Where Would We Be Without Wood?; Closing the Gap Between the Botanist and the Layperson
Section 2: “Lower” Animals—The Commercial Sponge; What is a Worm?; Molluscs; Echinoderms
Section 3: Arthropods and Chordates—Most Successful Metazoans; Class Divisions of the Giant Phylum Arthropoda; Class Insecta; Chordates; Mammals
Section 4  : Mechanisms of Evolution—Implications of the Darwinian Theory of Evolution; The Origin of Life on Earth—Oparin’s Theory
Module 3 Test covers the work of Module 3.
The resources for this course are:
Biology 11 Kit A Set for Mod 1 & 2
Biology 11 Kit B Set for Mod 3
Biology 11 Kit C
Kit C is for students who choose to use a microscope as part of their course.
A Photographic Atlas for Biology optional
No textbook is required for this course.