Biology | Essential Questions

Unit	Title	Essential Questions
1	What is Science?	What are the goals of science? What are the characteristics of a good scientist? What procedures are at the core of scientific methodology?
2	Chemistry of Life	What characteristics do all living things share? How does the structure of water lead to properties essential for life functions? What are the functions of each of the four groups of macromolecules? What role do enzymes play in living things, and what affects their function?
3A	Cell Biology: Structure & Function	How does a cell’s structure lead to its function? What organelles help make and transport proteins and other macromolecules? What is the function of the cell membrane? How do the cells of a multicellular organism work together to maintain homeostasis?
3B	Cell Biology: Cell Energy	Why is ATP useful to cells? Where do organisms get energy? What is the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
3C	Cell Biology: Cell Growth & Division	How does a cell regulate growth and division? How do cancer cells differ from other cells? How do cells become specialized for different functions?

Unit	Title	Essential Questions
4	Molecular Genetics	How does the structure of DNA lead to its function in living things? How does the genetic code work? How do mutations affect genes?
5	Genes & Heredity	How are traits expressed in living things? What patterns of inheritance do human traits follow? How can we study and treat genetic diseases?
6	Ecology	How does energy flow through ecosystems? How does matter cycle between trophic levels and among ecosystems? How do species interactions shape ecosystems? How do humans impact ecosystems?
7	Evolution	How is evolution defined in genetic terms? What are the sources of genetic variation? How do new species form?

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