NZ Level 8: Biological sciences


 * Overview

Collaborative learning modules

Nature of science

 * 1. Understanding about science
 * Understand that scientists have an obligation to connect their new ideas to current and historical scientific knowledge and to present their findings for peer review and debate.


 * 2. Investigating in science
 * Develop and carry out investigations that extend their science knowledge, including developing their understanding of the relationship between investigations and scientific theories and models.


 * 3. Participating and contributing
 * Use relevant information to develop a coherent understanding of socio-scientific issues that concern them, to identify possible responses at both personal and societal levels.

Life processes

 * Understand how humans manipulate the transfer of genetic information from one generation to the next and make informed judgements about the social, ethical, and biological implications relating to this manipulation.

Assessments


 * 4. Structure and function
 * Structure and replication
 * Role


 * 5. DNA to protein
 * Transcription
 * Translation


 * 6. Control over genes
 * Feedback
 * Enhancers and transcription


 * 7. Patterns of inheritance
 * Allele interactions
 * Linkage
 * Gene-gene interaction
 * Pleiotropy
 * Mutations
 * Control of metabolic pathways



Ecology

 * Understand the relationship between organisms and their environment.

Assessments


 * 8. Plant development
 * Tropism
 * Nastic responses
 * Timing


 * 9. Animal behaviour
 * Taxes
 * Kineses
 * Homing
 * Migration
 * Timing
 * Intraspecific relationships


 * 10. Community ecology
 * Interspecific relationships



Evolution

 * Explore the evolutionary processes that have resulted in the diversity of life on Earth and appreciate the place and impact of humans within these processes.

Assessments


 * 11. Processes of evolution
 * Variation and allele frequencies
 * Mutations
 * Natural selection
 * Genetic drift
 * Allopatric and sympatric speciation
 * Reproductive isolating mechanisms
 * Macroevolution


 * 12. Evidence of evolution
 * Comparative morphology


 * 13. Emergence of humans
 * Biological evolution
 * Cultural evolution
 * Patterns of hominin dispersal