Grade 12: Life Science

Here is a comprehensive contents outline for Grade 12 Biology, aligned with the British Columbia (BC) curriculum in Canada.

The BC Grade 12 Biology course is formally called Biology 12. It is a rigorous course that delves into the molecular and cellular processes of life, with a strong focus on human biology. It is essential for students pursuing life sciences, health sciences, or medicine at the post-secondary level.

The following outline breaks down the content into the core units as they are typically presented.

Biology 12 – Course Contents Outline

Big Ideas of the Course:

• Cells are capable of both differentiation and renewal.

• Organ systems have complex interrelationships to maintain homeostasis.

• Gene expression, through protein synthesis, is an interaction between genes and the environment.

• Homeostasis is maintained through physiological processes.

Unit 1: Cell Biology and Biochemistry

• Key Concepts:

  • The Cell: Cell Theory, prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells, structure and function of organelles.

  • The Cell Membrane: Fluid Mosaic Model, phospholipid bilayer, transport proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates.

  • Cellular Transport: Diffusion, osmosis, facilitated transport, active transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis.

  • Biological Molecules: Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

  • DNA Replication: The semi-conservative process and the role of enzymes.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Questioning, Predicting, Planning, and Conducting.

Unit 2: DNA and Protein Synthesis

• Key Concepts:

  • DNA Structure: Nucleotides, double helix, base pairing (A-T, G-C).

  • Protein Synthesis:

    • Transcription: Synthesis of mRNA from a DNA template in the nucleus.

    • Translation: Synthesis of a polypeptide chain from the mRNA code at the ribosome. The role of tRNA and ribosomes.

  • The Genetic Code: Codons, start/stop signals, and the relationship between genes and proteins.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Processing and analyzing data, Evaluating.

Unit 3: Enzymes and Energy Reactions

• Key Concepts:

  • Enzymes: Biological catalysts, “lock and key” vs. “induced fit” model, enzyme-substrate complex.

  • Mechanism of Action: How enzymes lower activation energy.

  • Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity: Temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and inhibitors (competitive vs. non-competitive).

  • ATP: The cell’s energy currency. Structure and function.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Applying and innovating, Problem-solving.

Unit 4: Human Physiology – Homeostasis and the Nervous System

• Key Concepts:

  • Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment. Negative feedback loops.

  • Nervous System:

    • Neuron Structure: Dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheath.

    • Nerve Impulse: Resting potential, action potential, depolarization, repolarization, and the role of ion channels.

    • Synaptic Transmission: Role of neurotransmitters and the synapse.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Evaluating, Communicating.

Unit 5: Human Physiology – The Endocrine System

• Key Concepts:

  • Glands and Hormones: Major endocrine glands (hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads) and their key hormones.

  • Hormone Action: Comparison of protein vs. steroid hormone action (second messengers vs. direct gene activation).

  • Feedback Loops: Regulation of blood sugar (insulin, glucagon), calcium levels, metabolic rate, and stress response.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Processing and analyzing data, Applying and innovating.

Unit 6: Human Physiology – The Digestive, Circulatory, and Respiratory Systems

• Key Concepts:

  • Digestive System: Macro-molecule digestion (enzymatic hydrolysis), absorption, and the structure/function of key organs.

  • Circulatory System: Heart structure and function, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), blood composition, and the pathway of blood.

  • Respiratory System: Mechanism of breathing, gas exchange in alveoli, and transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

  • Interrelationships: How these systems work together to provide cells with nutrients and oxygen and remove wastes.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Applying and innovating, Communicating.

Additional Potential Topics (Varies by School/Teacher)

• The Reproductive System: Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle and spermatogenesis.

• The Excretory System: Structure and function of the nephron in the kidney; urine formation.

• The Muscular System: The sliding filament model of muscle contraction.

Curricular Competencies (The “Doing” of Science)

Throughout all units, students will be expected to develop these skills:

• Questioning and Predicting

• Planning and Conducting

• Processing and Analyzing Data and Information

• Evaluating

• Applying and Innovating

• Communicating

This outline provides a solid foundation for what a student can expect to learn in BC’s Biology 12 course. The emphasis is on understanding life at the molecular and cellular level and applying that knowledge to the complex, integrated systems of the human body that work tirelessly to maintain homeostasis.