VCE+Biology

**RATIONALE ** Biology is the study of living organisms, of life processes, and of the different levels of organisation from the cell to the biosphere. It includes the study of interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environments. It considers the unity and continuity of life as well as diversity and change. **AIMS ** This study is designed to enable students to: **UNIT 1: Biology **
 * BIOLOGY **
 * develop an understanding of essential biological principles based upon knowledge of living organisms;
 * understand the relationships between living organisms and between living organisms and their environments;
 * develop an awareness of the effects of human activities on these and other relationships;
 * develop an understanding of the importance of experimental and other investigative work;
 * acquire practical skills in the scientific study of living organisms in the field and laboratory;
 * examine the significance of biological science in social, economic, technological and personal contexts;
 * develop respect for living organisms and their environments.

**Areas of study ** 1. Cells in action 2. Functioning organisms **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the student should be able to: <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">1. Design, conduct and report on a practical investigation related to cellular structure, organization and processes. Students will participate in dissections or see images of dissections whilst studying anatomy. <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">2. Describe and explain the relationship between features and requirements of functioning organisms and how these are used to construct taxonomic systems. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks for this unit will be selected from the following: **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">UNIT 2: Biology **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">practical activities;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">questions and problems;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">tests;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">the design and implementation of field‑based investigations;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">short reports of ecological investigations;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">presentation of a structured written report of field studies;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">presentation of practical reports in non‑text formats such as poster, multimedia; ‑ oral presentation.

**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Areas of study ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the student should be able to: <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> distribution of living things. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks - Unit 2 ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks for this unit will be selected from the following: **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">UNIT 3: Biology signatures of life **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Adaptations of organisms.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Dynamic ecosystems
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">explain and analyse the relationship between the environmental factors, and adaptations and
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">design, conduct and report on a field investigation related to the interactions between living things and their environment, and explain how ecosystems change over time.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> practical activities;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> questions and problems;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> tests;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> presentation of structured written practical reports;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> oral presentations;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">presentation of practical reports in non‑text formats such as poster, multimedia.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> practical activities;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> questions and problems;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> tests;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> presentation of structured written practical reports;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> oral presentations;
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">presentation of practical reports in non‑text formats such as poster, multimedia.

**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Areas of study ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the student should be able to: **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">School Assessed Coursework **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">allocated* ** || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Analyse and evaluate evidence from practical investigations related to biochemical processes. || * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> summary report of a practical activity related to a biochemical process. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">AND ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25  || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Describe and explain coordination and regulation of an organism’s immune responses to antigens at the molecular level || * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> Asummary report of a plant or animal response to chemical and/or physical stimuli. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">OR ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">OR ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25  || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> School-assessed coursework for Unit 3 contributes 17 per cent to the study score. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Examination ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Mid‑year examination of 1.5 hours this will contribute 33% to the study score <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 23.32px; text-decoration: none;">BIOLOGY <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.99px; text-decoration: none;">UNIT 4: Continuity and change
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Molecules of life
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Detecting and responding
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Identify the molecules and biochemical processes that are the indicators of life.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">describe the significant role of proteins in cells functioning including advances in proteomics
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">describe the nature, function and organization of cells
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">describe and explain the mechanisms by which organisms maintain a stable environment
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">outline the characteristics of pathogenic organisms and explain how organisms defend themselves against disease.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">consider the technological advances that have contributed to our knowledge and understanding of molecular biology
 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** || **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks ** || **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Marks **
 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 1 **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> A written report of a practical activity on the movement of substances across membranes. || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25
 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 2 **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">A summary report of a practical activity related to bacteria response to chemical and/or physical stimuli.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> A presentation given orally or in annotated poster form on one aspect of the immune response.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">A web page or presentation in multimedia format on one aspect of the immune response. || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25
 * || **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> Total Marks ** || **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100 ** ||

**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.33px;">Areas of study ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.99px;">1. Heredity <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.99px;">2. Change over time **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the student should be able to: <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">1. Understand the concepts of the universality of DNA and conservation of genes; <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">2. Describe how genes are transmitted from generation to generation including meiosis and pedigree analysis; <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">3. describe mechanisms and patterns of inheritance and techniques relating to gene technology and gene manipulation; <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">4. Understand and appreciate controversial issues raised by the applications of the genetic technologies for individuals and society; <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">5. describe and explain the hypothesis of how species have evolved; <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">6. describe the relationship between biological, cultural and technological evolution. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">School Assessed Coursework ** **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">allocated* ** || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Analyse evidence for the molecular basis of heredity, and patterns of inheritance. || * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">A summary report of a practical activity related to a genetic cross using fi rst-hand data. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">AND ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25  || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Analyse and evaluate evidence for evolutionary change and evolutionary relationships, and describe mechanisms for change including the effect of human intervention on evolutionary processes. || * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">An oral or written report that demonstrates evolutionary relationships using fi rst- or second-hand data. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">AND ** * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">A response to an issue related to an application of gene technologies using any one or a combination of the following: <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">• an oral report <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">• an annotated poster <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">• a web page <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">• a multimedia format <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">• a written report. || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25   || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;"> *School-assessed coursework for Unit 4 contributes 17 per cent to the study score. **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Examination ** <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">An end‑of‑year examination of 1.5 hours this will contribute 33% to the study score.
 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes ** || **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks ** || **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Marks **
 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 1 **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">A summary report of a practical activity on a DNA manipulation technique. || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25
 * **<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 2 **
 * ||^  ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||
 * || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Total Marks ||  <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">100   ||