Essential Questions

Biology Essential Questions

2016-2017

 

Quarter 1

 

 

1. What is a controlled experiment? (SPI 3210 Inq. 1) 

2. Why do scientists perform controlled experiments? (SPI 3210 Inq. 1)

3. Why do we interpret data presented in a graph? (SPI 3210.Math 1)

4. What tools and technology must be used to collect precise & accurate data? (SPI 3210 Inq. 3 )

5. How can you determine if data is accurate and precise? Explain (Check 210 Inq. 4)

6. How can you eliminate bias from a conclusion? (SPI 3210 Inq 6)

7. How do you compare different conclusions from same data sets? (SPI 3210 Inq 7)

8. How do you defend a conclusion? (SPI 3210.5)

9. What are organic compounds and how are they different? (SPI 3210.1.3)

10. What tests are used to determine which organic compounds are present? (SPI 3210.1.4)

11. How do enzymes work in the body? (SPI 3210.1.5)

12. Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (SPI 3210.1.2)

13. What are the parts of a cell? How are each important? (SPI 3210.1)

14. How does the selectively permeable membrane restrict movement of water and other molecules from cell to cell? (SPI 3210.1.7)

15. Compare and contrast active and passive transport. (SPI 3210.1.8)

 

Quarter 2

 

16. Compare and contrast photosynthesis and cellular respiration.  (SPI 3210.4.1)

17. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? (SPI 3210.3.2)

18. What is DNA’s structure and how is it used? (SPI 3210.4.1)

19. What is the biological importance of DNA replication? (SPI 3210.4.2)

20. How is cell growth related to cell reproduction? (SPI 3210.1.6)

21. How do DNA and RNA interact during protein synthesis? (SPI 3210.4.3)

22. How will technologies improve our lives? (SPI 3210.T/E.4)

23. How would you determine if an engineering design was successful? (SPI 3210.T/E.2)

24. Determine whether the benefit of a new technology is worth the expense (i.e. cost/benefit ratio)? (SPI 3210.T/E.3)

25. What are the steps of meiosis used for egg and sperm cell production? (SPI 3210.4.6)

26. How does meiosis combined with sexual reproduction contribute to variations in populations? (SPI 3210.4.7)

27. How are mutations and genetic disorders related? (SPI 3210.4.8)

 

 

Quarter 3

 

28. How would you find the probability of 1 trait in the offspring if given the parent’s genotype? (SPI 3210.4.4)

29. What offspring possibilities exist from parents with known genes? (SPI 3210.Math.2)

30. What uses are there for a pedigree chart? (SPI 3210.4.5)

31. Explain genetic engineering, cloning, transgenic organism production, stem cell research, and DNA finger printing. (SPI 3210.4.9)

32. What are the ethical and scientific issues of using gene technologies? (SPI  3210.4.9)

33. How are ecosystems impacted by organism changes within trophic levels? (SPI 3210.2.1) 

34. How can you interpret a diagram of energy flow in an ecosystem? (SPI 3210.3.1)

35. How do changes in the biogeochemical cycle affect the ecosystem? Explain. (SPI 320.3.4)

36. How do environmental factors affect a population’s size? (SPI 320.2.3)

37. How is carrying capacity affected by interactions among organisms? (SPI 320.2.3)

 

Quarter 4

 

38. What environmental changes could cause extinction? (SPI 310.2.6)

39. What factors cause biological succession? (SPI 3210.2.7)

40. Human activities affect the environment in what ways? (SPI 3210.2.4)

41. How does prior knowledge help you understand the relationship between environmental change and biodiversity within that environment? (SPI 3210.2.5)

42. How are different kinds of plants and animals structurally, functionally, and behaviorally adapted for their environments? (SPI 3210.5.1)

43. How are form and function related? (SPI 3210.5.2)

44. How is a new species formed? (SPI 3210.5.3)

45. What evidence/data is modern classification based on? (SPI 3210.5.5)

46. How does the term Survival of the Fittest fit into the environment? (SPI 3210.5.4)

47. Using modern classification systems, how do you determine how closely organisms are related? (SPI 3210.5.6)