Inquiry question: How does reproduction ensure the continuity of a species?
explain the mechanisms of reproduction that ensure the continuity of a species, by analysing sexual and asexual methods of reproduction in a variety of organisms, including but not limited to:
animals: advantages of external and internal fertilisation
plants: asexual and sexual reproduction
fungi: budding, spores
bacteria: binary fission
protists: binary fission, budding
analyse the features of fertilisation, implantation and hormonal control of pregnancy and birth in mammals
evaluate the impact of scientific knowledge on the manipulation of plant and animal reproduction in agriculture
5.2 Cell Replication
Inquiry question:How important is it for genetic material to be replicated exactly?
investigate the structure and function of proteins in living things
5.4 Genetic Variation
Inquiry question:How can the genetic similarities and differences within and between species be compared?
conduct practical investigations to predict variations in the genotype of offspring by modelling meiosis, including the crossing over of homologous chromosomes, fertilisation and mutations
model the formation of new combinations of genotypes produced during meiosis, including but not limited to:
interpreting examples of autosomal, sex-linkage, co-dominance, incomplete dominance and multiple alleles
collect, record and present data to represent frequencies of characteristics in a population, in order to identify trends, patterns, relationships and limitations in data, for example:
examining frequency data
analysing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
5.5 Inheritance Patterns in a Population
Inquiry question:Can population genetic patterns be predicted with any accuracy?
investigate the use of technologies to determine inheritance patterns in a population using, for example:
DNA sequencing and profiling
investigate the use of data analysis from a large-scale collaborative project to identify trends, patterns and relationships, for example:
the use of population genetics data in conservation management
population genetics studies used to determine the inheritance of a disease or disorder