The HSC Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point

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:… Reproduction and Continuity of Species, HSC Biology Heredity Reproduction in Animals, HSC Biology Heredity Reproduction in Plants, Fungi, Bacteria and Protists, HSC Biology Heredity
• analyse the features of fertilisation, implantation and hormonal control of pregnancy and birth in mammals (ACSBL075) Mammalian Reproduction - Fertilisation, Implantation, Pregnancy and Birth, HSC Biology Heredity
• evaluate the impact of scientific knowledge on the manipulation of plant and animal reproduction in agriculture (ACSBL074) Manipulating Reproduction in Agriculture

How important is it for genetic material to be replicated exactly?

• model the processes involved in cell replication, including but not limited to:… DNA Structure and Replication beyond Mitosis Meiosis - Reduction Division and Continuity Across Generations, HSC Biology Heredity
• assess the effect of the cell replication processes on the continuity of species (ACSBL084) Mitosis Meiosis - Reduction Division and Continuity Across Generations, HSC Biology Heredity

Why is polypeptide synthesis important?

• construct appropriate representations to model and compare the forms in which DNA exists in eukaryotes and prokaryotes (ACSBL076) DNA in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes, HSC Biology Heredity
• model the process of polypeptide synthesis, including: (ACSBL079) Transcription - From DNA to mRNA, HSC Biology Heredity beyond Translation - From mRNA to Polypeptide, HSC Biology Heredity beyond
• investigate the structure and function of proteins in living things Proteins, Phenotype and Gene-Environment Interaction, HSC Biology Heredity

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 (ACSBL084) Sources of Genetic Variation - Meiosis, Crossing Over, Fertilisation, Mutation, HSC Biology Heredity beyond
• model the formation of new combinations of genotypes produced during meiosis, including but not limited to:… Mendelian Patterns - Autosomal Inheritance, Sex Linkage, Punnett Squares, HSC Biology Heredity beyond Dihybrid Crosses and Independent Assortment Non-Mendelian Patterns - Co-dominance, Incomplete Dominance, Multiple Alleles, HSC Biology Heredity

Can population genetic patterns be predicted with any accuracy?

• investigate the use of technologies to determine inheritance patterns in a population using, for example: (ACSBL064, ACSBL085) Frequency Data and SNP Analysis, HSC Biology Heredity DNA Sequencing vs DNA Profiling
• investigate the use of data analysis from a large-scale collaborative project to identify trends, patterns and relationships, for example: (ACSBL064, ACSBL073) Population Genetics Data Predicting Population Genetic Patterns - Strengths, Limits and Synthesis, HSC Biology Heredity

How does mutation introduce new alleles into a population?

• explain how a range of mutagens operate, including but not limited to:… Mutagens - How Genetic Damage Is Increased, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• compare the causes, processes and effects of different types of mutation, including but not limited to:… Mutation, Alleles and Genetic Change, HSC Biology Genetic Change Point Mutation - Base-Level Genetic Change, HSC Biology Genetic Change Chromosomal Mutation - Large-Scale Genetic Change, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• distinguish between somatic mutations and germ-line mutations and their effect on an organism (ACSBL082, ACSBL083) Somatic vs Germ-Line Mutation; Coding vs Non-Coding DNA, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• assess the significance of ‘coding’ and ‘non-coding’ DNA segments in the process of mutation (ACSBL078) Somatic vs Germ-Line Mutation; Coding vs Non-Coding DNA, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• investigate the causes of genetic variation relating to the processes of fertilisation, meiosis and mutation (ACSBL078) Fertilisation, Meiosis and Mutation as Causes of Genetic Variation, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• evaluate the effect of mutation, gene flow and genetic drift on the gene pool of populations (ACSBL091, ACSBL092) Gene Pools - Mutation, Gene Flow and Genetic Drift, HSC Biology Genetic Change Allele Frequency

How do genetic techniques affect Earth’s biodiversity?

• investigate the uses and applications of biotechnology (past, present and future), including: (ACSBL087) Biotechnology - Definitions, Scope and Historical Trajectory, HSC Biology Genetic Change Ethics and Social Implications of Biotechnology, HSC Biology Genetic Change Future Directions and Potential Benefits of Biotechnology, HSC Biology Genetic Change beyond Biotechnology Synthesis, Evaluating Benefit, Risk and Biodiversity, HSC Biology Genetic Change

Does artificial manipulation of DNA have the potential to change populations forever?

• investigate the uses and advantages of current genetic technologies that induce genetic change Current Genetic Technologies That Induce Genetic Change, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• compare the processes and outcomes of reproductive technologies, including but not limited to:… Artificial Insemination vs Pollination
• investigate and assess the effectiveness of cloning, including but not limited to:… Cloning, Whole-Organism and Gene Cloning
• describe techniques and applications used in recombinant DNA technology, for example:… Recombinant DNA Technology beyond
• evaluate the benefits of using genetic technologies in agricultural, medical and industrial applications (ACSBL086) Benefits of Genetic Technologies, Agricultural, Medical and Industrial, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• evaluate the effect on biodiversity of using biotechnology in agriculture Biodiversity Change Caused by Genetic Techniques, HSC Biology Genetic Change
• interpret a range of secondary sources to assess the influence of social, economic and cultural contexts on a range of biotechnologies Long-Term Population Change, Social, Economic and Cultural Context, HSC Biology Genetic Change

How are diseases transmitted?

• describe a variety of infectious diseases caused by pathogens, including microorganisms, macroorganisms and non-cellular pathogens, and collect primary and secondary-sourced data and information relating to disease transmission, including: (ACSBL097, ACSBL098, ACSBL116, ACSBL117) What Is Infectious Disease?, HSC Biology Infectious Disease Classifying Pathogens beyond
• design and conduct a practical investigation relating to the microbial testing of water or food samples Microbial Testing of Water and Food, HSC Biology Infectious Disease
• investigate modes of transmission of infectious diseases, including direct contact, indirect contact and vector transmission Disease Transmission
• investigate the work of Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur, to explain the causes and transmission of infectious diseases, including:… Koch's Postulates
• assess the causes and effects of diseases on agricultural production, including but not limited to:… Plant Disease in Agriculture, HSC Biology Infectious Disease Animal Disease in Agriculture, HSC Biology Infectious Disease
• compare the adaptations of different pathogens that facilitate their entry into and transmission between hosts (ACSBL118) Classifying Pathogens beyond

How does a plant or animal respond to infection?

• investigate the response of a named Australian plant to a named pathogen through practical and/or secondary-sourced investigation, for example:… How Plants Respond to Pathogens, HSC Biology Infectious Disease
• analyse responses to the presence of pathogens by assessing the physical and chemical changes that occur in the host animals cells and tissues (ACSBL119, ACSBL120, ACSBL121, ACSBL122) Physical and Chemical Responses in Animals, HSC Biology Infectious Disease

How does the human immune system respond to exposure to a pathogen?

• investigate and model the innate and adaptive immune systems in the human body (ACSBL119) The Innate Immune System, HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond Adaptive Immunity, Antigens and Antibodies, HSC Biology Infectious Disease T Cells and Cell-Mediated Immunity, HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond
• explain how the immune system responds after primary exposure to a pathogen, including innate and acquired immunity Primary and Secondary Immune Response, HSC Biology Infectious Disease

How can the spread of infectious diseases be controlled?

• investigate and analyse the wide range of interrelated factors involved in limiting local, regional and global spread of a named infectious disease Malaria and Dengue Global Case Study , HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond
• investigate procedures that can be employed to prevent the spread of disease, including but not limited to: (ACSBL124) Vaccination, Active and Passive Immunity, HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond
• investigate and assess the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals as treatment strategies for the control of infectious disease, for example:… Antibiotics and Antivirals , HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond
• investigate and evaluate environmental management and quarantine methods used to control an epidemic or pandemic Hygiene, Quarantine and Public Health , HSC Biology Infectious Disease Pesticides and Genetic Engineering , HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond Environmental Management and Pandemic Control , HSC Biology Infectious Disease
• interpret data relating to the incidence and prevalence of infectious disease in populations, for example:… No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• evaluate historical, culturally diverse and current strategies to predict and control the spread of disease (ACSBL125) Historical and Cultural Disease Control , HSC Biology Infectious Disease
• investigate the contemporary application of Aboriginal protocols in the development of particular medicines and biological materials in Australia and how recognition and protection of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property is important, for example:… Indigenous Protocols and Bush Medicine , HSC Biology Infectious Disease beyond

How is an organism’s internal environment maintained in response to a changing external environment?

• construct and interpret negative feedback loops that show homeostasis by using a range of sources, including but not limited to: (ACSBL101, ACSBL110, ACSBL111) Homeostasis
• investigate the various mechanisms used by organisms to maintain their internal environment within tolerance limits, including:… Temperature Regulation Glucose Regulation, Insulin, Glucagon and the Pancreatic Feedback System, HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders Water Balance, Neural and Hormonal Coordination (ADH, Aldosterone, Kidney), HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders beyond Plant Water Balance

Do non-infectious diseases cause more deaths than infectious diseases?

• investigate the causes and effects of non-infectious diseases in humans, including but not limited to:… Causes of Non-infectious Disease Genetic Diseases, Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Huntington's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes, HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders Environmental Diseases: Smoking, UV Exposure and Asbestos, HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders Nutritional Disease Cancer, Cell Cycle, Oncogenes, Tumour Suppressors and Metastasis, HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders beyond Causes of Disease: Consolidation and Retrieval, HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders

Why are epidemiological studies used?

• analyse patterns of non-infectious diseases in populations, including their incidence and prevalence, including but not limited to:… Epidemiology, Incidence, Prevalence, Mortality and Study Design beyond Evaluating Epidemiological Study Methods
• investigate the treatment/management, and possible future directions for further research, of a non-infectious disease using an example from one of the non-infectious diseases categories listed above Treating Type 2 Diabetes
• evaluate the method used in an example of an epidemiological study No dedicated lesson yet — covered in your school course notes.
• evaluate, using examples, the benefits of engaging in an epidemiological study Benefits of Epidemiological Studies

How can non-infectious diseases be prevented?

• use secondary sources to evaluate the effectiveness of current disease-prevention methods and develop strategies for the prevention of a non-infectious disease, including but not limited to:… Prevention Campaigns for Non-infectious Disease Genetic Prevention, Screening and Engineering beyond

How can technologies be used to assist people who experience disorders?

• explain a range of causes of disorders by investigating the structures and functions of the relevant organs, for example:… Hearing Loss, Cochlear Implants and Bone Conduction: HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders beyond Visual Disorders, Glasses, Contact Lenses and Eye Surgery: HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders beyond Kidney Disorders, Dialysis and Transplantation
• investigate technologies that are used to assist with the effects of a disorder, including but not limited to: (ACSBL100) Hearing Loss, Cochlear Implants and Bone Conduction: HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders beyond Visual Disorders, Glasses, Contact Lenses and Eye Surgery: HSC Biology Non-infectious Disease and Disorders beyond Kidney Disorders, Dialysis and Transplantation
• evaluate the effectiveness of a technology that is used to manage and assist with the effects of a disorder (ACSBL100) Module 8 Mastery: Integrated Case Practice