VCE Units 3 & 4 - Biology
VCE Units 3 & 4 - Biology
Overview
VCE Biology enables students to investigate the processes involved in sustaining life at cellular, system, species, and ecosystem levels. Students develop an understanding that, in the dynamic and interconnected system of life, all change has consequences that may affect an individual, a species or the collective biodiversity of Earth.
Unit 3: How do cells maintain life?
Investigate the workings of the cell from several perspectives. Explore the relationship between nucleic acids and proteins. Explore the structure, regulation, and rate of biochemical pathways. Explore how the application of biotechnologies to biochemical pathways could lead to improvements in agricultural practices.
Areas of Study
- What is the role of nucleic acids and proteins in maintaining life? Analyse the relationship between nucleic acids and proteins and evaluate how tools and techniques can be used and applied in the manipulation of DNA.
- How are biochemical pathways regulated? Analyse the structure and regulation of biochemical pathways in photosynthesis and cellular respiration and evaluate how biotechnology can be used to solve problems related to the regulation of biochemical pathways.
Unit 4: How does life change and respond to challenges?
Consider the continual change and challenges to which life on Earth has been subjected. Study the immune system and interactions between its components to provide immunity to a specific pathogen. Investigate the relatedness between species and impact of various change events on a population’s gene pool.
Areas of Study
- How do organisms respond to pathogens? Analyse the immune response to specific antigens, compare the different ways that immunity may be acquired and evaluate challenges and strategies in the treatment of disease.
- How are species related over time? Analyse the evidence for genetic changes in populations and changes in species over time, analyse the evidence for relatedness between species, and evaluate the evidence for human change over time.
- How is scientific inquiry used to investigate cellular processes and/or biological change? Design and conduct a scientific investigation related to cellular processes and/or how life changes and responds to challenges
Forms of Assessment
- Practical Logbook Annotation
- Case Study Analysis
- Data analysis of primary and/collated secondary data
- Scientific Investigation Poster
- Response to a bioethical issue
- End of year exam
Prerequisites and Corequisites
Students would be expected to have satisfied the work requirements of Unit 1 & 2 Biology.