§-Biology syllabus
TAS · TASC← Biology
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the TAS Biology syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Unit 1: Biodiversity and the Interconnectedness of Life
Module overview →Why are cells regarded as the basic units of all living things?
Explain cell theory and compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
How and why do biologists classify living things?
Describe the system of biological classification and explain how organisms are named and grouped.
How is matter recycled through ecosystems?
Describe the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles and the role of organisms in moving matter.
What components make up an ecosystem and how do they interact?
Identify the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems and explain how abiotic factors shape distribution.
How does energy move through an ecosystem?
Explain how energy flows through food chains and webs and why energy is lost at each trophic level.
What is biodiversity and how do we measure it?
Define the levels of biodiversity and describe how species richness and evenness are measured.
What controls the size of a population and how do we measure it?
Explain the factors that change population size and describe methods used to estimate populations.
How do organisms interact with one another within a community?
Describe the types of interspecific relationships and explain their effects on the organisms involved.
Unit 2: Cells and Multicellular Organisms
Module overview →How does the cell membrane control what enters and leaves a cell?
Describe the structure of the cell membrane and explain the mechanisms of membrane transport.
How does the structure of each organelle suit its function?
Identify the main organelles of eukaryotic cells and relate their structure to function.
How do enzymes control the chemical reactions of life?
Explain how enzymes work as biological catalysts and how their activity is affected by conditions.
Why are cells small and why do large organisms have many cells?
Explain how the surface area to volume ratio limits cell size and exchange.
Unit 3: Heredity and Continuity of Life
Module overview →How do we manipulate and analyse DNA, and what are the implications?
Explain the principles and applications of key biotechnology tools and evaluate their implications.
How do cells divide and how does meiosis create genetic variation?
Compare mitosis and meiosis and explain how meiosis generates genetic variation.
How does the sequence of DNA direct the synthesis of proteins?
Describe the structure of DNA and explain how transcription and translation produce proteins.
How are characteristics passed from parents to offspring and why do offspring vary?
Apply Mendelian inheritance to predict genotype and phenotype ratios and explain sources of variation.
Unit 4: Change Over Time
Module overview →What evidence supports the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Describe and evaluate the lines of evidence that support evolution.
How does natural selection lead to adaptation in populations?
Explain how natural selection acts on variation to produce adaptation over generations.
How and why do allele frequencies change within a population over time?
Use the Hardy-Weinberg principle and describe the factors that change allele frequencies.
How do new species arise from existing ones?
Explain how reproductive isolation leads to speciation, including allopatric and sympatric modes.