Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse evidence for the molecular basis of
heredity, and patterns of inheritance.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge outlined in Area of Study 1, and key
skills listed on page 12.
Key knowledge
• cell reproduction:
– binary fission in prokaryotes
– the phases of the cell cycle in eukaryotes including DNA replication, the division of the nucleus
(mitosis), and cytokinesis
– the key events that result in the production of haploid sex cells from a diploid cell (meiosis),
including recombination
• molecular genetics:
– the nature of genomes, genes and the genetic code
– gene expression: the genetic code and roles of RNA in transcription, RNA processing in
eukaryotes, and translation
– the concept of gene regulation (the switching on and off of genes by factors expressed by
regulator genes and environmental factors)
• DNA tools and techniques: gel electrophoresis; DNA amplification; DNA sequencing; making a
recombinant plasmid; bacterial transformations; DNA profiling; gene cloning; and using plasmids
as gene delivery systems
• inheritance:
– the nature of chromosomes, alleles, genotype and phenotype
– the causes of phenotypic variation: mutations; recombination of parental alleles in sexual
reproduction; polygenes; and interactions of environmental factors with genes
– continuous and discontinuous variation
– patterns of inheritance involving the monohybrid cross: dominance; recessiveness; co-dominance;
multiple alleles
– dihybrid crosses as independent or linked
– pedigree analysis: autosomal and sex-linked inheritance; use of the test cross.
AREA OF STUDY 2
Change over time
This area of study focuses on change to genetic material that occurs over time and the changing nature
and reliability of evidence that supports the concept of evolution of life forms. Students investigate
changes to species and examine the process of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution.28 vce study design
Unit 4 biology 2013–2016
Students examine how evolutionary biology has been based upon changes in evidence obtained by
accumulation of information over time, changes in interpretation and more recently from molecular
biology. Students investigate technological advances that have increased understanding of evolutionary
processes and phylogenetic relationships.
Students consider how the interaction between human, cultural and technological evolution may
have affected evolutionary processes. They also look at how applying selective breeding and gene
technologies to develop traits in species for particular purposes may affect evolutionary processes in
the future.
Students consider the application of gene technologies to genetic screening and profiling of individuals,
and gene therapies that affect gene lines, and the bioethical, environmental and legal issues raised.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and evaluate evidence for evolutionary
change and evolutionary relationships, and describe mechanisms for change including the effect
of human intervention on evolutionary processes through selective breeding and applications of
biotechnology.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge outlined in Area of Study 2, and key
skills listed on page 12.
Key knowledge
• a qualitative treatment of changing allele frequencies in a population and the consequences:
– the concept of the gene pool
– environmental selection pressures, gene flow, genetic drift (founder and bottleneck effects)
– natural selection as a mechanism for biological evolution
• evidence for biological evolution over time:
– the geological time scale; relative and absolute dating techniques
– the fossil record; biogeography; comparative morphology; molecular homology
• determination of evolutionary relationships: comparison of DNA sequences; comparative genomics;
mitochondrial DNA; phylogeny
• patterns of biological change:
– allopatric speciation
– divergent and convergent evolution
– extinctions
• hominin evolution:
– shared characteristics which define primates, hominoids and hominins
– major trends in hominin evolution from the genus Australopithecus to the genus Homo including
morphological, structural and cognitive development resulting in cultural evolution and the
rise of technologies
• human intervention in evolutionary processes:
– application of gene technologies including gene cloning, bacterial transformations, stem cell
differentiation, genetic screening, gene therapy and DNA profiling
– selective breeding as a method of affecting and limiting the gene pool
Biology study design lol