Step into the fascinating world of cellular biology in our high school class. This engaging course will take you on a journey through the fundamental building blocks of life - cells.

Delve into the inner workings of cells, discovering how they function, communicate, and contribute to the remarkable complexity of all living organisms. Through interactive lessons, hands-on experiments, and captivating discussions, you will explore cell structure, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and the intricacies of DNA and genetics.

By the end of this class, you will gain a profound understanding of how cells power life itself and play a crucial role in shaping the world around us. Whether you're considering a future in the sciences or want to appreciate the wonders of the biological world, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to embark on an exciting journey into the cellular processes of biology. Join us and unlock the mysteries of life at its most fundamental level.

⭐ Unit 1 - Chemistry of Life
Lesson 1 - Week of Aug 18th

Water, Hydrogen Bonding, and Properties of Water
Polarity, Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and more
Lesson 2 - Week of Aug 25th

pH and Calculations
Acids, Bases, and the pH Scale
Lesson 3 - Week of Sept 1st

Biological Macromolecules
Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids
Lesson 4 - Week of Sept 8th

Nucleic Acids
DNA and RNA
Quiz

⭐ Unit 2 - Cell Structure and Function
Lesson 5 - Week of Sept 15th

Review of Cellular Organelles
Prokaryote/Eukaryote and Functions of Organelles
Lesson 6 - Week of Sept 22nd

Endosymbiosis and Compartmentalization
Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
Lesson 7 - Week of Sept 29th

The Plasma Membrane and Transport
Structure of the Plasma Membrane and Active/Passive Transport
Lesson 8 - Week of Oct 6th

Water Potential and Osmolarity
Calculating Water Potential and the Movement of Water and Solutes in and out of the Cell
Quiz

⭐ Unit 3 - Cellular Energy and Communication
Lesson 9 - Week of Oct 13th

Enzymes
Catalysts, Structure, Specificity, Coenzymes, and Inhibitors
Lesson 10 - Week of Oct 20th

Photosynthesis
Light Dependent Reactions and the Calvin Cycle
Lesson 11 - Week of Oct 27th

Cellular Respiration
Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, and the Electron Transport Chain
Lesson 12 - Week of Nov 3rd

Cell Signaling
Cell Signals, Ligands, and Types of Feedback
Lesson 13 - Week of Nov 10th

Cell Cycle
Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Check Points
Quiz

⭐ Unit 4 - Heredity
Lesson 14 - Week of Nov 17th

Meiosis
Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase, and Genetic Diversity
Lesson 15 - Week of Nov 24th

Mendelian Genetics Monohybrid
Alleles, Genotype, Phenotype, and Single Trait Punnett Squares (4x4)
Lesson 16 - Week of Dec 1st

Mendelian Genetics Dihybrid
Two Trait Crosses Using Individual Trait Probability and Basic Math to Determine the Probability of Both Outcomes Occurring Simultaneously
Lesson 17 - Week of Dec 8th

Non-Mendelian Genetics (Part I)
Linked Genes, Incomplete Dominance, Codominance, and Pedigrees
Lesson 18 - Week of Dec 15th

Non-Mendelian Genetics (Part II)
Blood Types and Polygenic Traits
Quiz

⭐ Unit 5 - Gene Expression
Lesson 19 - Week of Jan 5th, 2025

DNA Replication
Enzymes Involved in Replication
Lesson 20 - Week of Jan 12th, 2025

Transcription and Translation
The Difference Between the Processes and Where They are Occurring in the Cell
Lesson 21 - Week of Jan 19th, 2025

Gene Regulation
Prokaryotic Operons (Lac and Trp), Inducible, Repressible, and an Overview of Eukaryotic Regulation
Lesson 22 - Week of Jan 26th, 2025

Mutations
Chromosome Mutations, Point Mutations, Frame Shift Mutations, and Karyotypes
Lesson 23 - Week of Feb 2nd, 2025

Biotechnologies
Recombinant Genes in Bacteria, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, and CRISPR
Quiz


Each lesson will contain new vocabulary, concepts, real-world examples, and short video clips. If time allows, we will review it together. If time does not allow for a review game, the questions will be sent out to students to review on their own time. 

Students will receive notes and study materials each week. If you want a grade for the end of the course, please let me know so I can keep track of your progress during the course. 

It is unnecessary, but students are encouraged to have supplementary material to help fill in any gaps if they are reviewing for AP exams. I will provide as much as possible, but most free materials do not include an assortment of high-level questions for students to practice. I recommend an AP Biology practice book, such as Barron's AP Biology Premium by Mary Wuerth, M.S., or Princeton Review AP Biology Prep. Compared to larger course books, these books are inexpensive and have many practice questions with answer keys. Some come with online practice exams.