Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 11 Biology
An intensive exploration of the complexity of life from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. Students investigate the mechanisms of inheritance, the diversity of living organisms, and the physiological systems that maintain human health.
01Diversity of Living Things
Students examine the principles of taxonomy and the characteristics of the three domains of life. The unit focuses on the importance of biodiversity and the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms.
Students will explore the historical development of classification systems and the Linnaean hierarchy.
Students will interpret phylogenetic trees and cladograms to understand evolutionary relationships and common ancestry.
Students will investigate the unique characteristics, ecological roles, and evolutionary significance of prokaryotic domains.
Students will explore the non-living nature of viruses, their replication cycles, and their effects on host organisms.
Students will examine the vast diversity of protists, their classification, and their ecological importance.
Students will investigate the unique characteristics of fungi, their life cycles, and their ecological and economic significance.
Students will explore the basic characteristics that define animals and the major evolutionary transitions in animal phylogeny.
Students will examine the major groups of plants, their evolutionary adaptations to terrestrial life, and their ecological roles.
Students will explore the concept of biodiversity, its importance, and the threats it faces, along with conservation strategies.
Students will investigate the evolutionary steps and advantages of multicellularity in different lineages.
Students will explore how organisms adapt to their specific ecological niches and the concept of niche partitioning.
02Genetic Continuity
This unit covers the molecular basis of heredity, including mitosis, meiosis, and Mendelian genetics. Students explore how genetic information is passed through generations and how mutations occur.
Students will investigate the molecular structure of DNA and the process by which it replicates, ensuring genetic continuity.
Students will explore the central dogma of molecular biology, detailing how genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.
Students will examine the stages of the cell cycle and the process of mitosis, focusing on its role in growth and repair.
Students will investigate the process of meiosis, its stages, and how it generates genetic diversity in sexually reproducing organisms.
Students will apply Mendel's laws of inheritance to predict patterns of trait transmission using Punnett squares.
Students will explore complex inheritance patterns such as incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, and polygenic traits.
Students will investigate common human genetic disorders, their causes, inheritance patterns, and diagnostic methods.
Students will explore modern biotechnological techniques, including CRISPR, gene therapy, and recombinant DNA technology.
Students will investigate how gene expression is regulated in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including operons and epigenetics.
Students will examine different types of chromosomal abnormalities, their causes, and associated genetic conditions.
03Evolutionary Processes
Students investigate the mechanisms of evolution, including natural selection, adaptation, and speciation. The unit emphasizes the evidence supporting evolutionary theory.
Students will trace the development of evolutionary theory from early ideas to Darwin's contributions and modern synthesis.
Students will explore the core principles of natural selection, including variation, inheritance, selection, and adaptation.
Students will investigate genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, and non-random mating as forces that alter allele frequencies in populations.
Students will analyze how fossils provide evidence for evolutionary change over geological time and common ancestry.
Students will compare homologous, analogous, and vestigial structures, and examine developmental similarities as evidence for evolution.
Students will explore how DNA, RNA, and protein similarities provide strong evidence for common descent and evolutionary relationships.
Students will investigate the processes by which new species arise, including reproductive isolation and different modes of speciation.
Students will examine large-scale evolutionary patterns such as adaptive radiation, coevolution, and mass extinctions.
Students will explore how allele and genotype frequencies change in populations over generations due to evolutionary forces.
Students will investigate the evolutionary history of humans, including key hominin species and the development of unique human traits.
04Animals: Structure and Function
An exploration of the internal systems of animals, with a focus on human anatomy. Topics include digestion, respiration, and circulation.
Students will explore the hierarchical organization of animal bodies and the mechanisms by which organisms maintain internal stability.
Students will investigate the anatomy and physiology of the human digestive system, from ingestion to absorption.
Students will examine the structure and function of the respiratory system, focusing on the mechanisms of gas exchange.
Students will explore the components and functions of the circulatory system, including blood, heart, and blood vessels.
Students will investigate the body's defense mechanisms, including innate and adaptive immunity, and the role of vaccines.
Students will explore the structure and function of the nervous system, including neurons, synapses, and major brain regions.
Students will investigate the major endocrine glands, the hormones they produce, and their roles in regulating body functions.
Students will explore the anatomy and physiology of the human reproductive system and the stages of embryonic development.
Students will examine the structure and function of the excretory system, focusing on kidney function and waste elimination.
Students will investigate the structure and function of bones, muscles, and joints, and their role in locomotion.
05Plants: Anatomy and Growth
This unit focuses on plant tissues, vascular systems, and the factors that influence plant growth and reproduction.
Students will investigate the major tissue systems of plants (dermal, ground, vascular) and their organization into roots, stems, and leaves.
Students will explore how plants absorb water and minerals from the soil and transport them through xylem and phloem.
Students will examine the processes of primary and secondary growth, and the role of meristems in plant development.
Students will investigate the major plant hormones (auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene) and their effects on growth and development.
Students will explore the diversity of reproductive strategies in plants, including the structure of flowers and the process of pollination.
Students will examine the structure and function of seeds and fruits, and the various mechanisms of seed dispersal.
Students will explore the importance of plants as food sources, medicines, and raw materials, and the impact of agriculture.
Students will investigate the various physical and chemical defense mechanisms plants employ against herbivores and pathogens.
06Ecosystem Dynamics
Students analyze the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors and the impact of human activity on ecosystem sustainability.
Students will explore the different levels of ecological organization, from individual organisms to the biosphere.
Students will trace the flow of energy through trophic levels, from producers to consumers and decomposers.
Students will investigate the cycling of essential nutrients, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water, through ecosystems.
Students will examine factors that influence population size, growth rates, density, and distribution patterns.
Students will explore various interspecific interactions, including competition, predation, herbivory, and symbiosis.
Students will investigate the process of ecological succession, from primary to secondary succession, and the concept of climax communities.
Students will explore the major terrestrial and aquatic biomes, and how climate factors determine their distribution.
Students will investigate the various ways human activities impact ecosystems, including pollution, deforestation, and climate change.
Students will explore strategies for conserving biodiversity, restoring degraded habitats, and promoting ecological sustainability.