United States · Common Core State Standards
9th Grade Biology
This course investigates the fundamental mechanisms of life through the lens of systems thinking. Students explore biological phenomena from the molecular scale of DNA to the global scale of ecosystems and human impact.
The Architecture of Life
Exploration of cellular structures and the biochemical processes that maintain homeostasis within living organisms.
Analysis of how carbon based molecules provide the structural and functional basis for all living things.
Investigating how photosynthesis and cellular respiration cycle energy through biological systems.
Examining how cell membranes regulate the internal environment to maintain stability.
The Continuity of Life
Studying the mechanisms of inheritance and the molecular instructions that guide growth and development.
Tracing the flow of genetic information from the nucleus to the production of functional proteins.
Exploring how traits are passed from parents to offspring through sexual reproduction.
Evaluating current technologies used to manipulate genetic material and their societal implications.
Change Over Time
Analyzing the evidence for evolution and the mechanisms that drive the diversification of life.
Reviewing fossil records, comparative anatomy, and molecular data to trace evolutionary lineages.
Investigating how environmental pressures select for traits that increase reproductive success.
Examining the processes that lead to the formation of new species and the loss of others.
Interdependence in Ecosystems
Exploring the complex relationships between organisms and their physical environment.
Modeling the movement of nutrients and energy through food webs and biogeochemical cycles.
Analyzing factors that influence population growth, carrying capacity, and community interactions.
Evaluating the effect of human activity on global biodiversity and developing sustainable solutions.
Integrated Human Systems
Investigating the coordination between organ systems to maintain life and respond to stimuli.
Studying the nervous and endocrine systems and their roles in processing information and signaling.
Exploring how the body identifies and defends itself against pathogens and internal threats.
Analyzing the collaborative work of the circulatory, respiratory, and muscular systems.
Bioethics and Global Health
Synthesizing biological knowledge to address contemporary global challenges and ethical dilemmas.
Modeling the spread of disease and the biological factors that contribute to pandemics.
Investigating biological solutions to feeding a growing global population while protecting resources.
Speculating on the impact of technology and environmental change on future human biology.