Name:________________________________________________________
Biology Final Project
You will create a book about biology. You will use all the knowledge you have acquired in this course to
write an accurate and entertaining book. This is your opportunity to show off what you have learned this
semester as well as review for the final.
1. The book can be written as a children’s book at any level or as a guide to biology.
2. This book should contain accurate facts, but it can be written as nonfiction or fiction.
3. Your book must be illustrated. You must draw the pictures. If you use a picture from the internet
or book you must cite them (website URL or book name with page included)
4. All writing in the book must be in your own words. Do not copy and paste information from the
internet or copy from the book. Any plagiarism will not be accepted and you will receive a zero.
5. You must include all chapters listed in the rubric.
6. This project will count as part of your final exam and is worth 20% of your overall class
grade.
7. The rubric (attached) will be used to grade your book and will explain the details that must be
included in each of the chapters.
Descriptions
Chapter 1Evolution
Explain who Darwin was and why he was
important in advancing evolutionary theory.
Define natural selection and give an example
of how it occurs.
Illustrate and explain an organism that has
adapted to its environment.
Explain and illustrate 3 pieces of evidence
used to support the theory of evolution.
Describe 3 ways in which new species form.
Descriptions
Chapter 2 Cells
Draw and color a plant cell labeling the
following: nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane,
chloroplast, mitochondria, central vacuole,
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and Golgi
apparatus.
Draw and color an animal cell labeling the
following: cell membrane, nucleus,
mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and ribosome.
Give the functions of the following
organelles: nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane,
chloroplast, mitochondria, central vacuole,
ER, Golgi apparatus, and ribosome.
Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
(Include at least 2 similarities and 2
differences).
Book Rubric
Possible
Self
Points Check
15
2
Points
Awarded
Comments
Points
Awarded
Comments
2
2
6
2
Possible
Points
38
12
10
9
4
Self
Check
Name three differences between plant and
animal cells.
Descriptions
Chapter 3Transport
Describe diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated
diffusion and list the substances involved in
each.
Compare passive and active transport
including energy involved and direction of
movement.
Describe Endocytosis and Exocytosis.
Describe the movement of substances in the
sodium-potassium pump.
Describe what would happen to a cell in a
hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solution.
Use diagrams to show the movement as well.
Descriptions
Chapter 4Cellular Respiration /
Photosynthesis
Define ATP.
Describe the process of photosynthesis
including the starting reactance and ending
products and organisms involved.
Describe the process of cellular respiration
including starting reactants and ending
products.
Compare anaerobic and aerobic respiration
including conditions in which each would
take place and energy produced (Include
fermentation!!).
Descriptions
Chapter 5 Cell Reproduction
Describe the sequence of the cell cycle.
Draw, color, and label the stages of mitosis.
Describe what happens in each stage of
mitosis.
Draw a chromosome and label the parts.
Define homologous chromosomes.
Describe 3 processes that lead to new genetic
recombination.
Descriptions
Chapter 6 DNA
Draw and label a DNA molecule in double
helix shape showing base pairs.
Draw and label the parts of a nucleotide.
3
Possible
Points
15
6
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
2
2
2
3
Possible
Points
14
1
5
6
2
Possible
Points
23
5
8
4
2
1
3
Possible
Points
22
5
3
Explain 3 differences between DNA and
RNA.
Describe the process of DNA replication
(include enzymes).
Describe the role of messenger RNA and
transfer RNA in building proteins.
Describe codons and amino acids, and their
roles in building proteins. Show the steps
taken to translate a 9-base DNA strand into
an amino acid sequence.
Descriptions
Chapter 7 Genetics
Describe Mendel’s studies and explain why
he is known as the “father of genetics.”
Define genotype and phenotype and include
examples.
Define homozygous and heterozygous.
(Show an example using alleles)
Show a punnett square labeling both
genotype and phenotype of parents and
offspring. Also note genotype and phenotype
ratios.
Define incomplete dominance and codominance. Give at least 2 examples for
each.
Explain why sex-linked traits occur in males
more often than females and give an
example.
In the field of genetic engineering describe
how the use of the following could impact
our future: gene therapy, cloning, and the
Human Genome Project.
Descriptions
Chapter 8 Populations
Define and illustrate the 6 levels of
organization. Include the following:
organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.
Define carrying capacity and show what it
looks like in a graph.
Descriptions
Chapter 9 Interactions and Succession
Define and give a pictorial example of
predation.
Define and give a pictorial example of
parasitism.
3
4
2
5
Possible
Points
25
2
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
2
2
5
5
3
6
Possible
Points
7
5
2
Possible
Points
15
2
2
Define and give a pictorial example of
competition.
Define and give a pictorial example of
mutualism.
Define and give a pictorial example of
commensalisms.
Define pioneer species.
Describe the difference between primary and
secondary succession with examples of
where or when you would find each.
Descriptions
2
2
2
1
4
Possible
Points
33
8
Chapter 10 Ecology
Draw and color a food web with at least 7
organisms.
What is the difference between a food chain
1
and a food web?
Draw and label an energy pyramid and
9
include 4 levels with the first level starting
with 2000 calories (Hint: 10%).
Diagram and label the process involved in the
5
water cycle.
Diagram and label the process involved in the
5
carbon cycle.
Diagram and label the process involved in the
5
nitrogen cycle.
Descriptions
Possible
Points
43
Quality of Project
Cover (looks like a book—has a creative title,
5
colored, and includes the author’s name).
Convention/Proofreading
13
Overall appearance, neatness and creativity.
25
Pages must be typed
Illustrations must be hand-drawn and
colored
TOTAL Points Possible
Points Earned
Grade Percentage
250
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments
Self
Check
Points
Awarded
Comments