Biology ­ Science Second 6 weeks ____________________________________________________________________ Key Understandings: Unit 3 – The Cell – CONTINUED FROM 1st SIX WEEKS  Energy is cycled through the processes of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration.  The products of one process are the reactants of the other process.  The structure of these parts determines functions within the cell.  The functions of these parts help maintain homeostasis within the organism.  Cells contain specialized parts. Vocabulary: 1. Eukaryote – organism whose cells contain nuclei 2. Homeostasis – a biological balance; a process in which organisms maintain an internal equilibrium or balance 3. Prokaryote – unicellular organism whose cells lack nuclei Unit 4 ‐ Genetics – Cellular Reproduction  Mitosis and meiosis are both forms of cellular reproduction.  Mitosis results in genetically identical cells and meiosis results in cells that are genetically different. Vocabulary: 1. Mitosis – a cellular process in which the nucleus of a cell divides. 2. Meiosis – a cellular process in which the number of chromosomes in a cell is divided into half through the separation of homologous chromosomes in a diploid cell. Unit 6 ‐ Genetics  The structure of nucleic acids provides a mechanism to store and transfer genetic information.  Protein synthesis may be altered resulting in mutation which often is harmful to the organism.  Possible outcomes of genetic crosses can be predicted. Vocabulary: 1. Mutation – a change in DNA sequence resulting in a change in genetic information 2. Protein synthesis (translation) – decoding of genetic information into the production of proteins.