Biology I Semester 2

Enrollment Message

Students need access to a webcam or video recording device.

Course Description

Biology I Semester 2 is a rigorous, standards-aligned online course that builds on foundational concepts from Biology I Semester 1 by further exploring heredity, cellular processes, and interactions among living systems. Students study DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis, the cell cycle, and cell reproduction through mitosis and meiosis. Additional topics include genetics, patterns of inheritance, biological evolution, and ecological systems, including energy flow, population dynamics, and biodiversity. Through scientific practices such as modeling, data analysis, and evidence-based reasoning, students apply crosscutting concepts of patterns, cause and effect, and systems and system models to understand biological processes.

• Indiana Core40 Diploma Applicable through class of 2028
• Fulfills a science course requirement for all diplomas
• Indiana NEW Diploma Applicable for students entering school in 2025-26 (Class of 2029) 
• Required
• Fulfills a Science Credit

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• demonstrate understanding of DNA structure, replication, and repair mechanisms, and evaluate their roles in maintaining genetic continuity and addressing genetic disorders.
• differentiate between the processes and purposes of mitosis and meiosis, and analyze how errors in these processes contribute to genetic variation or disease.
• model the steps of the cell cycle, identify regulatory mechanisms, and evaluate consequences of abnormal cell cycle control, including cancer.
• translate DNA sequences into amino acid chains using a codon chart, and predict the impact of mutations on protein structure and function.
• compare transcription and translation processes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and analyze how environmental stress affects gene expression.
• investigate the regulation of gene activity and distinguish between active and inactive genes using experimental data.
• analyze ethical considerations and real-world applications of genetic technologies, including genetic engineering and genome editing.
• apply principles of inheritance to solve genetic problems, interpret pedigrees, and explore both Mendelian and non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
• explain how genetic variation arises through meiosis, mutation, and environmental factors, and assess its role in evolution and population dynamics.
• use multiple lines of evidence (DNA, anatomical structures, embryology) to support claims about common ancestry and biological evolution.
• construct scientific explanations for how natural selection and environmental changes drive adaptation, speciation, and extinction.
• evaluate the impact of human activities on ecosystems and biodiversity, and design or simulate solutions to mitigate negative environmental effects.

Indiana Academic Standards

• Biology I

Units of Instruction

Unit titles may differ in synchronous courses.

• Unit 1 DNA and Cell Cycle
• Unit 2 Protein Synthesis
• Unit 3 Genetics
• Unit 4 Evolution
• Unit 5 Ecology

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the minimum number of assessments

• 7 Discussions
• 28 Assignments
• 12 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows