FORM FOUR BIOLOGY
Define the term genetics
Differentiate between heredity and variation
Distinguish between continuous and discontinuous variations
Describe continuous and discontinuous variations
Observe variations in plants and animals
Describe the structure, nature and properties of chromosomes
Describe the structure, nature and properties of DNA molecule
Differentiate between DNA and RNA
Distinguish between F1 and F2 generation
Determine Mendel’s first law of inheritance
Define other terms used in inheritance such as phenotype, genotype, dominant gene, recessive gene, haploid and diploid
Demonstrate monohybrid inheritance in plants and animals
Predict outcomes of various genetic crosses
Construct and make use of pannet squares
Work out genotypic and phenotypic ratios
Predict outcomes of various crosses
Determine the unknown genotypes in a cross using a test cross
Describe albinism as an example of monohybrid inheritance in human beings
Explain the inheritance of ABO blood groups in human beings
Explain the inheritance of rhesus factor as an example of monohybrid inheritance in human beings
Predict the inheritance of blood groups human beings
Describe incomplete dominance
Describe inheritance of colour in flowers of mirabilis jalapa
Describe Inheritance of sickle cell anemia in human beings
Explain how sex is determined in human beings
Describe sex linkages in human beings
Define linkage and sex-linkage
Describe linkage in human beings e.g.colour blindness and hemophilia
Describe colour blindness as an example of sex-linked trait in human beings
Interpret pedigree of inheritance
Describe the Inheritance of hemophilia as an example of sex-linked traits in human beings
Define mutation
Differentiate between mutations and mutagens
List down causes of mutations
State the types of mutations
List down the various chromosal mutations
Describe chromosal mutations
Explain the Effects of chromosal mutations
Describe gene mutations and their effects on organisms
Describe areas in which the knowledge of genetics has been applied
Explain the practical applications of genetics
Define evolution
Explain the current concepts of the origin of life
Explain the current concepts on origin of life
Describe the study of fossils as evidence of organic evolution theory
Describe comparative anatomy as evidence of organic evolution
Describe occurrence of vestigial structures and geographical distribution of organisms as evidence of organic evolution
Describe comparative embryology, cell biology and biochemistry as evidence of organic evolution
Describe evolution of hominids
Describe Lamarck’s theory
Describe and discuss the struggle for existence and survival for the fittest
Describe and discuss new concepts of Darwin’s theory
Describe natural selection in action
Describe natural selection in nature
Describe the isolation mechanism in speciation
Describe Artificial selection in plants and animals and how it leads to speciation
Explain the importance of sexual reproduction in evolution
Define stimulus
Define irritability
Define response
Define tactic and tropic responses
List down tactic responses in plants
List down tropic responses in plants
Differentiate between tactic and tropic responses
Define geotropism
Describe geotropism in roots and shoots of plants
Differentiate between Phototropism and geotropism
Carry out experiments demonstrating both Phototropism and geotropism in a plant seedling
Carry out experiments to demonstrate tactic responses to light and water
Carry out experiments to show chemotactic response using fruit juice
Define Hydrotropism and thigmotropism
State the importance of Tactic and tropic responses
Explain the production of Plant hormones and their effects on plants
Carry out experiment to investigate hydrotropism
Carry out experiment to investigate etiolation
Demonstrate the knee jerk in a reflex action
Defined Conditioned reflex actions
Describe Conditioned reflex action using parlous dog
Compare simple and conditioned reflex actions
Explain the role of endocrine system in a human being
Explain the effect over secretion and under secretion of thyroxin and adrenaline
Isolate and list the similarities and differences between the endocrine and the nervous system
State the effects of drug abuse on human health
Draw and label the mammalian eye
State the functions of the mammalian eye
Describe how the structure of the mammalian eye is adapted to its functions
Dissect and display parts of the mammalian eye
Describe how an image is formed and interpreted in the mammalian eye
Describe Accommodation in the mammalian eye
Name and explain the Common eye defects
Describe Common eye defects and their corrections
Investigate the blind spot In the eye
Investigate which eye is used more during vision
Name and describe Common eye diseases
Draw and label the mammalian ear
Describe the mammalian ear and how it is adapted to its functions
Describe the mechanism of hearing
Discuss thick ear drum, damaged cochlea, raptured eardrum, fussed ossicles, otitis media, ostosceleross and tinnitus
Define support and movement
Describe the necessity of movement in plants and animals
Review the tissue distribution in monocotyledonous an dicotyledonous plants
Describe support in woody and non-woody stems
Describe the role of tendrils and tender stems in support
Observe prepared sections of woody and herbaceous stems
Observe a wilting plant
List the types of skeletons
Describe the role of exoskeleton in insects
Describe the role and components of endoskeleton
Describe the role of skeleton in vertebrates
Draw the structure of a finned fish (tilapia)
Calculate the tail power
Explain how locomotion occurs in fish
Name and draw the different fins and state their functions
Draw the human skeleton and identify the component parts
Identify and draw the skull
Identify bones of Axial skeleton in the vertebral column
Identify the cervical vertebrae
Identify the structures of the thoracic vertebrae
Relate the structure of the thoracic vertebrae to their functions
Identify the structures of lumbar, sacral and candal vertebrae
Show how ribs articulate with thoracic vertebrae
Draw and label Ribs and sternum
Relate the structure to their functions
Identify components of Appendicular skeleton
Draw the scapula bone and relate it to its functions
Identify the bones of the fore limbs
Draw the structure of the humerus, radius and ulna
Draw and label bones of the hand
Draw the pelvic girdle
Name the bones of The pelvic girdle
Relate the structure to their functions
Identify, draw and label the femur, tibia and tibula bones
Relate their structure to their functions
Draw and label the bones of the foot
Relate the structure of bones of the foot to their functions
Define a joint
List the three types of joints
Describe the types of joints
List examples of movable joints, hinge joints and bell and socket joints
Define Immovable joints
Name Immovable joints
Define muscles
Explain the differences between the three types of muscles
Identifying biceps and triceps in the arm movement
Genetics
Introduction
Genetics is the study of inheritance. The fact that the offspring of any species resemble the parents indicates that the characters in the parents are passed on to the offspring. Factors that determine characters (genes) are passed on from parent to offspring through gametes or sex cells. In fertilisation the nucleus of the male gamete fuses with the nucleus of the female gamete.