Welcome to Diploma Programme Biology! 

All of the relevant information and resources that you will need for this class will be found in the drop down tabs that appear when you mouse-over the DP Biology tab.  Below are a list of the topics that we will cover this year:

Grade 11 Standard Level (SL)

Ecology & Evolution:  Core Topic 5  (7 weeks)
  • Communities & ecosystems
  • Populations
  • Evolution
  • Classification
  • The Greenhouse Effect
Statistical Analysis:  Core topic 1  (1 week)
  • Error bars, standard deviation, t-test
Ecology & Conservation: Option G (6 weeks)
  • Community ecology
  • Ecosystems & biomes
  • Impacts of humans on ecosystems
Cells:  Core Topic 2  (5 weeks)
  • Cell theory
  • Prokaryotic cells
  • Eukaryotic cells
  • Membranes
  • Cell division
Chemistry of Life:  Core Topic 3  (6 weeks)
  • Chemical elements and H20
  • Carbohydrates, lipids & proteins
  • DNA structure
  • DNA replication
  • Transcription & translation
  • Enzymes
  • Cell respiration
  • Photosynthesis
Genetics:  Core Topic 4  (6 weeks)
  • Chromosomes, genes, alleles and mutations
  • Meiosis
  • Theoretical genetics
  • Genetic engineering and biotechnology

Grade 11 Additional Higher Level Only (AHL)

Plant Science:  AHL Topic 9  (5 weeks) 
  • Plant structure and growth
  • Transport in angiosperms
  • Reproduction in angiospermophytes
Ecology & Conservation - Extension:  Option G (3 weeks)
  • Conservation of biodiversity
  • Population ecology
Cell Respiration & Photosynthesis:  AHL Topic 8  (4 weeks)
  • Cell respiration
  • Photosynthesis
Genetics:  AHL Topic 10:  (3 weeks)
  • Meiosis
  • Dihybrid crosses and gene linkage
  • Polygenic inheritance

Grade 12 Standard Level (SL)

Ecology & Evolution:  Core Topic 5  (7 weeks)
  • Communities & ecosystems
  • Populations
  • Evolution
  • Classification
  • The Greenhouse Effect
Ecology & Conservation: Option G (6 weeks)
  • Community ecology
  • Ecosystems & biomes
  • Impacts of humans on ecosystems
Human Health & Physiology:  Topic 6  (2 weeks)

  • Gas exchange
  • Nerves, hormones and homeostasis
Evolution:  Option D (6 weeks)
  • Origin of life on earth 
  • Species & speciation
  • Human evolution

Grade 12 Additional Higher Level Only (AHL)

Genetics:  AHL Topic 10:  (3 weeks)
  • Meiosis
  • Dihybrid crosses and gene linkage
  • Polygenic inheritance
Ecology & Conservation - Extension:  Option G (3 weeks)
  • Conservation of biodiversity
  • Population ecology
Human Health & Physiology:  AHL Topic 11 (4 weeks)
  • Defense against infectious disease
  • Muscle & movement
  • The kidney
  • Reproduction
Evolution - Extension:  Option D  (2 weeks)
  • The Hardy-Weinberg principle
  • Phylogeny & systematics