STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Biology (STAAR EOC) Syllabus

Biology (STAAR EOC) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Biology (STAAR EOC) in STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Cell Structure and Function

   4 topics

   • Cell Theory and Cell Types
     • Principles of cell theory
     • Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells
     • Plant vs. animal cells
   • Organelles and Their Functions
     • Nucleus, mitochondria, and ribosomes
     • Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus
     • Cell membrane and cell wall
   • Cellular Transport
     • Passive transport: diffusion and osmosis
     • Active transport and the role of ATP
     • Homeostasis at the cellular level
   • Cell Energy Processes
     • Photosynthesis: inputs and outputs
     • Cellular respiration and ATP production
     • Comparing the two processes
2. 2

   Genetics and Heredity

   5 topics

   • DNA Structure and Replication
     • Nucleotides and the double helix
     • Base pairing rules
     • DNA replication process
   • Protein Synthesis
     • Transcription and translation
     • The role of RNA and the genetic code
   • Mendelian Genetics
     • Dominant and recessive traits
     • Punnett squares and probability
     • Genotype vs. phenotype
   • Patterns of Inheritance
     • Incomplete dominance and codominance
     • Sex-linked traits
     • Mutations and genetic variation
   • Cell Division
     • Mitosis and the cell cycle
     • Meiosis and genetic diversity
3. 3

   Evolution and Classification

   4 topics

   • Mechanisms of Evolution
     • Natural selection and adaptation
     • Variation, fitness, and survival
     • Speciation
   • Evidence for Evolution
     • Fossil record
     • Comparative anatomy and homologous structures
     • Molecular and genetic evidence
   • Taxonomy and Classification
     • Linnaean classification hierarchy
     • The three domains and six kingdoms
     • Binomial nomenclature
   • Phylogeny and Relationships
     • Reading cladograms and dichotomous keys
4. 4

   Biological Processes and Systems

   4 topics

   • Levels of Biological Organization
     • Cells, tissues, organs, and systems
   • Plant Systems
     • Structures for transport and reproduction
     • Tropisms and responses to stimuli
   • Animal Systems and Homeostasis
     • Feedback mechanisms
     • Maintaining internal balance
   • Viruses
     • Viral structure and reproduction
     • Comparison with living cells
5. 5

   Ecology and Interdependence

   4 topics

   • Energy Flow in Ecosystems
     • Food chains, food webs, and trophic levels
     • Energy pyramids and the 10% rule
     • Producers, consumers, and decomposers
   • Biogeochemical Cycles
     • Carbon and oxygen cycles
     • Nitrogen and water cycles
   • Population and Community Dynamics
     • Carrying capacity and limiting factors
     • Symbiosis, competition, and predation
   • Ecological Succession and Change
     • Primary and secondary succession
     • Human impact and biodiversity

Biology (STAAR EOC) flashcards for STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness)

18 of 71 cards from the Biology (STAAR EOC) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three main principles of the cell theory?

   (1) All living things are made of one or more cells, (2) the cell is the basic unit of structure and function in organisms, and (3) all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

2. What is the key structural difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

   Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

3. Name two examples of prokaryotic organisms and two domains they belong to.

   Examples: E. coli and cyanobacteria. They belong to the domains Bacteria and Archaea.

4. Which organelle is the 'control center' of the cell and stores its DNA?

   The nucleus.

5. What is the function of mitochondria?

   Mitochondria carry out cellular respiration, producing ATP (energy) from glucose and oxygen; they are the 'powerhouse' of the cell.

6. What is the function of chloroplasts and which cells contain them?

   Chloroplasts perform photosynthesis (converting light energy into glucose); found in plant cells and algae.

7. What do ribosomes do and where are they found?

   Ribosomes synthesize proteins by translating mRNA; they are found free in the cytoplasm and attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

8. Compare the functions of the rough ER and smooth ER.

   Rough ER (studded with ribosomes) synthesizes and processes proteins; smooth ER synthesizes lipids and detoxifies chemicals.

9. What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

   The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, packages, and ships proteins and lipids into vesicles for transport.

10. What is the difference between passive and active transport?

    Passive transport moves substances down their concentration gradient without energy; active transport moves substances against the gradient and requires ATP.

11. Define osmosis.

    Osmosis is the passive diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration (lower solute) to lower water concentration (higher solute).

12. What happens to an animal cell placed in a hypotonic solution?

    Water moves into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst (lyse).

13. Distinguish endocytosis from exocytosis.

    Endocytosis brings large materials into the cell by engulfing them in a membrane vesicle; exocytosis expels materials out of the cell via vesicles fusing with the membrane.

14. Write the overall equation for photosynthesis.

    6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy -> C6H12O6 + 6O2.

15. Write the overall equation for cellular respiration.

    C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP (energy).

16. How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration related as opposite processes?

    The products of photosynthesis (glucose and oxygen) are the reactants of cellular respiration, and the products of respiration (CO2 and water) are the reactants of photosynthesis.

17. What is the difference between aerobic respiration and fermentation?

    Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and yields ~36-38 ATP; fermentation occurs without oxygen and yields only 2 ATP, producing lactic acid (animals) or ethanol and CO2 (yeast).

18. Describe the structure of a DNA molecule.

    DNA is a double helix of two antiparallel strands; each strand is a backbone of sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate with nitrogen bases (A, T, C, G) paired in the middle.

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