Life Science (Grades 9–12) Subtest 1

Subarea II. Molecular and Cellular Life Processes

0004

Understand cellular structures and processes.

recognizing organelles and other cellular structures, their characteristics and functions, and the interactions between organelles and other cellular structures
demonstrating knowledge of methods of measurement used to describe cellular structures and physiological processes
analyzing how cells respond to changes in their environment to maintain homeostasis (e.g., active transport, exocytosis)
demonstrating knowledge of the cellular processes of a given plant or animal cell (e.g., guard cell, muscle cell, phagocyte)

0005

Understand photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

analyzing the structure of chloroplasts and how structure and function are related
demonstrating knowledge of the processes involved in the transformation of solar energy into cellular energy, including biochemical pathways (e.g., Calvin cycle) and electron transport
analyzing the structure of mitochondria and how structure and function are related
demonstrating knowledge of the processes involved in the release of energy stored in food molecules during cellular respiration, including biochemical pathways (e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle) and ATP synthesis
applying knowledge of structure-function relationships and the relationships between organelles and the cellular environment to predict the effect of a given physical or chemical change (e.g., light intensity, pH) on photosynthesis or cellular respiration

0006

Understand the structure and function of proteins and the process of protein synthesis.

identifying the basic chemical composition and structure of proteins
demonstrating knowledge of the processes of transcription and translation, including the roles of DNA and RNA
predicting the amino acid sequence of a protein from a given codon sequence
recognizing the functions of proteins, including enzymes, in living organisms and factors that affect protein function