Unit B

Unit B Introduction

 

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It is amazing how humans have managed to sustain their existence and dramatically increase the size of their population on a planet that is constantly changing. Sexual reproduction, whether natural or assisted by technology, is one of the main reasons for this survival and increase.

 

In Unit B of Biology 30 you will investigate the human reproductive system as a representative mammalian system responsible for reproducing the organism and carrying on the species. You will learn about the structures and functions associated with human reproduction and the hormones that regulate reproduction and development and establish homeostasis. You will also study how environmental factors have an influence on embryonic and fetal development. Throughout the unit you will examine many types of reproductive technologies.

 

In other science courses you discovered that all living organisms come from other living organisms. A characteristic of living things is their ability to reproduce. Although reproduction is not necessary for survival at the individual level, reproduction is necessary for the survival of the species. Reproduction produces new individuals of a species. These individuals are either identical to or a variation of the parent(s).

 

In Biology 20 and in Unit A of Biology 30, you examined how body systems work together to maintain homeostasis. In Unit B you will continue your study of homeostasis by examining the reproductive system. You will use your understanding of the nervous system and the endocrine system to further explore how they contribute to maintaining equilibrium within the reproductive system and to the homeostasis of the body. You will develop a deeper understanding of the structures and functions of your own reproductive system and those of the opposite sex. This exploration will help you develop an appreciation for the miracle of life—from conception, through development, to birth.

 

There are two modules in Unit B. In the first five lessons of Module 3, you will study the structures of the male and female reproductive systems, how they function, and how they can be adversely affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Lessons 6 through 9 of Module 3 are dedicated to helping you understand how hormones maintain the homeostasis of the male and female reproductive systems. Module 4 will focus on the development of offspring from fertilization to birth; how cells differentiate to perform certain functions; and how development is regulated by genetic, endocrine, and environmental factors. Together, the modules will support your inquiry into how humans have managed to sustain their existence and increase their population on a planet that is constantly changing.
 
You will specifically be able to

• explain how species survival is ensured through reproduction
  
  

• identify and describe the structures and functions of the human reproductive systems
  
  

• explain how human reproduction is regulated by chemical control
  
  

• describe how cell differentiation and development are influenced by genetic, endocrine, and environmental factors
  
  

• analyze how sexually transmitted infections and reproductive technologies can prevent or enhance fertility

As you work through this unit, you may go to the McGraw-Hill Ryerson online learning centre at www.albertabiology.ca. Click on “Student Resources” in the column on the left side of the screen. Click on the “continue” button. You should now be on the main Inquiry into Biology page. Listed on the left side of the screen are the many resources that are available to you. Click on “Essential Study Partner” in the left column. Then, click on the “Essential Study Partner” in the white part of the screen. Next, click on the “animals” icon. Click on “Reproduction” to find many resources to help you with your study of this unit.

 

As you work through Modules 3 and 4, there will be self-checks, labs, lesson assignments, module assessments, and a unit assessment. Assessment items will be clearly identified for submission to your teacher. All course work should be stored in your course folder.

 

Unit B comprises 20% of the Biology 30 course and should take approximately 25 hours to complete.

 

When you have completed the lessons in this unit, you will complete the Unit B assessment. The unit assessment will involve a case study in which you will examine the histories of three infertile couples and their journey towards conceiving children. As you work through each of the two modules in Unit B, you will investigate more about the couples' structural and hormonal issues. Throughout the unit you will learn about the reproductive technologies that these couples may choose to use to enhance their chances of starting a family.

 

The three couples with fertility problems are

• Couple 1—John and Jane
• Couple 2—José and Maria
• Couple 3—Karl and Olga

You can read about the couples in “A Fertility Case Study.” Make notes about your conclusions or assumptions and place them in your course folder. Remember that information and questions about the couples’ fertility issues will be referred to throughout Unit B and will be part of the Unit B Assessment.

 

Before you begin the unit assessment, you may wish to do the review questions on pages 540 and 541 in your textbook, or you may consult with your teacher as to which of these questions it would be appropriate for you to answer. Review your responses with your teacher.

 

When you are ready to begin the unit assessment, go to the Unit B Assessment section of the course for instructions and a rubric indicating how the written-response question will be marked.

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