Blueprint of life - Millennium

Gill Sans BoldIn this part you will have the opportunity to learn to:• describe the chemical nature of chromosomes and genes• describe the process of DNA replication and explain its significance• outline, using a simple model, the process by which DNA controls theproduction of polypeptides• explain the relationship between proteins and polypeptides• explain how mutations in DNA may lead to the generation of newalleles• discuss evidence for the mutagenic nature of radiation• explain how an understanding of variation in organisms has providedsupport for Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection• describe the concept of punctuated equilibrium in evolution and how itdiffers from the gradual process proposed by Darwin.In this part you will have the opportunity to:• perform a first-hand investigation of process information fromsecondary sources to develop a simple model for polypeptide synthesis• analyse information from secondary sources to outline the evidence thatled to Beadle and Tatum’s ‘one gene – one protein’ hypothesis and toexplain why this was altered to the ‘one gene – one polypeptide’hypothesis• process information to construct a flow chart that shows the changes inDNA sequences can result in changes in cell activity• process and analyse information from secondary sources to explain amodern example of ‘natural’ selection• process information from secondary sources to describe and analyse therelative importance of the work of:– James Watson– Francis Crick– Rosalind Franklin– Maurice Wilkinsin determining the structure of DNA and the impact of the quality ofcollaboration and communication on their scientific research.• use available evidence to analyse, using a named example, howadvances in technology have changed scientific thinking aboutevolutionary relationshipsExtract from Biology Stage 6 Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW, originallyissued 1999. The most up-to-date version can be found on the Board's websiteat http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/syllabus2000_lista.htmlThis version October 2002.Part 4: How genes operate 3