RS Readiness Standard

SS Supporting Standard
Process Skills
STAAR BIOLOGY Quick Reference Guide
Reporting Category 1: Reporting Category 3
Cell Structure and Function (11 questions) Biological Evolution and Classification
B.4A SS
compare and contrast prokaryotic and (10 questions)
eukaryotic cells analyze and evaluate how evidence of
investigate and explain cellular processes, common ancestry among groups is provided
including homeostasis, energy conversions, B.7A RS by the fossil record, biogeography, and
B.4B RS
transport of molecules, and synthesis of new homologies, including anatomical, molecular,
molecules and developmental
compare the structures of viruses to cells, analyze and evaluate scientific explanations
describe viral reproduction, and describe the concerning any data of sudden appearance,
B.4C RS role of viruses in causing diseases such as B.7B SS
stasis, and sequential nature of groups in the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and fossil record
influenza. analyze and evaluate how natural selection
describe the stages of the cell cycle, including B.7C SS produces change in populations, not
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication and individuals
B.5A RS
mitosis, and the importance of the cell cycle to analyze and evaluate how the elements of
the growth of organisms natural selection, including inherited variation,
examine specialized cells, including roots, the potential of a population to produce more
B.5B SS stems, and leaves of plants; and animal cells B.7D SS
offspring than can survive, and a finite supply
such as blood, muscle, and epithelium of environmental resources, result in
describe the roles of DNA, ribonucleic acid differential reproductive success
B.5C SS (RNA), and environmental factors in cell analyze and evaluate the relationship of
differentiation natural selection to adaptation and to the
B.7E RS
development of diversity in and among
recognize that disruptions of the cell cycle lead
B.5D SS species
to diseases such as cancer
analyze and evaluate the effects of other
compare the structures and functions of B.7F SS evolutionary mechanisms, including genetic
B.9A RS different types of biomolecules, including drift, gene flow, mutation, and recombination
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids analyze and evaluate scientific explanations
analyze and evaluate the evidence regarding B.7G SS
concerning the complexity of the cell
formation of simple organic molecules and their define taxonomy and recognize the
B.9D SS organization into long complex molecules having B.8A SS importance of a standardized taxonomic
information such as the DNA molecule for self- system to the scientific community
replicating life categorize organisms using a hierarchical
Reporting Category 2 B.8B RS classification system based on similarities and
Mechanisms of Genetics (11 questions) differences shared among groups
identify components of DNA, and describe how compare characteristics of taxonomic groups,
B.6A RS information for specifying the traits of an B.8C SS including archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi,
organism is carried in the DNA plants, and animals.
recognize that components that make up the Reporting Category 4
B.6B SS Biological Processes and Systems
genetic code are common to all organisms
(11 questions)
explain the purpose and process of transcription compare the reactants and products of
B.6C SS
and translation using models of DNA and RNA B.9B SS photosynthesis and cellular respiration in terms
recognize that gene expression is a regulated of energy and matter
B.6D SS
process B.9C SS identify and investigate the role of enzymes
identify and illustrate changes in DNA and describe the interactions that occur among
B.6E RS systems that perform the functions of regulation,
evaluate the significance of these changes B.10A RS nutrient absorption, reproduction, and defense
predict possible outcomes of various genetic from injury or illness in animals
B.6F RS combinations such as monohybrid crosses, describe the interactions that occur among
dihybrid crosses and non-Mendelian inheritance B.10B RS systems that perform the functions of transport,
recognize the significance of meiosis to sexual reproduction, and response in plants
B.6G SS analyze the levels of organization in biological
reproduction
describe how techniques such as DNA B.10C SS systems and relate the levels to each other and
to the whole system
fingerprinting, genetic modifications, and
B.6H SS describe the role of internal feedback
chromosomal analysis are used to study the B.11A SS mechanisms in the maintenance of homeostasis
genomes of organisms
 Process Skills
Reporting Category 5 Embedded in at least 40% of the questions
Interdependence within Environmental demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and field
B.1A
Systems (11 questions) investigations
demonstrate an understanding of the use and
investigate and analyze how organisms,
B.1B conservation of resources and the proper disposal or
B.11B SS populations, and communities respond
recycling of materials
to external factors
know the definition of science and understand that it has
summarize the role of microorganisms in B.2A
limitations, as specified in subsection (b)(2) of this section
both maintaining and disrupting the know that hypotheses are tentative and testable
B.11C SS
health of both organisms and statements that must be capable of being supported or
ecosystems B.2B not supported by observational evidence. Hypotheses of
describe how events and processes that durable explanatory power which have been tested over a
B.11D RS occur during ecological succession can wide variety of conditions are incorporated into theories
change populations and species diversity know scientific theories are based on natural and physical
interpret relationships, including phenomena and are capable of being tested by multiple
predation, parasitism, commensalism, independent researchers. Unlike hypotheses, scientific
B.12A RS B.2C
mutualism, and competition among theories are well-established and highly-reliable
organisms explanations, but they may be subject to change as new
compare variations and adaptations of areas of science and new technologies are developed
B.12B SS distinguish between scientific hypotheses and scientific
organisms in different ecosystems B.2D
analyze the flow of matter and energy theories
through trophic levels using various plan and implement descriptive, comparative, and
B.12C RS experimental investigations, including asking questions,
models, including food chains, food B.2E
formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting equipment
webs, and ecological pyramids
and technology
recognize that long-term survival of
collect and organize qualitative and quantitative data and
B.12D SS species is dependent on changing
make measurements with accuracy and precision using
resource bases that are limited tools such as calculators, spreadsheet software, data-
describe the flow of matter through the collecting probes, computers, standard laboratory
carbon and nitrogen cycles and explain glassware, microscopes, various prepared slides,
B.12E SS
the consequences of disrupting these stereoscopes, metric rulers, electronic balances, gel
cycles B.2F
electrophoresis apparatuses, micropipettors, hand lenses,
describe how environmental change can Celsius thermometers, hot plates, lab notebooks or
B.12F RS
impact ecosystem stability journals, timing devices, cameras, Petri dishes, lab
incubators, dissection equipment, meter sticks, and
models, diagrams, or samples of biological specimens or
structures
analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and predict trends
B.2G
from data
Number of communicate valid conclusions supported by the data
Number of Questions through methods such as lab reports, labeled drawings,
Standards B.2H
graphic organizers, journals, summaries, oral reports, and
Readiness technology-based reports
16 60 65% 32 35
Standards in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique
Supporting scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical
26 35 40% 19 22 reasoning, and experimental and observational testing,
Standards B.3A
including examining all sides of scientific evidence of
those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical
thinking by the student
54 Multiple Choice Questions communicate and apply scientific information extracted
from various sources such as current events, news
B.3B
reports, published journal articles, and marketing
materials
draw inferences based on data related to promotional
B.3C
materials for products and services
evaluate the impact of scientific research on society and
B.3D
the environment
evaluate models according to their limitations in
B.3E
representing biological objects or events
research and describe the history of biology and
B.3F
contributions of scientists