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Dr. Shreyank Educare
Curriculum-aligned learning support — not an official school, university, or ministry-approved course, and not a replacement for official credit.

Grade 12 · Biology · Advanced

Anatomy and Physiology 12

The molecular foundations of life and the major human body systems, taught in depth, plus an Extension unit covering photosynthesis.

Contents

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1

Biological Molecules

3 of 3 published

  1. 1.1
    Water & carbohydrates & lipids

    Water’s properties, sugars and fats.

    Published

  2. 1.2
    Proteins

    Amino acids, folding and function.

    Published

  3. 1.3
    Nucleic acids

    DNA, RNA and ATP.

    Published

2

Cell Membrane & Transport

3 of 3 published

  1. 2.1
    The fluid mosaic model

    Membrane structure.

    Published

  2. 2.2
    Passive transport

    Diffusion and osmosis.

    Published

  3. 2.3
    Active & bulk transport

    Pumps, endocytosis and exocytosis.

    Published

3

Enzymes

3 of 3 published

  1. 3.1
    Enzymes & the active site

    How enzymes lower activation energy.

    Published

  2. 3.2
    Factors affecting activity

    Temperature, pH and concentration.

    Published

  3. 3.3
    Enzyme inhibition

    Competitive and non-competitive.

    Published

4

DNA & Protein Synthesis

3 of 4 published

  1. 4.1
    DNA replication

    Copying the genetic code.

    Published

  2. 4.2
    Transcription

    DNA to mRNA.

    Published

  3. 4.3
    Translation & mutations

    Building proteins; when the code changes.

    Published

  4. 4.4
    Genomics and biotechnology

    The Human Genome Project and personal genomics, and the technologies of cloning, recombinant DNA, GMOs, transgenic organisms and gene therapy.

    In preparation

5

Metabolism and ATP Production

3 of 3 published

  1. 5.1
    Releasing ATP: glycolysis

    Splitting glucose to start ATP production.

    Published

  2. 5.2
    Releasing ATP: the Krebs cycle

    Harvesting electron carriers for ATP production.

    Published

  3. 5.3
    Completing ATP production: electron transport and fermentation

    Making ATP with and without oxygen.

    Published

6

Digestive System

3 of 3 published

  1. 6.1
    The digestive tract

    From mouth to intestine.

    Published

  2. 6.2
    Mechanical & chemical digestion

    Enzymes and accessory organs.

    Published

  3. 6.3
    Absorption

    Taking nutrients into the blood.

    Published

7

Circulatory System

3 of 3 published

  1. 7.1
    The heart & cardiac cycle

    Structure and the heartbeat.

    Published

  2. 7.2
    Blood vessels & circulation

    Arteries, veins, capillaries.

    Published

  3. 7.3
    Blood & cardiovascular health

    Components, roles and disease.

    Published

8

Respiratory System

3 of 3 published

  1. 8.1
    Respiratory structures

    Airways and the lungs.

    Published

  2. 8.2
    Breathing mechanics

    Ventilation and lung volumes.

    Published

  3. 8.3
    Gas exchange & transport

    Oxygen, carbon dioxide and control.

    Published

9

Nervous System

3 of 3 published

  1. 9.1
    Neurons & the action potential

    Nerve cells and the impulse.

    Published

  2. 9.2
    Synapses

    Chemical signalling between neurons.

    Published

  3. 9.3
    CNS, PNS & reflexes

    Brain, cord and fast responses.

    Published

10

Endocrine System

3 of 4 published

  1. 10.1
    Hormones & glands

    Chemical messengers.

    Published

  2. 10.2
    Feedback control

    Negative feedback and homeostasis.

    Published

  3. 10.3
    Glands & disorders

    Major glands; when control fails.

    Published

  4. 10.4
    When feedback fails

    Heat stroke, hypothermia and acidosis as dangerous positive-feedback breakdowns.

    In preparation

11

Urinary System

3 of 3 published

  1. 11.1
    Kidney & nephron structure

    The filtration unit.

    Published

  2. 11.2
    Urine formation

    Filtration, reabsorption, secretion.

    Published

  3. 11.3
    Water balance & homeostasis

    Osmoregulation and ADH.

    Published

12

Reproductive System

3 of 3 published

  1. 12.1
    Reproductive anatomy

    Male and female systems.

    Published

  2. 12.2
    Gametogenesis & the menstrual cycle

    Making gametes; the cycle.

    Published

  3. 12.3
    Fertilization & development

    From zygote to birth.

    Published

13

Lymphatic and Immune System

0 of 3 published

  1. 13.1
    The lymphatic system

    Lymph vessels, nodes, spleen and thymus, and how tissue fluid becomes lymph and returns to the blood.

    In review

  2. 13.2
    Innate and adaptive immunity

    Physical and chemical barriers, phagocytes and inflammation, and the antibody and T-cell response of adaptive immunity.

    In review

  3. 13.3
    Immune disorders and homeostasis

    Autoimmune disease, allergy, immunodeficiency (including HIV/AIDS) and vaccination, and how the lymphatic and immune system supports the body's other systems.

    In review

14

Human Health and Disease

0 of 3 published

  1. 14.1
    Lifestyle and human health

    How diet, exercise, sleep, smoking, salt, alcohol, drugs, vaccination, contraception and fertility drugs affect health.

    In preparation

  2. 14.2
    Holistic approaches to health

    Health as more than the absence of disease: physical, mental and social wellbeing and complementary approaches to care.

    In preparation

  3. 14.3
    Disease as an imbalance in homeostasis

    Ulcers, hypertension, lactose intolerance, diabetes and HIV-AIDS as examples of a body system failing to hold a variable steady.

    In preparation

15

ExtensionExtension, not counted toward course totals

3 of 3 published

  1. 15.1
    Light-dependent reactions

    Capturing light energy.

    Published

  2. 15.2
    The Calvin cycle

    Fixing carbon into sugar.

    Published

  3. 15.3
    Factors & comparison

    Limiting factors; respiration vs photosynthesis.

    Published

What is Anatomy & Physiology 12 in British Columbia?

Short answer

Anatomy & Physiology 12 is the BC senior-biology course covering the molecular foundations of life — biological molecules, membranes, enzymes, DNA and protein synthesis, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis — and the major human body systems, including digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, urinary, and reproductive. It builds on Life Sciences 11.

Course overview

Anatomy & Physiology 12 connects molecules to whole-body function. You start with the chemistry of life and cell processes — enzymes, DNA, respiration, and photosynthesis — then study how the major human organ systems are built and how they work together to maintain homeostasis.

What you will learn

  • Explain biological molecules, membranes, and enzyme function
  • Describe DNA, protein synthesis, and their role in the cell
  • Compare cellular respiration and photosynthesis as energy processes
  • Describe the structure and function of the major human body systems
  • Explain how systems cooperate to maintain homeostasis

Who this course is for

  • • BC students who completed Life Sciences 11 and want in-depth human biology
  • • Students considering health sciences, nursing, kinesiology, or medicine
  • • Anyone who wants to understand how body systems work, not just name their parts

Commonly difficult topics

  • • Cellular respiration and photosynthesis — tracking energy and molecules through the stages
  • • DNA and protein synthesis — connecting transcription and translation
  • • Body systems — linking structure to function rather than memorizing parts
  • • Homeostasis — reasoning about feedback loops

How Dr. Shreyank Educare teaches this course

  1. 01 · Diagnose

    Find the exact skill causing difficulty — not the chapter, the skill.

  2. 02 · Understand

    Learn it through explanations, worked examples and visual reasoning.

  3. 03 · Practice

    Work problems that adapt to how you are actually doing.

  4. 04 · Fix

    A wrong answer becomes targeted remediation for the misconception behind it.

  5. 05 · Prove

    Solve new, unseen problems independently before mastery is awarded.

Course curriculum

1Biological Molecules3 topics
  • — Water & carbohydrates & lipids
  • — Proteins
  • — Nucleic acids
2Cell Membrane & Transport3 topics
  • — The fluid mosaic model
  • — Passive transport
  • — Active & bulk transport
3Enzymes3 topics
  • — Enzymes & the active site
  • — Factors affecting activity
  • — Enzyme inhibition
4DNA & Protein Synthesis4 topics
  • — DNA replication
  • — Transcription
  • — Translation & mutations
  • — Genomics and biotechnology
5Metabolism and ATP Production3 topics
  • — Releasing ATP: glycolysis
  • — Releasing ATP: the Krebs cycle
  • — Completing ATP production: electron transport and fermentation
6Digestive System3 topics
  • — The digestive tract
  • — Mechanical & chemical digestion
  • — Absorption
7Circulatory System3 topics
  • — The heart & cardiac cycle
  • — Blood vessels & circulation
  • — Blood & cardiovascular health
8Respiratory System3 topics
  • — Respiratory structures
  • — Breathing mechanics
  • — Gas exchange & transport
9Nervous System3 topics
  • — Neurons & the action potential
  • — Synapses
  • — CNS, PNS & reflexes
10Endocrine System4 topics
  • — Hormones & glands
  • — Feedback control
  • — Glands & disorders
  • — When feedback fails
11Urinary System3 topics
  • — Kidney & nephron structure
  • — Urine formation
  • — Water balance & homeostasis
12Reproductive System3 topics
  • — Reproductive anatomy
  • — Gametogenesis & the menstrual cycle
  • — Fertilization & development
13Lymphatic and Immune System3 topics
  • — The lymphatic system
  • — Innate and adaptive immunity
  • — Immune disorders and homeostasis
14Human Health and Disease3 topics
  • — Lifestyle and human health
  • — Holistic approaches to health
  • — Disease as an imbalance in homeostasis
15Extension3 topics
  • — Light-dependent reactions
  • — The Calvin cycle
  • — Factors & comparison

A sample learning experience

A person’s blood glucose rises after a meal. Outline, in general terms, how the body restores it toward normal, and name the type of control involved.

  1. 1. The rise is detected and the pancreas releases insulin.
  2. 2. Insulin signals cells (especially liver and muscle) to take up glucose and store it.
  3. 3. Blood glucose falls back toward the normal range.
  4. 4. This is negative feedback — the response opposes the original change to maintain homeostasis.

Frequently asked questions

Is Anatomy & Physiology 12 hard?
There is a lot of detailed material, but it is more about understanding relationships (structure to function, feedback loops) than heavy calculation. Redrawing diagrams from memory is the most effective study method.
Is this the same as Biology 12?
In the current BC curriculum the senior human-biology course is titled Anatomy & Physiology 12; it plays the role that "Biology 12" did in older curricula.
Do I need Life Sciences 11 first?
It is strongly recommended — Anatomy & Physiology 12 builds on the cell biology and organism-level understanding from Life Sciences 11.
How much chemistry is involved?
Some biochemistry (biological molecules, enzymes, respiration). It helps to have taken Chemistry 11, though it is not strictly required.
What is the best way to study Anatomy & Physiology 12?
Turn each system into a structure-to-function map and each regulated variable into a feedback loop. Understanding the “why” beats memorizing lists of parts.

Related courses

Life Sciences 11 →

Explore all Biology courses →

Curriculum & sources

Content source: original lessons, worked examples and diagrams created for Dr. Shreyank Educare.

Curriculum alignment: Grade 12 Biology (BC curriculum).

Curriculum-aligned learning support — not an official school, ministry, or College Board course, and not a replacement for official credit.

Last updated . Authored and maintained in-house by the Dr. Shreyank Educare teaching team — see our editorial standards, methodology and source policy.