Syllabus from Fall 2012 course follows.



The Facts

Meeting Times: Check the registrar's schedule for dates, times and instructors.

Prerequisites: None...but you MUST register for both lecture AND lab to get credit for this course!

Required Texts: Freeman's 4th edition of Biological Science, and a lab manual (available in the GAC Bookstore).

Offered: each fall.



Course Description

Welcome to Bio 101 lecture section 5 (woo-hoo)! This course is the first of a four-course core curriculum for Biology majors and for students who may need the course for Nursing, Education or H.E.S. The course is not intended for non-majors (we have another course for that). Lectures are held from 12.30-1.20 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Nobel Auditorium.

We will survey general principles common to all life, and hopefully both working hard and having fun with biology in the process. Biology is a multidisciplinary science that requires understanding of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. With this background we will explore biological disciplines in four sections:

  • Organisms in their Environment. The growth and interactions among populations forms changing species and ecosystems
  • The Structure of Life. How macromolecules and membranes assemble into cells and tissues
  • Energy for Life: Cellular Metabolism. How cells harvest and transfer energy
  • DNA, Heredity and the Environment. The principles of Mendelian and molecular genetics in the short term expand to evolutionary change via population and developmental genetics

Course Goals

  • To supply science majors with the tools to master biological principles and obtain the background knowledge necessary for further study.
  • To understand that biology is a dynamic discipline in which knowledge integrates across seemingly disparate fields.
  • To develop an approach to the study of biology that will facilitate success in future courses of any science.


Isn’t this course just like High School AP Bio?

Ummmmm…………………no.

This course is a survey of biology as a discipline, and as such we will cover a large volume of material. Please note that while your memorization load will be heavy, you should also practice applying and critically evaluating the concepts that we are covering. For each section, you will be given 2-5 concepts that synthesize the material. Every chapter you read will have something to do with at least one of these concepts. So in addition to the memorization, I expect you to apply these encompassing themes to the material in a way that demonstrates critical thinking and analysis. If you are unsure how, come and talk to me!

A tutor for this course is normally available in the Biology library (NHS 224) and the Diversity Center (student union) during the semester. Hours are posted outside the library door. Receiving help from a tutor is a sign of forethought and maturity...the person is there to help you understand important concepts presented in the course. First-year students frequently make the mistake of waiting until just before an exam to study or seek help. Others make the mistake of waiting until they receive a poor exam score. Meet with them early, and let them help you decide if you’ll need their help.


Assignments:

Three exams worth approximately 45 points each.

Nine online quizzes designed to help students keep up with vocabulary

A semicumulative final exam worth 65 points

A variety of homeworks and in-class activities, due at start of lecture, totalling 30 points.

Your ten, 10 pt. lab assignments, totalling 100 pts.




For questions, contact Dr. Carlin at jcarlin@gac.edu.


Selective permeability allows impulse transmission








DNA fragments, like blood type genes, are heritable and subject to recombination








Enzymes can be powered by ionic imbalances








The morula, an early stage of development