Successful students in all versions of Biology 1113xx will be able to...
The Chemistry of Life
- describe the properties of carbon and water and how they are necessary for life.
- describe the basic structural characteristics of the major classes of biological macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids).
- apply chemical principles to the analysis of the structure and function of macromolecules.
- explain the relationship between the structures of macromolecules and their general functions and biological importance.
The Cell
- describe the structure and properties of the plasma membrane and its role in the cellular response to its environment (e.g., membrane transport, signal transduction).
- explain basic activities of the cell by relating structure and function of cellular components, organelles, and systems.
- compare and contrast prokaryotic, plant, and animal cells.
- outline representative mechanisms for how cells send, receive, and respond to signals.
- explain the forms of energy utilized in biological systems and the laws of thermodynamics that govern them.
- characterize enzymes, their functions, and the major mechanisms that control their activity.
- explain the transformations of energy and carbon involved in cellular respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis (including orderly chemical transformations, the relevance of redox reactions, and electron/proton transport).
- explain the mechanisms and structures involved in mitotic and meiotic cell division and explain the different roles for and consequences of each.
- describe how the loss/failure of cellular control mechanisms can lead to disease.
Genetics
- explain the transfer and modification of heritable traits from parents to offspring via Mendelian inheritance.
- apply principles of Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics to predict the outcomes of a variety of genetic crosses.
- explain the basis of and identify examples of non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
- describe the nature and expression of heritable information at the molecular level, including: the Central Dogma, DNA replication, transcription, protein synthesis (translation).
- explain how gene expression is controlled in prokaryotes and eukaryotes (at transcription, post-transcription, translation, and post-translation levels).
- identify mutations in DNA and assess their impact on gene expression and diversity.
- explain chromatin structure, the histone code, and epigenetic inheritance.
- explain how differential gene expression relates to organismal development, including cellular reproduction, growth, and differentiation
- describe characteristics of viruses and bacteria (e.g., life history, genome type and content, exchange of genetic material).
- describe the experimental basis and select applications of recombinant DNA technology, including gene cloning, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and gene editing (CRISPR)
Nature of biological science and society
- describe the development and evaluation of scientific explanations of natural phenomena.
- apply biological concepts in the assessment of contemporary issues.
- reflect on ethical implications of emerging biotechnology.
- explain how evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life.
Skills & Competencies
Process of Science
- apply the process of science to research questions, presented scenarios, historical experiments, and course lab experiments.
- design an experiment
- collect and organize both qualitative and quantitative data.
- support or refute an argument or conclusion using experimental results.
Scientific Communication
- refer to primary literature articles using proper paraphrasing and citation (compare and contrast primary, secondary, etc).
- create properly formatted graphs, figures, and tables using data.
- analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative data
- create discipline-appropriate documents (poster, presentation, or paper).
- identify plagiarism and avoid plagiarizing when writing.
Literature
- evaluate the quality and accuracy of a written source.
- locate scholarly articles using electronic databases.
- distinguish between primary literature, secondary literature, and content created for mass media.
Laboratory
- employ safe laboratory practices.
- use a compound light microscope to view microorganisms; maintain microscope cleanliness.
- use a pipette to measure small volumes.
- understand the key steps and reagents in PCR.
- explain how gel electrophoresis works and interpret DNA separation on a gel.
- prepare a dilution series.