Successful students in all versions of Biology 1114xx will be able to: 

 Evolution

• Describe the evidence for micro and macroevolution.
• Describe the way that DNA sequence variation arises and enters the population.
• Trace the link between genotypic variation and phenotypic variation.
• Explain how evolutionary mechanisms can lead to population divergence and patterns of biological diversity.
• Describe how natural selection leads to adaptation.
• Explain how phenotypic traits and molecular sequence data infer phylogenetic relationships.
• Build and interpret phylogenetic trees to compare hypotheses about evolutionary relationships of animals.
• Recognize and correct scientific inaccuracies in statements misrepresenting evolutionary mechanisms and processes using appropriate scientific language (e.g., intentionality, teleology, and personification).
• Use evolutionary concepts to explain the development/expression of various types of animal behavior including social behavior

Diversity of life

• Describe the key morphological features of and evolutionary relationships among major lineages
  • Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya including Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals.
  • Land plant lineages.
  • Animal lineages.

Organismal form and function

• Explain the structure of nutrient procurement and processing systems in plants and animals. 
• Describe the structure and function of the nervous system, the musculo-skeletal system, the respiratory system, and the mechanisms of internal transport and regulation across various organisms.
• Explain how regulatory mechanisms at the level of the whole organism, including the endocrine system, ensure balance in living systems that interact continuously with their environments.
• Compare regulatory mechanisms within and across species.

Population, community, and ecosystem ecology

• Explain how populations grow and how this can be described mathematically.
• Explain energy flow through ecosystems.
• Assess the effects of anthropogenic alterations of biogeochemical cycles on ecosystem and global functioning, e.g., climate change.
• Describe the different types of relationships that exist between living organisms.
• Provide examples of how ecological principles are used in conservation biology. 

Nature of biological science and society

• Understand how scientific knowledge is generated, its limitations, and the fundamentals of scientific publication.
  • Analyze the interdependence of scientific and technological developments.
  • Evaluate social and ethical implications of scientific discoveries.
• Describe historical development of theories, perspectives, and technologies in biology, including contributions made by people from underrepresented groups.
• Apply biological concepts and current biological research in the assessment of contemporary issues.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature and information presented in popular media.

Competencies 

• Illustrate the scientific process through analysis of major biological discoveries and key events in the development of science.
• Document the solution to scientific problems through collection and analysis of experimental data and the preparation of scientific reports.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific process by:
  • Developing a research question, a hypothesis, a prediction, and an experimental design.
  • Collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting quantitative and qualitative data to address a research question.
    • Demonstrate the ability to make precise measurements.
    • Demonstrate safe and proper use of experimental techniques and tools/instruments.
    • Create graphs and tables.
• Use biological specimens to explain the relationship between structure and function
• Utilize current primary literature, online information, and information related to biological issues in mass media in written and oral reports.