Course Information for 2018-2019 COURSE NUMBER: COURSE TITLE: BL1020 Introductory Biology I: Biology at the Microscopic Level COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a Biology course designed for students who have not completed high school Biology or who require upgrading in Biology for College and College-University Transfer Biology courses. Students will learn the microscopic levels of Biology that will lead them into the macroscopic levels covered in Introductory Biology II. A combination of both Introductory Biology I and II will achieve better understanding of basic concepts that are required for success in various Biology courses in Health Sciences, Natural Resources and/or University programs. Students will be expected to complete assignments and labs to show their understanding of the concepts. PREREQUISITES: CO-REQUISITES: None None CREDIT VALUE: Four (4) COURSE HOURS PER WEEK: Three (3) LAB HOURS PER WEEK: Two (2) SUGGESTED TEXT: Simon, E. J., Reece, J. B. & Dickey, J. L. (2010). Campbell essential Biology with Physiology (3 rd ed.). Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada. ISBN 10:0-321-64954-0; ISBN 13:978-0-321-64954-6 Introductory Biology I, BL1020, Laboratory Manual and Workbook, College of the North Atlantic, St. John s, NL LEARNING RESOURCES: Pechenik, J. (2009). Short guide to writing about Biology (7 th ed.). New York,NY: Longman Publishing. ISBN 10: 020567240X; ISBN 13: 9780205672400 MAJOR TOPICS: 1.0 Biology and the Scientific Study of Life 2.0 Introduction to Biochemistry 3.0 Cells and Cellular Structure College of the North Atlantic BL1020 Page 1 of 6
4.0 Classification and Taxonomy 5.0 Bacteria: Unicellular Organisms 6.0 Unicellular Protists 7.0 Cellular Metabolism 8.0 Cellular Transport 9.0 Cellular Replication 10.0 Genetics LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1.0 Biology and the Scientific Study of Life 1.1 Define science 1.2 Define biology 1.3 Describe the levels of organization that defines biology 1.4 List and define several areas of specialization within the field of biology, i.e., physiology, cytology, ecology, mycology, entomology, taxonomy, zoology 1.5 Explain the importance of other sciences in the study of biology 1.6 Describe and compare the methods used to study biology, i.e., Discovery science versus Hypothesis driven science. Provide examples of each 1.7 Distinguish between a hypothesis and a theory 1.8 Explain the components of the scientific method including problem, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment (various variables i.e. independent, dependent, control), results, discussion including sources of error and conclusion. 1.9 List and describe the characteristics of life including homeostasis, metabolism, respiration, growth, reproduction, and evolution 2.0 Introduction to Biochemistry 2.1 Define an atom using examples 2.2 Define a molecule using biological examples 2.3 Distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds 2.4 Write the chemical formula for the creation of water from hydrogen and oxygen, and identify the reactants and products 2.5 Describe the structure of water, and explain how this shape makes water a polar molecule 2.6 Describe the four life-supporting properties of water, and give an example of how each property affects some form of life 2.7 Distinguish between the chemical properties of acids, bases, and neutral solutions 2.8 Explain how buffers stabilize the ph of acidic and basic solutions 2.9 Describe chemical reaction types, relevant to biology (dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis) 2.10 Differentiate between anabolic and catabolic reactions 2.11 Define the terms polymer and monomer 2.12 Compare the structure of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Give examples of each College of the North Atlantic BL1020 Page 2 of 6
2.13 Discuss the properties of lipids and the nutritional differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids 2.14 Distinguish between steroids and anabolic steroids, and explain how anabolic steroids can be dangerous to a person's health 2.15 Describe the structure of proteins. Distinguish between the primary structure and the final three-dimensional shape 2.16 Describe the structure of DNA, and explain the semi-conservative method of replication 2.17 Define metabolism as a series of chemical reactions that occur within cells using protein structure as an example 3.0 Cells and Cellular Structure 3.1 Describe the key features of the cell theory 3.2 Compare the following pairs of terms, noting the most significant differences: light microscopes versus electron microscopes and scanning electron microscopes versus transmission electron microscopes prokaryotic cells versus eukaryotic cells, plant cells versus animal cells 3.3 Explain why cells must be small, i.e. have a large surface area to volume ratio 3.4 Describe the structure of the plasma membrane and other membranes of the cell. Explain why this structure is called a fluid mosaic. Explain how the structure of the plasma membrane makes it semipermeable 3.5 Describe the structure of the cytoplasm 3.6 Describe the structure and function of ribosomes 3.7 Describe the structure and function of nucleic acids 3.8 Explain how the genetic information in the nucleus is used to direct the production of proteins in the cytoplasm 3.9 Define organelles 3.10 Compare the structures and functions of the following components of the endomembrane system: rough endoplasmic reticulum, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and vesicles 3.11 Compare the structure and function of chloroplasts and mitochondria. Explain why the grana in chloroplasts and the inner mitochondrial membrane are each highly folded 3.12 Describe the functions of the cytoskeleton. Compare the structures and functions of cilia and flagella 3.13 Describe the structure of centrosomes and centrioles 3.14 Discuss various cell shapes and relate to function 4.0 Classification and Taxonomy 4.1 Define taxonomy 4.2 Discuss the reasons for classifying organisms 4.3 Define species and binomial nomenclature 4.4 Describe Carolus Linnaeus classification system 4.5 Define taxon and list the levels in order from broadest to the most specific College of the North Atlantic BL1020 Page 3 of 6
4.6 Describe the five kingdom system and the characteristics associated with each kingdom 4.7 Discuss the problems with the five kingdom system and the recent taxonomic solution 4.8 Describe the three domain system and the characteristics associated with each domain 4.9 Define dichotomous keys and their importance in identifying organisms 5.0 Bacteria: Unicellular organisms 5.1 Describe the appearance and function of the structures of a generalized bacterial cell 5.2 Describe bacteria according to shape and cellular arrangement. 5.3 Define Archaebacteria and Eubacteria as two domains of bacteria 5.4 Discuss the metabolic diversity of bacteria: photoautotrophs, chemoautotrophs, photoheterotrophs, chemoheterotrophs, nitrogen fixers, obligate aerobes, obligate anaerobes and facultative anaerobe 5.5 Discuss growth of bacterial populations by way of binary fission 5.6 Discuss the mechanisms that produce variation in bacteria: mutation, conjugation, transformation, and transduction 5.7 Distinguish between a bacterial and viral infection 6.0 Unicellular Protists 6.1 Describe protists at the first eukaryotes, discussing the possible origins including endosymbiotic and autogenous hypotheses 6.2 Describe the ways that protists are different from bacteria 6.3 Briefly discuss the differences displayed in protists; fungi-like, animal-like and plant-like using examples 7.0 Cellular Metabolism 7.1 Define metabolism 7.2 Define enzymes 7.3 Describe the function of enzymes in metabolism 7.4 Describe factors, including ph and temperature, affecting enzyme activity 7.5 Describe ATP and ADP and explain their function, including ATP cycle and the terms anabolic and catabolic 7.6 Using the terms monomers, polymers, anabolic and catabolic, describe protein metabolism as an example of cellular digestion 7.7 Describe how proteins are produced using the terms, transcriptiontranslation, ribosome, mrna and trna 7.8 Describe briefly the process of photosynthesis, including the materials required and the products produced 7.9 Describe briefly the process of aerobic cellular respiration, including the materials required and the products produced College of the North Atlantic BL1020 Page 4 of 6
7.10 Differentiate between aerobic respiration and fermentation 8.0 Cellular Transport 8.1 Describe cellular transport and explain why it is important with relation to metabolism and homeostasis 8.2 Explain membrane permeability using the fluid mosaic model and the terms permeable, impermeable and selectively permeable 8.3 Differentiate between active and passive cellular transport 8.4 Define ATP and explain how and why it is used for active transport discussing the ATP cycle 8.5 Describe phagocytosis and pinocytosis 8.6 Describe endocytosis and exocytosis 8.7 Define and describe the process of diffusion using the terms concentration gradient, solutes and equilibrium 8.8 Define and describe the process of osmosis using the terms hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic 8.9 Discuss why diffusion is a dynamic equilibrium 8.10 Discuss how diffusion and osmosis can maintain homeostasis 8.11 Explain facilitated diffusion 9.0 Cellular Replication 9.1 Define reproduction as the production of cells either asexually or sexually (with variation) 9.2 Define growth as the increase in size and increase in cell number (without variation) 9.3 Briefly describe the replication of cells (due to growth) as the result of surface area to volume ratio and the cells metabolic requirements, using the cell cycle 9.4 Define asexual reproduction 9.5 Describe binary fission as an example of asexual reproduction that occurs in prokaryotic cells 9.6 Describe sporulation, budding and fragmentation as types of asexual reproduction 9.7 Describe mitosis as an example of asexual reproduction that occurs in eukaryotic cells, noting the increased complexity and structures required 9.8 Describe the stages of mitosis 9.9 Define sexual reproduction and give its advantage and disadvantages over asexual reproduction 9.10 Define ploidy, diploid, haploid, gametes, DNA, chromosomes, chromatin, centromere, chromatid, spindle, histones, genes 9.11 Describe meiosis as an example of sexual reproduction that occurs in eukaryotic cells 9.12 Explain how meiosis leads to variation in cellular structure 9.13 Describe the stages of meiosis 10.0 Genetics College of the North Atlantic BL1020 Page 5 of 6
10.1 Define geneticsdiscuss Gregor Mendel as the father of genetics, his experiment and the results 10.2 Describe the importance of genetic variation in life 10.3 Define gene, allele, locus, homologous pair, sex chromosomes, monohybrid, dihibrid, genotype, phenotype, karyotype, dominant, recessive, law of dominance, gene segregation and independent assortment 10.4 Define homozygous and heterozygous in relation to alleles 10.5 Discuss the use of the Punnett square to predict results of various crosses 10.6 Define probability in terms of a genetic cross 10.7 Explain how multiple alleles control ABO blood type 10.8 Describe incomplete dominance and codominance of genes 10.9 Discuss how sex is determined and give examples of sex-linked traits in humans 10.10 Discuss chromosomal mutation, including crossing over and gene linkage 10.11 Describe some diseases caused by genetic malfunction LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THE LABORATORY: The following laboratory objectives are incorporated throughout the biology course. 1. Practice the scientific method. 2. Practice basic microscopy skills. 3. Investigate cell structure. 4. Investigate the influence of surface area to volume ratio on osmosis and diffusion. 5. Investigate the stages of mitosis. EVALUATION: Labs/Assignments: 15% Tests: 30% Midterm Exam: 15% Final Exam: 40% Pass Mark: 50% DATE DEVELOPED: December 2004 DATE REVIEWED: REVISION NUMBER: 4 DATE REVISED: July 2012 Effective PeopleSoft Date: Note to instructor: Check PIRS to ensure this outline is the most current version. College of the North Atlantic BL1020 Page 6 of 6