Honors Biology I Course Syllabus
Course Description:
Honors Biology is meant to provide a survey of the realm of life science, within the
context of an experimental-based curriculum. Rigorous independent study is required to
enhance student comprehension and appreciation of the frequent class activities.
Frequent homeworks, synopses of supplemental reading, lab reports, quizzes, team
projects, and a major experimental project are required.
Expected Student Competencies:
1. Understand and employ the method of science
2. Utilization of proper experimental equipment and techniques
3. Grasp the interrelationships of living organisms and the environment
4. Familiarity with the basic chemistry of life
5. Understand the organization of life within the context of cells, tissues, organs, and
populations
6. Understand the basics of energy transfer within cells and between life and the
environment
7. Understand the reproduction of cells and organisms, along with the factors that
influence the process
8. Comprehend the central dogma of information flow within cells: DNA-RNAprotein
9. An understanding of the basic mechanisms of genetics, as well as their application
to humans and biomedicine
10. Grasp the biotechnology applications of genetics and molecular biology
11. Familiarity with the basic strategies and techniques employed by researchers in
regenerative medicine/tissue engineering
12. Comprehend population genetics and the processes of evolution
13. Grasp the concepts of taxonomy
14. Familiarity with organisms of the microworld, including viruses, bacteria, and
protests
15. Understand the structural and functional components of plants
16. Familiarity with the various taxons of the kingdom animalia, as well as the basic
anatomical and physiological characteristics of each group
It should be noted that the following outline does not include the many supplementary
readings, videos, and guest speakers utilized within this curriculum. The instructor can
provide these details upon request. The text utilized at this date is Modern Biology
(HRW), 2001.
Course Outline
1. The power and practice of science
a) The problem of information assessment
b) Pseudoscience, frontier science, and antiscience
c) Building a baloney detection kit
d) Science method (chapter 1)
e) Statistics and measurement
Suggested Activities
1. “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly”: information assessment
2. Bubbleology lab investigation
3. Paper Towel Efficiency lab investigation
2. Ecology and environmental science (unit 5, chapters 19-23)
a) Statement of the problem
b) Concepts of ecology (chapter 19)
c) Organismal relationships (chapter 21)
d) Energy transfer (chapter 22)
e) Biogeochemical cycling (chapter 22)
f) Biomes and the biosphere (chapter 22)
g) Populations (chapter 20)
h) Environmental science: man and the biosphere (chapter 23)
Suggested Activities
1. field analysis
2. biome projects
3. algal growth lab
4. bacterial/yeast population growth lab
5. pollution analysis lab
6. water quality labs
7. smoking effects on cell lab
8. personal impact project
9. land use for food project
10. alternative foods project.
3. The chemical basis of life
a.) Basic chemical concepts (chapter 2): atoms, ions, molecules, acids, bases,
buffers
b.) Biochemistry (chapter 3) and the significance of water
c.) The molecules of life: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids
d.) Techniques and strategies of biochemical researchers
Suggested Activities
1. water density lab
2. water characteristics lab activity
3. food analysis lab
4. carbohydrate influence on microbial population growth
5. chromatography lab
6. rainbow spectroscopy
4. Cells: structure and function
a) Prokaryotes and eukaryotes (chapter 4)
b) Organelles
c) How scientists study cells
d) Cell transport (chapter 5)
e) Osmosis and diffusion
f) Molecular transport mechanisms
Suggested Activities
1. design a cell activity
2. intro to microscopy
3. cell challenge lab
4. cell staining analysis lab
5. osmosis and diffusion challenge
6. potato/zucchini cell diffusion lab
7. comparative motile apparati lab
5. Energetics and metabolism
a) Energy and chemical reactions (chapter 2-2)
b) Cellular energy carriers
c) Enzymes
d) Photosynthesis (chapter 6)
e) Cell respiration (chapter 7)
Suggested Activities
1. prime time enzyme simulation activity
2. metabolism role playing simulation
3. amylase enzyme lab
4. papain enzyme lab
5. photosynthesis lab, elodea gas production
6. color influence on PS activity
7. yeast respiration lab
8. carbohydrate influence on microbial population growth
6. Cell reproduction
a) Chromosomes and DNA packing (chapter 8)
b) Cell division
c) Cell cycle and molecular controls
d) Mitosis and Meiosis
Suggested Activities
1. distant nucleotide apogee (D.N.A.)
2. bead simulation of chromosome fates in cell cycles
3. temporal investigation of mitotic phases
7. Central dogma of biology: information transfer
a)
b)
c)
d)
Brief history of the elucidation of DNA as the molecule of heredity
DNA and RNA structure (chapter 10)
Transcription and translation
Mutation
Suggested Activities
1. James Bond: cellular spy activity
2. yeast or bacteria reversion lab: uv light effects on cells
3. double helix construction activity
8. Gene expression
a) Prokaryotic expression controls (chapter 11)
b) Eukaryotic expression: genome organization and function
c) Cancer
Suggested Activities
1. CMU lab field trip: Turning genes off and on in bacteria
9. DNA science and biotechnology
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Recombinant DNA technology (chapter 13)
Molecular applications: probing, knockouts, PCR, antisense, etc.
Technological potentials: human genome project, transgenic species, etc.
Bioethics
Tissue engineering/regenerative medicine (supplemental readings)
Suggested Activities
1. CMU lab field trip: creating glow in the dark bacteria
2. plasmid identification lab/electrophoresis
3. transforming cells: blue/white screening
4. RFLP: whose child is it?
5. DNA profile gels: crime busters
6. plasmid cloning and purification
7. bone engineering: build a cell
8. scaffold diffusion assay
9. the precarious balance: scaffold degradation analysis
10. scaffold/growth factor biocompatibility lab
11. immunogenetics of autoimmune disease: PCR profiling
12. stem cell potential: sea urchin development
13. myoblast cell culturing: influencing differentiation
14. scaffold cell seeding efficiency lab
15. bioethics of the biomedical revolution
10. Genetics
a) Memdelian inheritance (chapter 9)
b) Alternative inheritance modes (chapter 12)
c) Human genetics, reproductive counseling, screening, ethics, etc.
Suggested Activities
1. planet reebop lab
2. computer genetics labs: cat, dragon etc.
3. create a child lab activity
4. family pedigree project
11. Evolution
a)
b)
c)
d)
Population genetics (chapter 16)
Darwin and the theory of natural selection (chapter 15)
Speciation and evolutionary influences
Evolution: science vs. pseudoscience, societal implications
Suggested Activities:
1. M and M speciation lab
2. immunology and evolution lab
3. evolution of horns and antlers, Carnegie collection lab
4. molecular data reconstruction lab
5. Carnegie field trip: Sol III, and evolutionary perspective
12. Taxonomy
a) Systematics and modern phylogenetics (chapter 18)
Suggested Activities
1. jellybean taxonomy
2. dichotomous key investigation
13. Microbiology
a) Viruses (chapter 25)
b) Monerans (chapter 24
c) Protists, Algae, and Fungi (chapters 26-28)
Suggested Activities
1. infection/epidemiology simulation activity
2. environmental influence on bacteriophage infectivity
3. bacterial identification
4. bacterial survivorship (soap, antibiotics)
5. second hand smoke effects on microbes
6.
7.
8.
9.
microbe poster symposium
algal classification
protist race lab
protist behavior and adaptations
14. Botany
a) Life cycles, classification overview (chapter 30)
b) Bryophytes and other non-vascular plants
c) Vascular plants, gymnosperms and angiosperms
d) Plant reproduction (chapter 32)
e) Plant structure and function (chapter 31)
f) Plant responses (chapter 33)
Suggested Activities
1. bryophyte and fern microviewer challenge lab
2. angiosperm structure and function lab (microviewer challenge)
3. sectioning and staining of plant organs lab
4. plant game
5. fast plant responses lab
6. germination and growth influences lab
7. plant adaptations lab (guest lecture)
8. plant poster symposium
15. Zoology
a) Survey of invertebrates (chapters 34-40)
b) Survey of invertebrates (chapters 41-45)
c) Animal behavior (supplementary readings)
Suggested Activities
1. planarian, hydra, arthropod behavior lab
2. dissection survey
3. star trek dissection/analysis
4. animal Olympics symposium
5. animal poster symposium
6. zoo field trip activity
Due to limited course time, teacher discretion will determine total topics to be covered in
this curriculum.