January 2006
Background preparation for Biology 1116
Readings from Campbell & Reece (2005) Biology 7th Ed
What I shall expect from my students is that you are familiar with the basic
terminology (e.g., what is a phenotype, a genotype, an allele; what is a
protein, an amino acid, a nucleic acid) and concepts – what happens during
meiosis and mitosis; how do we get from DNA to proteins. I don’t expect
you to know the messy details – e.g., every last step of meiosis or mitosis.
In most cases, I just want you to take a look at the introductory sections of
the listed chapters. This will be particularly important if you did not take
Biology 05.1115 last term you should read over the following material in
your text.
Chapter 5 The Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Overview The molecules of life
Concept 5.1 Most macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers
Concept 5.4 Proteins have many structures, resulting in a wide range of
functions
Concept 5.5 Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary information
Chapter 7 Membrane Structure and Function
Overview Life at the Edge
Chapter 10 Photosynthesis
Overview The process that Feeds the Biosphere
Chapter 12 The Cell Cycle
Overview The Key Roles of Cell Division
Concept 12.2 Mitosis
Chapter 13. Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
Overview Hereditary similarity and variation
Concept 13.1 Offspring acquire genes from parents by inheriting
chromosomes
Concept 13.2 Fertilization and meiosis alternate in sexual life cycles
Concept 13.3 Meiosis reduces the number of chromosome sets from diploid
to haploid
Concept 13.4 Genetic variation produced in sexual life cycles contributes to
evolution
Chapter 14. Mendel and the Gene Idea
Overview Drawing from the deck of genes
Concept 14.2 Mendel used the scientific approach to identify two laws of
inheritance
Concept 14.3 Inheritance patterns are often more complex than predicted by
simple Mendelian genetics
Concept 14.4 Many human traits follow Mendelian patterns of inheritance
Chapter 15. The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Overview Locating genes on chromosomes
Concept 15.1 Mendelian inheritance has its physical basis in the behavior of
chromosomes
Concept 15.3 Sex-linked genes exhibit unique patterns of inheritance
Concept 15.4 Alternations of chromosome number or structure cause some
genetic disorders
Concept 15.5 Some inheritance patterns are exceptions to the standard
chromosome theory
Chapter 16. The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Overview Life’s operating instructions
Concept 16.2 Many proteins work together in DNA Replication and Repair
Chapter 17. From Gene to Protein
Overview The Flow of Genetic Information
Chapter 21. The Genetic Basis of Development
Overview From Single Cell to Multicellular Organism