Chabot/Las Positas College
November 1998
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Biology 2A
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY
Catalog Description:
2A - Principles of Biology
5 units
Biological processes with emphasis upon the cellular level of organization. Course is for biology majors
and pre-professional students i.e., pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy. Topics include organic
chemistry; origin of life; structure and function of procaryotic and eucaryotic cells; cell membrane
dynamics; enzyme structure and function; DNA, RNA, protein synthesis; Operon model; respiration;
photosynthesis; Darwinism; cell division; genetics; evolution, speciation. Prerequisite: Chemistry 1A or
equivalent (with a grade of C or higher). Strongly recommended: Biology 31 or equivalent (with a grade of
C or higher) and eligibility for English 1A or 52A. 3 hours lecture, 6 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 52.5, laboratory 105]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course the student should be able to:
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define and classify states of matter and energy;
distinguish between atoms, molecules, compounds, mixtures;
to recognize chemical symbols for common elements, write simple chemical formulas,
simple chemical oxidation reduction reactions;
describe bonding in compounds and ions;
understand chemical and physical changes in terms of thermodynamics;
comprehend the basics of pH;
define molarity and normality of solutions;
use of spectrophotometer;
be able read % Transmission on a spectrophotometer and convert to Optical Density;
convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit degrees;
take measurements and make conversions within the metric system.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
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recognize and understand simple reactions involving organic chemical functional groups;
describe organic macromolecules in cells and how they are used by cells;
demonstrate an understanding of contemporary views regarding the origin of life;
compare similarities and differences between procaryotic and eucaryotic cells;
explain the movement of materials in and out of cells;
describe enzyme structure and function;
understand transcription, translation, protein synthesis;
explain the Operon Model and control mechanisms of metabolism;
describe aerobic and anaerobic respiration;
understand the importance of glycolysis, Kreb's Cycle, electron transport system, ATP,
NADH, FADH2;
discuss how cells obtain energy from food;
describe the synthesis of ATP;
explain the theory of chemosmosis;
understand the function of chlorophylls and accessory pigments in photosynthesis;
describe light and dark reactions;
balance
Chabot College
Course Outline for Biology 2A, page 2
November 1998
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explain photosystems I and II;
explain the significance of the Calvin Cycle;
discuss Darwinian views regarding evolution;
describe mitosis and meiosis;
understand Mendelian and contemporary concepts of genetics;
use descriptive statistics and conduct a Chi-square test;
solve probability problems;
understand basic tools used in genetic engineering;
use the Hardy-Weinberg Law to determine gene frequencies;
cite evidence of evolution;
describe the Modern Synthesis Theory of Evolution;
explain speciation;
measure the size of cells and organelles using a ocular micrometer;
recognize stages of cell division;
graph and analyze data using a computer;
utilize a Spectrophotometer;
operate radioactive scalers and work with isotopes;
separate proteins by electrophoresis.
Course Content:
Lecture:
1.
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
a.
Functional groups: hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate
b.
Polymers
c.
Carbohydrates, monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides
d.
Lipids: fats, phospholipids, steroids
e.
Proteins: amino acids, peptide bonding, levels of protein structure
f.
Nucleic acids; structure of DNA, RNA
g.
Transcription, translation, protein synthesis
h.
Mutations and their effects on proteins
2.
Origin of Life
a.
Abiotic synthesis of macromolecules
b.
First cell
c.
Origin and diversity of Procaryotes
d.
Endosymbiotic Theory
e.
Origin and diversity of Eucaryotes
3.
Cell Structure and Function
a.
Procaryotic Cells: nuclear area, cell wall, cell membrane, inclusion bodies,
ribosomes, capsules, flagella, pili, plasmids, endospores
b.
Eucaryotic cells: nucleus; ribosomes and polyribosomes, rough and smooth
endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus; lysomes, vacuoles, chloroplasts,
mitochondria, microtubules and microfilaments, cell wall, cell membrane
c.
Fluid Mosiac Model of cell membrane
4.
Movement of Materials
a.
Selective permeability
b.
Facilitative and passive diffusion
c.
Active transport
d.
Osmosis
5.
Enzymes
Chabot College
Course Outline for Biology 2A, page 3
November 1998
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a.
Structure and function
b.
Cofactors and coenzymes
c.
Activation energy
d.
Catalytic cycle of enzymes
e.
Enzyme inhibitors
f.
Noncompetitive inhibitors
g.
Allosteric regulation
DNA Replication, Transcription and Translation
a.
Structure of DNA
b.
DNA replication of lagging and leading strands
c.
Production of RNA and RNA polymerase
d.
Role of mRNA, tRNA, rRNA in protein synthesis
Control of Metabolism
a.
Feedback inhibition
b.
Operon Model: RNA polymerase, promoter, regulator gene structural genes,
inducible and repressible enzymes
Cellular Respiration
a.
Catabolic and anabolic reactions
b.
Anaerobic respiration: efficiency alcohol and lactic acid fermentation
c.
Glycolysis: chemical products, ATP and NADH produced
d.
Kreb's Cycle: ATP, FADH2, NADH2 produced
e.
Electron transport system: chemosmosis and generation of ATP, role of 02 in
aerobic respiration
f.
Energy from lipids and proteins
Photosynthesis
a.
Role of chlorphylls (a) and (b)
b.
Function of accessory pigments
c.
Light and dark reactions
d.
Photosystems I and II
e.
Cyclic and noncyclic electron flow
f.
Chemosmosis
g.
Calvin Cycle
Cell Division
a.
Mitosis
b.
Meiosis: stages of I and II
c.
Gametogenesis
Genetics
a.
Mendelian Genetics: monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, Law of Segregation,
Law of dependent Assortment, probability, Chi-square test, problem solving
b.
Contemporary genetics: chromosome mutations, gene mutations, epistasis, linked and nonlinked genes, lethal genes, transposons
c.
Genetic disorders and genetic counseling
d.
Genetic engineering: restriction enzymes, DNA ligase, plasmids, cloning
Pre-Darwinian Views
a.
Linnaeus
b.
Lamarck's Theory
c.
Malthus
d.
Lyell
Darwinism
a.
Voyage of the Beagle
Chabot College
Course Outline for Biology 2A, page 4
November 1998
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Influence of Lyell and Malthus
c.
Natural selection and adaptation
d.
Origin of the species
Signs of Evolution
a.
Geographic distribution of species
b.
Fossil record
c.
Comparative anatomy
d.
Comparative embryology
e.
Molecular biology
Modern Synthesis of Evolution
a.
Population genetics: gene pool, Hardy-Weinberg Law
b.
Genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, nonrandom mating, natural selection,
recombination, geographic isolation
Speciation
a.
Allopatric speciation and adaptive radiation
b.
Sympatric speciation: autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy
Laboratory Exercises:
At least one exercise in the following areas of study will be conducted during the semester. Faculty will
select exercises that will allow students to sue compound microscopes, computers, dissecting scopes,
spectrophotometer, scaler, and electrophoresis chambers to carry out their investigations sometime during
the semester.
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Using the microscope
Measuring the size of cells
Procaryotic cell structure and function
Eucaryotic cell structure and function
Cell division
Biological molecules
Movement of materials
Structure and function of Nucleic Acids
Mendelian genetics
Contemporary genetics
Evolution
Enzyme structure and function
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Methods of Presentation:
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Lecture and discussion
Observation, collection and analysis of data
Laboratory studies
Charts, models, slides, transparencies
Films
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Minimum of two midterms in lecture
Chabot College
Course Outline for Biology 2A, page 5
November 1998
2.
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Undetermined number of quizzes
Minimum of two laboratory practicals
Student projects
Laboratory reports
Textbook (Typical):
Biology 3rd. Edition, 1993 by Cambell
Special Student Materials:
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Coloring pencils
Lab coat or apron
Marking pen
BC:al 12/98