Bring a calculator to every class
Biology 101
Principles and Methods of Biology
General Course Syllabus Fall 2011
Course objectives:
 Utilize the scientific method to study basic biological phenomena.
 Express biological information and relationships numerically and graphically.
 Gain familiarity with biological techniques and instrumentation.
 Understand the functioning of cells and their molecular contents.
 Understand the principles of inheritance.
 Understand the process of evolution.
 Acquire an appreciation for the diversity of and interactions among organisms.
Textbook: Biology for a Changing World by M. Shuster, J. Vigna, G. Sinha, and M. Tontonoz
Date
Evaluation
22-23 August
Topic
Characteristics of life; the scientific method
Chapter
1, 2
24-25 August
Quiz 1
Characteristics of cells; molecules found inside cells
29-30 August
Quiz 2
Molecules inside cells, cont.
2
31 Aug.- 1 Sept.
Quiz 3
Molecules inside cells, cont.
2
5-6 September
2, 3, 4
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
7-8 September
EXAM I
Cell membranes and movement of molecules (after exam)
4
12-13 September
Quiz 4
Cell membranes and movement of molecules, cont.
4
14-15 September
Quiz 5
Cellular respiration
6
19-20 September
Quiz 6
Cellular respiration, cont.
6
21-22 September
Quiz 7
Photosynthesis
5
26-27 September
EXAM II
Structure of DNA (after exam)
28-29 September
Quiz 8
Extraction of DNA from E. coli
3-4 October
Quiz 9
Introduction to protein synthesis
5-6 October
Quiz 10
Cell divisionB mitosis and meiosis
10-11 October
Quiz 11
Molecular techniques in biology
12-16 October
7 (Read Milestones in
Biology 137-142)
8
9, 11
7, 8, 11 (Read Milestones
in Biology 161-167)
FALL BREAK
17-18 October
EXAM III
Introduction to inheritance concepts (after exam)
19-20 October
Quiz 12
Inheritance, cont.
11 (Read Milestones in
Biology 221-228)
11
24-25 October
Quiz 13
Inheritance, cont.
26-27 October
Quiz 14
Population genetics; introduction to evolution
31 Oct.- 1 Nov.
EXAM IV
Evolution, cont. (after exam)
15
2-3 November
Quiz 15
Evolution, cont.
15
7-8 November
Quiz 16
Introduction to biodiversity; the prokaryotes
9-10 November
Quiz 17
The eukaryotesB protists and fungi
19
14-15 November
Quiz 18
The eukaryotesB plants
19
16-17 November
EXAM V
The eukaryotesB animals (after exam)
19
21-27 November
12
15 (Read Milestones in
Biology 289-298)
17, 18
THANKSGIVING BREAK
28-29 November
Quiz 19
The eukaryotesB animals, cont
19
30 Nov.-1 Dec.
Quiz 20
The eukaryotesB animals, cont
19
5-6 December
Quiz 21
Biodiversity and ecology
7-8 December
Quiz 22
Human population growth; measuring ecological factors
12-16 December
Finals
22, 23
24