Course Outline
1. Course Code and Title: Bio102, Introductory Biology for Non-Majors with lab
Credits: 3 credits
Prerequisites: None
2. Course Description
This course covers in eight weeks the basic principles of Biology for non-majors. The
concepts covered deal with biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, biotechnology, plant
and animal biology, and evolution. Lab exercises use flash-based virtual labs. Bio102
fulfills three credits of the six credits in natural science in Yorktown University’s General
Education requirements.
3. Course Goals
Students completing this course will be able to analyze and comprehend basic
biochemical reactions as they relate to metabolism, cell structure, cell replication, and
the four basic organic compounds. Students will be able to comprehend the impact of
genetic principles in the synthesis of genes and genetic expression as well as
development of biotechnology. Students will be able to describe the importance of
photosynthesis and aerobic respiration on basic cellular metabolism. Students will be
able to compare and contrast the evolution and anatomy and physiology of plants and
animals and their importance to ecosystems.
4. Course Learning Outcomes
Students completing Bio102 will be able to:
1. Classify living organisms and assess their effect of the biosphere.
2. Describe the chemical composition of cells and analyze the various
processes that happen at the cellular level.
3. State the different types of cells and distinguish between mitosis and
cytokinesis.
4. Compare and contrast the Mendelian and chromosomal patterns of
inheritance.
5. Enumerate the various applications of genomics and biotechnology.
6. Analyze the physical structure of plants and the process of transport of
nutrients in plants.
7. Trace the evolution of invertebrates and create a table showing different
classes of invertebrates.
8. Summarize the evolution of vertebrates from the Paleozoic era to the current
era and summarize the evolution of primates into humans.
5. Course Concepts
1. What constitutes life and the organization of life from the cell to the biosphere.
2. The chemical composition up of living organisms and the processes necessary to
obtain energy from matter for living organisms.
3. The structure and function of the cell and the process for cell replication.
4. The patterns of inheritance of characteristics and the process of heredity based
on the genes of an organism.
5. Examining gene expression and the properties of nucleic acids have lead to the
development of biotechnology techniques and how these techniques are applied
in society today.
6. The development and structure of plants on earth and their importance in society
7. The development and structure of animal life forms-both invertebrate and
vertebrate-as well as the evolution of humans.
6. Required Texts
Mader, Sylvia S, Inquiry into Life. 13th ed. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill, 2011.
ISBN: 13-9780077403201. $169.00 New
The Mader textbook, if new, comes with an access code to online aspects of the course
located at Connect.com. If you purchase a used copy, you will be required to purchase
access to Connect.com at a cost of $27.50.
Go to: http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_bishirjian_copyofcourse-1
At that page click a bright red colored “Register Now” button located toward the bottom
of that page. You will be asked to enter your e-mail address and click “Submit.”
If you have an access code, you can enter it at that page or you can buy access by
clicking “Buy Online.” When you get to the next page you are given two options.
You may purchase access for two months at a cost of $27.50 or you may purchase the
E-Book edition of your required textbook for $91.75. If that’s your choice you get an
Internet edition of the textbook and the access code you’ll need to course content at
Connect.com.
Upon entry to the biology course, scroll down the page to view each session’s
assignments: Chapter Reading, Lab Assignment, Writing Assignments, and Quiz.
Your Syllabus tells you what you are to do step by step for each of the eight sessions of
this course.
7. Recommended Reading
8. Web Resources [Located in Resources]
Syllabus
Course Number: Bio102
Course Title: Introductory Biology for Non Majors with Lab
Prerequisite: None
Faculty: TBA
Class Participation: Bio102 is a course in Biology based on a textbook and online
website published by McGraw-Hill. Students will access portions of this Biology course
at the publisher’s website for the course and in Izio. Instruction in how to access the
publisher’s website and Izio is given to students prior to starting this course.
You can start to access this publisher’s website for this course by going to:
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_bishirjian_copyofcourse-1
There are five steps taken to complete each session: 1) complete the assigned reading
from the textbook, 2) complete the lab assignment from Connect.com, 3) submit a
written essay on a topic provided in Assignments, and 4) take the graded quizzes at
Connect.com.
Essays and lab assignments are submitted to your instructor using the upload
functionality in Assignments in Izio. The weekly graded exam is completed at
Connect.com, accessed by your instructor and your grade entered into the Grade Book
in Izo.
Students are ultimately responsible for participating in the course by completing all
reading and essay assignments, completing lab assignments and graded quizzes.
This course is designed for completion of all coursework in eight weeks.
Assessments:
Eight Essays: 40%. Students will submit a written essay in response to topics that are
posted in “Assignments” in Izio. Choose one topic and compose an essay in a Word
document. Save the essay and title it “Your Name, Essay #.” Upload that file using the
upload functionality in the Assignments area of Izio. Your instructor will mark up your
essay, grade it, and post the marked up paper in your grade book and in Discussions.
Visit the Discussions area of Izio and reply to your Instructor’s comments.
The purpose of the writing assignments is to give students an opportunity to write an
essay on a topic and for the student to review and comment on the instructor’s graded
response. Each writing assignment is valued at 5% of the final grade.
Four Laboratory Assignments: 20%
Lab Exercises have been assigned in Sessions 1, 2, 3 and 5. At the end of each
session in which a Lab Exercise is assigned, students will submit a written review of the
lab experiment. Each written lab report is valued at 5% of your final grade. The format
for the weekly lab report consists of six parts:
1. Introduction: Title of Experiment
2. Objectives of experiment
3. Key terms used in experiment and definitions of terms (e.g. Dependent
variable, Transpiration, Photosynthesis)
4. Materials used in the experiment
5. Describe each section of experiment
-What was done.
-What was the result.
-What do the results indicate or what hypothesis is supported.
6. Summary of experiment and results-at least two paragraphs. Compose
your report in a Word document, save it with the Title “Your Last Name,
Lab Report Session #.” Upload that file in the Assignments area of Izio.
Lab Rubrics: The following rubric will be followed to guide you in understanding how
your lab exercises will be graded.
RUBRIC FOR LAB EXERCISE
CORRECT COMPLETION OF LAB COMPONENTS AND
DESCRIPTION OF LAB PURPOSE-INCLUDING USE OF KEY
SCIENTIFIC LAB TERMS
COLLECTION AND ACCURATE ANALYSIS OF LAB DATA
COMPLETE AND ACCURATE SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENT
CORRECT SPELLING, GRAMMAR, AND FREE FROM TYPO
ERRORS.
POSSIBLE TOTAL POINTS
POINTS
2
1
1
1
5
Quizzes: 40%. Quizzes in Bio102 are located at Connect.com. Each quiz consists of
10 questions based on the lesson and chapter content. Prior to taking a quiz students
should review their lessons, notes, chapter readings, and discussion and lab
assignment. When you’re ready to take a quiz, click on the word “Quiz.” That will open
a dialog box where you are asked for the access code. The access code is “york.”
Quiz 7 is a Proctored Exam. Please refer to guidelines for Proctored exams in the
Announcement area of Izio. In preparing for a Proctored Exam, select a proctor who will
provide you with uninterrupted use of a computer for one hour. We recommend Sylvan
Learning, though many community colleges offer Proctor Services. Your Proctor
Guidelines provide a list of institutions that will Proctor quizzes. When you have found a
Proctor, give the Proctor the Proctor Guidelines and a photocopy of your Driver’s
License or another form of identification with you picture. Ask the Proctor to affirm on
the photocopy that you are the person pictured. Your quizzes provide a sufficient
number of choices that you will not need access to the required reading for course
sessions. Quizzes are not “open book” exams. Contact the Registrar if you have any
questions about finding a Proctor.
Yorktown University’s grading rubrics for contributions to Discussions and all other
writing assignments including papers, essay tests and exams are located at
http://www.yorktownuniversity.edu/new_rubrics.cfm
Academic Integrity
Available both in the student and faculty handbooks.
Recommended Schedule for Course Completion
Session One: Living organisms and assessment of their effect on the biosphere.
Assignments
Required Reading
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 1, pp. 1- 17.
Lab Exercise 1
Dependent and Independent variables
Essay Topics. Choose One.
1. Describe how the Hierarchy of the Organization of Life can be demonstrated in your
local surrounding-go from atomic scale to the scale of the biosphere.
2. Discuss examples of where bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans would be placed
in this hierarchy.
Quiz 1
Learning Outcomes:
4:1
Session Two: The chemical composition of cells and analysis of the various processes
that happen at the cellular level
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 2, Chapter 6, pages 101-112;
Chapter 7, pages 115-127; Chapter 8, pages 131-144.
Lab Exercise 2
Enzyme Controlled Reactions
Essay Topics: Choose One.
1. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between cellular respiration
and photosynthesis.
2. How can both processes occur in a plant, but not an animal?
3. If a human being (in modern society) had chloroplasts, discuss how they might or
might not be able to obtain all of the food energy they need from sunlight?
Quiz 2
Learning Outcomes:
4.2
Session Three: The different types of cell structures and function and the difference
between mitosis and cytokinesis.
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 3, pages 45-65, Chapter 4, pages 67-78,
Chapter 5, pages 82- 88.
Lab Exercise 3
The Cell Cycle and Cancer
Essay Topics: Choose One.
1. Discuss and describe the components of a cell membrane that act to control the
transport of ions, water, amino acids, oxygen, carbon dioxide, as well as secreting
proteins.
2. Discuss how the size, shape, and polarity of a molecule would affect the transport of
a molecule across the cell membrane and how could this challenge be overcome.
Quiz 3
Learning Outcomes:
4.3
Session Four: The Mendelian and chromosomal patterns of inheritance.
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 5 pages 89-97; Chapter 23, pages 470-485;
Chapter 24, pages 487-491.
Essay Topics: Choose One.
1. Compare and contrast simple Mendelian inheritance with incomplete dominance.
2. Why would Mendel have different results if he had used Snapdragon plants rather
than Pea plants?
3. Why could these same experiments not be performed on human beings?
Quiz 4
Learning Outcomes:
4.4
Session Five: The various applications of genomics and biotechnology.
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into life, Chapter 24 pages 491-499, Chapter 25, pages 501-520,
Chapter 26, pages 526-537.
Lab Exercise 4
Classifying Using Biotechnology
Essay Topics. Choose One.
Take one modern technique of biotechnology:
-Polymerase Chain reaction
-Gene Cloning
-Gene Sequencing
-Protein Sequencing
-ELISA. Choose one topic.
1. Discuss how it has impacted medical diagnostic tests, forensics, paternity testing,
drug development, evolutionary studies, or food testing.
2. How have these techniques expanded our understanding of the gene?
3. How could these techniques be a threat to personal liberties?
Quiz 5
Learning Outcomes:
4.5
Session Six: The physical structure of plants and the process of transport of nutrients
in plants.
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 9, pages 143-168, Chapter 10, pages 171-189,
Chapter 29, pages 601-617.
Essay Topics: Choose One.
1. Compare and contrast plant transpiration with plant respiration. How are they
different and yet how are both processes necessary for land based plants?
2. Discuss how plants enhance the humidity and climate of their surroundings?
3. Describe why deforestation could lead to deserts?
Quiz 6
Learning Outcomes:
4.6
Session Seven: The evolution of invertebrates and examination of the different
classes of invertebrates.
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 30, pages 619-644
Essay Topics: Choose One.
1. Review an invertebrate and describe its body structure, mode of respiration,
ecosystem, type of feeding, life-span, means of reproduction, and whether this
organism is a predator, pathogen, or food source for other predators.
2. Discuss why and how biodiversity is necessary for this species and for the species’
ecosystem?
Quiz 7
Learning Outcomes:
4.7
Session Eight: The evolution of vertebrates from the Paleozoic era to the current era
and an examination of the evolution of primates into humans.
Assignments
Required Reading:
Mader, Inquiry into Life, Chapter 31, pages 645-669
Essay Topics: Choose One.
1. Review a vertebrate and describe its body structure, mode of respiration, ecosystem,
type of feeding, life-span, means of reproduction, and whether this organism is a
predator, pathogen, or food source for other predators.
2. Discuss why and how biodiversity is necessary for this species and for the species’
ecosystem?
Quiz 8
Learning Outcomes:
4.8