BALTIMORE BIOLOGY 102
Baltimore, Maryland
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COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Code:
Biology 102
Course Title:
Principles of Biology
Department: Biological Sciences
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1. COURSE INFORMATION
a. Course Description: This is a competency-based one semester lecture/laboratory
course covering the major principles of biology. Topics include biochemistry,
cell biology, respiration, photosynthesis, genetics, evolution, ecology,
reproduction, and energetics. Recommended for non-science majors who plan to
transfer to four-year institutions.
Learning Outcomes for this course:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
 State the importance of acquiring a basic knowledge of biology.
 Determine how science is actually done by defining theory and developing
hypothesis as applied to the scientific method.
 Define the molecular nature of life.
 Define the characteristics of life and describe the hierarchy of living things.
 Demonstrate an informed understanding of the origin of life and evolution.
 Apply the general principles of ecology.
b. Course Credits
Types of hours
Hours of Lecture:
15 Hours per Credit
Hours
assigned
45
Calculations
Lecture
3
Credit
Equals =
Hours of Lab
45
Lab
3
30 Hours per Credit
Credit
Equals =
Hours of Studio
0
Studio
0.00
30 Hours per Credit
Credit
Equals =
Hours of Fieldwork
0
Fieldwork
0.00
45 Hours per Credit
Credit
Equals =
Hours of Practicum
0
Practicum
0.00
45 Hours per Credit
Credit
Equals =
Total Calculated Credits =
0.00
Rounded Credits =
0.00
d. Average number of pages per week (based on a 15-week semester) for assigned
reading: 25 – 35 pages per week
e. Frequency of Offering
i. Day:
Fall ___X__ Spring __X___ Summer __X____
2
ii. Evening:
Fall ___X__ Spring __X__ Summer __X___
iii. Weekend:
Fall ___X__ Spring __X__ Summer ___X___
iv. Distance learning: Fall ___X_ Spring ___X__ Summer ____X__
2. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS USED FOR THIS COURSE
Mader, S (2010). Biology (10th Ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: #0077951905.
The course documents, assignments, grades will be posted on the Blackboard periodically.
Weekly Laboratory Exercises will be posted on Blackboard. The student is responsible
for printing the complete exercise and bringing it to the laboratory session.
A laboratory coat must be worn at all times in the laboratory.
3. COURSE ACTIVITIES
a. Written and Oral Communication: Each student will be responsible for written
assignments as described by the lecture instructor and to actively participate in group
laboratory experiments.
b. Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning: Each student will be responsible for preparing
lab assignments with data analysis.
c. Critical Analysis and Reasoning: Students will be required to critically compare
hypothetical, experimental situations and potential outcomes.
d. Technological Competency: Students will be required to demonstrate the use of
course-specific technology:
 access to ConnectPlus as related to textbook and assignments
 Blackboard
e. Information Literacy: Students will be required to effectively access college resources
and online sources; evaluate these sources and prepare a laboratory presentation.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT
a. Follow particular safety rules Required __ X__ Optional ____Not used_____
b
Required tools or equipment
c.
A Laboratory coat is required in the laboratory.
d.
Required __X__ Optional ____Not used______
Other requirements (please list): NA
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5. CRITERIA FOR STUDENT EVALUATION
a. Class attendance
Required__ X Optional ___ Not used___
b. Class discussion
Required__ X_ Optional___ Not used___
c. Written Paper
Required___
Optional_ X_ Not used___
d. Portfolio
Required___
Optional___
e. Written report
Required___
Optional_ X_ Not used___
f. Presentations
Required___
Optional_ X_ Not used___
Not used _X_
g. Computer assignments Required___ Optional_ X _Not used___
h. Tests/quizzes
Required_ X__ Optional___ Not used___
i. Mid-term Exam
Required_ X_ Optional___
j. Final exam
Required_ X__ Optional___ Not used___
k. Fieldwork review
Required___
Optional___
Not used_ X_
l. Practicum review
Required___
Optional___
Not used_ X__
m. Internship review
Required___
Optional___
Not used_ X_
Not used___
n. Other (please list and indicate if required or optional)
6.
7.
COURSE ASSESSMENTS – (See Grading System below)
GRADING SYSTEM –
Allocation of Points for Lecture Class:
Exams = 3 including a Comprehensive Final Exam – each unit exam is 20% and the
Comprehensive final is 25%
65%
Quizzes = 15%; Home Assignments = 10 %; Class Work = 5%
30%
Attendance and Participation
5%
Lecture % =
100%
Allocation of Points for Laboratory Class
Mid-term exam
Comprehensive Final Exam
Weekly quizzes
Lab reports
Attendance and Participation
Laboratory%
20%
25%
25%
25%
5%
100%
4
Average of final lecture percent and laboratory percent = Final letter grade for
course
8.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
A View of Life:
1.
Describe the characteristics commonly attributed to living things.
2.
Explain how the diversity in life is unified by the evolutionary concept.
3.
List and describe the levels of organization of living things.
4.
Describe each of the following: emergent properties, inductive and deductive reasoning.
6.
Describe the system of classifying living organisms and identify the types of organisms
found in each class.
7.
Define the steps in the “scientific process”.
Basic Chemistry:
1.
Describe the properties of three subatomic particles.
2.
Define the following terms: atom, molecule, compound and ion.
3.
Describe the types of chemical bonding and indicate their significances.
4.
Explain chemical bonding and chemical reaction.
5.
Describe the properties of water.
6.
Define acid, base and buffer system.
The Chemistry of Organic Molecules:
1.
Describe monomers and polymers in the biological systems.
2.
Describe the major classes of biological polymers and list their functions.
Cell Structure and Function:
1.
Differentiate prokaryotic/eukaryotic cells and plant/animal cells.
2.
Identify the endo-membranous system and describe its function.
3.
Identify and distinguish the functions of all cellular organelles.
4.
Identify and describe the actions of extra-cellular components and intercellular
communication
Membrane Structure and Function:
1.
Describe the structure of the plasma membrane and identify the function of the
components.
2.
Define: isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, endocytosis and
exocytosis.
3.
Explain how a cell will be affected by a hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic environment.
4.
Describe passive and active transport and list examples.
5.
Describe modifications that occur on cell surfaces.
Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes:
1.
Define: metabolism
2.
Describe the basic properties of energy as related to the Laws of Thermodynamics.
3.
Define: entropy, exergonic, endergonic, coupled reactions, energy of activation, catalyst,
enzyme, substrate, "ATP" and “ADP”.
4.
Explain enzyme activity and regulation.
5.
Describe the cellular organelles involved in the flow of energy.
Photosynthesis:
1.
Discuss the importance of photosynthesis.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Define: autotrophic, heterotrophic, producer and consumer.
Explain the structure and function of a leaf and chloroplast.
Name the pigments involved in photosynthesis
Explain the two stages of photosynthesis (light and dark reaction) and identify where
each stage occurs.
6.
Identify the chemical equation for the process of photosynthesis.
7.
Compare and contrast the processes of photosynthesis and aerobic cellular respiration.
Cellular Respiration
1.
Explain oxidation, reduction or “redox” reactions
2.
Explain the structure of mitochondria as related to cellular respiration.
3.
Identify the chemical equation for the process of cellular respiration.
4.
Describe the stages of aerobic cellular respiration and how many ATPs are generated in
each stage.
5.
Describe the processes of anaerobic fermentation (lactic acid and alcoholic) and identify
the end products.
The Cell Cycle and Cellular Reproduction:
1.
Define: chromosome, chromatid, chromatin network, centromere, kinetochore, diploid
(2n) and haploid (n).
3.
Describe the phases of the cell cycle.
4.
Explain the various stages of Interphase.
5.
List all the phases of mitosis in order of occurrence and describe what is occurring
during each phase.
6.
Explain the differences between plant and animal cell mitosis.
7.
Explain the process of binary fission in the bacterial cell.
8.
Explain the correlation between uncontrolled cell division and cancer.
Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction:
1.
Define: life cycle, karyotype, homologous chromosome, autosomes, haploid cell, diploid
cell, zygote, alternation of generations, and interkinesis.
2.
Describe, in detail, each stage occurring in of meiosis I and II.
3.
Explain the difference between spermatogenesis and oogenesis.
4.
Explain the modes of genetic variation: crossing over, genetic recombination,
independent assortment, synapsis, deletion
5.
Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis
6.
Describe the meaning of “the human life cycle”.
Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance:
1.
Define: heredity, locus, allele, genetics, phenotype, genotype, homozygous,
heterozygous, self-pollination, cross-pollination, dominant and recessive trait.
2.
Discuss the Laws of Probability.
3.
Explain monohybrid and dihybrid cross with suitable examples.
4.
State the Law of Segregation and Law of Independent Assortment.
5.
Describe the given terms with examples: incomplete dominance, co-dominance,
Multiple allele inheritance, and pleiotropy.
6.
Discuss human traits and relate them to Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
Molecular Biology of the Gene:
1.
Describe the Watson and Crick model of DNA.
2.
Demonstrate the structure of a nucleotide.
3.
Explain the process of DNA replication.
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4.
5.
6.
Define the following terms: transcription, translation, codon, anticodon, intron, and exon.
Describe three types of RNA and how they differ from DNA.
Explain the steps of protein synthesis. Include the location of each event and describe the
role of the important players – mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, amino acid and ribosome.
Darwin and Evolution:
1.
Discuss the history of evolutionary thought.
2.
Discuss Darwin’s theory of evolution
3.
Define “natural selection” and how it relates to “adaptation”.
4.
List evidence for evolution.
Origin and History of Life:
1.
Discuss the chemical origins of life.
2.
Explain the history of life as it relates to the fossil record.
3.
Explain factors that influence evolution.
Community and Ecosystem Ecology:
1.
Describe the structure of a community and the interactions that occur in it.
2.
Define ecological succession.
3.
Describe the dynamics of an ecosystem.
4.
Define: energy flow, chemical cycling, food web, ecological pyramid.
5.
Describe the biogeochemical cycles.
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