Chabot College
Course Outline for Biology 10, page 4
Fall 2008
Chabot College Fall 2008
Course Outline for Biology 10
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY
Catalog Description:
10 - Introduction to the Science of Biology 4 units
Basic principles of biology, cell biology, and genetics, with the nature of living things, and the nature of scientific investigation and its bioethical impact in our modern world. Designed for non-majors in biology or the biomedical sciences. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 52.5, laboratory 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. describe the scientific method and how it is used by scientists to further scientific knowledge;
2. cite the characteristics exhibited by all living things;
3. describe how a cell is structured and explain how it functions in terms of cell membrane phenomena, genetic control mechanisms, and cellular division;
4. explain the purpose, products, reactants, and major steps in photosynthesis and cellular respiration;
5. describe the structure of DNA, how it is replicated, the process of transcription, and the process of translation;
6. describe the modern (binomial) system of naming and classifying plants, animals and other organisms in the biosphere;
7. name the domains, kingdoms, and major phyla/classes of living organisms, describe the defining characteristics of each, and give examples of organisms in each group;
8. describe major environmental concern(s) of our modern world;
9. explain the Darwinian concept of evolution, as modified by modern scientific knowledge;
10. explain the factors that affect population density and growth rate;
11. map the relationship(s) between organisms within an ecosystem in relation to their niche and place in the food chain/web;
12. describe the mechanisms by which a trait can be inherited and expressed.
Course Content (Lecture)
1. Chemistry
a. general chemistry
b. biomolecules
2. Cell theory of life
a. Characteristics of living things
b. Cell structure
c. Organelles and their functions
d. Membrane dynamics
3. Enzyme Function
a. Properties of enzymes
b. Types of energy
c. Energy laws
d. Enzyme actions
4. Cellular Respiration
a. Purpose
b. Glycolysis
c. Kreb’s Cycle
d. Oxidative Phosphorylation
e. Fermentation
5. Photosynthesis
a. Purpose
b. Light-dependent reactions
c. Light-independent reactions
6. Mitosis
a. Asexual reproduction
b. Cell cycle and its control
c. Steps in mitosis
d. Mitotic errors
7. Meiosis
a. Sexual reproduction
b. Steps in meiosis
c. Meiotic errors
8. Heredity
a. Mendelian genetics
b. Punnet squares
c. Complex inheritance patterns
9. DNA, RNA & Proteins
a. Structure
b. DNA replication
c. Transcription
d. Translation
e. Biotechnology
10. Evolution
a. History and evidence for evolution
b. Natural selection
c. Mechanisms of evolution and speciation
11. Origin of Life & Classification of Organisms
a. Taxonomy
b. Biodiversity
12. Diversity of Life
a. Bacteria
b. Archaea
c. Protists
d. Fungi
e. Plants
f. Animals
g. Humans
13. Ecology
a. Principles of ecology
b. Population dynamics
c. Ecosystems & communities
d. Energy flow & chemical cycling
e. Human impact
Course Content (Laboratory):
1. Scientific Method
2. Microscopes
3. Cell Structure
4. Enzyme Function
5. Osmosis
6. Respiration & Photosynthesis
7. Cell Division (mitosis)
8. Meiosis
9. Inheritance
10. DNA & RNA
11. Evolution and Classification
12. Microbes (Bacteria, Protists, & Fungi)
13. Plant Overview
14. Animal Overview
15. Ecology
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture and discussion.
2. Laboratory exercises.
3. Audio-visual presentations.
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Laboratory exercises
1) Prelab Exercise – identify whether each of the following describes an event in photosynthesis or in cellular respiration. (explain the purpose, products, reactants, and major steps in photosynthesis and cellular respiration)
2) Laboratory Report – sketch a cell of an onion root tip and a whitefish blastula in each stage of mitosis; label the centromere, chromosomes, spindle, and nuclear membrane as appropriate. (explain how a cell functions in terms of cellular division.)
3) Lab Review Exercise – for the following list of organisms that inhabit the chaparral, draw a food web showing who is eaten by whom (draw the arrows from prey to predators). (map the relationship(s) between organisms within an ecosystem in relation to their niche and place in the food chain/web.)
b. Student project or paper(s)
1) Poster on native plants and animals of California – for a single ecosystem within California, create a poster containing the following: description of the location of this ecosystem, photographs and basic life history information on two species of plants and two species of animal native to this ecosystem
2) Current issues in biology – write a one page summary of the Scientific American article “Rewilding the West”. (explain the factors that affect population density and growth rate; map the relationship(s) between organisms within an ecosystem in relation to their niche and place in the food chain/web, describe major environmental concern(s) of our modern world.)
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Quizzes, midterm(s) and final examination
b. Laboratory Exercises
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Biology Essentials, Mader, S.; McGraw Hill, 2006
Introduction to the Science of Biology, Otto, Alex & Lange; Chabot College, 2007
Special Student Materials:
None.
JL revised: 9/20/07