1 Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the molecular and cellular basis of life, the theory of evolution and the diversity of microscopic organisms. Four hours of lecture and a two-hour lab session are required each week.
1.1 Learning Objectives
Identify the basic characteristics of life and outline the theories that attempt to explain the origin of life, as we know it and define it, on the planet Earth.
Identify some basic chemical concepts and apply them to the structure and biological processes that occur in living cells.
Identify cell parts, and demonstrate understanding of their related functions. Identify similarities and differences in the structure of viruses, prokaryotic cells, and eukaryotic cells
Explain the significance of enzymes, coenzymes, and ATP, and to identify the main events, products and significance of the processes of cell respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis
Understand, explain, and contrast the processes of mitosis, meiosis, and binary fission in terms of their physical differences and their genetic and evolutionary significance. Explain the process of viral replication
Identify the structural parts of DNA and RNA, and understand how DNA directs the activities of a cell through protein synthesis, including some examples of how this process is regulated
Demonstrate understanding of how genes are passed from one generation to the next by completing representative genetic problems and explaining/applying genetic concepts
Demonstrate understanding of the three Domains of Life (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya) and viruses. Identify some of the distinguishing characteristics of each domain and the viruses
Learn and apply the laboratory skills associated with the objectives listed above
Explain the basic concepts of biology in written and oral form
Apply the concepts learned to better understand the biological world, and the problems that affect human society