BIOL 122 - Principles of Biology
Description: This course is an introduction to selected concepts and principles
important to an understanding of how biological systems operate. The
importance of scientific methods and processes will be explored.
Biological organization will be studied by examining the chemical,
cellular, organismal and ecological properties that are unique to life.
The diversity and unity of life will be explained in terms of classical
and molecular genetics. 3 hrs./wk. BIOL 122 students see Memory
Strategies classes on pg.? - Optional Enrollment. This course may be
offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM) section, see current credit
schedule for LCOM details. Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required. Prerequisites: NONE Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net Course Fees: NONE Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:
Content Outline & Competencies: I. The Nature of Science and Life
A. The Nature of Science and Life
1. Describe the process of science and how it differs from other
areas of learning.
2. Describe the strengths and weaknesses that are inherent to the
scientific process.
3. List and explain the steps in the scientific method.
4. Distinguish among the following terms and discuss the various
misconceptions associated with their meanings: law, theory, fact, and
hypothesis.
5. Describe the peer-review process for Scientific Journals and why
this makes them a more valid source of factual information than
magazines.
B. Characteristics of Life
1. Name and describe the distinct characteristics of living things.
2. Describe why evolution is considered the major unifying theme in
explaining the diversity and unity of life on earth.
3. Recognize that DNA is the universal genetic language of all
living organisms.
4. Diagram the hierarchy of structural levels that characterize
biological systems and explain the relationships among these levels.
5. Explain how the properties of life emerge from differential
biological organization.
6. Describe the interdependency of producers, consumers, and
decomposers.
7. List the major categories of living things (Kingdoms, Domains,
etc.) and describe the characteristics of each.
II. Chemistry
A. General Chemistry
1. Define matter.
2. Describe the structure of an atom.
3. Differentiate among atoms, ions, and molecules.
4. Differentiate among covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds.
5. Name the 4 elements that are the most abundant in all organisms.
6. Describe how abundant water is in cells and organisms and why it
is so important in life.
7. Describe the molecular structure of a water molecule.
8. Describe how hydrogen bonds form between water molecules and how
this gives water its unique properties.
9. List the characteristics of water that are emergent properties
resulting from hydrogen bonding.
10. Describe the dissociation of water into hydrogen ions and
hydroxide ions and how this influences pH.
11. Describe the pH scale and why it is an important factor in
biological systems.
B. Organic Chemistry
1. Differentiate between organic and inorganic molecules.
2. Describe the connection of organic molecules in your diet, and
synthesis of organic molecules in your cells.
3. Describe in general why carbon forms the backbone of all organic
molecules.
4. Describe the basic structure and function of the 4 major classes
of organic molecules found in living things, and give examples of each.
5. Describe the importance of chemical reactions to maintaining
life.
6. Differentiate between reactants and products in chemical
reactions.
7. Differentiate between dehydration and hydrolysis reactions.
8. Recognize that chemical reactions cannot create or destroy atoms,
but only rearrange them.
III. The Cell
1. Describe the Cell Theory.
2. Discuss how your body can be viewed as a colony of interdependent
cells working together to maintain homeostasis for the colony.
3. Describe the various cell organelles and cellular structures and
their functions in both prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.
4. Differentiate between the structure of a cell and a virus.
5. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
6. Identify the roles of the 4 major classes of organic molecules in
the cell.
7. Identify and describe the different mechanisms of intra-and
extracellular transport within cells and between cells.
IV. Bioenergetics
A. Enzymes and Energy
1. Define metabolism and energy.
2. Compare and contrast the role of catabolic pathways and anabolic
pathways in the energy exchanges of cell metabolism.
3. Differentiate between reduction and oxidation reactions.
4. Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy.
5. Distinguish between open and closed systems.
6. Describe the first two Laws of Thermodynamics as they apply to
living systems.
7. Construct a diagram of energy flow through the biosphere.
8. Recognize that the energy that keeps organisms alive is found
within the chemical bonds between atoms.
9. Differentiate among producers (autotrophs), consumers
(heterotrophs), and decomposers.
10. Describe how ATP powers cellular work.
11. List the 3 separate parts of an ATP molecule and indicate which
of the 4 classes of macromolecules to which each belongs.
12. Describe the ATP/ADP cycle.
13. Describe the structure and function of enzymes.
B. Cellular Respiration
1. Describe the structure of mitochondria.
2. Describe the overall chemical equation for aerobic cellular
respiration, and identify the reactants and products.
3. Outline the major events of glycolysis, Kreb’s Cycle, and
electron transport phosphorylation.
4. Describe how the carbon skeleton of glucose changes during
cellular respiration.
5. Describe the significance of electron movements during
oxidation/reduction reactions.
6. Describe the various ways that electrons are transported within
cells.
7. Compare and contrast aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
C. Photosynthesis
1. Describe the structure of a chloroplast.
2. Describe the overall chemical equation for photosynthesis, and
identify the reactants and products.
3. Outline the major events of the light dependent reactions and the
light independent reactions.
4. Explain the role of photosystems and electron transport systems
in the light dependent steps of photosynthesis.
5. Distinguish between photosynthetic and chemosynthetic
autotrophs.
6. Describe the physical nature of lightwaves, including definitions
of photons and the electromagnetic spectrum in your description.
7. Describe how pigments like chlorophyll absorb and reflect
photons.
8. Describe the function of carbon dioxide and water in
photosynthesis.
9. Explain what plants do with the organic products of
photosynthesis.
10. Describe how photosynthesis moderates the Greenhouse effect.
11. Compare and contrast the chemical reactions of photosynthesis and
cellular respiration.
V. Cell Reproduction
A. Mitosis
1. Describe the basic structure of a chromosome.
2. Describe the various reasons why cell division is necessary.
3. Explain the basic function of mitosis and meiosis.
4. Describe the key events of each phase of the eukaryotic cell
cycle with respect to what happens to the chromosomes.
5. Describe the key events of each phase of mitosis.
6. Differentiate between “normal” cells and cancer cells.
7. Differentiate between diploid and haploid cells.
8. Differentiate between gametes and zygotes.
9. Differentiate between asexual and sexual reproduction especially
with regard to the genetic differences between parents and offspring.
B. Meiosis
1. Define “homologous chromosomes” and describe where they originate
from, and what occurs to them during mitosis and meiosis.
2. Define chromosome, chromatin, chromatid, and centromere.
3. Explain the difference between duplicated and unduplicated
chromosomes.
4. Describe the key events of each phase of Meiosis I and Meiosis
II.
5. Describe how independent assortment, crossing over, and random
fertilization contribute to genetic variation.
6. Differentiate between somatic cells and germ cells.
7. Differentiate between oogenesis and spermatogenesis.
8. Describe the various problems that can occur when mitosis or
meiosis do not occur normally.
9. Describe how errors in meiosis can lead to polyploid species.
10. Discuss how errors in meiosis and mitosis can lead to the
evolution of new species.
VI. Genetics
A. Classical Genetics
1. Describe the contribution of Gregor Mendel to modern genetics.
2. Explain how Mendel’s theory of inheritance differs from a
“blending” model of inheritance.
3. Describe how “incomplete dominance” differs from “blending
inheritance”.
4. Describe the terms gene, allele, locus, genotype, phenotype,
dominant alleles, recessive alleles, and codominant alleles.
5. Describe Mendel’s laws of segregation and of independent
assortment.
6. Demonstrate how to analyze monohybrid and dihybrid crosses using
basic principles of probability.
7. Differentiate among the following types of inheritance: autosomal
recessive, autosomal dominant, and X-linked recessive.
8. Discuss how Mendel’s principles are modified through processes
like mutations, multiple alleles, pleiotrophy, polygenic inheritance,
etc.
9. Describe the chromosomal theory of inheritance.
10. Describe in a general manner the effect of the interactions of
environment and heredity on an individual’s phenotype.
11. Interpret a pedigree chart.
12. Describe how a karyotype is made and its function.
13. Distinguish among nondisjunction, aneuploidy, and polyploidy.
14. Describe how alterations in chromosome structure can occur during
meiosis and the probable effects of these alterations.
15. Solve genetics problems involving one or two autosomal traits and
sex-linkage traits.
16. Describe the inheritance of gender and sex-linked disorders.
17. Explain how a lethal gene (i.e. sickle-cell anemia) can be
maintained within a population.
18. Differentiate between an individual’s genome and the gene pool of
a population.
B. Molecular Genetics
1. Discuss the historical experiments that led scientists to
conclude that DNA was the material that carried genetic information from
generation to generation.
2. Discuss the historical experiments that lead scientists to
elucidate the structure of the DNA molecule.
3. Describe the structure and function of DNA in all living things.
4. Explain the nature of DNA replication as semi-conservative.
5. Explain the basic structure of the chromosome in terms of the DNA
and protein present in the chromosome.
6. Explain how DNA and the three kinds of RNA molecules differ from
each other with respect to their structure and function.
7. Describe the basic steps of transcription and translation.
8. Describe why proteins are so diverse and why this is important
within the context of the complex chemical reactions inside cells.
9. Describe the structure of proteins in terms of their primary,
secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure.
10. Define the terms codon and anticodon.
11. Use the genetic code table to “translate” a sequence of messenger
RNA bases into a polypeptide.
12. Define mutation and distinguish among deletions, duplications,
translocations, and inversions.
13. Describe how mutations can affect the phenotype of organisms.
14. Recognize that mutations are the ultimate source of genetic
variation.
15. Compare and contrast protein synthesis between prokaryotes and
eukaryotes.
16. Discuss the evolutionary significance of a universal genetic
code.
17. Describe gene regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
18. Distinguish between structural and regulatory genes.
19. Describe some of the basic techniques used in genetic engineering
and recombinant DNA research.
20. Discuss the potential positive and negative aspects of genetic
research.
21. Define bacterial plasmids and how they are used to manufacture
human gene products.
22. Describe how restriction enzymes and DNA ligase are used by
bacteria and by genetic engineers.
23. Describe gel electrophoresis and “DNA fingerprinting”.
24. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of “transgenic” or
“genetically modified (GM) organisms”.
25. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of “Gene Therapy”.
26. Describe the ethical issues that are associated with genetic
engineering and recombinant DNA technology.
VII. Evolution
1. Recognize the fact that the concept of evolution was first
conceived by early Greek philosophers more than 2,000 years ago.
2. Explain the main observations that led scientists to accept
evolution as an observational fact of nature.
3. Explain how Darwin’s concept of evolution differed from that of
Lamarck.
4. Describe the contribution of Alfred Wallace and Charles Lyell to
the theory of evolution.
5. Describe in detail how the fossil record, biogeography, plate
tectonics, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, and molecular
biology are used as major pieces of evidence that support the theory of
evolution.
6. Contrast catastrophism and uniformitarianism/gradualism.
7. Describe the evidence for continental drift and explain how it has
played a role in macroevolutionary change.
8. Describe how radiometric dating works.
9. Be able to describe the major events in evolutionary history by
diagramming a geologic time scale of life on earth.
10. Distinguish between analogous and homologous traits.
11. Differentiate among microevolution, speciation and
macroevolution.
12. Define natural selection and give examples where natural
selection has been observed in nature.
13. Explain how evolution may be viewed in terms of changes in the
gene pool of a population.
14. Explain the role of mutations in evolution.
15. Describe how genetic drift, gene flow, non-random mating,
mutations, and natural section can lead to microevolutionary change.
16. Describe the biological species concept and its limitations.
17. Explain how subspecies can be used as evidence that evolution is
currently occurring.
18. Distinguish between allopatric and sympatric speciation.
19. Distinguish between pre- and post zygotic species isolating
mechanisms.
20. Discuss examples that illustrate evolution happening today.
21. Distinguish between artificial and natural selection.
22. Explain how microevolutionary change can affect a gene pool.
23. Explain why the population is the smallest biological unit that
can evolve.
24. Distinguish between the scientific and common use of the word
“theory”.
25. Describe the evolution of a polyploid species like wheat.
26. Differentiate between the “gradualist” models and the “punctuated
equilibrium” models and discuss their validity.
27. Describe the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg formula and
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
28. Explain how patterns of extinction can affect the evolution of
surviving forms.
29. Describe how resistance develops in bacteria, weeds, insects,
etc.
30. Describe the evidence that indicates single celled life forms
originated from chemical evolution and when it occurred.
31. Describe the evidence that indicates multicellular life forms
originated from single celled life forms and when it occurred.
32. Describe the evidence that indicates that oxygen was not present
in the earth’s early atmosphere and why oxygen later became abundant.
33. Using the concept of oxidation-reduction reactions, explain why
chemical evolution is not likely to produce any new protocells/precells
today.
34. Discuss the endosymbiosis theory for the evolution of
eukaryotes.
35. Describe the significance of the DNA that is found in
mitochondria and chloroplasts and how it relates to the DNA in the
nucleus.
VIII. Diversity of Life/Classification
1. Discuss the reasons for having a classification system in
biology.
2. Distinguish between systematics and taxonomy.
3. Describe the Linnaean system of binomial nomenclature
4. Compare and contrast the 5-kingdom scheme of classification with
the 3-domain classification scheme.
5. Discuss the relationship between modern classification schemes and
macroevolution.
6. Describe the main characteristics of each of the kingdoms of
life.
7. Enumerate how many species have actually been counted on earth
today and how many species there might actually be.
8. Discuss the reasons for the difference in the actual number of
species alive and the estimate of species that are alive today.
9. Discuss the importance for life on earth of representative
organisms from each kingdom and their “practical” and “environmental”
significance.
10. Compare and contrast each of the kingdoms in terms of cell
structure and characteristic adaptations found among the members of each
kingdom.
11. List and describe the structural components of a typical virus.
12. Discuss the basic mechanisms by which viruses replicate.
13. Describe how a virus recognizes the host cell and why a virus is
host specific.
14. List characteristics that viruses share with living organisms and
explain why viruses do not fit the usual definition of life.
15. Differentiate between prokaryotic chromosomes and eukaryotic
chromosomes.
16. Describe how genetic recombination occurs in bacteria.
17. Explain how bacterial conjugation differs from sexual reproduction
in eukaryotic organisms.
18. Describe the diversity of the structure, nutritional habits, and
reproductive habits of prokaryotes.
19. Recognize the fact that not all bacteria are pathogens and many
are useful ecologically, medically, and industrially.
20. Describe the evolutionary history of prokaryotes.
21. Describe the evolutionary history of protists.
22. Describe the diversity of the structure, nutritional habits, and
reproductive habits of the protists.
23. Differentiate between unicellular, colonial, and multicellular
life styles.
24. Describe the medical and ecological impact of protists.
25. Describe the evolutionary history of plants.
26. Describe the diversity of the structures, nutritional habits, and
reproductive habits of plants.
27. Describe the anatomy and physiology of an angiosperm flower and
discuss why the flower is the main reason that angiosperms are the most
abundant type of plant on earth today.
28. Describe the agricultural, ecological, medical, and industrial
impact of plants.
29. Describe the evolutionary history of fungi.
30. Describe the structure, nutritional habits, and reproductive
habits of fungi.
31. Describe the ecological, industrial, and medical impact of fungi.
32. Give examples of symbiotic fungal associations.
33. Describe the evolutionary history of animals.
34. Describe the structures, nutritional habits, and reproductive
habits of animals.
35. Describe the agricultural, ecological, medical, and industrial
impact of animals.
IX. Ecology
1. Define population, carrying capacity, biotic potential,
exponential growth, and logistic growth.
2. Describe the history of human population growth.
3. Describe the “Demographic Transition” model.
4. Differentiate between population growth in More Developed
Countries and Less Developed Countries.
5. Describe how a populations’ age structure influences population
growth.
6. In a general manner discuss the social, economic, and political
problems associated with regulating the human population.
7. Distinguish between density dependent and density independent
factors that influence population growth.
8. Differentiate between the common use of the word ecology and the
science of ecology.
9. Define habitat, community, ecological niche, ecological
succession, coevolution, keystone species, resource partitioning, and
competitive exclusion.
10. Discuss the problems associated with “introduced species”.
11. Discuss the types of interactions among organisms in a community
12. Discuss the structure of ecosystems including abiotic and biotic
factors.
13. Describe the major environmental factors that dictate the
community structure of the biomes.
14. Describe the physical aspects of the earth that influence
seasons, global air circulation, precipitation, winds, and ocean
climates.
15. Describe the major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
16. Describe various symbiotic relationships between species and
discuss how this is an example of co-evolution.
17. Differentiate between primary and secondary succession.
18. Define biomass, primary productivity, and biological
magnification.
19. Define the main trophic levels.
20. Trace the flow of energy through ecosystems.
21. Describe how the Second Law of Thermodynamics influences the
shape of the ecological pyramids.
22. Describe the various biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems.
23. Define biodiversity and explain why biodiversity is important for
human survival.
24. Describe the main causes of the loss of biodiversity.
25. Describe ecological changes brought about by human activities
locally and planet-wide.
26. Describe how understanding ecological concepts can help minimize
ecological problems.
Methods of Evaluation of Competencies: Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods: Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be
accomplished using the following methods: At least 3 exams covering course
content. The exams over the course content will be worth at least 80% of
the class grade. If more than 4 tests are given and other designated
criteria are met, one test may be dropped at the instructor’s discretion.
Each student may be required to complete additional material (quizzes,
extra reading, written work, oral reports, class discussions, etc.) as
determined by the instructor. The additional material will not count more
than 20% of the total grade. Grades will be based on a percentage of the
total number of points allowed in the class. The following grading
criteria will be used to assess the letter grade:
Grading Criteria:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = 0% - 59%
Computer Literacy Expectations: Students will need basic word processing
and Internet searching skills for the completion of some papers,
exercises, and projects.
Caveats:
Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged. JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center. |
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