Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 General Catalog 
    
2022-2023 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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BIO 102 - Introductory Biology


Last Date of Approval: Fall 2021

3 Credits
Total Lecture Hours: 45
Total Lab Hours: 0
Total Clinical Hours: 0
Total Work-Based Experience Hours: 0

Course Description:
An introduction to the science of biology. This course is designed for students who are not majoring in biology or health related fields. Topics include scientific method, diversity of life, genetics, ecology and evolution. This course will help students refine their critical thinking skills as they evaluate various topics and concepts while searching for underlying connections between the concepts, which is a skill that should be beneficial in any/all types of careers. This course will also help students gain scientific literacy which will be of vital significance when making important life decisions. This course satisfies a general education requirement in the Math/Science area. Three hours lecture.

Prerequisites/Corequisites: None

Mode(s) of Instruction: Traditional/face-to-face and/or online

Credit for Prior Learning: There are no Credit for Prior Learning opportunities for this course.

Course Fees: None

Common Course Assessment(s): None

Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will evaluate the theory of evolution.
2. Students will interpret the structure and function of living systems.
3. Students will examine information flow, exchange, and storage within a living system.
4. Students will compare and contrast pathways and transformations of energy and
matter within living systems.
5. Students will evaluate emergent properties of living systems at various levels.

Course Objectives:

Unit 1: The Scientific Approach to Understanding Biology

Objective 1: Describe and utilize the scientific process.
Objective 2: Identify characteristics of life.
Objective 3: Identify characteristics of the biological hierarchy.
Objective 4: Differentiate between the following terms: hypothesis and theory, science and pseudoscience.

Unit 2: Basic Chemistry and Metabolism

Objective 1: Define and evaluate the basic principles of chemistry.
Objective 2: Describe and distinguish the major macromolecules.
Objective 3: Describe how enzymes function and affect metabolic pathways.
Objective 4: Analyze photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Unit 3: Cellular Structures and Processes

Objective 1: Compare and contrast prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Objective 2: Describe cell organelle functions.
Objective 3: Describe and differentiate mitosis and meiosis.
Objective 4: Describe the principles of cell theory.
Objective 5: Summarize the stages of the cell cycle.

Unit 4: Genetics and DNA

Objective 1: Describe the basic structure and function of DNA.
Objective 2: Describe the steps and significance of the Central Dogma of biology.
Objective 3: Express probability outcomes of genetic crosses.
Objective 4: Describe Mendelian genetics, autosomal vs. sex-linked inheritance, complex inheritance patterns, and implications of mutations and genetic diseases.
Objective 5: Describe techniques used by genetic engineers.

Unit 5: Evolution

Objective 1: Describe various evidences of evolution.
Objective 2: List and describe the mechanisms of evolution.
Objective 3: Evaluate evolutionary theory.

Unit 6: Ecology

Objective 1: Describe the levels of ecological organization.
Objective 2: Compare growth patterns found in populations.
Objective 3: Describe factors responsible for extinction.
Objective 4: Evaluate the significance of carrying capacity.
Objective 5: Examine the potential implications of ecological damage.



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