BIOL 101 General Biology

This course provides a foundation in the principles of biology. Topics include characteristics of living organisms, basic chemistry, organic chemistry, cellular structure, metabolism, DNA, genetics, and molecular biology. In the laboratory, students will learn biological techniques such as basic microscopy, DNA fingerprinting, and animal dissections. Credit will only be granted for one of the following: BIOL 101 or BIOL 141.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 138 or higher

Hours Weekly

3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab

Course Objectives

1. Communicate biological concepts using appropriate symbols, notations, and vocabulary.
2. Apply appropriate scientific processes to solve problems related to general biology concepts and analyze, evaluate, justify, and interpret the reasonableness of the solutions.
3. Develop a strong foundation of basic biological principles and relate principles of chemistry and biochemistry to cell structure and function.
4. Explain the basic principles of metabolism.
5. Describe the events that take place during the cell cycle and its significance to human genetics.
6. Identify the structure and function of DNA and describe the processes of replication, transcription, translation, and mutagenesis.

Course Objectives

1. Communicate biological concepts using appropriate symbols, notations, and vocabulary.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Final exam

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric
   • Final Exam Answer Key

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR1
2. Apply appropriate scientific processes to solve problems related to general biology concepts and analyze, evaluate, justify, and interpret the reasonableness of the solutions.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Final exam

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric
   • Final Exam Answer Key

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR2
   • SR3
3. Develop a strong foundation of basic biological principles and relate principles of chemistry and biochemistry to cell structure and function.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam Question

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam answer key
4. Explain the basic principles of metabolism.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam question

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam answer key
5. Describe the events that take place during the cell cycle and its significance to human genetics.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam question

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam answer key
6. Identify the structure and function of DNA and describe the processes of replication, transcription, translation, and mutagenesis.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam question

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam answer key