BIO103 (101): Cellular and Organismal Biology – Syllabus and Study Guide

Course Overview

Introduction to BIO103 (101): Cellular and Organismal Biology

This course provides a general introduction to biology, focusing on cellular and organismal levels. It covers the scientific method, basic chemistry of life, cell structure and function, genetics, and selected topics in human biology, cancer, and medicine. The course is designed for students in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

• Credits: 3

• Lecture Hours: 45

• Lab Hours: 45

• Attendance: Mandatory for both lab and lecture

• Instructor: Laura H. Graham, PhD

• Required Textbook: Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections (ETAD Mastering Biology, 8th Edition)

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon Successful Completion, Students Will Be Able To:

• Describe properties common to all life, emphasizing levels of biological organization from molecules to the biosphere.

• Explain the scientific method, including differences between inductive and deductive reasoning in scientific investigations.

• Describe fundamentals of chemistry, including atoms, molecules, and their associated subatomic particles and chemical bonds.

• Describe the special properties of water that make it vital to living systems.

• Describe how monomers and polymers form the four main classes of carbon-based macromolecules important to life.

• Describe the general cell types and structures of plant and animal cells.

• Describe diffusion, osmosis, and passive/active transport across cell membranes.

• Describe how enzymes speed up chemical reactions and the impact of competitive and non-competitive inhibitors.

• Describe the stages of the cell cycle, including how cancerous cells differ from healthy cells.

• Describe the phases of mitosis and meiosis, including the events and characteristics of each phase.

• Explain the process of nondisjunction in autosomes or sex chromosomes during meiosis and its results in genetic disorders.

• Distinguish between homozygous and heterozygous dominant and recessive alleles; genotype and phenotype.

• Apply the concepts of Mendelian genetics to solving monohybrid and dihybrid cross Punnett squares.

• Explain how recessive and dominant disorders are inherited and describe inheritance patterns.

• Describe the process of DNA replication, transcription, and translation, as well as the major types of mutations and their impact on genetic expression and organisms.

• Distinguish between genetically modified organisms and transgenic organisms.

• Explain how mutations, carcinogens, and cancer suppressor genes contribute to cancer development.

• Solve biological problems by making observations, calculations, plotting graphs, manipulating models, interpreting and critiquing experiments, identifying structures, and producing scientific diagrams.

Course Topics and Schedule

Weekly Breakdown of Topics

The following table outlines the main topics covered each week, along with corresponding chapters from the required textbook.

Week	Date	Topic	Textbook Chapter(s)
1	Sept 3	Introduction to course	1
2	Sept 8/10	Introduction to Biology; Chemistry, chemistry of water	2, 3
3	Sept 15/17	Carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins	3, 4
4	Sept 22/24	Cell structures and functions	4
5	Sept 29/Oct 1	Cell structures and functions	4
6	Oct 6/8	ATP, enzymes, role of vitamins	5
7	Oct 13/15	Cell cycle and mitosis	8
8	Oct 20/22	Cell cycle control and cancer	11
9	Oct 27/29	Meiosis; Mendelian genetics	8, 9
10	Nov 3/5	Patterns of inheritance; Punnett squares	9
11	Nov 10/12	DNA replication, transcription, translation	10
12	Nov 17	DNA technology and genomics	12
13	Nov 24/26	Human genetics and cancer; DNA technology and genomics	11, 12
14	Dec 1	Cumulative review	All

Additional info: Not all sections of each chapter are covered; refer to lecture notes and assigned readings for specifics.

Assessment and Grading

Student Evaluation Breakdown

Component	Weight
Lab (BIO103L) – attendance required	25%
Midterms (in class)	25%
Online Quizzes (4)	15%
Final Exam (cumulative)	35%
Total	100%

Note: You must pass both the lab (BIO103L) and lecture (BIO103) to pass the course.

Letter Grade Percentages

Grade	Percentage
A+	90% - 100%
A	85% - 89.9%
A-	80% - 84.9%
B+	76% - 79.9%
B	72% - 75.9%
B-	68% - 71.9%
C+	64% - 67.9%
C	60% - 63.9%
C-	55% - 59.9%
F	0% - 54.9%

Key Academic Policies

Attendance and Conduct

• Lab attendance is mandatory. Missing three labs results in an incomplete grade (INC).

• Academic honesty: Students must conduct themselves with integrity and follow CNC policies.

• Communication: All email communication must include the course code in the subject line and use the CNC email address.

Accessibility and Support

• Accessibility services and academic concessions are available for students with documented needs.

• Additional support is available at the Prince George campus for accessibility, counseling, Aboriginal student services, and academic advising.

Additional Info

• Transfer agreements exist for this course to universities and colleges in BC.

• Refer to the B.C. University Transfer Guide for more details.

Summary Table: Main Topics and Concepts

Main Topic	Key Concepts
Chemistry of Life	Atoms, molecules, water properties, macromolecules
Cell Structure and Function	Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells, organelles, membranes
Cell Processes	Diffusion, osmosis, transport, enzymes, ATP
Cell Division	Mitosis, meiosis, cell cycle, cancer
Genetics	Mendelian inheritance, Punnett squares, DNA replication, transcription, translation
Human Biology and Disease	Genetic disorders, cancer, biotechnology

Key Definitions and Examples

• Atom: The basic unit of a chemical element.

• Molecule: Two or more atoms bonded together.

• Macromolecule: Large molecules essential for life, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

• Enzyme: Biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions.

• Diffusion: Movement of molecules from high to low concentration.

• Osmosis: Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

• Mitosis: Cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells.

• Meiosis: Cell division producing gametes with half the chromosome number.

• Punnett Square: Diagram used to predict the outcome of genetic crosses.

• DNA Replication: Process by which DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division.

Sample Equations and Diagrams

• Photosynthesis Equation: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$

• Cellular Respiration Equation: $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{energy}$

• Mendelian Genetics (Monohybrid Cross): $\text{Genotype Ratio:} \quad 1:2:1$ $\text{Phenotype Ratio:} \quad 3:1$

Additional info: These notes are based on the official syllabus and schedule for BIO103 (101) at the College of New Caledonia. For detailed study, refer to lecture notes, assigned readings, and the required textbook.