BackBIOL 225 – Form and Function of Organisms: Syllabus and Course Structure Overview
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BIOL 225 – Form and Function of Organisms
Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the morphological, anatomical, and physiological adaptations that enable animals and plants to survive and reproduce. It integrates evolutionary principles with detailed study of organ systems in both animals and plants, emphasizing the relationship between structure and function.
Animal Section: Explores evolutionary origins, diversity, and the architecture of animal phyla, followed by in-depth analysis of all major organ systems.
Plant Section: Begins with plant evolutionary history, then examines plant structure, growth, nutrient acquisition, reproduction, and responses to environmental stimuli.
Course-Level Learning Outcomes
Animal Form and Function:
Identify features and functions of mammalian organ systems.
Apply principles such as osmotic pressure, heat transfer, diffusion, and bulk flow to organ system function.
Compare organ systems across different animal phyla.
Plant Form and Function:
Integrate knowledge of plant growth and structure with fluid transport, resource acquisition, and sexual reproduction.
Describe the soil microbiome and its role in plant nutrition.
Explain how plant hormones mediate responses to external stimuli for optimal resource acquisition.
Course Structure and Weekly Topics
The course is organized into weekly lessons, each focusing on a major theme in animal or plant biology. Assessments include quizzes, a project, a midterm, and a final exam.
Week | Lesson Topic | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|
1 | Animal diversity & basic principles of animal form and function | Evolutionary origins, diversity, and fundamental concepts of animal structure and function |
2 | Animal nutrition and the digestive organ system | Mechanisms of food processing and nutrient absorption |
3 | Circulatory and respiratory systems | Transport of fluids and gases in animals |
4 | Immune and excretory systems | Defense mechanisms and waste elimination |
5 | Endocrine and reproductive systems | Chemical signaling and reproduction |
6 | Nervous system | Electrical signaling and information processing |
7 | Diversity of the plant kingdom | Evolution and classification of plants |
8 | Plant structure and fluid transport | Organization of plant tissues and mechanisms of water/nutrient movement |
9 | Plant nutrition and soil microbe interactions | Plant-mineral relationships and symbiosis with soil organisms |
10 | Plant reproduction | Mechanisms of sexual and asexual reproduction in plants |
11 | Plant responses to stimuli | Hormonal regulation and environmental responses |
Assessment Overview
Weekly Quizzes (15%): Ten quizzes (best 8 count), covering weekly lesson content.
Project (25%): "Form and Function – The Missing Links" project, including a video presentation, self-evaluation, and peer feedback.
Midterm Exam (20%): In-person, covering Lessons 1–6 (animal form and function).
Final Exam (40%): In-person, cumulative (Lessons 1–11).
Grading Scale
Letter Grade | Percentage (%) | Letter Grade | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 90 to 100 | C | 64 to 66.9 |
A | 85 to 89.9 | C- | 60 to 63.9 |
A- | 80 to 84.9 | D+ | 57 to 59.9 |
B+ | 77 to 79.9 | D | 54 to 56.9 |
B | 74 to 76.9 | D- | 50 to 53.9 |
B- | 70 to 73.9 | F | Less than 50.9 |
C+ | 67 to 69.9 |
Key Topics and Concepts (by Lesson)
Lesson 1: Animal Diversity & Principles of Form and Function
Animal Diversity: Survey of major animal phyla, evolutionary relationships, and body plans.
Principles of Form and Function: How physical laws (e.g., diffusion, surface area to volume ratio) constrain and shape animal structure.
Example: The relationship between body shape and modes of locomotion in aquatic vs. terrestrial animals.
Lesson 2: Animal Nutrition and Digestive Systems
Food Processing: Ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.
Digestive System Diversity: Comparison of digestive tract adaptations in herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Key Principle: Enzyme specificity and compartmentalization of digestion.
Lesson 3: Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
Circulatory Systems: Open vs. closed systems; heart structure and function.
Respiratory Systems: Gas exchange mechanisms (gills, lungs, tracheae).
Key Equation: Fick's Law of Diffusion:
Lesson 4: Immune and Excretory Systems
Immune System: Innate and adaptive immunity; cellular and humoral responses.
Excretory System: Mechanisms of osmoregulation and nitrogenous waste elimination (ammonia, urea, uric acid).
Example: The nephron as the functional unit of the vertebrate kidney.
Lesson 5: Endocrine and Reproductive Systems
Endocrine System: Hormone signaling pathways; feedback regulation.
Reproductive Systems: Sexual and asexual reproduction; reproductive strategies across taxa.
Key Principle: Homeostasis maintained by hormonal control (e.g., blood glucose regulation).
Lesson 6: Nervous System
Neural Structure: Organization of neurons and glial cells.
Electrical Signaling: Action potentials and synaptic transmission.
Key Equation: Nernst Equation for membrane potential:
Lesson 7: Diversity of the Plant Kingdom
Plant Evolution: Major plant groups (bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms) and their adaptations.
Classification: Key features distinguishing plant lineages.
Lesson 8: Plant Structure and Fluid Transport
Plant Tissues: Dermal, vascular, and ground tissues; organization of roots, stems, and leaves.
Transport Mechanisms: Xylem and phloem function; transpiration and cohesion-tension theory.
Key Equation: Water potential:
Lesson 9: Plant Nutrition and Soil Microbe Interactions
Essential Nutrients: Macronutrients and micronutrients required for plant growth.
Soil Microbiome: Role of mycorrhizae and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nutrient acquisition.
Example: Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis for nitrogen fixation.
Lesson 10: Plant Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction: Alternation of generations; flower structure and pollination mechanisms.
Asexual Reproduction: Clonal propagation and vegetative reproduction.
Lesson 11: Plant Responses to Stimuli
Plant Hormones: Auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid.
Tropisms: Phototropism, gravitropism, thigmotropism.
Signal Transduction: How plants perceive and respond to environmental cues.
Additional Information
Academic Integrity: Adherence to university policies is required.
Accessibility: Accommodations available through the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities.
Course Materials: Main textbook is Campbell Biology, 4th Canadian Edition.
Communication: Use course website and official email for all correspondence.
Additional info: The syllabus provides a framework for topics that align closely with core chapters in introductory biology, including animal and plant physiology, evolution, and ecological interactions. The course emphasizes the integration of structure and function, a central theme in biological sciences.
