General Biology I: Course Syllabus and Study Guide

Course Overview

Introduction to General Biology I

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of biology, including biochemistry, cell structure and function, genetics, physiology, and evolution. It is designed for students pursuing health sciences or those seeking a foundational understanding of biological concepts.

• Course Code: BIOL 189

• Textbook: Campbell Biology (Custom Package for CSN)

• Lecture and Laboratory: 3 hours of lecture, 3 hours of lab per week

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Key Goals for Students

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Evaluate the process of scientific inquiry and the properties of life.

• Compare and contrast the properties of different major classes of biologically important molecules.

• Integrate basic properties and structure of cells with the functions of cellular organelles.

• Summarize the structural make-up of biological membranes and explain how structure relates to membrane transport and energy function.

• Appraise the unique organization and basic thermodynamics as they apply to cellular energetics.

• Assess and compare the basic principles of cell division for somatic and germinal reproduction.

• Evaluate the processes of cell signaling and communication.

• Review and evaluate the principles of genetics and discuss qualities in traits with inheritance.

• Summarize molecular genetic processes including DNA replication, gene expression (transcription, translation) and regulation of gene expression, and apply these processes to cell function, growth and differentiation.

• Distinguish the structure and function of human tissue types and histologically identify the differing tissues.

Course Schedule

Weekly Topics and Assignments

The following table outlines the weekly topics, assignments, and corresponding chapters from the Campbell Biology textbook.

Week	Date	Lecture Topic	Assignment Due	Textbook Chapters
1	Aug 25	Course Description and Study Techniques	Ch 1 HW	Chapter 1.1–1.4
2	Aug 27	Introduction to Life	Ch 1 HW	Chapter 1.1–1.4
3	Aug 31	Labor Day – No class
4	Sept 1	Chemistry – Atomic Structure	Discussion 1	Chapter 2.1–2.3
5	Sept 3	Chemistry – Bonds and Chemical Reactions	Ch 2 HW/Quiz 1	Chapter 2.4–2.5
6	Sept 8	Chemistry – Water, Acids, Bases, & Buffers	Ch 3 HW/Quiz 1	Chapter 3.1–3.2
7	Sept 10	Organic Chemistry		Chapter 4
8	Sept 15	EXAM 1 (Ch 1–4)
9	Sept 17	Macromolecules – Carbohydrates and Lipids		Chapter 5.1–5.3
10	Sept 22	Macromolecules – Proteins	Discussion 2	Chapter 5.4
11	Sept 24	Macromolecules – Nucleic acids		Chapter 5.5
12	Sept 29	Cell Structure and Function; Bacteria	Ch 6 HW	Chapter 6.1–6.3, 27.1
13	Oct 1	Cell Structure and Function		Chapter 6.4–6.7
14	Oct 6	Membrane Structure	Ch 7 HW	Chapter 7.1–7.3
15	Oct 8	Membrane Function – Transport	Ch 7 HW/Quiz 2	Chapter 7.4–7.5
16	Oct 13	EXAM 2 (Ch 5, 6, 7)
17	Oct 15	Introduction to Metabolism		Chapter 8
18	Oct 20	Cellular Respiration – Glycolysis, Pyruvate	Ch 9 HW	Chapter 9.1–9.3
19	Oct 22	Cellular Respiration – Electron Transport Chain, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Fermentation	Ch 9 HW/Quiz 3	Chapter 9.4–9.6
20	Oct 27	DNA Structure and Replication	Ch 16 HW	Chapter 16.1–16.2
21	Oct 29	Cell Cycle, Mitosis, Apoptosis & Cancer		Chapter 12.1–12.5, 18.5, 20.3
22	Nov 3	EXAM 3 (Ch 8, 9, 12, 15.4, 16, 18.5, 20.3)
23	Nov 5	Meiosis		Chapter 13
24	Nov 10	Inheritance – Mendelian Genetics	Ch 14 HW	Chapter 14.1–14.3
25	Nov 12	Inheritance – Human and Bacterial Genetics	Ch 15 HW	Chapter 15.1–15.3, 27.2
26	Nov 17	From Gene to Protein – Transcription	Ch 17 HW	Chapter 17.1–17.3
27	Nov 19	From Gene to Protein – Translation/mutations	Ch 17 HW/Quiz 4	Chapter 17.4–17.5
28	Nov 24	EXAM 4 (Ch 13, 14, 15, 17, 27.3)
29	Dec 1	Virus/Final Exam Review	Ch 19 HW	Chapter 19
30	Dec 3	Final Exam

Grading Policy

Lecture and Laboratory Grading Breakdown

Item	Points Each	Number	Total	Portion (Total)
Lecture exams	100	4	400
Final exam	110	1	110
Online quizzes	10	10	100
Homework (HW)	10	10	100
Discussions	5	4	20
In-class assignments	2	10	20
Lecture videos viewing HW	2	10	20
Lecture Total				600 (75%)
Lab Total				200 (25%)
Course Total				800

Major Topics Covered

Summary of Key Concepts

• Scientific Inquiry: Understanding the scientific method and experimental design.

• Biochemistry: Structure and function of atoms, molecules, and chemical reactions in biological systems.

• Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids; their roles in cellular structure and function.

• Cell Structure and Function: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, organelles, and membrane transport.

• Metabolism: Cellular respiration, fermentation, and energy transformation.

• Genetics: Mendelian inheritance, DNA replication, gene expression, and mutations.

• Cell Division: Mitosis, meiosis, and the cell cycle.

• Viruses: Structure, replication, and impact on living organisms.

Laboratory Component

Lab Requirements and Assessment

• Attendance and participation in lab sessions are mandatory.

• Lab assignments and practical assessments contribute 25% to the final grade.

• Lab topics include microscopy, cell structure, macromolecule analysis, and genetics experiments.

Assignments and Exams

Types of Assessments

• Homework: Chapter-based assignments to reinforce lecture material.

• Quizzes: Online quizzes to test recall and understanding of key concepts.

• Exams: Four lecture exams and a comprehensive final exam.

• Discussions: Participation in online and in-class discussions for deeper engagement.

• In-Class Assignments: Short activities to apply concepts during lectures.

Technology and Online Resources

Accessing Course Materials

• Course materials are available via Canvas and Access Pearson platforms.

• Dynamic Study Modules and online homework are required for each textbook chapter.

• Lecture videos and supplementary resources are provided online.

Additional Info

• Students are expected to check Canvas regularly for updates and announcements.

• Office hours and instructor contact information are provided for academic support.

• Special accommodations are available for students with documented needs.