General Biology I Syllabus and Study Guide

General Biology I: Course Syllabus and Study Guide

Course Overview

This course provides an introduction to the biological sciences, covering topics such as ecology, Darwinian evolution, population genetics, speciation, the origin of life, animal form and function, animal behavior, and biological conservation. It is designed for students intending to major in biology, life sciences, or environmental science.

• Instructor: Dr. Soraya Meim Banital

• Lecture Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 – 9:50 AM

• Location: Blocker Auditorium 201

• Course Assistants: Alec Gordon, Marleigh Breitwieser

• Course Prerequisite: None

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the process of scientific method.

2. Understand fundamental principles of ecology, including community interactions, energy flow/nutrient cycling, interactions with the environment, conservation biology, and animal behavior.

3. Understand the mechanisms and principles of evolution, including natural selection, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, speciation, and cladistics.

4. Understand how structure is linked to function at the tissue, organ, and organ system levels, to promote homeostasis within organisms.

Major Topics and Chapters

The following topics are covered throughout the semester, with corresponding textbook chapters:

• Scientific Method and Theory of Evolution (Ch. 1, 22)

• Natural Selection and Population Genetics (Ch. 23)

• Species Concept, Speciation, Phylogeny (Ch. 24-26)

• Cladistics (Ch. 41-42)

• Animal Form and Function (Ch. 41, 42, 44)

• Osmoregulation, Nervous System, Muscles (Ch. 48-50)

• Animal Behavior (Ch. 51)

• Population Ecology, Community Ecology (Ch. 53-54)

• Restoration Ecology, Conservation (Ch. 55-56)

Grading Breakdown

Grades are determined by exams, homework, quizzes, lab activities, and attendance.

Assessment	Percentage
Exam 1	10%
Exam 2	10%
Exam 3	10%
Final Exam (Cumulative)	18%
Reading Homework	16%
Mastering Biology Quizzes	16%
Cladistics Lab	7%
Museum/Zoo/Web Activity	7%
Animal Behavior Lab	7%
Lecture Attendance	7%
Total	100%

Grading Scale

Grade	Percentage
A	93-100
A-	90-92
B+	87-89
B	83-86
B-	80-82
C+	77-79
C	73-76
C-	70-72
D+	67-69
D	63-66
F	62 or lower

Assignments and Exams

• Exams: Three in-class exams and one cumulative final exam.

• Homework: Reading assignments and Mastering Biology quizzes due weekly.

• Labs: Cladistics, Museum/Zoo/Web Activity, Animal Behavior Lab.

• Attendance: Required for all lectures; more than three absences will impact your grade.

Textbook and Materials

• Textbook: Modified Mastering Biology with Pearson eText for Campbell Biology 12th Edition, ISBN 9780136780809.

• Online Platform: Blackboard is used for posting grades, assignments, and course materials.

Course Policies

• Pass/Fail and Withdrawal: Follow university deadlines for pass/fail and withdrawal options.

• Exam Absences: Excused absences require documentation; make-up exams must be scheduled within a week.

• Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated.

• AI Policy: Use of AI tools for assignments is prohibited except for spelling and grammar checks.

• Video/Photo Recording: Recordings of class require instructor and student consent.

Weekly Schedule and Topics

Week	Topics	Chapter	Homework Due	Quiz Due
Aug. 25	Intro to class, Scientific method, Theory of evolution	1, 22	Introduction to Mastering Biology	No Quiz
Sept. 1	Natural Selection, Population genetics	23	Chapter 1	Chap. 1 & 22
Sept. 8	Species concept, Speciation, Phylogeny	24-25	Chapter 2	Chap. 23, 24
Sept. 15	Phylogenies, Animal structure	26, 40	Chapter 3	Chap. 25, 26, 40
Sept. 22	Cladistics exercise	41-42	Chapter 41	No Quiz
Sept. 29	Circulation, Gas exchange, Nutrition, Circulation	42, 44	Chapter 42	Chap. 41, 42, 44
Oct. 6	Osmoregulation, Nervous System	48	Chapter 48	Chap. 44, 48, 49
Oct. 13	Nerves, Nervous System	48-49	Chapter 49	Chap. 49, 50 (sensory)
Oct. 20	Sensory, Muscle function	50	Chapter 50	Chap. 50 (sensory)
Oct. 27	Muscles, Immune system	51	Chapter 51	Chap. 51
Nov. 3	Reproduction, Animal behavior	46, 51	Chapter 46	Chap. 46, 51
Nov. 10	Animal Behavior	51	Chapter 51	No Quiz
Nov. 17	Population ecology, Community ecology	53-54	Chapter 53	Chap. 52, 53, 54
Nov. 24	Restoration ecology, Conservation	55-56	Chapter 55	Chap. 55, 56
Dec. 1	Restoration ecology, Conservation	55-56	Chapter 56	Chap. 56, 55

Key Terms and Concepts

• Scientific Method: A systematic approach to research involving observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and analysis.

• Evolution: The process by which populations of organisms change over generations through mechanisms such as natural selection and genetic drift.

• Natural Selection: The differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype.

• Population Genetics: The study of genetic variation within populations and how it changes over time.

• Speciation: The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

• Phylogeny: The evolutionary history and relationships among species.

• Cladistics: A method of classifying species based on common ancestry.

• Homeostasis: The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism.

• Ecology: The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

• Conservation Biology: The study and protection of biodiversity.

Important Equations

• Hardy-Weinberg Equation:

  • $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$

  • $p + q = 1$

• Population Growth Rate:

  • $r = \frac{\Delta N}{N \Delta t}$

Additional Info

• Students not intending to major in biology should take BIO 100 or BIO 150 instead of this course.

• Course includes online homework and quizzes via Mastering Biology and Blackboard.

• Support is available through the Learning Center and course assistants.