General Biology Course Syllabus Overview

This syllabus outlines the main units, textbook chapters, and laboratory activities for a college-level General Biology course. The course is structured into six major units, each focusing on foundational biological concepts and hands-on laboratory experiences.

Unit 1: Scientific Method / Academic Vocabulary

This unit introduces students to the scientific method and essential academic vocabulary used in biology. Emphasis is placed on experimental design and data analysis.

• Duration: 9 days (8/8–8/21)

• Textbook Chapters: 1, 2, 21

• Lab Activities:

  • Reaction Time

  • Animal Behavior

  • Skittles Chi Square

Key Points:

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

• Chi Square Test: A statistical method used to determine if observed data fits an expected distribution.

• Example: The Skittles Chi Square lab uses colored candies to teach statistical analysis of categorical data.

Unit 2: Chemistry Basics / Biochemistry

This unit covers the chemical foundations of life, including atomic structure, chemical bonding, and the properties of water, as well as the structure and function of biological macromolecules.

• Duration: 17 days (8/22–9/16)

• Textbook Chapters: 2–3

• Lab Activities:

  • Properties of Water Lab

  • Molecular Models Lab

  • pH Lab

  • Enzyme Simulations

  • Enzyme Activity Lab

Key Points:

• Properties of Water: Water's polarity, cohesion, adhesion, and high specific heat are essential for life.

• Biological Macromolecules: Includes carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

• Enzymes: Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions; activity can be measured and simulated in labs.

• Example: The Enzyme Activity Lab demonstrates how temperature and pH affect enzyme function.

Unit 3: Cell Structure and Membrane Transport

This unit explores the structure and function of cells, including the plasma membrane and mechanisms of transport across membranes.

• Duration: 15 days (9/17–10/7)

• Textbook Chapters: 4–5

• Lab Activities:

  • Observing Cells

  • Surface Area to Volume Ratio Lab

  • Osmosis & Diffusion Lab

Key Points:

• Cell Theory: All living things are composed of cells; the cell is the basic unit of life.

• Membrane Transport: Includes passive (diffusion, osmosis) and active transport mechanisms.

• Example: The Osmosis & Diffusion Lab demonstrates how substances move across cell membranes.

Unit 4: Cell Life Cycle & Mitosis

This unit focuses on the stages of the cell cycle and the process of mitosis, which is essential for growth and repair in multicellular organisms.

• Duration: 12 days (10/8–10/23)

• Textbook Chapters: 9, 10

• Lab Activities:

  • Observing Mitosis

  • Time for Mitosis Lab

Key Points:

• Cell Cycle: The series of events that cells go through as they grow and divide.

• Mitosis: The process by which a cell divides its nucleus and contents, resulting in two identical daughter cells.

• Example: The Time for Mitosis Lab quantifies the duration of each mitotic phase.

Unit 5: Meiosis & Genetics

This unit examines the process of meiosis and the principles of genetics, including inheritance patterns and genetic variation.

• Duration: 17 days (10/27–11/14)

• Textbook Chapters: 12–13

• Lab Activities:

  • Genetics Probability Lab

  • Karyotype Lab

Key Points:

• Meiosis: A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four genetically unique gametes.

• Genetics: The study of heredity and variation in organisms.

• Example: The Karyotype Lab involves analyzing chromosome spreads to identify genetic disorders.

Unit 6: Evolution

This unit covers the mechanisms of evolution, including natural selection, genetic drift, and speciation, as well as methods for studying evolutionary relationships.

• Duration: 14 days (11/11–12/1)

• Textbook Chapters: 19–23

• Lab Activities:

  • Hardy-Weinberg Lab

  • Natural Selection Simulation

  • Cladistics Lab

Key Points:

• Evolution: The change in the genetic composition of populations over time.

• Hardy-Weinberg Principle: Describes the genetic equilibrium within a population. The equation is:

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

• Example: The Natural Selection Simulation models how environmental pressures affect allele frequencies.

Summary Table: Units, Chapters, and Lab Activities