School of Science, Health and Technology
Biology Department
Edward Catapane, Chairperson
tel. 718.270.6203 / office: C 318

 

BIO 201 General Biology I

Textbook: Biology, By Neal A. Campbell and J.B.Reece, Medgar Evers College Custom ed.
Publisher:Benjamin Cummings

Laboratory Manual: Investigating Biology, By J.G. Morgan and M.E.B. Carter, Medgar Evers College Custom ed.
Publisher: Benjamin Cummings

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is the first part of the two semester course for science majors. It will cover introduction to the fundamental principles of life processes of organisms including chemical basis of life, cellular structure, function, division, metabolism and genetic basis of life. The structural and functional features as well as phylogenic and ecological adaptation of bacteria, protista, fungi and plants will also be covered. The laboratory component of this course will reinforce the biological principles by experiments.

COURSE GOALS/ OBJECTIVES:

The Goals of this course are:
To provide students a basic foundation of biology so that they can proceed to a higher level of biological inquiry. Expose students with challenging learning experiences which explore varied responses to the human condition, develop the skills to facilitate analytical inquiry, promote global awareness, encourage social consciousness, foster creativity, analytical and problem solving skills that are essential for professional competencies in the student’s chosen career.

The Objectives of this course are:

A. The use of scientific method in observation and analysis of living organisms and their environment.

B. The use of classification skills in ordering and sequencing the information in nature.

C. Experience in oral and written communication. The student will have opportunities to describe biological processes and reaction and explain meaningful arrangements of biological information.

D. Experience in skills in relating the biological theory to real life situation, comparing human activities that affect the natural environment.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

At the completion of this course, students will be able to identify and understand different biological processes and their interrelationships, the basis of continuity of life, the interaction between organisms and their environments, and the impact of DNA science and biotechnology on our society. They should have sufficient background preparation for upper level courses, such as ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, cell and molecular biology and biotechnology.

METHODOLOGY:

Instruction methods will include lecture, lab experiments and observation, audiovisual material, computer assignments, group assignments, quizzes and major exams. Field trips may also be included.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Regular and punctual attendance of lecture and lab.
  2. No cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated.
  3. Maintaining class discipline
  4. Usually no make-up tests will be available
  5. Late submission of assignments is unacceptable
  6. Consecutive absence of more than twice the class meets in a week will result in grade of “F”

COURSE EVALUTION:

Deparmental Mid-term 25%
Deparment Final 25%
Class test, Assignments etc. 50%
Total 100%

Lecture Grade : Total score/100X60
Final Grade : Lecture (60%) + Lab. (40%)
Grading Scale: 97-100 = A+; 93-96.9 = A; 90-92.9 = A-; 87.1-89.9 = B+; 83-87 = B; 80-82.9 = B-; 77.1-79.9 = C+; 73-77 = C; 70-72.9 = C-; 67.1-69.9 = D+; 63-67 = D; 60-62.9 = D-; 00-59.0 = F.
A grade of “D” is not acceptable toward a degree at Medgar Evers College.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books: Raven, P.H. and Johnson, G.B. 2005. Biology (Seventh ed.), WCB/McGraw-Hill Company, New York.
Freeman, S. 2005. Biological Science (second edition). Prentice Hall., New Jersey. Parves, S., and O. Heller. 2004. Life-the Science of Biology. Sinauer Associates Inc.

LECTURE TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK TOPICS CHAPTER
1 Course Outline;
Characteristics of Life
Scientific Method		 Ch 1
2 Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Structure and Function of Macromolecules:
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids		 Ch 4
Ch 5
3 Cell structure and function:
Cell size and shape, cell theory
Methods of Studying cells
Cellular components and their functions
Plant cells vs. animal cells
Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic cells		 Ch 6
4 Membrane structure and function
Transport across membranes		 Ch 7
5 Introduction to metabolism
Metabolism, Energy and Life
Enzymes
Metabolic controls
Assignment 1		 Ch 5
6 Cellular respiration Ch 9
7 Photosynthesis
Assignment 2		 Ch 10
8 Cell cycle, Mitosis and its importance Ch 12
9 Meiosis and sexual life cycles
Mitosis vs Meiosis
Assignment 3

MID-TERM TEST :		 Ch 13
10 Genetics:
a. Patterns of inheritance
b. Chromosomes and Human heredity
c. Genetics problem solving
Assignment 4		 Ch 14,15
11 Molecular Basis of Inheritance:
a. DNA is the genetic material
b. DNA structure and replication & repair		 Ch 16
12 From gene to protein:
a. Transcription and RNA processing
b. RNA types and functions
c. Genetic code and translation of mRNA intro protein		 Ch 17
13 Genetics of Bacteria and Virus and
Control of Gene expression:
a. Lac operon
b. Tryptophen operon
c. Eukaryotic gene expression		 Ch 18,19
14 Genetic engineering and Biotechnology:
a. Restriction enzymes and their use
b. Gene cloning
c. Genomic and cDNA libraries
d. Nucleic acid probes and their use
e. Polymerase chain reaction
f. DNA fingerprinting
g. Gene therapy
h. Stem cell technology
Assignment 5		 Ch 20,38 Internet resources
15 Mechanisms of Evolution:
a. Gene Variation in population
b. Natural selection and evolution
c. Evidence of evolution-selected samples
d. Speciation

FINAL EXAM:		 Ch 22-25

LABORATORY SESSIONS AND TOPICS

LAB REQUIREMENTS:

For your own safety and protection, lab coat must be worn in the lab. Each lab session has an assigned reading in the lab manual. Lab reports are due at the beginning of the next session. Attendance is required. No make-up lab and lab test are available.

LAB EVALUTION:
(Lecture 60%; Lab 40%)
Lab Test 1     100
Lab Test 2     100
Lab Reports   100
Total            300

Lab Session 1
Lab safety, measurements and use of microscopes

  1. Safety in the Laboratory
  2. Metric and English Conversions: units of length and mass.
  3. Techniques in Microscopy: parts, care and use of microscopes
  4. Measurements of Objects: view fields, calibration of oculometer, size determination of an object ( letter “e” and EM photographs).
  5. Lab Report 1 (due next session)

Lab Session 2

  1. Perform chemical tests to identify of sugar, starch, protein and vitamin C
  2. Lab Report 2

Lab Session 3
Cellular Structure and Function.

  1. Prokaryotic Cell Morphology
    a. Bacterial cells
  2. Plant Cells
    a. Onion epidermal cells (wet mount)
  3. Animal Cells
    a. Human cheek cells (wet mount)
    b. Observe fixed slides of a nerve cell, human sperm cells, blood cells.
    c. Observe fixed slides of tissues (muscle, epithelial, etc. - only 1 required).
  4. Lab Report 3

Lab Session 4
How do Materials Enter Cells

  1. Simultaneous osmosis and diffusion
  2. Measurement of rate of osmosis using an Osmometer.
  3. Study of plasmolysis in red onion skin cells
  4. Lab Report 4

Lab Session 5
Enzyme Properties

  1. Use of spectrophotometer
  2. Determine optimum extract concentration for enzyme function (Tables 6.1 & 6.2)
  3. Determine the effects of temperature on enzyme function (Tables 6.3 & 6.4)
  4. Determine the effects of pH on enzyme function (Tables 6.5 & 6.6)
  5. Determine the effect of boiling the extract on enzyme action (Table 6.7 & 6.8)
  6. Determine the effect of inhibitor on enzyme action (Table 5.9 & 6.10)
  7. Lab Report 5

Lab Session 6
Cellular Respiration

  1. Respiration in Yeast — BioKit
  2. Aerobic Respiration in Peas
  3. Preparing graphs based on data collected
  4. Lab Report 6

Lab Session 7
Photosynthesis

  1. Demonstration of leaf anatomy from permanently fixed slides
  2. Extraction of chlorophyll from spinach leaves and study of its light absorption characteristics.
  3. Separation of plant pigments by paper chromatography.
  4. Effects of light Intensity on Photosynthetic Rate
  5. Preparing graphs of absorption spectrum and photosynthetic rate
  6. Lab Report 7

Lab Session 8: LAB TEST 1:

Lab Session 9
Mitosis

  1. Mitosis video/slide presentation
  2. Preparation of onion root tip slides and study of mitosis in root tip cells. Identify Prophase, Anaphase, Metaphase, Telophase
  3. Complete table 8.1 from the information provided in the handout.
  4. Prepare a histogram of data in Table 8.2.
  5. Prepare human karyotype
  6. Demonstration of the process of mitosis with chromosome models
  7. Lab Report 8

Lab Session 10
Meiosis and Genetics

  1. Study stages of meiosis (handouts)
  2. Measuring the frequency of cross-over in Sordaria
  3. Study of genetic segregation in corn ears and Chi square testing
  4. Lab Report 9

Lab Session 11
DNA Experiments

  1. Isolation of Genomic DNA from onion or Animal tissue or Bacteria
  2. Agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA size determination.
  3. Transformation of bacterial cells with Plasmids
  4. Lab Report 10

Lab Session 12
Study of bacteria

  1. Effect of household chemicals on bacterial growth
  2. Differential Growth of Bacteria
  3. Bacterial Population Counts
  4. Gram staining (Bacillus and Pseudomonas)
  5. Fixed slides: Cyanobacteria, Bacterial shapes
  6. Lab Report 11

Lab Session 13: Review

Lab Session 14: LAB TEST 2

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