Course Modules: 1. Introduction to Biology 2. Biochemical Foundation  3. Cell Structure & Function 4. Energetics 5. Cell Reproduction 6. Mendelian Genetics 7. Molecular Genetics 8. Evolution 9. Biodiversity 10. Animal Structure & Function 11. Plant Structure & Function 12. Ecology

Introduction to Biology

1.      Understand the hierarchy of biological organization.
2.      Describe the basic attributes of living organisms.
3.      Discuss the interdependencies among organisms.
4.       Name and describe the basic characteristics of the major kingdoms.
5. .      Discuss evolution as the unifying concept of biology.
6.      Discuss the scientific method.
7.       Discuss the limitations of science.  

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Biochemical Foundations

1. .      Differentiate between subatomic particles, atoms, ions, molecules, and compounds.
2.     Compare/contrast ionic, covalent and hydrogen bonds.
3.    Describe the properties of water that are essential to support life.
4.    Discuss the significance of pH to biological systems.
5.     Identify the major types of chemical reactions and the energy changes associated with them.
6.       Distinguish between organic and inorganic molecules.
7.       Describe the significance of carbon in the molecular diversity of life.
8.    Relate the structure and function of biologically important macromolecules.
9.      Describe the processes of macromolecule synthesis and breakdown. 

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Cellular Structure and Function

1.     Define cell theory and briefly describe the discoveries that led to its development.
2.      Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. 
3.   Identify cellular organelles and describe their structure and function.
4.  .      Distinguish between plant and animal cells. 
5.     Describe structure and function of the cell membrane. 
6.      Describe cell transport processes.

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Energetics

1.   Enzymes and enzyme activities
2. Describe the concept of metabolic processes.
3. Understand the Laws of Thermodynamics as they apply to biological systems.
4. Describe the differences between potential and kinetic energy.
5. Understand the concepts of coupled reactions, exergonic/endergonic reactions and oxidation/reduction reactions.
6. Understand the structure and function of ATP.
7. Describe the roles of enzymes in metabolic processes.
8. Explain factors that affect enzyme activity and how this could impact on metabolic processes.

  Cellular respiration – aerobic and anaerobic

1. Understand that metabolic pathways are a series of reactions that produce energy through the transfer of electrons.
2. Understand that glycolysis is the universal metabolic pathway for energy production.
3. Explain how glycolysis may lead to respiration or fermentation.
4. Trace the pathways of cellular respiration and fermentation.
5. Compare the energy yields of aerobic and anaerobic processes.
6. Understand the differences between substrate-level phosphorylation and chemiosmosis.
7. Recognize where each of the individual processes occurs in the cell.
8. Summarize the chemical reactions associated with cellular respiration.

Photosynthesis

1. Identify where photosynthesis occurs in the plant.
2. Learn the overall chemical equation for photosynthesis.
3. Explain the properties of visible light as they relate to photosynthesis.
4. Describe a photosystem and explain how it captures energy from light.
5. Illustrate the linkage between the light-dependent and light-independent reactions.
6. Trace the synthesis of sugar by the light-independent reactions.
7. Understand the adaptations that plants show to various environments.

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Cell Reproduction

1. Compare and contrast asexual and sexual reproduction.
2. Compare and contrast binary fission and mitosis.
3. Describe the stages and significance of the cell cycle.
4. Describe the phases of mitosis and characterize the events and outcomes of each phase. 
5. Compare cytokinesis of plants and animals.
6. Distinguish between a) somatic cells and gametes, b) diploid cells and haploid cells, and c) autosomes and sex chromosomes.
7. List the phases of meiosis I and meiosis II and characterize the events and outcomes of each phase.
8. Explain how independent assortment, segregation, crossing over, non-disjunction, and random fertilization contribute to genetic variation.
9. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis.

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Mendelian Genetics

1.      Describe the historical landmarks in the field of genetics.
2.     Use the following terms correctly in describing inheritance:  haploid, diploid, homozygous, heterozygous, autosome, sex chromosome, dominant, recessive, genes, alleles, genotype, and phenotype.
3.      Understand Mendel’s Laws of Heredity and the principal patterns of inheritance.
4.   Predict offspring genotype and phenotype ratios given parental information and vice versa.
5. Explain variations on Mendel’s principles.

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Molecular Genetics

1.  Discuss historical experiments in molecular genetics.
2.    Describe the structure and function of DNA and RNA.
3.       Describe the process of DNA replication.
4.   Describe the processes of transcription and translation.
5.   Describe the major types of mutations and their possible consequences.
6.      Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression.
7.    Define and compare recombinant DNA technology, genomics, bioinformatics, and proteomics.
8.      Explain the basic techniques of biotechnology.
9.   Explain how DNA technology has impacted pharmacology, forensics, and agriculture.
10.  Discuss the ethical implications of biotechnology.
11. Discuss the significance of the Human Genome Project.

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Evolution

1.    Highlight the history of evolutionary thought.
2.      Explain Darwin’s theories of evolution, with special emphasis on natural selection.
3.        Describe the modern synthesis of evolution: link between Darwin and genetics.
4.       Explain how microevolution occurs.
5.       Explain the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
6.       Explain the significance of genetic variation and how natural selection changes gene frequencies in a population.
7.       Discuss mechanisms of speciation.
8.       Describe the history of life on Earth.
9.   Discuss phylogeny.

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Biodiversity 

1.    Describe the characteristics and reproduction of prokaryotic organisms.
1.      Differentiate the eubacteria from the archaebacteria.
2.       Describe the characteristics and multiplication of viruses.
3.       Describe the characteristics and life cycles of organisms in the kingdom Protista.
4.       Describe the characteristics and life cycles of organisms in the kingdom Fungi.
5.        Describe the characteristics and life cycles of organisms in the kingdom Plantae
6.        Describe the characteristics and life cycles of organisms in the kingdom Animalia.
7.       Trace the evolutionary history of plants and animals from prokaryotes.

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Animal Structure and Function

1.     Explain the relationship between anatomy and physiology.
2.       Explain the significance of homeostasis.
3.      Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of the general body plans.
4.       Discuss what role diffusion plays in body systems.
5.       Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various muscular and skeletal systems for locomotion and support.
6.       Describe the various structures and strategies which different animal phyla have developed to perform respiration, digestion, circulation, excretion, and reproduction.
7.    Explain the function and interaction of the nervous and endocrine systems.
8.     Describe how the human body defends itself against diseases.

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Plant Structure and Function Biodiversity 

1.  Compare and contrast monocots and dicots.
2.    Describe the structure and function of roots, shoots, stems, leaves and flowers.
3.    Describe the function of the four main tissue types in a plant.
4.    Explain primary and secondary growth.
5.  Describe angiosperm reproduction and alternation of generations.
6.  Discuss plant transport mechanisms.
7.   Discuss the significance of macronutrients and micronutrients.
8. Describe the major plant hormones and their functions.
9. Describe plant tropic responses.
10.  Describe plant circadian rhythms and the role of phytochromes.

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Ecology  

1.       Discuss the ecological principles that govern the growth and sustainability of all populations.

2.      Compare and contrast populations, communities, and ecosystems.

3.      Describe the characteristics of populations.

4.      Discuss the impacts of human population growth on the biosphere.

5.      Discuss behavioral ecology.

6.      Describe the trophic structure and the energy flow through the ecosystem.

7.      Describe biogeochemical cycles.

8.      Describe the major biomes and characterize the climate and organisms found in those biomes.

9.      Describe the importance of and the major threats to biodiversity.

10. Discuss the causes of global warming and its impact on the biosphere.

11. Discuss conservation biology and the goal of sustainable development.

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