BIO100 Survey of Bioscience
Lead Faculty: Dr. Ana Barral
Course Description
A survey course of the basic principles of the life sciences. Examines cellular, organismal, population and community biology based on the unifying concept of evolution. This course may not be taken for credit if SCI161 and/or SCI162, or their equivalents, have been completed.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe biologically important molecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids; and understand their function in the cell.
- Know the differences between, and intracellular components of, prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Explain organelle structures and functions, especially of the nucleus, mitochondria, and cytomembrane and understand important intracellular processes such as metabolism, photosynthesis, cell division and protein synthesis.
- Understand how living things are organized (from cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism).
- Know the function of various organs in plants and animals.
- Know how the complementary activity of major body systems result in the maintenance of homeostasis in the body.
- Appreciate and describe the complementary nature of structure and function in organisms.
- Explain the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance and appropriate mathematical models.
- Understand the mechanisms involved in the development of organisms.
- Know the basic principles of ecology and biogeography, and the interrelationships between populations, communities and ecosystems. They will explain the flow of energy, cycling of energy and biogeochemical cycles.
- Explain principles of speciation and evolution; contrast the fact of evolution with the descriptive and explanatory theory of natural selection; the biochemical origin of life and the overwhelming evidence of the fossil record; extinctions and the changes during different eras and periods of earth's history; and systematics and phylogeny.
- Understand the importance of basic DNA technology/genetic engineering in producing biomedical and agricultural products.
