BIO100A Survey of Bioscience Lab
Lead Faculty: Dr. Ana Barral
Course Description
Study of the unifying principles of life with emphasis placed on the following topics: molecular biology of the cell and cellular processes, including energy metabolism, membrane transport and cell division; classical genetics; population genetics; and the mechanism of evolution and the evolutionary basis of species classification. This laboratory course will complement the student's knowledge of biology with demonstrations and experiments. Contact hours for this laboratory course (45) are based on a 3:1 ratio, i.e. 3 lab hours = 1 lecture hour equivalent.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize the goals, methods and limitations of science.
- Formulate hypotheses, design an experiment, collect and interpret data using the scientific method.
- Learn the use of basic laboratory equipment and techniques in studying biological structures and functions.
- Identify and describe the properties of life shared by all organisms.
- Compare and contrast plant and animal cells.
- Demonstrate how the chemical composition and architecture of the cell membrane controls the exchange of matter in the cell.
- Understand and be able to contrast the functions and mechanisms of photosynthesis and metabolism.
- Explain the role of enzymes in cell metabolism.
- Compare and contrast the functions and mechanisms of meiosis and mitosis in the organism's life cycle and identify the various stages of cell division (in mitosis and meiosis).
- Predict patterns of inheritance in both Mendelian and post Mendelian genetics.
- Describe the chemical composition, structures and functions of DNA molecule.
- Understand the organization of plants and animals, i.e. from cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism.
- Identify and understand the function of the various types of tissues that comprise the organs.
- Understand how the various organs work together in maintaining homeostasis in the body.
- Appraise the evidence for evolution as shown in the comparative anatomy of vertebrates.
- Understand the basic principles of taxonomy, functional morphology and phylogenetic relationships within the diverse group of plants and animals comprising the five major kingdoms.
- Understand the various stages of development of an organism.
