Introduction to Biology
This course covers a study of the structure, relationships, and diversity of life on earth from the cellular level to the function of ecosystems.
This is a self-paced online course. It contains 10 modules, each with multiple lessons that support varied approaches to help a student learn and engage with the topic, including readings, video, and a knowledge-check quiz.
This is a graded course, each student will receive a course transcript that reflects a final grade based on 10 module quizzes, 1 module evidence activities, a mid-term exam and a final exam.
Two online proctored examinations, the mid-term and final, are included in the cost of the course.
Course Outcomes
This course focuses on the following learning outcomes. By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Analyze and evaluate the structure and processes of living things at a micro (cellular) and macro level; including the acquisition and use of energy.
- Analyze and evaluate the interactions and dynamics of the characteristics of ecosystems.
- Identify and apply the characteristics and mechanisms of genetics as they relate to heredity and inherited traits.
- Evaluate and apply the characteristics of genetics and adaptation as they apply to population, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
Technology Requirements
PC Requirements
Hardware
- Intel Core 2 Duo (or AMD 64×2 Dual-Core) processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- 1024×768 resolution monitor
- Soundcard with microphone and speakers
- Built-in or external webcam
- Broadband internet connection with speeds of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended. Test internet speed at: http://www.speedtest.net
- Browser with pop-up blocker disabled
Software
- Windows 7 or above
Macintosh Requirements
Hardware
- Intel Core 2 Duo (or AMD 64×2 Dual-Core) processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- 1024×768 resolution monitor
- Soundcard with microphone and speakers
- Built-in or external webcam
- Broadband internet connection with speeds of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended. Test internet speed at: http://www.speedtest.net
- Browser with pop-up blocker disabled
Software
- Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard” or above
Tablet or Smartphone
NOTICE: Though you can view and interact with all of the available course content on a tablet or smartphone, you MUST USE A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP computer to complete the proctored midterm and final examinations.
Hardware
- 2 GHz process or faster
- 1 GB RAM or greater
- 80 GB hard drive
- Microphone and speakers
- Wireless internet connection
Course Outline
Module 1 – The Study of Life
The Science of Biology
- Introduction to Biology
- The Science of Biology
- Natural Sciences
- Two Types of Science: Basic Science and Applied Science
- Relationship Between Basic and Applied Science
- Luck? The Discovery of Penicillin
- The Process of Science
The Process of Science
- Scientific Reasoning
- The Scientific Method
- Proposing a Hypothesis
- Testing a Hypothesis
- Reporting Scientific Work
- What is an Experiment?
The Branches of Biology
- Branches of Biological Study
- Forensic Scientist
Characteristics of Living Things
- Properties of Life
- Order
- Sensitivity or Response to Stimuli
- Reproduction
- Adaptation
- Growth and Development
- Regulation
- Homeostasis
- Energy Processing
- Levels of Organization of Living Things
- The Diversity of Life
Module 2 – The Cell
How Cells Are Studied
- Microscopy
- Light Microscopes
- Electron Microscopes
- Cell Theory
- Cell Size
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
- Components of prokaryotic cells
- The plasma membrane
- The Cytoplasm
- The Nucleus
- The Nuclear envelope
- Chromosomes
- The Nucleolus
- Mitochondria
- Ribosomes
- Peroxisomes
- Microfilaments
- Microtubules
The Endomembrane
- The Nuclear Envelope
- Endoplasmic Reticulum
- Rough ER
- Smooth ER
- The Golgi Apparatus
- Vesicles and Vacuoles
- Lysosomes
- The Plasma Membrane
- Cardiologist
- Geneticist
Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell
- The Centrosome
- Lysosomes
- The Cell Wall
- Chloroplasts
- The Central Vacuole
- Extracellular Matrix of Animal Cells
- Intercellular Junctions
- Plasmodesmata
- Tight Junctions
- Desmosomes
- Gap Junctions
Passive Transport
- Selectively permeable
- Concentration gradient
- Diffusion
- Facilitated transport
- Osmosis
- Hypotonic
- Hypertonic
- Isotonic
Active Transport
- Electrochemical Gradient
- Moving Against a Gradient
- Carrier Proteins for Active Transport
- Primary Active Transport
- Secondary Active Transport (Co-transport)
- Endocytosis
- Phagocytosis
- Pinocytosis
- Receptor-mediated Endocytosis
- Exocytosis
Module 3 – Capturing and Converting Energy
Energy and Metabolism
- Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Metabolic Pathways
- Anabolic and Catabolic Pathways
- Energy Types
- Endergonic Reactions and Exergonic Reactions
Glycolysis
- First Half of Glycolysis (Energy-Requiring Steps)
- Second Half of Glycolysis (Energy-Releasing Steps)
- Outcomes of Glycolysis
- Adenosine Triphosphate
Citric Acid Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation
- CAC-pyruvate molecules
Anaerobic Respiration
- Anaerobic Cellular Respiration
- Lactic Acid Fermentation
- Alcohol Fermentation
- Other Types of Fermentation
- Control of Catabolic Pathways
Photosynthesis
- Importance of Photosynthesis
- Main Structures and Summary of Photosynthesis
- The Two Parts of Photosynthesis
Light-Dependent Reactions
- How Light-Dependent Reactions Work
- Generating an Energy Carrier: ATP
- Chlorophylls
- Carotenoids
- Absorption of Pigments
- Photosynthetic Organisms
Light-Independent Reactions
- The Calvin Cycle
- The Energy Cycle
Module 4 – Cell Growth, Reproduction and Heredity
Cell Division
- Genomic DNA
- Eukaryotic Chromosomal Structure and Compaction
- Binary Fission
Cell Cycle
- Interphase
- The Mitotic Phase
- Cytokinesis
- G0 Phase
- G1 Phase (First Gap)
- S Phase (Synthesis of DNA)
- G2 Phase (Second Gap)
Control of the Cell Cycle
- Regulation of the Cell Cycle by External Events
- Regulation at Internal Checkpoints
- Regulator Molecules of the Cell Cycle
- Proto-oncogenes
- Tumor Suppressor Genes
Meiosis I
- Meiosis I
- Meiosis II
- Chromosome Identification
- Chromosome Number Disorders
- Aneuploidy
- Polyploidy
Meiosis II
- Sexual Reproduction
- Meiosis II
- Geneticists Use Karyograms to Identify Chromosomal Aberrations
Sexual Reproduction
- Gametes
- Zygote
- Diploid
- Homologous chromosomes
- Meiosis
- Life cycles
- Germ cells
- Gametophytes
- Sporophyte
- Haploid
Errors in Meiosis
- Karotype
- Disorders in chromosome number
Module 5 – Patterns of Inheritance
Mendel’s Experiments and Punnett Squares
- Mendel’s Model System
- Mendelian Crosses
- Garden Pea Characteristics Revealed the Basics of Heredity
- Creating a Punnett Square
Characteristics and Traits
- Alleles
- Phenotype
- Genotype
- Homozygous
- Heterozygous
- Punnett square
- Monohybrid
- Test cross
Laws of Inheritance
- Equal Segregation of Alleles
- Independent Assortment
- Probability Method
Chromosomal Theory and Genetic Linkage
- Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
- Genetic Linkage and Distances
- Homologous Recombination
- Epistasis
- Human Sex-Linked Disorders
- Lethality
Module 6 – Genetics
Structure of DNA
- Deoxyribose
- Phosphate group
- Nitrogenous base
- Double helix
- How DNA is arranged in the cell
- Watson & Crick and Franklin
DNA Replication
- Occurs during S phase
- DNA repair-proof reading
Transcription
- DNA
- RNA
- Three main stages
Translation
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
- Transfer RNA ( tRNA)
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
- Biotechnology
- Manipulation of genetic material
- Gel electrophoresis
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
Module 7 – Evolutionary Processes
Understanding Evolution
- Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
- Processes and Patterns of Evolution
Formation of New Species
- Species and the Ability to Reproduce
- Speciation
- Reproductive Isolation
- Allopatric Speciation
- Adaptive Radiation
- Sympatric Speciation
Population Genetics
- Genetic Variance
- Genetic Drift
- Gene Flow
- Mutation
- Nonrandom Mating
- No Perfect Organism
Biological Evidence
- Fossils
- Anatomy and Embryology
- Biogeography
- Molecular Biology
- Two Options for Similarity
- Misleading Appearances
- Building Phylogenetic Trees
Common Misconceptions about Evolution
- Evolution Is Just a Theory
- Individuals Evolve
- Evolution Explains the Origin of Life
- Organisms Evolve on Purpose
- Other Theories Should Be Taught
- Is Evolution Controversial among Scientists?
Organizing Life on Earth
- Taxonomy
- 6 kingdom system
- Taxon
- Binomial nomenclature
- Phylogenetic tree
- Phylogeny
- Domains
Module 8 – Populations and Communities
Population Demographics and Dynamics
- Population Size and Density
- Estimating Population Size
- Species Distribution
- Life Tables
- Survivorship Curves
Population Growth and Control
- Exponential and logistic growth
- Carrying capacity
- Intraspecific competition
- Density dependent and independent limiting factors
Interactions Within and Between Communities
- Competition
- Predation
- Parasitism
- Crowding and stress
- Symbiosis
- Commensalism
- Mutualism
- Foundation species
- Keystone species
- Environmental disturbances
- Primary and secondary succession
- Pioneer species
Human Population Growth
- Growing rapidly
- Exponential growth and consequences
- Overcoming density-dependent regulation
- Age structure
- One child policy
Module 9 – Ecology and the Biosphere
Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem
- Ecosystem
- Ecology of ecosystems
- Biome
- Ecosystem disturbances
- Food chains and webs
- Trophic level
- Producers
- Primary, secondary and teriary comsumers
- Apex consumers
Biogeochemical Cycles: Water, Nitrogen, and Sulfur
- Hydrosphere
- The Water Cycle
- The Nitrogen Cycle
Biogeochemical Cycles: Carbon and Phosphorus
- Hydrosphere
- Water cycle
- Carbon cycle
- Nitrogen cycle
- Phosphorus cycle and dead zone
- Sulfur cycle
Terrestrial Biomes
- Tropical rainforest
- Savannas
- Deserts
- Chaparral
- Temperate grasslands
- Temperate forests
- Boreal forests
- Arctic tundra
Aquatic Biomes: Marine
- Marine Biomes
- Ocean
- Coral Reefs
Aquatic Biomes: Freshwater
- Ocean
- Zones
- Coral reefs
- Estuaries
- Freshwater
- Wetlands
Module 10 – Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
The Biodiversity Crisis
- Mass extinction
- Types of biodiversity
- Current and patterns of biodiversity
- Extinction rates
The Importance of Biodiversity to Human Life
- Human health
- Agricultural diversity
- Wild food sources
- Psychological and moral value
Threats to Biodiversity
- Habitat loss
- Overharvesting
- Exotic species
- Climate change
Preserving Biodiversity
- Changing human behavior
- Habitat restoration
- The role of zoos and captive breeding
To be eligible for transferable college credit for this course, TEL Library must be able to verify your identity via a government issued photo ID. You will need an ID to complete the proctored mid-term and final examinations, as well as apply for a transcript. You can being your studies in this course while obtaining the appropriate identification, but you must have the government issued photo ID prior to scheduling the mid-term exam.
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The grade for these courses is based upon:- Participation and completion of each lesson = 10% of the final grade
- Graded module quizzes = 15% of the final grade
- Graded module evidence activities = 25% of the final grade
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- Graded proctored final examination = 25% of the final grade
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