BIL 101 - INTRODUCTION TO
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Section O: TR 9:25 - 10:40,
LC 110
Fall, 2003
Instructor: Dr.
Dan DiResta
Cox Science Bldg., Rm 182
284-2180
E-mail: DiResta@miami.edu
Office Hours: TR,
Textbook: Life on
Earth by Audesirk, Audesirk
& Byers
Course Description: This is an introductory course for
students majoring in an area other than science. The course material is
presented within the context of the human experience and covers cell biology,
physiology, genetics, evolution, ecology and the interaction of humankind with
the environment. The success of this course depends on both of us - me, by
providing the opportunity for your involvement, and you, by your active
participation in the process.
Class Attendance: Attendance is a matter of individual
choice in this class. However, a strong association exists between attendance
and grades. Students who miss regularly rarely do well in the course. There
will be unannounced quizzes and assignments given with no make-ups, so it is in
your best interest to attend class.
Examinations: There will be 4 regular multiple choice
and short essay exams each worth 100 points, and several unannounced quizzes
and assignments covering lectures and readings. Exams will cover information
presented in lecture and assigned readings. The final course grade will be
determined by the percentage of points out of the total. There will be no
cumulative final.
Honor Code: Follow it. Those caught cheating on exams,
improperly referencing published written or electronic material, or submitting
work that is not your own will fail the course.
SYLLABUS
Part
I - Energy Flow - Why does life exist on Earth?....How
did life evolve?.....Are viruses alive?....How did complex cells evolve?...The
dynamic cell - how does it do what it does?....What is the ultimate source of
all biological energy?...How is chemical
energy used to do biological work?
1. Aug 28: Chapter 1
Purpose
and orientation of course. The goal of the course is to make the student scientifically aware
of problems in biology which have an impact on society and health. The
relevance of biological science in devising solutions to world problems such as
cancer, heart disease, antibiotic resistance, overpopulation, and environmental
degradation will be discussed.
Lecture Notes: Why Study Biology?
2. Sep 2: Chapter 2
Why does life exist
on Earth? How did life evolve? Has life evolved elsewhere in the universe? Life
is discussed in terms of its chemical and physical properties.
Lecture Notes: Atoms, Molecules and
Life.
3. Sep 4: Chapter 3
Chemical evolution
continued...How are cells involved in energy flow?
Lecture Notes: Energy Flow in
Cells.
4. Sep 9: Chapter 4
The dynamic cell -
how does it do what it does? Cell membrane structure and
function.
Lecture Notes: Cell Membranes.
5. Sep 11: Chapter 5
Cell structure,
function and processes... Are viruses alive? Similarities and
differences among viruses, bacteria, plant and animal cells. How did
complex cells evolve?
Lecture Notes: Cell
Structure and Function.
Of Interest: Cells and Organelles
6. Sep 16: Chapter 6
What is the
ultimate source of all biological energy? Photosynthesis traps solar energy and
converts it to chemical energy.
Lecture Notes: Capturing
Solar Energy: Photosynthesis.
7. Sep 18: Chapter 7
How is chemical
energy used to do biological work? Glycolysis,
fermentation and respiration are processes involved in converting chemical
energy into work.
Lecture Notes: Harvesting
Chemical Energy: Glycolysis & Respiration.
Of Interest: How
Diets Work
Tuesday, September 23: EXAM 1 (Lectures 1-7)
Part
II - Information Flow - How does a single, fertilized egg develop into a
functioning organism?...Why did sex evolve?... How are
traits inherited?...How is sex determined?...How is
information coded in the DNA molecule?
What
are genes and how are they expressed?...Where is the
revolution in molecular biology heading?
8. Sep 25: Chapter 8 and Chapter 9
The
molecular basis of inheritance. What are some of the key experiments that led to the discovery of
the genetic material. How is information coded in the
DNA molecule?
Lecture Notes: DNA:
Structure and Function.
9. Sep 30:
Once the structure
of DNA was discovered, molecular biology changed the way we view life. How is
the information contained in DNA translated into synthesis of proteins? How is
gene expression controlled in different tissues and during different
developmental stages?
10. Oct 2: Chapter 10
How do cells
divide and organisms grow? Control of cell division.
Cancer is a defect in regulation of the cell cycle. Why did sex evolve? Meiosis, gamete production and genetic variability.
Lecture Notes: Cell
Reproduction: Mitosis & Meiosis.
11. Oct 7: Chapter 11
How are traits
inherited? Genes, alleles and their expression. Inheritance of genes that are on the same chromosome. How is
sex determined?
Lecture Notes: Patterns
of Inheritance.
12. Oct 9: Chapter 12
Biotechnology,
making designer genes and treating genetic diseases. The human genome, genetic diseases and
their
diagnosis.
Lecture Notes: Biotechnology.
13. Oct 14:
Bioethics...Balancing
the advantages and disadvantages of molecular advances.
Thursday, October 16: EXAM 2 (Lectures 8-13)
Part
III: Evolution, Ecology, Biological Diversity - How do organisms evolve?...Are Evolution and Creationism two different ways of
looking at the same question?...How does solar radiation affect the planetary
environment?
What
limits population growth?...What effects does
overcrowding have on the environment?...How has technology enabled us to alter
energy flow through the environment?...Why is biodiversity important?
14. Oct 21: Chapter 13
Evolution.
Lecture Notes: Evolution.
15. Oct 23: Chapter 14
Populations, not
individuals, evolve. Natural selection is a driving force for evolution and
genetic variation provides
the raw material.
Lecture Notes: Population
Genetics.
16. Oct 28: Chapter 15
Diversity of Life:
from bacteria to dinosaurs. How do species originate? Why is biodiversity
important? Evolutionary history: mass extinctions and the evolution of humans.
Lecture Notes: Origin
of Life.
17. Oct 30: Chapter 27
We are rapidly
approaching the ability of the Earth to support the human population. What
limits population growth? What effects does overcrowding have on the
environment?
Lecture Notes: Population
Dynamics.
18. Nov 4: Chapter 28
How do populations
interact with other populations and with the environment?
Lecture Notes: Community
Interactions.
19. Nov 6: Chapter 29
How does solar
radiation affect the planetary environment? Energy flow
through the environment.
Lecture Notes: Ecosystem
Function.
20. Nov 11: Chapter 30
The
human effect. How has
technology enabled us to alter energy flow through the environment?
Thursday, November 13: EXAM 3 (Lectures 14-20)
Part
IV - Homeostasis and Physiological Systems - What systems are involved in maintaining
homeostasis? ...How does the body coordinate functions?...How
do nerves work?...How does the heart beat?...How are gases exchanged?... How
does the body protect itself from disease and what happens when the immune
system is compromised?
21. Nov 18: Chapter 19, 20
Homeostasis...How
do organisms maintain constant internal function when faced with changing
internal and external
environments? Physiological systems maintain a dynamic
equilibrium. Circulation. How does the heart beat? Respiration. How are gases exchanged?
Lecture Notes: Homeostasis,
Circulation and Respiration.
22. Nov 20: Chapter 22
The
immune system and the body's defenses. AIDS
and other diseases of the immune system.
Lecture Notes: The
Immune System.
23. Nov 25: Chapter 23
Major hormonal
systems involved in regulating metabolism, homeostasis and physiological
change.
Lecture Notes: The
Endocrine System.
24. Dec 2: Chapter 24
How do nerves
work? Anatomy and function of neurons and the effect of drugs on nerve function.
Lecture Notes: The
Nervous System.
25. Dec 4: Chapter 25
Human
reproduction and development. How does a single, fertilized egg develop into a functioning
organism?
Lecture Notes: The
Reproductive System.
Thursday, December 11: EXAM 4 (Lectures 21-25)