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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
General Biology (Majors) I
Course: BIO181XT

First Term: 2020 Spring
 Lecture   4.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: T - Lab Load


Description: The study and principles of structure and function of organisms at the molecular and cellular levels. A detailed exploration of the chemistry of life, the cell, and genetics.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe and apply the scientific method to investigate biological phenomena. (I, XI)
2. Describe the characteristics of life. (I)
3. Describe the principles of evolution by natural selection and their relationship to the distinguishing properties of living things. (I)
4. Compare and contrast the most stable subatomic particles and describe how they affect the chemical characteristics of matter. (II)
5. Describe the relationship between atoms and molecules and the importance of chemical bonds to atomic stability, molecular structure and chemical characteristics. (II)
6. Describe the relationships between the structure and functions of the four major kinds of organic macromolecules found in living things. (II)
7. Identify the components of eukaryotic cells and describe their structure and functions. (III)
8. Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (III)
9. Describe the structure and functions of biological membranes. (IV)
10. Describe the importance of membrane structure to cellular permeability and transport processes. (IV)
11. Describe the laws of thermodynamics and their relationship to the energy dynamics of living things. (V)
12. Explain the importance of enzymes to metabolic processes and their mode of action. (V)
13. Explain the importance of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to living things. (V)
14. Explain the importance of cellular respiration and describe the steps in its metabolic pathway. (VI)
15. Explain the importance of photosynthesis and describe the steps in its metabolic pathway. (VI)
16. Compare and contrast the biological processes of binary fission, mitosis and meiosis. (IX)
17. Describe the process of DNA replication and its relationship to cell division. (VII, IX)
18. Describe the relationship between DNA sequence and the synthesis and conformation of proteins. (II, VII, VIII, IX)
19. Compare and contrast the inheritance patterns of Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits and use standard statistical methods to predict the outcome of monohybrid and dihybrid crosses. (X)
20. Describe gene expression and regulation and the genetic basis of development. (X)
21. Describe common biotechnological techniques and analyze the results of their application. (X)
22. Demonstrate laboratory procedures and safe practices. (XI)
23. Apply principles of scientific method while conducting laboratory activities and experiments. (XI)
24. Perform laboratory activities using relevant equipment, chemical reagents, and supplies to observe biological specimens, measure variables, and design and accurately conduct experiments. (XI)
25. Prepare wet-mount slides of biological materials and correctly operate the light microscope to locate and observe these specimens at various magnifications.(XI)
26. Demonstrate the ability to accurately use pipettes, micropipettes, and other volumetric devices, chemical glassware, balances, pH meters or test papers, spectrophotometers, and separation techniques such as chromatography, differential centrifugation and/or gel electrophoresis to perform activities relevant to other course competencies. (XI)
27. Demonstrate the ability to construct a graph that accurately portrays quantitative data. (XI)
28.Calculate appropriate proportions of solvent and solute(s) to make molar and/or percent solutions of varying concentrations. (XI)
29. Analyze and report data collected during experiments and/or other laboratory activities. (XI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Foundational concepts in biology
   A. Principles of scientific method
   B. Fundamental characteristics of living matter
      1. Levels of organization
      2. Responsiveness and homeostasis
      3. Metabolism
      4. Reproduction and heredity
   C. Theory of evolution by natural selection
II. Biological chemistry
   A. Composition of matter
   B. Atomic theory
   C. Chemical bonding and molecules
      1. Ionic bonds
      2. Covalent bonds
         a. Polar
         b. Nonpolar
      3. Hydrogen bonds
      4. Properties of water
      5. pH and buffers
   D. Organic and biological molecules
      1. Major groups of biological molecules
         a. Carbohydrates
         b. Lipids
         c. Proteins
         d. Nucleic acids
      2. Synthesis and degradation of biological polymers
III. Cell structure and function
   A. Prokaryotic cells
   B. Eukaryotic cells
   C. Viruses
IV. Cellular membranes
   A. Membrane structure
   B. Membrane permeability and transport mechanisms
   C. Tonicity and osmosis
   D. Intercellular junctions
   E. Role of receptor proteins in cell communication
V. Energy, enzymes and metabolism
   A. Laws of Thermodynamics
   B. Chemical reactions
      1. Exergonic
      2. Endergonic
   C. Enzymes and catalysis
      1. Enzyme structure and mode of action
      2. Enzyme regulation
   D. Metabolism
      1. Catabolism
      2. Anabolism
VI. Cellular energy dynamics
   A. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) cycle
      1. Dephosphorylation
      2. Phosphorylation
         a. Oxidative or substrate-level
         b. Chemiosmotic
   B. Photosynthesis
      1. Light-dependent reactions
      2. Light-independent reactions
   C. Anaerobic metabolism
      1. Glycolysis
      2. Fermentation
   D. Aerobic metabolism
      1. Tricarboxyli Aacid (TCA) (Krebs) Cycle
      2. Electron transport system
VII. Chromosomes and DNA
   A. Chromosome structure
   B. DNA structure
   C. DNA replication
VIII. Gene structure and protein synthesis
   A. Gene structure and regulation
   B. Central dogma
   C. Protein synthesis
IX. Cell reproduction
   A. Cell cycle and mitosis
   B. Binary fission in prokaryotes
   C. Meiosis and genetic recombination
   D. Nondisjunction and chromosomal abnormalities
X. Genes and inheritance
   A. Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits
   B. Monohybrid and dihybrid crosses
   C. Mutation
   D. Gene regulation
   E. Biotechnological applications
   F. Genetic control of development
XI. Laboratory activities/experiments
   A. Laboratory safety
   B. Scientific method
      1. Making observations
      2. Developing hypotheses
      3. Determining variables
      4. Designing controlled investigations
      5. Collecting and analyzing data
      6. Evaluating validity
      7. Documenting results
      8. Drawing conclusions
      9. Scientific reporting
   C. Measurement
      1. Metric units and conversions
      2. Volume, mass, length, temperature
      3. Instrumentation and equipment
      4. Accuracy and precision
      5. Solutions and concentration
   D. Light microscopy
      1. Correct usage
      2. Wet-mount slides
      3. Using stains
      4. Measuring specimen size
   E. Techniques for differential separation and quantification
      1. Spectrophotometric measurement
      2. Cell and chemical fractionation
   F. DNA technologies
      1. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
      2. Gel electrophoresis
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: November 26, 2019

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.