Outcomes:

After completing this class, students should be able to:

• Explain the main themes in the study of life.
• Describe the structural and functional features of water, carbon and classes of biological molecules.
• Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
• Describe membrane structure and explain mechanisms of membrane function and transport.
• Outline the central processes of metabolism and describe the role of energy and enzymes in metabolism.
• Describe the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
• Describe the cell cycle, including mitosis and cell cycle controls.
• Identify major life cycle patterns and describe the process of meiosis and the role of meiosis in genetic variation.
• Explain genetic diversity with knowledge of Mendelian and post-mendelian inheritance patterns.
• Solve inheritance problems using genetic principles.
• Explain structure and replication of DNA.
• Describe the process of gene expression from DNA – RNA - protein synthesis.
• Identify types of gene alterations and mutations
• Describe bacterial and viral genetics and and bacterial gene regulation.
• Describe eukaryotic gene expression and regulation.
• Explain the relationships of gene regulation to cell division and cancer.
• Demonstrate knowledge of DNA organization and genomics.
• Describe methods and issues of DNA technology, including current and emerging ethical issues.
• Use biology laboratory equipment and tools and techniques correctly to observe specimens and to design and perform experiments using the methodology of scientific inquiry.
• Develop the general conceptual skills (e.g., observation, problem solving, hypothesis generation and testing) that are used in the sciences.
• Collect, record, analyze, interpret and evaluate biological data during laboratory investigations and be able to communicate these interpretations in laboratory reports.
• Interpret and summarize scientific literature.