BIOL 1041 - Principles of Biology I

Credits: 5
Hours/Week: Lecture 4 Lab 3
Course Description: This is a lab science course that provides a general introduction to biological principles. Topics include basic chemistry, biological molecules, cell structure, metabolism, cell reproduction, molecular biology, genetics, and evolution. Laboratory exercises provide students the opportunity to better understand basic biological principles through scientific practice in hypothesis-development, experimental design, data collection and analysis.  Students will also gain experience with commonly-used biological instruments and equipment.  This laboratory science course is primarily intended for biology or biology-related majors, health-related pre-professionals, and other related liberal arts majors.
MnTC Goals
3 Natural Science

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher. Completion of High School Biology and High School Chemistry, with a grade of C or higher, within the last 3 years.  OR completion of CHEM 1020  and BIOL 1020  with  grades of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. Introduction to Biology as a Science

2. Scientific Inquiry and Investigation:  Hypothesis formation, Experimental Design, and Data Analysis

3. Chemistry of Life:  Atoms, Bonding, Characteristics of Water and Macromolecules

4. Cell Structure and Function: Cell theory, Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic, Plasma membrane, Nucleus, Cytoplasm and Organelles

5. Enzymes and Cell Metabolism:  Energy Transformations, Enzyme structure and Function, ATP, Photosynthesis, and Cellular Respiration

6. Cell Division:  Mitosis, Meiosis, and Control of Cell Division

7. Molecular biology: Structure and Function of DNA, Protein Synthesis, DNA technology

8. Genetics and Inheritance: Mendelian Rules, Punnett Squares, Pedigrees, Complex Inheritance Patterns

9. Evolution: Theory and Evidence, Mechanisms of Microevolution, Macroevolution, Phylogenetic Inference

1. explain basic principles of biochemistry, biological molecules, cell structure and organelle function, metabolism, genetics, and evolution.

2. apply basic principles of biochemistry, cell structure and organelle function, metabolism, genetics, and evolution to specific situations.

3. demonstrate understanding of major scientific theories in biology. 

4. formulate and test hypotheses by designing and/or performing laboratory experiments that include data collection and interpretation, statistical analysis, graphical presentation of results, quantitative reasoning, and interpretation of sources of error and uncertainty.

5. distinguish between primary and secondary scientific literature.

6. identify characteristics of strong experimental design.

7. analyze and interpret primary literature related to biology, including critique of experimental design.

8. communicate experimental findings both orally and in writing.

9. use the compound light microscope and other biological laboratory equipment within the context of laboratory investigations.

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