Concepts of Biology
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This course includes:
231
practice questions
339
engagement activities
258
assessment questions
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Concepts of Biology Course Outline
Concepts Covered:The Cellular Foundation of Life: What is Biology?
The Cellular Foundation of Life: What is the Chemistry of Life?
- What are the building blocks of molecules?
- What are the properties of water?
- What are the biological molecules?
The Cellular Foundation of Life: How does cell’s structure affect its function?
- How are cells studied?
- How are prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells different?
- What are the components of eukaryotic cells?
- How does the Cell Membrane work?
- What is passive transport?
- What is active transport?
The Cellular Foundation of Life: How do cells obtain energy?
- How are energy and metabolism related?
- What is glycolysis?
- What are the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation?
- What is fermentation?
- How are the metabolic pathways connected?
The Cellular Foundation of Life: What is photosynthesis?
Concepts Covered:
- What are the parts of photosynthesis?
- What are the light dependent reactions?
- What is the Calvin cycle?
Cell Division and Genetics: How does reproduction occur at the cellular level?
Concepts Covered:
- What is a genome?
- What are the stages of the cell cycle?
- How is cancer caused?
- How does prokaryotic cell division occur?
Cell Division and Genetics: What is the cellular basis of inheritance?
- What variation occurs due to sexual reproduction?
- What is meiosis?
- What errors occur in meiosis?
Cell Division and Genetics: What are the patterns of inheritance?
Concepts Covered:
- What was the significance of Mendel’s experiments?
- What are the laws of inheritance?
- What are the extensions of the Laws of Inheritance?
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: What is molecular biology?
Concepts Covered:
- How is DNA structured?
- How is DNA replicated?
- What is transcription?
- What is translation?
- How are genes regulated?
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: What is biotechnology?
Concepts Covered:
- What are cloning and genetic engineering?
- How is biotechnology used in medicine and agriculture?
- What are genomics and proteomics?
Evolution and Diversity of Life: What are the processes of evolution?
Concepts Covered:
- How do populations change?
- What are the mechanisms of evolution?
- What evidence of evolution exists?
- What is speciation?
- What are some common misconceptions about evolution?
Evolution and Diversity of Life: What accounts for the diversity of life?
Concepts Covered:
- How is life organized on Earth?
- How do you determine evolutionary relationships?
Evolution and Diversity of Life: How diverse are microbes, fungi, and protists?
Concepts Covered:
- How did prokaryotic diversity develop?
- How did eukaryotes develop?”]
- What are protists?
- What are fungi?
Evolution and Diversity of Life: What accounts for the diversity in plants?
Concepts Covered:
- What are the major characteristics of the plant kingdom?
- What features do seedless plants have?
- What are gymnosperms?
- What are angiosperms?
Evolution and Diversity of Life: What accounts for the diversity in animals?
Concepts Covered:
- What features define the animal kingdom?
- What features define sponges and cnidarians?
- What features define flatworms, nematodes, and arthropods?
- What features define mollusks, and arthropods?
- What feature define echinoderms and chordates?
- What features define vertebrates?
Animal Structure and Function: What are the important body systems?
Concepts Covered:
- What are homeostasis and osmoregulation?
- What is the digestive system?
- What are the circulatory and respiratory systems?
- What is the endocrine system?
- What is the musculoskeletal system?
- What is the nervous system?
Animal Structure and Function: How does the immune system fight and prevent disease?
Concepts Covered:
- What are viruses?
- What is innate immunity?
- What is adaptive immunity?
- What disruptions occur in the immune system?
Animal Structure and Function: How do animals reproduce and develop?
Concepts Covered:
- How do animals reproduce?
- How does development into a multicellular organism occur?
- How does human reproduction occur?
Ecology: What is the importance of population and community ecology?
Concepts Covered:
- What are population demographics and dynamics?
- What are the types of population growth and regulation?
- How do human populations grow?
- What is community ecology?
Ecology: What is ecosystem ecology?
Concepts Covered:
- How does energy flow through ecosystems?
- What are the biogeochemical cycles?
- What are the characteristics of the types of terrestrial biomes?
- What are features of various aquatic and marine biomes?
Ecology: What is the importance of conservation and biodiversity?
Concepts Covered:
- What is the importance of biodiversity?
- What are the threats to biodiversity?
- How do you preserve biodiversity?
About the book
Concepts of Biology
Concepts of Biology is designed for the typical introductory biology course for nonmajors, covering standard scope and sequence requirements. The text includes interesting applications and conveys the major themes of biology, with content that is meaningful and easy to understand. The book is designed to demonstrate biology concepts and to promote scientific literacy.
About the authors:
Senior Contributing Authors
Samantha Fowler, Clayton State University
Rebecca Roush, Sandhills Community College
James Wise, Hampton University
Contributing Authors
Nick Reeves, Mt. San Jacinto College
Jean DeSaix, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Barbara Kuehner, Hawaii Community College
Brenda Leady, University of Toledo
Bernie Marcus, Genesee Community College
Flora Mhlanga, Lipscomb University
Madeline Mignone, Dominican College
Elizabeth Nash, Long Beach City College
Mark Newton, San Jose City College
Diana Oliveras, University of Colorado Boulder
Joel Piperberg, Millersville University
Ann Reisenauer, San Jose State University
Lynn Rumfelt, Gordon College
Mark Belk, Brigham Young University
Lisa Boggs, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Sherryl Broverman, Duke University
David Byres, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Aaron Cassill, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Karen Champ, College of Central Florida
Sue Chaplin, University of St. Thomas
Diane Day, Clayton State University
Michael Rutledge, Middle Tennessee State University
Ann Paterson, Williams Baptist College
Donald Slish, SUNY Plattsburgh
David Hunnicutt, St. Norbert College
Edward Saiff, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Brian Shmaefsky, Kingwood College
Gary Shultz, Marshall University
Anh-Hue Tu, Georgia Southwestern State University
Elena Zoubina, Bridgewater State University
