I. General Information
1. Course Title:
General Biology I
2. Course Prefix & Number:
BIOL 1431
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 5
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 4
4. Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the basic life process at the cellular level including the chemistry of life, organization of the cell, membranes, energy, enzymes, respiration, photosynthesis, cell division, Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics (DNA), and genetic engineering. There is a strong emphasis on problem-solving and the scientific process. Three hours lecture and two 2-hour labs weekly.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
BIOL 1431 - General Biology I
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
BIOL 1431 - General Biology I
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution |
Course Number and Title |
Credits |
|
St. Cloud State University |
BIOL 151 - Cell Function and Inheritance |
4.0 |
|
Bemidji State University |
BIOL 1211 - Introductory Biology I |
4.0 |
|
Minnesota State University Moorhead |
BIOL 111 - Cell Biology |
4.0 |
|
Southwest Minnesota State University |
BIOL 200 - Cell Biology |
3.0 |
|
Minnesota State University Mankato |
BIOL 105 - General Biology I |
4.0 |
3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- CLEP
III. Course Purpose
MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 3 – Natural Sciences
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate reading and listening skills |
Communicate effectively with others using a variety of contexts and formats, which include writing, speaking, reading, listening, and interpersonal skills. |
| Analyze and follow a sequence of operations |
Identify, evaluate, and apply critical thinking and creative problem solving skills using multiple perspectives and appropriate technologies. |
| Utilize appropriate technology |
Identify, evaluate, and apply critical thinking and creative problem solving skills using multiple perspectives and appropriate technologies. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome |
MnTC
Goal Area |
|
Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories. |
3 |
|
Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments. |
3 |
|
Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing. |
3 |
|
Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies. |
3 |
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- The Molecular Basis of Life
- The Science of Biology
- The Nature of Molecules
- The Chemical Building Blocks of Life
- The Biology of the Cell
- Cell Structure
- Membranes
- Energy and Metabolism
- How Cells Harvest Energy
- Photosynthesis
- Cell-Cell Interactions
- How Cells Divide
- Genetic and Molecular Biology
- Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
- Patterns of Inheritance
- Chromosomes, Mapping and the Meiosis Inheritance
- DNA: The Genetic Material
- Genes and How They Work
- Control of Gene Expression
- Biotechnology
- Genomics
- Cellular Mechanisms of Development
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- The Molecular Basis of Life
- Lab Safety
- Scientific Method – Ob-scertainer
- Water the Cradle of Life
- Size, Shape and Charge – Molecular Models
- The Biology of the Cell
- The Microscope
- The Cell
- Diffusion, Osmosis and Membranes
- Respiration
- Photosynthesis
- Mitosis
- Genetic and Molecular Biology
- Meiosis
- Problem Solving in Genetics
- DNA > RNA > Protein
- DNA Isolation
- DNA Restriction Analysis
- Development
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
General Biology I
2. Course Prefix & Number:
BIOL 1431
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 5
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 4
4. Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the basic life process at the cellular level including the chemistry of life, organization of the cell, membranes, energy, enzymes, respiration, photosynthesis, cell division, Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics (DNA), and genetic engineering. There is a strong emphasis on problem-solving and the scientific process. Three hours lecture and two 2-hour labs weekly.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
BIOL 1431 - General Biology I
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
BIOL 1431 - General Biology I
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution |
Course Number and Title |
Credits |
|
St. Cloud State University |
BIOL 151 - Cell Function and Inheritance |
4.0 |
|
Bemidji State University |
BIOL 1211 - Introductory Biology I |
4.0 |
|
Minnesota State University Moorhead |
BIOL 111 - Cell Biology |
4.0 |
|
Southwest Minnesota State University |
BIOL 200 - Cell Biology |
3.0 |
|
Minnesota State University Mankato |
BIOL 105 - General Biology I |
4.0 |
3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- CLEP
III. Course Purpose
2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 3 – Natural Sciences
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate reading and listening skills |
Communicate effectively with others using a variety of contexts and formats, which include writing, speaking, reading, listening, and interpersonal skills. |
| Analyze and follow a sequence of operations |
Identify, evaluate, and apply critical thinking and creative problem solving skills using multiple perspectives and appropriate technologies. |
| Utilize appropriate technology |
Identify, evaluate, and apply critical thinking and creative problem solving skills using multiple perspectives and appropriate technologies. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome |
MnTC
Goal Area |
|
Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories. |
3 |
|
Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments. |
3 |
|
Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing. |
3 |
|
Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies. |
3 |
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- The Molecular Basis of Life
- The Science of Biology
- The Nature of Molecules
- The Chemical Building Blocks of Life
- The Biology of the Cell
- Cell Structure
- Membranes
- Energy and Metabolism
- How Cells Harvest Energy
- Photosynthesis
- Cell-Cell Interactions
- How Cells Divide
- Genetic and Molecular Biology
- Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
- Patterns of Inheritance
- Chromosomes, Mapping and the Meiosis Inheritance
- DNA: The Genetic Material
- Genes and How They Work
- Control of Gene Expression
- Biotechnology
- Genomics
- Cellular Mechanisms of Development
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- The Molecular Basis of Life
- Lab Safety
- Scientific Method – Ob-scertainer
- Water the Cradle of Life
- Size, Shape and Charge – Molecular Models
- The Biology of the Cell
- The Microscope
- The Cell
- Diffusion, Osmosis and Membranes
- Respiration
- Photosynthesis
- Mitosis
- Genetic and Molecular Biology
- Meiosis
- Problem Solving in Genetics
- DNA > RNA > Protein
- DNA Isolation
- DNA Restriction Analysis
- Development