Biology Course Outline
Biology Course Outline
General Biology I
101-NYA-05
Text Book: Reece, J.B. et al., 2021, Campbell Biology, Third Canadian Edition, Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Reece, J.B. et al., 2018, Campbell Biology, Second Canadian Edition, Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Reece, J.B. et al., 2012, Campbell Biology, Canadian Edition, Pearson Education Canada Inc.
(both hard copy and etext versions are available for this and the Second Canadian Edition). Can be
purchased at Concordia bookstore.
* This textbook is complemented with a hard copy study guide: Reece, J.B., Urry, L.A. and
Cain, M.L., 2021, Study Guide for Campbell Biology, Third Canadian Edition or, 2018, Second
Canadian Edition or, 2012, first Canadian Edition can be used.
For more information on citation styles, consult the Marianopolis Library’s citation style links
under the “Citation and research help” heading on www.marianopolis.edu/campus-life/library/
Objectives: To study various levels of organization of living organisms, their diversity, evolution, and mode of life.
General Biology I is the first college-level biology course and is a required course for all science students. It is a
prerequisite for all other biology courses offered in the science program. By studying living organisms at the
molecular, cellular and organismal levels students learn the relation between structure and function. The
characteristics of the major taxonomic divisions are described, with emphasis on adaptation to the environment.
Students are introduced to the concept of the variability of organisms, the sources and inheritance of variation at
the individual and population levels, and the theory of evolution by natural selection. The interaction of organisms
within the ecosystem is discussed. Throughout, consideration is given to the integrative aspects of each topic.
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As they work through these specific objectives, students will also satisfy other targeted goals. Namely:
Methodology:
1. The ponderation is 3-2-3. That is, the course material is presented in the form of lectures (3 hours per
week) and is complemented by laboratory exercises (2 hours per week). Students are expected to spend 3
hours a week in home study, lab preparation and assignments. Students are encouraged to use the Study
Guide.
2. Students can opt to write one enriched test to meet the requirements for Enriched BIO NYA (details TBA).
(1) To recognize the relationship between structure and function at different levels of organization.
Performance criteria
1.1.1 Define an autotroph and a heterotroph and understand the transfer of energy in
photosynthesis and cellular respiration.*
Learning objectives
Chapter 1: overview, concept 1.1
Performance criteria
1.2.1 The concept of an ecosystem.
1.2.2 Explain the transfer of energy through the ecosystem and define the various trophic levels.
1.2.3 Understand the transfer of toxic elements through the ecosystem.
Learning objectives
Chapter 54: concept 54.2; Chapter 55: overview, concepts 55.1, 55.2, 55.3, 55.4
define an ecosystem
understand the difference between the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem
the unidirectional flow of energy in an ecosystem
food chains and webs
producers and consumers of the ecosystem
Performance criteria
1.3.1 Understand the significance of the physical and chemical properties of water.*
1.3.2 Describe the chemical structures of the various macromolecule found in living organisms,
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) and the biological function(s) of each.*
Learning objectives
Chapter 3: overview, concepts 3.1, 3.2; Chapter 5: overview, concepts 5.1,5.2, 5.3, 5.4 (omit
four levels of Protein structure), 5.5; Chapter 8: concept 8.3
Performance criteria
1.4.1 Understand the structure and function of cell organelles.
1.4.2 Describe the Fluid Mosaic model of the cell membrane.
1.4.3 Relate the permeability properties of the cell membrane to its chemical structure.*
1.4.4 Describe the cytoskeleton.
Learning objectives
Chapter 6: overview, concepts 6.1 (omit cell Fractionation), 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7; Chapter 7:
overview, concepts 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5
the structure and function of cellular organelles (nucleus, nuclear envelope, nucleolus,
ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum (smooth and rough), vacuoles, vesicles, Golgi apparatus,
lysosomes, peroxisomes, mitochondrion, chloroplast) comparing prokaryote and eukaryote
and plant and animal cells
microtubules, intermediate filaments, microfilaments, cilia, flagella and the cytoskeleton
the roles of phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol in the Fluid Mosaic model of the cell
membrane
passive movement across the cell membrane: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis
active movement across the cell membrane: active transport, endocytosis (phagocytosis)
and exocytosis
Performance criteria
2.1.1 Describe the structure of DNA and RNA.*
2.1.2 Understand replication, transcription, translation and the genetic code.
Learning objectives
Chapter 16: concept 16.1; Chapter 17: concept 17.1 Basic Principles of Transcription and
Translation
DNA, RNA, nucleotide, double helix
complementary base pairing, anti-parallel nature of DNA strands
DNA replication
transcription, mRNA, codons, tRNA, anti-codon, rRNA, ribosomes
translation
Performance criteria
2.2.1 Describe the events of the cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis.
2.2.2 Understand the biological significance of sexual reproduction and the sources of variability that
arise from meiosis.*
Performance criteria
2.3.1 Understand Mendel’s laws.
2.3.2 Identify patterns of inheritance and calculate probabilities in genetic crosses, pedigree
analysis.*
2.3.3 Explain epistasis, pleiotropy and polygenic traits.
Learning objectives
Chapter 14: overview, concepts 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4
Mendel’s laws: The Law of Segregation and The Law of Independent Assortment
gene, allele, phenotype, genotype, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, recessive,
monohybrid cross (3:1 phenotypic ratio), dihybrid cross (9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio), test
cross, co-dominance, incomplete dominance
autosomal and sex-linked crosses, autosome, sex chromosomes (X and Y), epistasis
pedigree analysis
(3) The biodiversity of living organisms: the main taxonomic groups and their evolutionary relationships and
physiology (structure: function)
Performance criteria
Describe the characteristic features of representative organisms of each of the 3 domains and their
sub-groups.
Learning objectives
Chapter 27: overview, concepts 27.1, 27.3, 27.4, 27.5; Chapter 28: overview, concepts 28.1,
28.5; Chapter 31: overview, concept 31.1; Chapter 29: overview, concepts 29.1, 29.3; Chapter
30: overview, concepts 30.1, 30.3; Chapter 36: concepts 36.3, 36.4, 36.5; Chapter 32: concept
32.3; Chapter 33: overview, concepts 33.1, 33.2, 33.3, 33.4, 33.5; Chapter 34: concepts 34.1,
34.3, 34.4, 34.5, 34.6, 34.7; Chapter 41: concept 41.2; Chapter 42: concepts 42.1, 42.5, 42.6;
Chapter 44: concepts 44.1, 44.2, 43.3
3.1 Describe the characteristic features of representative organisms that are prokaryotes.
Domain Bacteria: prokaryotic, heterotrophic/autotrophic, cyanobacteria, symbionts, decomposers
3.2 Describe the characteristic features of representative organisms that are eukaryotes.
Domain Eukarya: eukaryotic, unicellular/multicellular, autotrophic/heterotrophic
3.2.3 Describe the Life cycle of plants and their adaptations to live on land.
Kingdom Plantae: eukaryotic, autotrophic, multicellular
alternation of generations: sporophyte, spore, gametophyte, gamete, zygote, embryo, seed
Phylum Bryophyta (mosses): gametophyte dominant, sporophyte dependent on
gametophyte, no vascular system, no true roots or leaves, swimming sperm, seedless
Phylum Pterophyta (ferns): sporophyte dominant, independent gametophyte, vascular
tissue, true roots and leaves, swimming sperm, seedless
Phylum Coniferophyta (conifers): sporophyte dominant, dependent gametophyte, vascular
tissue, cones, pollen, naked seed
Phylum Anthophyta (Angiosperms, flowering plants): sporophyte dominant, dependent
gametophyte, vascular tissue, flowers, anther, stamen, pollen, non-naked seed, fruit
3.2.4 Describe the characteristics of animals and describe the evolution of the digestive, circulatory
and respiratory systems.
Kingdom Animalia: eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic, asymmetric, radial and bilateral
symmetry, cephalization, diplo- and triploblastic, ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm,
acoelomate, pseudocoelomate, coelomate, protostome vs deuterostome, spiral vs radial
cleavage, determinate vs indeterminate cleavage, gastro-vascular cavity (incomplete
digestive system), gut (complete digestive tract), open vs closed circulatory systems
Phylum Porifera (sponges): filter feeder, intra-cellular digestion, osculum, asymmetric or
radial symmetry
Phylum Cnidaria (hydra, jellyfish): cnidocytes, nematocysts, diploblastic, gastro-vascular
cavity, medusa, polyp, intra- and extracellular digestion, radial symmetry
Phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms: planarians, tapeworms, flukes): bilateral symmetry,
cephalization, triploplastic, mesoderm, gastro-vascular cavity, intra- and extra-cellular
digestion.
Phylum Nematoda (round worms): pseudocoelom, no circulatory system
Phylum Annelida (segmented worms): coelomate, protostome, gut (complete digestive
tract), crop, gizzard, intestine, heart, closed circulatory system
Phylum Mollusca (snails, clams, squid, octopus): coelomate, protostome, 3 body parts
(mantle, foot, visceral mass), gut (complete digestive tract), open circulatory system
(except for squid and octopus), gills (aquatic) or lungs
Phylum Arthropoda (insects, crayfish, arachnids, centipedes, millipedes): coelomate,
protostome, exoskeleton (chitin), jointed appendages, tracheal tubes (Land insects), book
lungs (arachnids), gills (lobster)
Phylum Echinodermata (starfish, sea urchins): coelomate, deuterostome, adult radial
symmetry, water vascular system
Phylum Chordata (vertebrates: cartilaginous fish, bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds,
mammals): notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, tail
4) Evolution
Performance criteria
4.1 Understand the Hardy Weinberg law and the conditions necessary to maintain an equilibrium.*
4.2 Describe the modern theory of evolution based on natural selection
4.3 Describe the process of speciation (allopatric speciation, sympatric speciation, mechanisms for
reproductive isolation)
Learning objectives
Chapter 22: overview, concepts 22. 1, 22.2; Chapter 23: concept 23.2, 23.3, 23.4; Chapter 24:
overview, concepts 24.1, 24.2
gene pool, p + q = 1, p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
population size, random mating, mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, bottleneck effect,
founder effect
modern theory of evolution (Darwin)
natural selection
forces of natural selection: environment, non-random mating, differential fertility
camouflage, Batesian mimicry, Mullerian mimicry
trends of selection: directional, stabilizing, diversifying
speciation, allopatric speciation (with geographic isolation), sympatric speciation
reproductive isolating mechanisms (pre-zygotic: ecological, temporal, behavioral,
mechanical, gametic, and post-zygotic: reduced hybrid viability, hybrid infertility, hybrid
breakdown)
The evaluation policy in this course is in accord with those policies specified in IPESA, Institutional Policy
on Evaluation of Student Achievement.
1. The student will demonstrate his/her knowledge of class material by writing two class tests during
the regular lecture periods, and a final examination during the final exam period.
2. At least 10-20% of the questions on class tests and the final exam will be designated integrative and
will be on the topics identified by (*) in the list of specific objectives. The grade on these integrative
questions will be included in the overall grade.
3. To demonstrate his/her understanding of lab material, the student will write two lab exams, requiring
the identification of specimens, definitions of terminology and explanation of biological principles
studied in the lab sessions. A student who has not attended labs cannot take the lab exam.
4. Late assignments or lab reports may not be accepted or may be subject to a penalty at the
instructor’s discretion.
Marking Marking
TESTS
Scheme #1 Scheme #2
The final evaluation for this course is comprised of the following: Final Exam and Lab Tests.
For further information about evaluation, please consult the Institutional Policy for the Evaluation of Student
Achievement (IPESA) and the Language Policy available at www.marianopolis.edu/policies
ENRICHMENT COMPONENT:
Academic Integrity
In keeping with the principles of fairness and honesty and consistent with the standards upheld by
institutions of higher learning, the College is committed to promoting and protecting academic integrity.
Students are expected to submit work that is entirely their own and properly acknowledge any other
person’s contribution to their work, when such contributions are permitted, in conformity with the
guidelines provided by the teacher.
The use of Artificial Intelligence text generating software is not allowed in course evaluations unless
explicitly indicated by your professor.
Cheating, whether intentional or unintentional, constitutes a serious academic offence. It includes, but is
not restricted to, being in possession of or making use of material, tools, or services that have not been
authorized by the teacher or are not permitted under the College’s Examination Rules, obtaining or
providing unauthorized assistance for any submitted work, making or implying false claims about the
submission of work, plagiarism, making false claims or submitting false documentation related to
evaluations or other academic activities, or attempting to do any of the above.
Plagiarism is a form of cheating that occurs when a student presents or submits the work of another, in
whole or in part, as their own. It includes but is not limited to using material from any source that is not
properly cited, submitting someone else’s paper as one’s own and receiving assistance from tutors, family,
or friends that calls the originality of the work into question. Plagiarism also includes presenting or
submitting one’s own work when such work has already been submitted for evaluation in another course.
Suspected instances of cheating and plagiarism may be discussed with the Department Chair and will be
reported to the Associate Dean, Student Success. The sanction shall be decided by the Associate Dean,
Student Success and may include, but is not limited to, a grade of zero on the evaluation, a grade of zero in the
course, suspension, and/or expulsion from the College. The severity and nature of the infraction, as well as any
prior or concurrent infractions, will be taken into consideration when determining the sanction. For work in
which cheating, including plagiarism, has been found, the teacher cannot permit a student to rewrite or re-
submit the work, nor accept any replacement for the work. The teacher also cannot adjust the grading scheme
of the course, and the work is excluded from the right to a grade appeal. Regulations related to cheating and
plagiarism are available online in the IPESA at www.marianopolis.edu/ipesa, Section 4.
Language Policy
The Marianopolis graduate shall be prepared to bring the powers of thought and language not only to the
challenge of academic studies but also to that of personal and public leadership in the contemporary world. In all
course activities, attention shall be paid to the structure of thought and the language characteristic of the
discipline; to reinforcing and integrating the language objectives of the different programs; and to the criteria of
the ministerial exit examination in language: comprehension and insight, organization of response, and expression.
High standards in the quality of written and spoken language shall be maintained. The Language Policy is available
online on the College website.
In addition, the teacher for the course will make a French-English glossary of common biology-related terms available
to students on Omnivox or at E-Reserves: Vocabularies LibGuide.
Copyrighted Material
Any digital files of print copyrighted material, (including selections from books, journals, magazines, newspapers,
or other print copyrighted sources), shared by the teacher to the students in this course are intended for the
student’s personal use only. The student is permitted to make a single print copy of the digital file. The student
may not share the digital files with anyone outside this course.
Absence for medical reasons requires a note from a physician. If you know in advance that you must
miss a lab and you have presented a valid excuse to your teacher, then you may ask the technician if it is
possible to take the lab in another section for that week. Absence without a valid excuse means you
will not be fulfilling the targeted program goal mentioned above, therefore, marks will be deducted.
If you arrive late, you will be missing instructions that include issues of procedure and safety, and
therefore, you will not be meeting the targeted goals mentioned above. If this occurs without a valid
medical or urgent personal reason, marks will be deducted.
In order to ensure that no student has an unfair advantage over the other students, the only
calculator permitted during quizzes, class tests and final examinations at the College is the
Texas Instruments Model TI-30XS Multiview.
Several components of this course address the integrative activity component required of all
compulsory courses in the Science program. The following topics are integrative in nature:
All of these topics will be examined on class tests, laboratory exams and the final exams. The approximate
contribution to the final course grade is 10%.
Lab technicians: Alexandra Adam and Renu Chitra Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Schedule