SYLLABUS FOR BIOLOGY I
Science Skills and Attitudes, Applications, and Contexts of Biology
Observation. Exploratory activities. Identification of variables. Development of problem statements. Types of investigation designs. Hypotheses. Analysis. Collection and organization of data. Qualitative and quantitative data. Interpretation of experimental data using mathematics and statistics. Conclusions. Analysis of conclusions. Identification, function, care, and use of scientific equipment. Accurate measuring. Safety precautions and procedures.
Beneficial and detrimental effects of biological discoveries on the quality of human life. Current science-technology and society problems that can be solved with biological knowledge. Science and pseudo science. Criteria used by biologists for judging the validity of theories. Research and career opportunities in the field of Biology. Contributions of biologists from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Importance of continuous development and sharing of scientific information. Development of the germ theory of disease. Effects of the microscope on the development of biological science.
Cellular Structures and Functions
The 4 major classes of biochemical compounds, their composition, their role and their importance in the cell. Role of enzymes during anabolic and catabolic reactions. Enzymes specificity. The ATP-ADP cycle and study its role in cellular processes. Diffusion, osmosis, and active transport. Functions of each organelle. Photosynthesis and its importance. Anaerobic and aerobic respiration and their importance.
Cell Reproduction
Functions of cell division in unicellular and multicellular organisms.
Mendelian Genetics
Mendel's laws, inheritance, traits. Use of Punnet square to solve monohybrid and dihybrid genetic problems. Dominance, incomplete dominance, sex determination, and sex-linked traits. Gene and chromosomal mutation involved in human disorders. Sex-linked and sex-influenced traits.
Chemical Basis of Genetics
DNA, chromosomes and genes in cellular reproduction. Structure of DNA. Code sequences, protein synthesis, and traits.
Biotechnology
Steps in the genetic engineering experiments. Benefits of genetic engineering for humans and the environment. Medical and ethical issues.
The Evolution of Organisms
Adaptation and Evolution. Darwin and natural selection. Fossils, biochemical similarities, and homologous structures used to substantiate biological changes through time. Scientific explanations for the origins of life (abiogenesis and biogenesis). Environmental
Factors that influence natural selection. Social and scientific outcomes resulting from the theory of evolution.
Ecology
Biotic and abiotic components and their importance. Biomes. Interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem. Carbon, Nitrogen, and Water cycles and their relationship to maintain life. Food chains and food webs. Symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, competition, and predation. Overpopulation and its consequences. Primary and secondary succession. Environmental problems, their repercussion, and possible solutions. Pollution affecting health, life span, the extinction of species, and changes in the environment. Habitat. Creation and change of habitat.
Diversity of Monerans, Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animals
Levels of Organization. Modern Classification Systems. Taxonomy and dichotomous key to place species in the five kingdoms. Viruses, monerans, protists, and fungi. Pathogenic organisms, diseases, methods of transmission, and effects upon the human body. Tests to identify bacteria. Helpful and harmful microbial processes. Antibiotics, vaccines, interferon in the control of diseases. Antigen-antibody reaction and its protection role.
Vascular and non vascular plants. Plant adaptations to land. Plant structures and functions. Monocots and dicots. Reproduction in higher plants (Gymnosperms and angiosperms) and lower plants (algae, mosses, liverworts, and ferns). Tropisms and role of plant hormones. Biological and economic importance of some plants. Essential features in the maintenance and propagation of plants.
Division of labor and specialization. Development of systems among major invertebrates: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, and Echinoderms. Major distinguishing characteristics among them.
Major
characteristics of subphyllum vertebrata and
relationship between structures and survival strategies. Comparison between
vertebrates and invertebrates. Symmetry. Endotherms and ectotherms. Behavior as a survival strategy. Relationship among the
number of eggs, methods of fertilization, and rates of embryonic development as
related to species survival. Major anatomical features of the
human systems and their primary physiology to other animal systems.
Homeostatic processes. Nervous and endocrine systems, coordinators and
producers of most body functions and external actions. Functions
of the immune system. Types of diseases and disorders and their effect
upon the human body (degenerative, deficiency, hereditary, and contagious).
Human Body
Circulatory
system. Factors
affecting blood pressure, volume, flow, and viscosity. Immune
system. Functions of the immune system. Types of immune responses. Human health
and disease transmission. Fight against infectious diseases. Human Reproductive system. Basic anatomy
and physiology of males and females. Human
development. Sequence of stages from fertilization to birth.
External membranes.
Biochemistry
Macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids). Role of proteins in the body. Enzymes as catalysts. Factors affecting enzyme function: pH, temperature, and concentration.