Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Course Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Course Catalog
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)

BIO 113 - General Biology II

Credits: 4
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 2
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Core
Second semester of biology for majors. Topics covered include fungi, plants, animals and ecology. It is recommended that BIO 112  be taken prior to this course.
Prerequisite: H.S. biology and H.S. chemistry or equivalent
Competencies
1. Demonstrate competence in the laboratory
1. Locate safety equipment in the laboratory 
2. Model safe behavioral practices when in the laboratory
3. Show competence in the use of laboratory equipment
4. Demonstrate proficiency in microscope use
5. Generate experimental data and interpret experimental results
6. Engage in scientific writing 
 
2. Evaluate prokaryotes
1. Understand the 3-domain classification scheme and the criteria used to  construct prokaryote phylogenies
2. Compare and contrast structural and functional characteristics that distinguish Bacteria and Archaea
3. Describe processes of prokaryotic genetic recombination
4. Classify major types of heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism 
5. Recognize the diverse ecological roles of prokaryotes and understand how roles can be exploited for biotechnology applications
6. Observe prokaryotes in the laboratory
 
3. Compare and contrast protists 
1. Explain the origin of life from prokaryotes to multicellular organisms 
2. Understand the central role of endosymbiosis to eukaryote evolution and diversity
3. Identify the major supergroups within Eukarya
4. Understand the ecological, economic and human health roles played by protists
5. Examine protists in the laboratory
 
4. Compare and contrast fungi
1. Discuss phylogeny and classification of fungi
2. Discuss the economic and ecological significant of fungi
3. Describe modes of reproduction and dispersal used by fungi
4. Describe symbiotic relationships between fungi and other species
5. Investigate fungus structure and function in the laboratory
 
5. Compare and contrast plant diversity
1. Discuss phylogeny and classification of plants
2. Describe structural and functional innovations that promote land plant survival
3. Compare structural and functional features of nonvascular and vascular plants
4. Discuss reproductive innovations of seed plants that favored land expansion
5. Compare and contrast the alternation of generation life cycles of plants
6. Compare and contrast the reproductive strategies of angiosperms and gymnosperms
7. Discuss pollination, seed and fruit development
8. Examine plant diversity in the laboratory
 
6. Examine plant anatomy and physiology
1. List the major plant organs and explain how they contribute to meeting functional needs of plants
2. Understand the role of plant meristems in primary and secondary growth
3. Describe active and passive mechanisms for local and long-distance transport in xylem and phloem 
4. Understand how water potential and its components govern water transport
5. Explain how complex hormone interactions govern plant physiological responses
6. Discuss mechanisms that plants use to respond to biotic and abiotic factors
7. Study plant anatomy and physiology in the lab
 
7. Evaluate animal evolution
1. Explain the evolutionary origin of animals 
2. Compare and contrast the body plans of animals
3. Describe the development of germ layers 
4. Discuss the relationship between bilateral symmetry and cephalization
5. Describe the current hypothesis of animal phylogeny
 
8. Compare and contrast invertebrate diversity 
1. Compare and contrast features of major invertebrate taxa 
2. Understand invertebrate phylogeny and classification 
3. Explain the colonization of land by invertebrates
4. Explain the economic, medical, and ecological significance of invertebrates
5. Examine invertebrates in the laboratory
 
9. Compare and contrast vertebrate diversity 
1. Explain the evolutionary origin of vertebrates and their colonization of land
2. Compare and contrast features of major vertebrate taxa
3. Discuss the origin and evolution of tetrapods
4. Explain the terrestrial advantages of amniotes
5. Discuss origin of birds and unique adaptations for flight.
6. Describe mammalian traits
7. Identify primates and primate characteristics
8. Discuss human evolution 
9.  Explain the economic, medical, and ecological significance of vertebrates
10. Examine vertebrates in the laboratory
 
10. Critique animal anatomy, physiology and behavior
1. Compare and contrast animal tissue structure and function
2. Correlate muscular and skeletal systems with animal movement mechanisms
3. Describe the nervous, sensory and endocrine systems
4. Examine circulatory, respiratory and immune systems
5. Explore digestion and excretion
6. Discuss reproduction and development 
7. Explore the evolutionary and ecological basis for animal behavior 
8. Discuss how animals interact with the environment 
9. Examine animal anatomy and physiology in the laboratory
 
11. Survey concepts of ecology
1. Discuss the influence of climate and disturbance on the distribution of aquatic and terrestrial biomes
2. Examine abiotic and biotic factors that influence the abundance and diversity of living organisms
3. Examine ecology in the laboratory
 
12. Examine ecology at the population, community, and ecosystem levels
1. Describe the demographic factors that regulate the growth of populations
2. Identify the models used to describe population growth
3. Explain how the concept of carrying capacity applies to human and other populations
4. Classify the types of interspecific interactions within communities
5. Examine the components of diversity
6. Describe the influence of trophic structure, disturbance, and geography on patterns of diversity
7. Explain the flow of energy and matter through ecosystems
8. Identify the biogeochemical cycles that move nutrients between the living and nonliving parts of ecosystems
 
13. Discuss the importance of conservation biology
1. Explain how human activities can influence diversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels
2. Discuss the role of humans in global climate change
3. Describe scientific approaches to the conservation of populations and landscapes
4. Identify the goals of sustainable development



Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)