| Course | BSC 1005 |
| Title | General Education Biology |
| Reference | 704017 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Description |
This general education biology course covers basic biological concentrating on selected principles that help explain molecular biology, evolution, genetics, growth, disease, and the problems of humans in the environment. It is designed to stimulate interest in the variety of life that exists on our planet, help students recognize the factors that provide order in this variety, and involve students in the processes of inquiry, observation, and analysis of biological organization in order to give them a foundation for intelligently interpreting and evaluating biological topics.
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| Prerequisites |
None
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| Requirements |
All virtual college courses require high-speed access. Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint are standard requirements. Check the 'Technology Requirements' section of your course syllabus once the course begins. Mac users must use Firefox as the default browser for all VC courses.
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| Fees |
| Florida Resident | Distance Learning Fee | VC Course Total | | $336.66 | $45.00 | $381.66 | | | | Non Florida Resident | Distance Learning Fee | VC Course Total | | $1,189.53 | $45.00 | $1,234.53 |
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| Course Competencies |
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
Competency 1:
Understand the nature of science, the scientific method, and the field of biology:
- Describe and/or illustrate the scientific method as presented in the literature
- Differentiate between science and biology
- Compare the characteristics of life common to a simple cell and multicellular organisms
Competency 2:
Become familiar with the basic principles of matter and energy, and understand how they relate to living organisms:
- Define energy and matter, and their laws, and explain how they are used in biological systems
- Explain the basic structure of atoms and molecules and recognize examples of covalent, hydrogen, and ionic bonding
- Explain the importance of water to life and the concept of acidity as well as its expression as pH
- Identify the four major groups of organic compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) and understand their functions in living systems
- Describe the roles of enzymes in the synthesis and decomposition of biological compounds.
- Describe the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Competency 3:
Become familiar with cell structure and function and their interrelationships:
- Describe the structure of a typical cell and explain the function of the sub cellular organelles
- Differentiate between plant and animal cells with respect to structure and function
- Identify and explain methods of cell transport such as diffusion, osmosis, and active transport
Competency 4:
Understand how life perpetuates itself:
- Explain the function and significance of cell division and organism reproduction
- Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis and describe the significant events that occur in each stage of these processes
- Understand the principles of heredity, as illustrated by the work of Gregor Mendel, and their application to humans
- Describe the structure of DNA and understand how it functions to control a cell’s activity and acts as the molecule of heredity
- Explain the processes of DNA replication, transcription and translation
Competency 5:
Understand and appreciate the nature of evolutionary theory:
- Explain the theory of evolution of life on Earth favored by modern scientists
- Describe and explain Darwin’s basic concept of natural selection and how it relates to the theory of evolution
- List and explain the several categories of evidence that support the theory of evolution
- Describe how scientists group living organisms into hierarchical groups based on their shared characteristics, and name and characterize the major systematic taxa
Competency 6:
Understand the relationship between organisms and the environment as well as how the environment is affected by population growth and consumption of resources:
- Identify and explain the ways in which the abiotic environment affects living systems
- Describe the factors that control population growth and the mechanisms involved
- Discuss the various relationships existing among individuals and populations in communities
- Explain the nature of ecosystems with particular reference to their sustainability
- List and describe the major biomes of the world.
- Discuss the major impact humans have on their environment
Competency 7:
Understand how living organisms carry out basic biological processes by becoming familiar with the structure and function of the organ systems. (Optional)
- Describe the basic body plan of humans, including the integumentary, muscular and skeletal systems.
- Understand how the human body coordinates activities through means of the endocrine and nervous systems and defends against disease by means of the immune system.
- Explain digestion and absorption of food and elimination of waste (including both the digestive and urinary systems.)
- Explain the structure and function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
- Explain the structure and function of the reproductive system
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