BIOL 1112 Syllabus

Subject Code

BIOL

Course Number

1112

Course Title

Biology II

Prerequisites

BIOL 1111 with a grade of C or higher, BIOL 1111L with a grade of C or higher

Corequisites

BIOL 1112L

Terms Offered

Offered every semester

Credit Hours

(3-0-3)

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to basic evolutionary concepts. The course emphasizes animal and plant diversity, structure and function including reproduction and development, and the dynamics of ecology as it pertains to populations, communities, ecosystems, and biosphere. Topics include principles of evolution, classification and characterizations of organisms, plant structure and function, animal structure and function, principles of ecology, and biosphere.

Course Outcomes

Principles of Evolution


Order


Description

1

Describe the process of microevolution.

2

Explain allele frequencies.

3

Describe directional selection.

4

Explain stabilizing selection.

5

Describe disruptive selection.

6

 

Characterize sexual selection.

7

 

Explain the concept of gene flow.

8

 

Describe genetic drift and genetic shift.

9

 

Describe the process of speciation.

10

 

Describe allopatric speciation.

11

 

Describe sympatric speciation.

12

 

Describe parapatric speciation.

13

 

Describe various patterns of speciation.

14

 

Explain the concepts of macroevolution.

15

 

Explain the presence of fossil records.

16

 

Describe evidence of biogeography.

17

 

Explain morphological divergence and convergence in comparative morphology.

18

 

Describe comparative biochemistry.

19

 

Explain the use of taxonomy in biology.

Classification and Characterization of Organisms


Order


Description

1

Describe and identify viruses and prions.

2

Compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structure.

3

Describe and identify bacteria.

4

Describe and identify protistans.

5

Describe and identify fungi.

6

 

Describe characteristics of nonvascular and vascular plants.

7

 

Identify and characterize invertebrate animals.

8

 

Identify and characterize vertebrate animals.

Plant Structure and Function


Order


Description

1

Describe and compare vascular and nonvascular plant structure.

2

Describe basic plant structure including shoot and root systems.

3

Describe basic plant tissue systems including ground, vascular and dermal tissues.

4

Compare and contrast the types and composition of various leaf, stem and root structures.

5

 

Describe plant nutrition.

6

 

Explain nutritional requirements for plant growth.

7

 

Describe the properties of soil and how they meet the nutritional needs of plants.

8

 

Describe absorption of water and nutrients in root systems.

9

 

Explain the movement of water in transpiration.

10

 

Explain water conservation strategies in plant structure.

11

 

Describe translocation of organic compounds in the plant.

12

 

Explain plant growth and responses.

13

 

Describe the process of seed germination.

14

 

Explain the role of hormones in plant growth.

15

 

Explain the effect of environmental stresses on plant growth.

16

 

Describe basic lifecycles and senescence of the plant.

17

 

Describe, compare and contrast both sexual and asexual methods of plant reproduction.

18

 

Describe saprophytic and gametophytic plant structures.

19

 

Describe the reproductive structures of the flower.

20

 

Describe seed formation, fruit formation and dispersal strategies.

Animal Structure and Function


Order


Description

1

Describe variations in body plans and how they affect survivability of representative invertebrate and vertebrate animals.

2

Compare and contrast organ systems of various invertebrate and vertebrate animals.

3

Describe and compare the various mechanisms of invertebrate and vertebrate animal

reproduction and development.

Principles of Ecology


Order


Description

1

Characterize a population.

2

Describe population dynamics.

3

Describe factors that influence population size.

4

Relate factors that effect the human populations.

5

 

Describe patterns of instinctive and learned behaviors within the population.

6

 

Characterize a community.

7

 

Describe patterns of species interaction with various communities.

8

 

Explain the impact of internal and external forces on the stability of a community.

9

 

Explain community interactions.

10

 

Describe patterns of biodiversity.

11

 

Characterize an ecosystem.

12

 

Describe a food web.

13

 

Explain and characterize ecological pyramids.

14

 

Describe the various biogeochemical cycles.

Biosphere


Order


Description

1

Describe the atmosphere.

2

Describe the lithosphere.

3

Describe the hydrosphere.

4

Characterize major biomes.

5

Explain human impact on the biosphere.