Physical and chemical principles underlying biological architecture and function. In combination with BIOL 141, BIOL 110 satisfies General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.
48.000-54.000 Total Hours
0.000 Total Hours
96.000-108.000 Total Hours
48.000-54.000 Total Hours
Prerequisite: None Prerequisite or Corequisite: None Concurrent Corequisite: None Course Advisories: None Limitation on Enrollment: None
Course Objectives:
List and describe the forces, elements and conditions of Earth through time important to life's origin, evolution, diversification and extinction.
Draw general structures for the major molecules characteristic of living systems and describe their function in biological architecture.
Describe stress-strain curves mathematically and graphically using appropriate examples of stresses that may be applied to biomaterials and that result in optimal form of organisms.
Describe the processes and structures for exchange of molecules with the physical world and how molecules are modified through metabolic pathways for structural and bioenergetic needs.
Describe mechanical and chemical principles underlying nerve conduction and muscle contraction.
Compare and contrast different mechanisms of support and locomotion in air, on land and in water from the underlying principles of physics and chemistry.
Compare and contrast feeding mechanisms from protists to vertebrates.
Describe the mechanics and chemistry of sensory perception with a detailed knowledge of hearing and vision.
Describe the processes by which fossils are reconstructed with a knowledge of the general principles described throughout the course.
Student Learning Outcomes
BIOL110 SLO1 - List and describe the physical forces and elements important to life on Earth, including interactions of electromagnetic radiation and matter, light and color, how solar radiation is distributed through movements of wind and water, and how metabolic activities are used to develop complex biological architectures.
BIOL110 SLO2 - Compute and describe mathematically/graphically, with appropriate examples, the stresses (compression, tension, strain and shear) that may be applied to biomaterials and the generation of optimal form in living organisms, considering surface-to-volume relationships, strengths and durability of materials, and how their structures resist failure.
BIOL110 SLO3 - Describe mechanical and chemical principles underlying growth, maintenance and locomotion of organisms, including metabolism and bioenergetics, allometric growth, structural support, nutrient transport, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and different modes of locomotion and/or transport.
BIOL110 SLO4 - Compare and contrast metabolic and structural adaptations of organisms that allow their successes in different habitats and how organisms respond to changing conditions.
Earth structure Origin of Universe Measuring Earth Molecular geometries Structure of the physical world Water Tides Biochemistry
Structural biomaterials Lipids and membranes: volumes and surfaces Protein: wool, silk and spider snares Polysaccharides: cell walls and wood Composite materials: insect cuticles and bone Biological ceramics: egg shells and clam shells
Genome structure and function DNA structure and function DNA control Mendelian and population genetics
Optimal form Soap films and minimal surfaces Cell and tissue architecture Natural history of size On being large: trees and elephants On being small: unicells and mites
Physiology Enzymes and metabolic pathways Homeostasis Photosynthesis and respiration Heat and water conservation Nerve and muscle Vertebrate Vision Vertebrate Hearing
Functional design Countercurrent exchange: gills and flippers Surface and volume: water conservation in rats and plants Support: hydrostatic, internal and external skeletons Feeding structures Swimming: fins and flagella Terrestrial locomotion Evolution and aerodynamics of flight
Behavior Electric fish Origin of Migration Biological Clocks Navigation
Fossil reconstructions Adaptations for life on land: plants and animals Reptile to mammal hot-blooded dinosaurs
Methods of Instruction
Directed Study
Discussion
Distance Education
Lecture
(a) Fully online textbook integrated into the course website; (b) online discussions via Canvas
All exams are of the narrative essay form following a style guide specific to the course. Each exam comprises four or five questions (with subparts) requiring use of information from the course textbook, course lectures, and other sources as assigned. Sample Question: Describe the fundamental characteristics of structural materials produced by animals and how these materials meet their functional requirements. Include in your answer the definitions of stress, strain, stiffness, plastic, elastic and strength while comparing spider silk protein and synthetically produced nylon and rayon.
Assigned reading from text and lecture supplements. Assigned reading from outside sources. Periodic quizzes on assigned reading. Participation in discussions. Four essay examinations.
1. Periodic quizzes on assigned reading
2. Participation in discussions
3. Examinations
Natural Science Friesen, Larry Jon, NatureJournal, 2020.