Applied Biology and Chemistry

(Biology 2)

Goals and objectives

 

This class is an applied biology class for junior and senior biology students.  This class is composed of 2 main units each semester.  I cover about one unit every quarter.  The chart below summarizes my goals and objectives for each unit.

 

Unit One: Water

Goals & Objectives

A. Understand the physical and chemical properties of water

  1. Understand the importance of the polarity of water
  2. Understand the heat capacity of water
  3. Know the meaning and importance of density
  4. Be able to do empirical and molecular formulas

B. Understand the importance of water to life processes

  1. Be able to explain the transport of water in plants and animals, including the pathway of the circulatory system
  2. Understand all forms of passive and active transport
  3. Know the role of water in removing wastes from living organisms (including the human kidney)
  4. Know that water is involved in many chemical reactions as a reactant, product, or solvent. Be able to balance chemical equations

C. Understand the process of scientific inquiry and technological design

  1. Be able to conduct experiments on the movement of water across a membrane
  2. Be able to prepare percent by weight, percent by volume and molar solutions for experimentation, then calculate how to dilute them
  3. Know the proper name and use of common scientific laboratory equipment
  4. Be able to collect and analyze data to come to a valid conclusion

 

 

Unit Two: Continuity of Life

Goals & Objectives

D. Understand the fundamental concepts and principles of DNA

  1. Know the physical and chemical properties of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
  2. Know the basic structure of the cell and chromosome theory
  3. Understand the process of protein synthesis and the importance of proteins
  4. Understand some of the current and future possibilities of genetic engineering and biotechnology
  5. Understand the the role of mitosis and cell division

E. Understand asexual and sexual reproduction

  1. Know how bacteria and other single celled organisms reproduce
  2. Be able to grow bacteria by simulating the conditions necessary
  3. Be able to do and understand an antibiotic sensitivity test on bacteria
  4. Understand the process of meiosis in sexual reproduction
  5. Know the human male and female reproductive anatomy
  6. Understand the role of certain hormones in control of the human male and female reproductive systems
  7. Know how all the current forms of human birth control work