The following lecture schedule contains links to the book sections from Biology from OpenStax College (CC-BY 4.0) Readings are organized into 4 units that cover the material for the 4 exams in the course.
| Week | Lectures | Topic with link to Openstax pages | Openlab Supplement |
| I | 1. | BASICS Introduction to the Course Definition, Characteristics and Hierarchy of Life Scope of Ecology: Habitat, Population, Community, Ecosystem The Scientific Method Evolution and Classification Systematics, taxonomy, phylogeny |
Biology Basics |
| 2. | THE ORIGIN & EVOLUTION OF LIFE Darwin & Evolution The Origin of Life The Geological Time Scale Cellular History Kingdoms and Domains |
Evolution and Geological Time | |
| II | 3. | INORGANIC CHEMISTRY I Definition, Classification and Properties of Matter Atomic Structure The periodic Table Isotopes Electrons and Energy Energy Chemical Reactions: Exergonic and endergonic Activation Energy Oxidation and Reduction |
Chemistry |
| 4. | INORGANIC CHEMISTRY II Elements, Compounds, Molecules and Mixtures Bonds: Weak and Strong |
||
| III | 5. | WATER & pH Importance and Properties of H2O Acids, Bases, pH, Buffers |
Water |
| 6. | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Importance of Carbon Organic vs. Inorganic Compounds The Hydrocarbons Functional Groups Isomers |
Organic Chemistry | |
| IV | 7. | Examination I (Lectures 1-6 inclusive) | |
| 8. | MACROMOLECULES I Monomers and Polymers Dehydration Synthesis and Hydrolysis Carbohydrates Lipids |
Macromolecules I | |
| V | 9. | MACROMOLECULES II Proteins Nucleic Acids ATP Enzymes and Metabolic Pathways |
Macromolecules II |
| 10. | CELLS
The Cell Theory |
Cells | |
| VI | 11. | THE EUKARYOTIC CELL
Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function |
Eukaryotes |
| 12. | MEMBRANES & TRANSPORT Membrane Structure and Function Passive Transport Processes Active Transport Processes Cell Surface Modifications |
Membranes | |
| VII | 13. | Examination II (Lectures 8-12 inclusive) | |
| 14. | ENERGY Cells and the Flow of Energy Metabolic Reactions and Energy Transformations Metabolic Pathways Oxidation and Reduction |
Energy | |
| VIII | 15. | CELLULAR RESPIRATION I Cellular Respiration (Anaerobic) Outside the Mitochondria: Glycolysis Fermentation |
Glycolysis and Fermentation |
| 16. | CELLULAR RESPIRATION II Cellular Respiration (Aerobic) Inside the Mitochondria: The Preparatory Reaction (Hub) Citric Acid Cycle (TCA) Electron Transport Chain (ETC) Metabolic Pool |
Aerobic Respiration | |
| IX | 17. | PHOTOSYNTHESIS I Photosynthetic Organisms The Process of Photosynthesis Plant as Solar Energy Converters: Light Reactions |
Light Capture |
| 18. | PHOTOSYNTHESIS II Dark Reactions: Calvin Cycle Reactions (Carbon Fixation) Other Types of Photosynthesis |
Carbon Fixation | |
| X | 19. | ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION The Cell Cycle and Its Control Mitosis and Cytokinesis The Cell Cycle and Cancer Prokaryotic Cell Division |
Cell Cycle |
| 20. | SEXUAL REPRODUCTION Halving the Chromosome Number Genetic Variation The Phases of Meiosis Comparison of Meiosis and Mitosis The Human Life Cycle (Spermatogenesis & Oogenesis) |
Meioisis and Gametogenesis | |
| XI | 21. | CHROMOSOMES Changes in Chromosome Number and Structure |
Chromosomes |
| 22. | Examination III (Lectures 14-21 inclusive) | ||
| XII | 23. | GENETICS I Gregor Mendel Mendel’s Law Human Genetics Disorders |
Mendelian Genetics |
| 24. | GENETICS II Extending the Range of Mendelian Genetics Multiple Allelic Traits Incomplete Dominance Pleiotropy Polygenic Inheritance X-Linked Inheritance Environmental Influences |
Non-Mendelian Genetics | |
| XIII | 25. | DNA The Genetic Material DNA Structure DNA Replication Prokaryotic versus Eukaryotic Replication |
DNA |
| 26. | GENE FUNCTION The Genetic Code Transcription Translation Structure of the Eukaryotic Chromosome |
Gene structure and function | |
| XIV | 27. | GENETIC REGULATION Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Regulation Through Mutations |
Gene Regulation |
| 28. | BIOTECHNOLOGY & GENOMICS DNA Cloning Biotechnology Products Gene Therapy Genomics |
Biotechnology and Genomics | |
| XV | 29. | ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT
Early Developmental Stages |
|
| 30. | Examination IV (Lectures 23-29 inclusive) |
