Biology 113 Aims and Description
	© Stephen T. Abedon
	contents | Biology 113 | top of page
	last updated on Friday, October 10, 1997

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full title ---

Biological Sciences: Energy Transfer and Development.

contents | Biology 113 | top of page

instructor ---

Stephen T. Abedon, Ph.D.

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course aims ---

Biology 113 is an introduction to three basic areas of biology: biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics. This is a major's course so you will be expected to have had a good grounding in these three areas upon completion of Biology 113. In addition, as one should during any good discussion on biology, we will periodically delve into considerations of evolutionary biology.

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prerequisites ---

Chemistry 101 or 121.

Note: biology 101 is recommended for individuals with otherwise limited exposure to the biological sciences or college-level majors sciences courses. I make this recommendation because the chemistry prerequisite alone apparently only goes so far in preparing individuals for Biology 113. I suspect this is because chemistry places an emphasis on problem solving first, then memorization, to effect understanding. Biology, on the other hand, requires primarily memorization, with problem solving skills taking on a secondary role. This is especially true of introductory biology courses. This biology-chemistry dichotomy is of particular concern because it has been my experience that as many as half of a Biology 113 class on the Mansfield campus will have had minimal previous exposure to modern biology (in, for example, their high school biology course). This includes, especially, minimal exposure to biology at the molecular (chemical) and population levels. As a consequence, I believe that prior to taking Biology 113, many individuals would benefit from a preparatory exposure to biology, such as that received in the non-majors biology 101 course. In the absence of such preparation, individuals may encounter extreme difficulty keeping on top of and integrating the material presented in Biology 113. If nothing else, such preparation exposes individuals having minimal background in biology to the science of biology before commitment is made to a major's course.

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course objectives ---

This is a major's course so you will be expected, upon completion, to have obtained a good grounding in various areas of biology at and below the level of the cell. Students will be expected to gain a solid understanding of the science of biology as viewed at the cellular, subcellular, and molecular levels. These subjects are complex and extensive. Consequently, Biology 113 is not a particularly easy course, especially for those who have received minimal biological preparation in high school, or in college prior to their enrolling in Biology 113.

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course content ---

lectures:

The following are the lectures that historically have been covered in Biology 113, listed in the order in which they likely will be covered:

big bang cosmology and planetary science as it relates to biology and evolutionary biology, the chemistry of water, biochemistry, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, membranes, transport across membrane, DNA replication, transcription, translation, control of gene expression, mutation, procaryote cellular anatomy, eucaryote cellular anatomy, bioenergetics, glycolysis, fermentation, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, mitosis, meiosis, genetics, and pedigree analysis; additional topics may include animal development and a discussion of molecular biological laboratory techniques.

on-line lecture notes:

http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/mans/microbio/sta5000.htm

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method of presentation ---

There will be four 1 hour lectures and one 3 hour laboratory.

Students are encouraged to form study groups for structured out of the classroom studying and the Conard Learning Center can provide an effective foci for the formation of such groups.

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method of evaluation ---

Students will receive up to 3 midterms, laboratory exam, final exam. The actual number of midterms will be determined by majority by students.

As always review sessions are encouraged but will be scheduled out of class by students. I am up for anything short of telling students what will be on the exam so use your imagination and don't forget to invite me.

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texts ---

lecture:

Campbell, N. A. (1996). Biology. Fourth edition. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc., Menlo Park, California.

lab:

Morgan, J.G. and Carter, M.E. B. (1996); Investigating Biology. Second Edition. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. Menlo Park, CA.

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schedule ---

MTWR 7:50-8:50 (lecture)

T 1:40-4:40 (lab)

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room ---

O-484 (lecture)

O-470 (lab)

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Contact Dr. Abedon (abedon.1@osu.edu) with suggestions, criticisms,
comments, or anything else that might help make this a better site.