BIOL 101
Biology: The Fabric of Life

Video Series Description

Program Title

1) The Nature of Science

The process of science; characteristics of experimentation (controlled study); logic; the products of science; characteristics of good science; double blind studies and placebo effect; public confusion/frustration with science.

2) Basic Chemistry—Atomic Structure

States of matter; characteristics of protons, neutrons, and electrons; the Periodic Table of the Elements; atomic number, mass, and isotopes; electron distribution and reactivity.

3) Basic Chemistry—Chemical Bonding and Reactions

Compounds; ionic bonds, covalent bonds; polar and nonpolar covalent bonds; chemical equations, chemical reactions, and mole; electonegativity, valence shells, and bonding.

4) Biochemistry—Important Inorganics

Organic vs. inorganic molecules; monomers and polymers; dehydration synthesis; important organic groups; characteristics of water, acids, bases and pH; buffers.

5) Biochemistry—Carbohydrates and Protein Structure

Carbohydrate characteristics and functions; structural formulas; common monosaccharides; common disaccharides and their synthesis; common polysaccharides; amino acid structure; peptide bonds; complete vs. incomplete proteins; common protein 3-dimensional structures and their relationship to amino acid sequence; relationship between protein shape and function.

6) Biochemistry—Protein Function and Lipids

Enzymes; transport proteins; carrier proteins; other protein functions; lipid characteristics; fatty acids; triglycerides; phospholipids; glycolipids; energy value of common organics.

7) Plasma Membranes and Solutions

Characteristics and structure of plasma membranes; semipermeability; characteristics of solutions; diffusion; osmosis; osmotic pressure, hypertonic vs. hypotonic solutions; isotonic solutions; predicting osmosis; dialysis; facilitated transport; active transport; endocytosis; exocytosis, active vs. passive processes; environmental factors that affect the speed of diffusion.

8) Cells and Their Structures

Relationship between surface area and volume; prokaryotic cells and their structures; eukaryotic cells and their organelles; microscopy; magnification vs. resolving power.

9) Energetics, An Overview

First and second laws of energy; ATP; exergonic and endergonic reactions; nuclear fusion; electromagnetic and visible light spectrum; the role of photosynthesis in ecosystems; the role of the cellular oxidation of glucose in ecosystems; food chains and food webs; ecological roles; energy pyramids; matter recycling vs. energy flow.

10) Pieces of the Energy Puzzle

Oxidation vs. reduction reactions; the role of NAD, FAD, NADP and their reduced counterparts; enzymatic pathways; enzymatic cycles; electron transport systems; chemiosmotic phosphorylation.

11) Energetics, Photosynthesis

A detailed look at the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis. Chloroplast structure; photosystems, accessory pigments, and resonance transfer; initiation of photosynthesis and the role of chlorophyll-a and water; photosystem II and photosystem I; ATP production; the Calvin Cycle; the role of glucose; guard cells, stomata, and carbon dioxide; C4 and CAM plants.

12) Energetics, The Cellular Oxidation of Glucose

A detailed look at glycolysis and cellular respiration. Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis; mitochondrial structure; pyruvate to acetyl CoA; Kreb's Cycle; mitochondrial electron transport system; ATP production; the role of oxygen; the metabolic relationship between carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

13) DNA Structure and Transcription

The historical debate between proteins and DNA as genetic material; DNA structure: nucleotide structure, purines and pyrimidines, strand structure and complementary strands, 3' vs. 5'; the central dogma; a comparison of DNA and RNA; a detailed look at transcription.

14) Mutation and Translation

A discussion of mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA (ribosomes); a detailed look at translation (codons, anticodons, tRNA charging, etc); polymerase misreads; point mutations; frame-shift mutations; causes of mutations (radiation, chemicals, transposition, translocation, viruses); the evolutionary role of mutation.

15) Control of Gene Expression and Chromosome Replication

Repressible and inducible operons; eukaryotic chromosomes; activator and inhibitory proteins; hypercoiling; a detailed look at chromosomal replication; telomeres and causes for shortening.

16) Mitosis

Ploidy; cell cycle; subphases of interphase; prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase in plants and danimals; cytokinesis; the role of mitosis in nature.

17) Meiosis

The roles of mitosis and meiosis in sexual reproduction; phases of meiosis I and meiosis II; crossing over and independent assortment; chromosomal abnormalities (translocation,inversion, nondisjunction events).

18) Mendel and Single Trait Inheritance

Important definitions; Gregor Mendel; how Mendel tested the blending hypothesis; Mendel's discovery of the segregation of alleles; single trait crosses and their phenotypic and genotypic ratios.

19) Solving Problems and Multiple Trait Inheritance

Incomplete dominance, single trait problems are solved; determining genotypes from pedigrees; co-dominance and Landsteiner blood groups.

20) Multiple Trait Inheritance and Epistasis

Mendel's test of independent assortment; dihybrid crosses; linked traits, and example of epistasis.

21) X-Linked Traits, Imprinting, and More

Sex chromosomes and autosomes; x-linked inheritance problems; interpreting pedigrees; Lyonization and calico cats; imprinting; other factors that modify Mendelian ratios.

22) Genetic Technology

Restriction enzymes; probes; gel electrophoresis; DNA fingerprinting and its uses.

23) More Genetic Technology

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its uses; gene cloning; recombinant techniques and purpose; stem cells; mammalian cloning.

24) Origin of Life and Evolution of a Theory

A review of characteristics of science; defining biological evolution; chemosynthetic theory of life's origins; the history of evolutionary theory; Charles Darwin.

25) Modern Theory and Speciation

Evolutionary forces (random genetic change, natural selection, genetic drift, migration); speciation defined; isolating mechanisms; allopatric, sympatric, and parapatric speciation.

26) Evidence for a Common Ancestry

Adaptation; adaptive radiation; punctuated equilibrium; the myth of spontaneous generation; homology; anatomical homology; evidence for mutation and natural selection.

27) More Evidence and Human Evolution

Inheritance revisited in the light of evolution; the fossil record; human evolution; biochemical homology; reproductive homology; embryological homology; direct observation; behavioral homology.

28) Classification and Monerans

Classification criteria; classification systems; Linnaeus and his hierarchy of classification; phylogenetics; characteristics of the Monera; bacterial shapes; metabolism; the Domain Eubacteria and the Domain Archaea.

29) Protists, Fungi, and Plant Life Cycles

Characteristics and examples of Protist divisions; characteristics and examples of Fungal divisions; lichens; plant alternation of generations.

30) Vascular Tissue and Primitive Plants

Xylem and transpiration; phloem and translocation; Bryophyte life cycle; fern life cycle; introduction to confers and seeds.

31) Advanced Plants

Conifer life cycle; flower anatomy; anthophyta life cycle; fruits; a comparison of monocot and dicot characteristics.

32) Animal Diversity, Part I

Levels of complexity; embryonic development; Phylum Porifera; Phylum Cnidaria.

33) Animal Diversity, Part II

Characteristics of the following animal phyla: Ctnenophora, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Chordata; Characteristics of the following subphyla and vertebrate classes: Cephalochordata, Urochordata, Vertebrata, Agnatha, Placoderma, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia.

34) Population Dynamics

Exponential growth; biotic potential; limiting factors; carrying capacity; birth rate; death rate; annual percentage growth rate; doubling time; net migration rate; adjusted growth rate; adjusted doubling time; total fertility rate; age structure diagrams; average marrying age; a comparison of population dynamics within more and less economically developed countries.

35) Population Control

Ethical/philosophical considerations relating to population; methods of birth control; slowing population growth; China's one child policy; disease and its historic role in population control.

36) Ecosystem Structure and Common Biomes

Biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems; niche; characteristics of marine and aquatic ecosystems; eutrophication; common biomes; net primary productivity and net biomass.

37) Chemical Cycling Succession

The phosphorus cycle; the nitrogen cycle; the carbon-oxygen cycle; the water cycle; primary and secondary succession; causes succession; keystone species.

38) Ecosystem Dynamics and Species Under Siege

Predator-prey relationships; positive and negative feedback loops; positive and negative synergism; threshold effects; biological magnification; the effect of humanity on natural habitats; characteristics of animals at risk of extinction.

39) Global Warming and Ozone Depletion