Jul 15, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog SVC 
    
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2025-2026 Addendum SVC
2025-2026 Catalog SVC

BIOL& 160 - General Biology w/Lab

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 44
Lab Hours: 22
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: This course provides introduction to basic concepts of biology, with an emphasis on the cells as the fundamental unit of life. Topics include cell structure, basic chemical and biochemical concepts, metabolism, cell division, principles of genetics, biological diversity, and methods of scientific inquiry and critical thinking. Course establishes foundation necessary for continued biology study, especially in human anatomy and physiology. Lab included.

Prerequisite: ENGL& 101 and CHEM&121 passed with a grade of C or higher; and either placement into MATH& 146 OR co-enrollment with MATH & 146 OR completion of MATH& 146 with a grade of C or higher.
Strongly Recommended:
Special Requirements:

Distribution Requirements: Natural Sciences Distribution Requirement
Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes
  1. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures and describe how they function in a working cell.
  2. Describe how the unique properties of carbon and water support life on Earth.
  3. List the four major categories of macromolecules and describe their importance in biological processes.
  4. Write the chemical equation for cellular respiration and describe the steps and locations where these events occur in the cell.
  5. Describe how ATP is used by living organisms for chemical energy.
  6. Describe the processes of transcription and translation and their role in gene expression.
  7. Describe the role of enzymes in cellular function and distinguish between anabolic and catabolic reactions.
  8. Compare and contrast the processes and outcomes of mitosis and meiosis and their role in growth and reproduction.
  9. Describe how genes are inherited and demonstrate understanding using Punnett squares.
  10. NATURAL SCIENCES: Collect and analyze data and interpret the results from scientific investigations

Course Contents
  1. Properties of water
  2. Chemical Bonds
  3. Macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins)
  4. Cell structure and function
  5. Cellular respiration and photosynthesis
  6. Mitosis and meiosis
  7. Mendelian genetics
  8. DNA replication, transcription (mRNA production), and translation (protein synthesis)


Instructional Units: 5.5