BIOL 161 - Biological Concepts I—Principles of Evolution and Ecology

4 Credit(s)

This course is intended for biology majors and premedical students. The course, the first of the core curriculum, will center on evolution as the organizing principle of living systems which will form the framework for the problems and processes considered in courses II and III that follow. This course begins with Unit (1) Elements of Living Organisms, which will explore the biological, physical, and chemical principles that govern a living organism. The context in which these principles will be explored is the evolutionary origin of life on Earth. Unit (2) Biological Evolution will continue this evolutionary theme and will focus upon genetic mechanisms of inheritance and the resulting micro- and macroevolutionary processes. Unit (3) Ecological Systems of Life will elucidate organizational principles by which groups of interacting individuals form populations, ecological communities, and ecosystems. Contextual themes for this unit include the ecological significance of biodiversity, conservation ecology, and the global ecosystem consequences of our 6+ billion human population.
3 hours laboratory. 1 hour discussion. 3 hours lecture.