The focus is on the structure and function of cells and multicellular tissues. A biochemical approach is used through most of the topics, which include molecular and organellar organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, transport and energy management, and the structure of tissues in plants and animals, as examples. The course is designed to introduce the student to the process of scientific thinking as well as to the principles of cellular biology. Some research methodology and approaches to unanswered questions are examined.
Evaluation is based on assignments, attendance, class participation, and exams.
The text is also used for Biology 107. This course introduces the mechanisms of heredity, the expression of genetic information, and the means by which genes encode developmental programs. Genetics and development are part of a continuous process, and the genetic mechanisms and developmental patterns of living organisms reveal a fundamental kinship of life on earth. Genetics as a tool for the study of biological problems will be introduced, as will some current topics in biotechnology.