Course title & number

General Biology I- 24101

Instructor name

Dr. Motasem

Contact information

motasemm@najah.edu

office : 14F1090

Semester & academic year

Fall Semester 2010/2011

Compulsory / Elective

Compulsory Course

Prerequisites

--

Course Description

A discussion of biological activity at the level of the cell, including cell structure, chemical constituents, architecture, material exchange with the environment, the role of the cell membrane, major energy generating biochemical pathways, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, control of cellular activities and basic concepts in genetics and general biotechnologies.

Course Objectives

This course will explore the basic biological structures, processes, concepts, and theories of modern biology. This includes: molecular and structural formulas of organic compounds; compare and contrast the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; understanding of the major processes, including, energy transformation, metabolism, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and transport through the plasma membrane; description of the mechanics of mitosis and meiosis and the relationship of these processes to reproduction, cell cycle, and function; genetic principles to simple Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance concepts, study the roles of chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations in causing genetic disorders; understand the principles of DNA technology and biotechnology.

Intended learning

Outcomes (ILO’s) and

Competences

At the end of this course student will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge in each of the following:

• Different types of organic compounds and macromolecules.
• Structural characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
• Mechanisms of membrane transport.
• Basic concepts of bioenergetics, metabolism, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis.
• The cell cycle and types of cell division.
• Mendelian genetics and genetic changes.
• Role of nucleic acids in the cell.
• Mechanisms of genetic information transfer from DNA to proteins.
• Basic concepts in biotechnology.

Textbook & References

Biology– 8th Edition, Neil A. Campbell, Jane B. Reece, Benjamin.

Assignment Criteria

Activity

Percent (%)

First Hour Exam

25

Second Hour Exam

25

Final Exam

50

Week no.

Lecture Topic

1

Ch2. The Chemical Context of Life (Brief)

Ch3. Water and the Fitness of the environment (Brief)

2

Ch4. Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

3-4

Ch5. The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

4-5

Ch6. A Tour of the Cell

First Exam

6

Ch7.  Membrane structure and function

7

Ch8. An Introduction to Metabolism (Brief)

8

Ch9. Cellular respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy

9

Ch10. Photosynthesis

10

Ch12. The cell Cycle (Brief)

11

Ch13. Meiosis and sexual life cycles

Second Exam

12

Ch14. Mendel and the gene idea

13

Ch15. The Chromosomal basis of inheritance

14

Ch16. The Molecular basis of inheritance

15-16

Ch17.  From gene to protein

16

Ch20. Biotechnology (Brief)

Final Exam