SYLLABUS

TITLE: General Biology I

CODE: BIO 111
PREREQUISITE: N/A
COREQUISITE: BIO 111L
CREDITS: 4 credits | 45 hours contact | 30 hours Lab. | 1 term

DESCRIPTION
This course has an approach that allows the formation and integral development of the
student of the Natural Sciences program. The fundamental principles of animal and
plant life and their relationship with the environment are studied. Emphasis is placed on
the level of molecular and cellular organization and on biochemical processes:
respiration, photosynthesis, mitosis, and meiosis. Introduction to classical, molecular
genetics and biotechnology. This course includes theory and practice.

JUSTIFICATION
The fundamental concepts discovered by researchers in the field of biology and their
applications in different areas of knowledge, affect all aspects of contemporary human
life. Advances in the field of biology in recent years, especially in the field of
Biotechnology, have been dizzying and of great impact. Research in this field has
culminated in organ implantation, in vitro fertilization, establishment of clones and the
production of a wide variety of products for therapeutic use by genetic engineering. In
order to understand and evaluate these discoveries, and other problems of common
interest in today's world such as cancer and metastasis, the effect of drug and alcohol
use and abuse, among others, knowledge of biology is required. It is essential that in
the integral formation and development of the student, this basic knowledge is acquired
that allows them to understand the world of living organisms, in which we develop, and
we are related to it.

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COMPETENCES
The course develops in the student the following competences:

● Critical Thinking
● Research and exploration

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, students will be trained to:
1. Recognize the scientific methodology in the study of natural phenomena made
by scientists, pointing out the relationships between biology and other sciences.
2. Use the microscope and other scientific research equipment.
3. Know the structure of the atom and explain the types of bonds of molecules and
chemical reactions.
4. Identify cell organelles, know their functions and the relationships between them.
5. Discuss the mechanisms of cell division in mitosis and meiosis and interpret the
meaning of these processes.
6. Explain the processes of respiration and photosynthesis and recognize their
importance in the transformation of energy.
7. Identify the chemical nature of genetic material and explain how its function at
the cellular level determines hereditary characteristics at the organismal level.
8. Know the basic principles of biotechnology, its applications and its impact on
nature, including humans.
9. Analyze the ethical implications of biotechnology applications, both in the
agricultural and environmental sectors, as well as in medicine.
10. Analyze the principles of Mendelian inheritance and their subsequent
modifications and apply this knowledge to the analysis of inheritance problems.

CONTENT
I. Introduction
A. Life vs non-Life
B. Properties of life
C. Science and technology
II. Chemical basis of life

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 A. Organic and inorganic compounds
B. Types of links
C. Hydrolysis and condensation reactions
D. Properties of water
E. Concept of pH and Buffers
1. Importance for organisms
F. Biological Molecules
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids
III. Cell: Structure and Function
A. Prokaryotic Cell
1. Composition and structure
B. Eukaryotic Cell
1. Composition and structure
C. Properties of membrane permeability
1. Chemical composition
D. Transport across the membrane
1. Diffusion
2. Osmosis
3. Active Transportation
4. Endocytosis and exocytosis
E. Cytoskeleton
F. Cell Cycle and Mitosis
IV. Cell Metabolism
A. Energy transfer
1. Laws of thermodynamics
2. Metabolic processes
a. Aerobic respiration
b. Anaerobic respiration
3. Photosynthesis
a. Light reactions
b. Dark reactions (carbon fixation)
V. Genetics
A. Molecular genetics
1. Structure of DNA and RNA

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 2. DNA replication
3. Transcription and translation (protein synthesis)
B. Biotechnology
1. Classical Biotechnology
a. Fermentation
b. Products (bread, cheese, alcoholic beverages)
c. Selective mating
d. Antibiotic production
2. Modern Biotechnology
a. Recombinant DNA technique
1) Applications
b. Clones
c. Core transfers
d. Transgenic Organisms
e. Stem Cells
C. Types of biotechnology and their applications
1. Microbials
2. Agricultural
3. Animal
4. Forensic
5. Bioremediation
6. Pisciculture
D. Genome Project and its importance in science
E. Ethics and Biotechnology
1. Ethical problems associated with Biotechnology
2. Ethical considerations in research with humans
3. Ethical controversy with genetic testing, stem cells and cloning
VI. Mendelian genetics
A. Meiosis
B. Mendelian laws
1. Segregation Law
2. Independent Draw Law
3. Crosses
a. Monohybrid
b. recessive
c. Dihybrid

LABORATORY EXPERIENCES
A. Scientific thinking

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 B. Buffers and pH
C. Organic molecules
D. Microscope handling
E. Cell transport process
F. Enzyme activity
G. Cell cycle and mitosis
H. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
I. Photosynthesis
J. Meiosis
K. Model construction of the DNA molecule
L. DNA extraction
M. Use of yeasts in alcoholic and lactic fermentation
N. DNA fingerprint

METHODOLOGY
The following strategies of the active learning methodology are recommended:

● Conference
● Question method
● Incorporation of Web tools
● Audiovisual resources: video, presentations, simulations
● Research Based Learning-RBL / Research Based Learning-ABI
○ Discussion
○ Field visits
○ Laboratory exercises
○ Independent use of WEB 2.0 (Blog and My Sacred)
○ Individual or group written reports

EVALUATION
Participation 10%
Partial jobs 40%
Final project or exam 25%
Immersion experience 25%
TOTAL 100%

LEARNING ASSESSMENT
The institutional assessment rubric is applied to the core activity of the course.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
TEXTBOOK
Solomon, Berg, M. (2019). Biology, 11 th, Saunders College Publishing.

Laboratory manual: Profesores de Biología, 1999, Manual de Laboratorio BIO 111

Universidad del Sagrado Corazón.

REFERENCES
Chaudhry, R., & Khaddour, K. (2020). Biochemistry, DNA Replication. In StatPearls.

StatPearls Publishing

Lai, W., & Pugh, B. F. (2017). Understanding nucleosome dynamics and their links to

gene expression and DNA replication. Nature reviews. Molecular cell

biology, 18(9), 548–562. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm.2017.47

Li, J., Ahat, E., & Wang, Y. (2019). Golgi Structure and Function in Health, Stress, and

Diseases. Results and problems in cell differentiation, 67, 441–485.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23173-6_19

Melkonian, E. A., & Schury, M. P. (2020). Biochemistry, Anaerobic Glycolysis.

In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing

Niazian M. (2019). Application of genetics and biotechnology for improving medicinal

plants. Planta, 249(4), 953–973. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-019-03099-1

Rehman, I., & Botelho, S. (2020). Biochemistry, Secondary Protein Structure.

In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

Schwarz, D. S., & Blower, M. D. (2016). The endoplasmic reticulum: structure, function

and response to cellular signaling. Cellular and molecular life science:

CMLS, 73(1), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-015-2052-6

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van Niel, G., D'Angelo, G., & Raposo, G. (2018). Shedding light on the cell biology of

extracellular vesicles. Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology, 19(4), 213–228.

https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm.2017.125

van Oorschot, R., Szkuta, B., Meakin, G. E., Kokshoorn, B., & Goray, M. (2019). DNA

transfer in forensic science: A review. Forensic science international.

Genetics, 38, 140–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.10.014

ELECTRONIC REFERENCES
http://www.SoundersCollege.com/lifesci/titles.html

https://www.hhmi.org/news/ribosome-studies-turn-new-mechanism-protein-synthesis

https://archive.bio.org/articles/what-industrial-biotechnology

https://www.accessscience.com/content/cellular-respiration/1181

Find more information resources related to the course topics on the library page
http://biblioteca.sagrado.edu/

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
To obtain detailed information on the process and the required documentation, you must
visit the corresponding office. To guarantee equal conditions, in compliance with the
ADA (1990) and the Rehabilitation Act (1973), as amended, all students who need
reasonable accommodation services or special assistance must complete the process
established by the Vice Presidency for Academic Affairs.

ACADEMIC HONESTY, FRAUD AND PLAGIARISM

Any student who misses the policy of honesty, fraud and plagiarism is exposed to the
following sanctions: received a grade of zero in the evaluation and/ or repetition of the
work in the course, grade of F (*) in the seminar: suspension or expulsion as
established in the Academic Honesty Policy document (DAEE 205-001) effective
August 2005.

All rights reserved | Sagrado | August, 2020