Massasoit - Guide for the Biology Department Challenge Exam

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Guide for the Biology Department Challenge Exam

The Biology Department Challenge Exam is designed to assess whether you have a good grasp of the basic principles of cell biology that form the foundation knowledge for more advanced biology courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Zoology, and Botany. This information is designed to help you prepare for the exam.

List of Contents:

Brief Description of the Exam
Course Description
Sample Texts
Course Outcomes
Sample Syllabus
Selected Websites Related to the Material in the Course.

Here is a sample course description and the text and laboratory manual used by many members of the department.

Brief Description of Exam
The biology challenge exam is 90 multiple choice questions (90 points) and 2 essay questions (10 points). The essay portion of the exam includes one required essay question and a choice of 1 out of 4 other questions. A student must score a minimum of 60 points to pass. The exam is corrected by a member of the Biology Department, and it is returned with a score and the words Pass or Fail.

Course Description

31121 Biological Principles I 4 Credits

This course introduces basic principles of biology. Topics include scientific method, evolution, cellular and subcellular structure, basic cell chemistry, transport across cell membranes, mitosis, meiosis, metabolism, photosynthesis, DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis, and patterns of inheritance. This course is required as a prerequisite for all other four-credit biology courses.

Lecture: 3 hours Laboratory: 2 hours

Prerequisite: One unit of high July 25, 2008 e Reading II (11092), Introductory Writing (11099), and Fundamentals of Mathematics (38010) or waiver by placement testing results or Departmental Approval

Text:

Biology: Concepts and Connections Flex-Text Version, 4/E
Neil A. Campbell, Jane B. Reece, Lawrence G. Mitchell, Martha R. Taylor
ISBN: 0-8053-6823-X
Publisher: Benjamin Cummings
Copyright: 2003

Laboratory Manual:

Selected Exercises from Biology Laboratory Manual, 6/E, 4/E
Daryl Vodopich, Randy Moore, Sylvia Mader
Original Exercises - MCCC Biology Department
ISBN: 0-07-281873-5
Copyright: 2002

Course Outcomes

The department has developed a set of course outcomes to help students understand the intent of the course and the reason for various course activities and assessments (tests, papers, lab reports, etc.) These outcomes were accepted by a vote of the department. It will be helpful to consult these outcomes as you prepare for the test.

Scientific Method/Science

Describe the general steps of the scientific method and use these steps in solving problems, in order to understand how scientists think, distinguish between pseudoscience and real science, and evaluate scientific information in the popular press.

Evolution

Explain why evolution is the central theme in biology so that students can understand the unity and diversity of life

Chemistry/Physics

Demonstrate knowledge of basic chemistry including the properties of atoms, ions, chemical bonding and chemical reactions to understand biologically important molecules and processes.

Describe the role of biologically important molecules in order to understand the correlation between cell structure and function.

Cell Structure

Distinguish between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and identify and describe the structure and function of plant and animal cells and their organelles, in order to appreciate the unity and diversity of living things.

Describe the structure of the plasma membrane and relate it to its functions in diffusion, transport, metabolism, and cell to cell interaction.

Metabolism

Explain the principles of cellular respiration and photosynthesis so that the students understand energy flow in living systems.

Reproduction

Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis in order to understand the process of growth, reproduction and the importance of sexual reproduction to the evolution of the species.

Genetics

Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts in inheritance in order to solve simple genetic problems and recognize common misconceptions regarding human heredity.

Describe the structure and replication of DNA and its role in protein synthesis in order to understand the chemical basis of genetics and the use of DNA in genetic engineering and biotechnology.

Laboratory Skills

To work safely in the laboratory and follow simple laboratory protocols in order to work cooperatively to complete laboratory exercises and conduct experiments using the scientific method.

To be able to use the microscope to observe cell structure and function in order to develop good technique in preparation for more advanced courses.

To be able to perform simple mathematical calculations and construct and interpret graphs in order to record and communicate the results of experiments.

Study Skills

To apply a study skills method to learning biology in order to improve success in an academically rigorous course.

Strengthen Core Competencies in order to increase success in college courses and other courses in the workplace

Biological Principles - 31-121
Sample Course Syllabus

Week of	Topic	Chapter	Lab Exercise
January 20	Introduction to Life Scientific Method Evolution	1	No Tuesday class this week
January 27	Chemical Basis of Life	2	Measurement 1
February 3	Molecules of the Cell	3	Water W
February 10	Molecules of the Cell	3	Hydrogen Ion Concentration H Molecular Models M
February 17	Exam I A Tour of the Cell	4	Molecular Models M
February 24	The Working Cell	5	Microscope and Cells 2.1, 2.2, alternate 2.3, 2.5, Table 2.1
March 3	The Working Cell	5	Cells ctd. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 3.4 and Human Epithelial Cells
March 10	How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy Exam II	6	Enzymes 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
March 16-22	Spring Recess (No classes)
March 24	How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy	6	Diffusion and Osmosis 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.8
March 31	Photosynthesis	7	Respiration 11.1, 11.3
April 7	Mitosis Meiosis Exam III	8	Photosynthesis 12.1, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7
April 14	Patterns of Inheritance	9	Mitosis 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, Table 13.1
April 21	Molecular Biology DNA Replication RNA	10	Meiosis of the Gene 14.1, Table 14.1 Genetics Problems DNA Extraction
April 28	Molecular Biology of the Gene Protein Synthesis	10	No Lab - Preregistration
May 5	Exam IV Control of Gene Expression DNA Technology	11,12	Protein Synthesis

Selected Websites
You certainly don't need to visit all of these sites, but they are listed here as a resource for you. Some are fairly elementary and some are more sophisticated. In some cases there are topic suggestions.

Animations and Illustrations - DNA, RNA, replication, transcription, translation
These sites show the structures and processes in varying degrees of detail and complexity. Try a few to find the one that is best for you.

Major site with many animations: http://www.ncc.gmu.edu/dna/
Translation interactive site: http://www.csuchico.edu/~jbell/Biol207/animations/translation.html
Animation shows multiple ribosomes: http://www-class.unl.edu/biochem/gp2/m_biology/animation/gene/gene_a3.html
Animation plus text: http://student.ccbc.cc.md.us/biotutorials/protsyn/tsl.html#init
Transcription - no RNA polymerase: http://student.ccbc.cc.md.us/biotutorials/protsyn/transc.html
DNA replication with Okazaki fragments: http://www.johnkyrk.com/DNAreplication.html

Biology for Kids - A good place to start if it has been a while since you studied biology.
http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_main.html

Chemistry for Kids
http://www.chem4kids.com/

Biochemistry for Kids
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/bio_intro.html

Studying Cells Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/cells/cells.html

The Scientific Method
Size and Biology
Major Events in Cell Biology

The Cell Cycle & Mitosis Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/cell_cycle/main.html

DNA Basics
The Cell Cycle
Mitosis

Meiosis Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/meiosis/main.html

This exercise is designed to help you understand the events that occur in process of meiosis, which takes place to produce our gametes.

Reproduction
Chromosomes in a diploid cell
Meiosis 1
Meiosis 2

Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, & Viruses Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/pev/main.html

Organization
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
Viruses

Cells Alive - Home Page
http://www.cellsalive.com/index.htm

Measurement
http://www.cellsalive.com/howbig.ht m

Plant, Animal and Bacteria Cell Models
http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/3dcell.htm

Photomicrographs of plant cell mitosis
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/mitosis/mitosis.html

Photos of plant and animal mitosis and meiosis in lily
http://biog-101-104.bio.cornell.edu/BioG101_104/tutorials/cell_division.html

Side-by-side figures of plant and animal mitosis
text description links
http://www.bioweb.uncc.edu/biol1110/Stages.htm

Mitosis Animation
http://www.csuchico.edu/~jbell/Biol207/animations/mitosis.html

Meiosis Animation
http://www.csuchico.edu/~jbell/Biol207/animations/meiosis.html

Meiosis Animation
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/GG/comparison.html

Assortment of Chromosomes in Meiosis
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/meiosis1.html

Different types of cells
http://www.kumc.edu/instruction/medicine/anatomy/histoweb/cytology/cytology.htm

Molecular Biology Notebook
http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/life.htm

Some good choices
Life
The Cell Example of cells
Mitosis
Meiosis
Chromosomes
DNA
Transcription
RNA
Translation
Proteins
Amino acids

Simplified Diagram of Cellular Metabolism
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/GG/cell_Metab.html

A Detailed Diagram of Glycolysis

Some animation
http://www.people.Virginia.EDU/~rjh9u/glycol.html

Digestion of Dietary Carbohydrates - a bit complex
http://www.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/glycolysis.html

A good overview but also a fair amout of detail
Suggested choices
The Energy Derived from Glucose Oxidation
The Individual Reactions of Glycolysis
Anaerobic Glycolysis
The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (PDH) Complex - just the overview
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Introduction
Complexes of the Electron Transport Chain - the basics
Oxidative Phosphorylation

On-Line Tutorial/Animations:
http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/Bio231/

Very basic animation
Glycolysis
Tricarboxylic acid cycle (Citric acid cycle)
Electron Transport Chain
Carbon Fixation in Photosynthesis

Biology Hypertextbook Chapters
http://web.mit.edu/esgbio/www/chapters.html

Chemistry Review
Large Molecules
Cell Biology
1-5, 8,9, 12
Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle
Photosynthesis
Mendelian Genetics
Central Dogma
Prokaryotic Genetics and Gene Expression
Recombinant DNA

The WWW Virtual Library of Cell Biology
http://www.biochemweb.org

The scientific method
http://phyun5.ucr.edu/~wudka/Physics7/Notes_www/node5.html

Jay Doc Histoweb - many photomicrographs of different cell types
http://www.kumc.edu/instruction/medicine/anatomy/histoweb/

Last Update: February 10, 2009

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