General Information
Your Link to Web Resources in Biology

Course Description

Introduction to Biology is designed to provide the fundamentals of biological science. This section consists of 3 hours of laboratory per week. The units covered are: microscopy, biochemistry, cellular processes, genetics, and the taxonomy, structure, and function of living organisms (single celled organisms, fungi, plants, and animals.)

Laboratory Purchases

• 2 scantrons, form #886-E to be turned in to your lab at the second class meeting. They are bluish-green, in a single page folded booklet format. Please do not write your name on them and take care not to bend or warp them.
• Introduction to Biology Lab Manual by Dr. Jane Horlings.

Assigned Readings

The Lab Manual consists of a set of customized labs that you will purchase at the bookstore. Be certain to buy the right one: it has Dr. Jane Horlings' name on it. It is very important that each student read the assigned laboratory exercise before coming to lab. This will truly add to the laboratory experience, as you will come to lab with a better understanding of the principles and procedures involved with the exercise. Also, please bring your text by Campbell, Mitchell and Reece and to all labs.
Scientific Readings. You must read 6 outside articles on a biological topic, and a brief summary of the article is to be submitted for evaluation by your lab instructor. Articles can be obtained from a reputable scientific journal, such as Scientific American, Discover or Natural History, or scientific articles of substance from other sources. I don’t particularly care for "pseudoscientific" magazines like Omni. The articles you read should be at least a few pages in length. (Some magazines will be provided in the lab as samplers for you to use.) Alternatively, you may watch a program of at least 1/2 hour on TV on a biological subject (note the date, time and channel in your write-up.) Shows on the Discovery Channel and NOVA on KCET are great– so are special programs like Audubon. You will write a short summary of the article or program (note form is sufficient); the forms for these are provided at the back of your lab manual.

Lab Midterm Exam