Course

Principles of Biology: The Organism

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Biology
Course Code
BIOL 1210
Credits
5.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Tutorial
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course examines the detailed microscopic structure and biochemical functioning of living organisms. Mechanisms of inheritance and evolution are also studied. With Biology 1110, this course fulfills the requirements of a first year university Biology course.
Course Content
  1. Introduction to Genetics and Evolution
    • mitosis
    • meiosis
    • Mendelian Inheritance: theory and problems
    • Non-Mendelian Inheritance: multiple alleles, sex linkage and multigenic inheritance
    • experiments using Drosophila: how to differentiate an autosomal character from a sex-linked character.
    • preparation of plant tissue for microscopic chromosome analysis.
  2. Molecular Basis of Life
    • basic chemical formula of amino acids
    • formation of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins.
    • functions and  mechanisms of action of enzymes
    • functions and structures of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)
    • replication of DNA
    • cellular synthesis of proteins
    • molecular and chromosomal basis of mutations
    • structure and functions of cellular organelles
    • structure and function of biologically important lipids
    • models of membrane structure and transport of materials across membranes
    • structure and function of biologically important carbohydrates
    • biochemical tests for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
    • lab analysis of enzyme action and optimum pH
  3. Conversion and Use of Energy by Cells
    • location and process of cellular respiration
    • catabolic pathways and interrelationships for carbohydrates, fats and proteins
    • significance of ATP
    • location and process of photosynthesis
    • light dependent reactions
    • light independent reactions
    • technique of paper chromatography for the separation of leaf pigments
  4. Plant and Animal Growth and Development
    • mechanisms by which seed plants reproduce
    • process of double fertilization
    • results of fertilization: growth of seeds
    • role of soil in plant growth and development, including impact of acid rain
    • role of plant hormones and the photoreceptor phytochrome on plant growth and development
    • gibberellic acid experiment: role in development of pea plants
    • process of animal fertilization
    • stages of development following fertilization
    • significance of primary germ layers
    • sea urchin fertilization
  5. Origin and Evolution of Life
    • scientific theories with respect to how life arose on earth
    • origin of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
    • types of evolution
    • Lamarck’s theory of evolution
    • Darwin-Wallace theory of evolution by natural selection
    • sources of heritable variation within a species
    • meaning and role of fitness in evolution
    • types of natural selection
    • role of isolating mechanisms in speciation

 

Learning Activities

This course involves four hours of lecture/tutorial/week and three hours of laboratory work.  The information content is integrated with laboratory experiments, problem sets and textbook readings.

Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Evaluation Marks
Class tests and assignments     15-25
Laboratory tests and assignments   5-15
Laboratory examination - final 10-15
Comprehensive examination - midterm   25-35
Comprehensive examination - final 25-35
TOTAL 100

Notes:

1. Laboratory Experiments and Activities

Laboratory work will be assigned each week. The laboratory work must be completed in the week it is assigned. Laboratory experiments and assignments are a compulsory component of this course. A minimum of 50% of the laboratory experiments and assignments must be completed to receive a P or better in the course.


2. Examinations

There will be one midterm and one final examination. The final examination will cover the entire course. If the student achieves a better grade on the final exam than on the midterm examination, the midterm grade will be raised to equal that of the final examination.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will:

  1. Understand and be able to explain the relationship between genetics and evolution.
  2. Be able to explain cell division in plants and animals, and to describe the significance of mitosis and meiosis to growth, development and reproduction.
  3. Be capable of solving monohybrid and dihybrid problems, and problems involving multiple alleles and sex-linked genes.
  4. Be able to explain the molecular basis and significance of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates, and their relationship to cellular respiration and photosynthesis and general metabolism. 
  5. Be able to explain how DNA and RNA replicate and code for proteins, and analyse problems using the genetic code.
  6. Understand and be able to explain how genes interact with the environment,  and the role of mutations, meiosis and fertilization in changing the genetic composition of populations over time.
  7. Be able to discuss the mechanisms of evolution, and to apply evolutionary concepts to the analysis of current environmental problems.
  8. Be capable of conducting simple directed experiments and explaining the procedures and results.
  9. Understand and be able to use biological principles in the discussion of current issues.

Textbook Materials

Students should consult the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. For example, textbooks and materials may include:

Reece, J.B. et al., Campbell Biology. (Current Edition).  Benjamin Cummings 

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ produced manual.  Biology 1210: the Organism.

 

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see

Institution Transfer Details for BIOL 1210
Alexander College (ALEX) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = ALEX BIOL 101 (4) & ALEX BIOL 102 (4)
Athabasca University (AU) AU BIOL 204 (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO BIOL 1XX (4)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BIOL 110 (4)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) DOUG BIOL 1100 (4) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = CMTN BIOL 101 (3) & CMTN BIOL 102 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU BIOL 1210 (4)
Langara College (LANG) LANG BIOL 1XXX (4)
Langara College (LANG) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = LANG BIOL 1115 (4) & LANG BIOL 1215 (4)
North Island College (NIC) DOUG BIOL 1110 (3) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (3) = NIC BIO 102 (3) & NIC BIO 103 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC BIOL 121 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = SFU BISC 101 (4) & SFU BISC 102 (4)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) DOUG BIOL 1110 (3) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (3) = TRU BIOL 1113 (3) & TRU BIOL 1115 (0) & TRU BIOL 1213 (3) & TRU BIOL 1215 (0)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) DOUG BIOL 1110 (3) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (3) = TRU BIOL 1113 (3) & TRU BIOL 1115 (0) & TRU BIOL 1213 (3) & TRU BIOL 1215 (0)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU BIOL 1XXX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = TRU BIOL 1110 (3) & TRU BIOL 1210 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU BIOL 114 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = UBCO BIOL_O 116 (3) & UBCO BIOL_O 125 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = UBCV BIOL_V 1st (8)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC BIOL 103 (3) & UNBC BIOL 123 (1)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BIO 111 (5)
University of Victoria (UVIC) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = UVIC BIOL 184 (1.5) & UVIC BIOL 186 (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = VCC BIOL 1100 (4) & VCC BIOL 1200 (4)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) DOUG BIOL 1110 (5) & DOUG BIOL 1210 (5) = VIU BIOL 121 (4) & VIU BIOL 123 (4)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
35
Currently Enrolled
0
Remaining Seats:
35
On Waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3902
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section Notes

BIOL 1210 001 - Students must also register in a non-conflicting lab section: BIOL 1210 L01, BIOL 1210 L02, BIOL 1210 L03 or BIOL 1210 L04.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
35
Currently Enrolled
0
Remaining Seats:
35
On Waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1812
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section Notes

BIOL 1210 002 - Students must also register in a non-conflicting lab section: BIOL 1210 L01, BIOL 1210 L02, BIOL 1210 L03 or BIOL 1210 L04.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
35
Currently Enrolled
0
Remaining Seats:
35
On Waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3825
Times:
Start Time
14:30
-
End Time
16:20
Section Notes

BIOL 1210 003 - Students must also register in a non-conflicting lab section: BIOL 1210 L01, BIOL 1210 L02, or BIOL 1210 L03.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
35
Currently Enrolled
0
Remaining Seats:
35
On Waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. C
Room
C1006
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section Notes

BIOL 1210 004 - Students must also register in a non-conflicting lab section: BIOL 1210 L05 or BIOL 1210 L06.