Biology I

This is the first of a two-quarter sequence in general biology that will introduce students to the study of biology using evolution as a theme.  During the winter quarter we will explore the fundamental ideas of evolutionary biology and go on to investigate the structure and function of life from cellular to multicellular organisms.  We will also examine theories on the origin of life and begin to investigate the pattern of life’s evolution since its origin.

The course will be shaped around four components:  lecture, discussions, hands-on investigations (in the lab and in the field) and online conversations.  Although students will need to recognize the importance of some specific details in the study of biology, the emphasis will be on conceptual understanding.  Students will be asked to complete assignments that incorporate this conceptual understanding with their own specific interests and passions in biology.