BIO101: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

Are you ready to dive into the study of science? First, you'll need to understand the scientific method used in scientific inquiry. Now is a great time to start a biology notebook to write down the terms and concepts you learn throughout the course. 

Click "Enter Course" on this page, and read "Introduction to Modern Biology". You may wish to create a username and password this website, so you will not have to login as a guest each time.

In this chapter you will explore the characteristics of living organisms, and identify characteristics common among all living organisms.  At the end of the chapter, take a few moments to consider the "Explore More" section and the review questions. Write your answers and any additional questions that may arise in your notes.

Watch this lecture. At the 30-minute mark, the lecturer misspeaks and says that "thymus enlarges". The thymus is a small organ in the upper chest involved in the immune system. The lecturer meant to say "thyroid" when referring to a goiter in the neck. The last portion of the lecture (properties of water) will be covered later on in unit 3.

Watch these lectures for an introduction to the atom and a discussion about the relationship between atoms and elements. Pay attention to the periodic table. What does it represent?

Watch these lectures to learn about electron configuration and valence electrons. In the second video, you will have the opportunity to work step-by-step examples to determine electron configuration. Knowledge of electron configuration allows you the opportunity to understand how elements will react with other elements.

Read the introduction to chapter 2, and then click "Next" to read the "Atoms, Isotopes, Ions, and Molecules: The Building Blocks" section, which gives an overview of atoms and elements and reviews bond types formed between atoms. Be sure to complete the Art Connections, Review Questions and Free Response sections.

Now that you have learned about atoms and their structures, it is time to learn about the different ways that atoms bond together. Watch these lectures to learn about the details of ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds, and how to balance chemical equations.

Energy is a basic process common among all living organisms. Read this section to learn how energy flows through a living system and how enzymes catalyze chemical reactions.

Watch this lecture to review the first law of thermodynamics and its importance to living organisms.

Water is one of the most important compounds on Earth, since no living organisms can survive without water. Understanding the unique properties of water is very important for the study of biology. Read this section, and be sure to complete the multiple choice and free response questions at the end of the section.

The hydrogen ion concentration of biological systems can be measured using the pH scale. Watch this lecture to learn about the pH scale and how it affects biological systems.

Read this section and complete the "Did I Get This" activity at the end of the section. How can the pH measurements of acidic and basic solutions affect living organisms?

Watch this lecture to learn about acids and bases, and how they relate to the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Watch this lecture to review biological macromolecules and their role in biological organisms.

Biological macromolecules are the raw ingredients that allow living cells to exist and survive. Read the introduction, and then click "next" to also read sections 3.1 to 3.5, "Synthesis of Biological Macromolecules", "Carbohydrates", "Lipids", "Proteins", and "Nucleic Acids". Make sure to also complete the multiple choice and free response questions at the end of each section

The cell membrane is an important part of the cell that offers protection of the cellular contents, and monitors all components that enters and exits the cell. Read this overview of the cell membrane and note the process of transport across the cell membrane. These mechanisms will be examined in closer detail later in this unit. 

Watch this lecture to review cell membranes and their role in cell function and survival. .

Read this section, and then complete the "Learn by Doing" activity and watch the animations. Also complete the "Did I Get This" activity.

Read the "Fluid Mosaic Model" section. Watch the animation and complete the "Did I Get This" activity.

Watch this lecture to review the movement of water and other molecules through the processes of diffusion and osmosis. Consider how these processes occur across cell membranes. 

Read this section. Try each simulation by clicking "add ink" and "begin simulation". Also be sure to complete the "Did I Get This" activity.

Read this section and complete the "Learn by Doing" simulation and the "Did I Get This" activity.

Read this section, complete the simulation, and try the "Did I Get This" activity.

Read this section, watch the animation, and complete the "Did I Get This" activities.

Watch this lecture for a visual tour of the cell. 

Are you ready to take an up close look at the cell? Read this chapter to review cellular anatomy, and pay close attention to the differences in animal cells, plant cells, and bacterial cells. Be sure to click "next" to read sections 4.1 to 4.6. Make sure you also complete the multiple choice and free response questions.

Use this practice exercise to check your understanding of the functions of different organelles.

Energy flows through all living systems, and the chemical reactions that build and break down energy-containing compounds are vital to all living organisms. Read this section to learn more about these important reactions.

Read this section to review enzyme nomenclature. Be sure to complete the "Did I Get This" activity.

Metabolic pathways consists of reactions known as oxidation and reduction reactions that work together to create energy in living systems. Watch this lecture to learn about these reactions, and make note of the differences between oxidation reactions and reduction reactions.

Read this section. Be sure to also complete the "mini-tutor" and "Did I Get This" activities.

Living organisms often break down glucose to create energy in the form of ATP. Read this section to review glycolysis, which is the first step in this process.

Read this section to review the next steps in glucose breakdown, which is the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.

Some organisms use fermentation to break down glucose when oxygen is not available. Read this section to review the process of fermentation.

Read this section, which reviews the metabolic process. Complete the "Did I Get This" activity at the end of the section.

Read this section. Consider the importance of regulation and how it might be beneficial to cells. Complete the "Learn by Doing" and "Did I Get This" activities.

Read this page for a closer look at the energy-rich molecule ATP and the process of glycolysis.

Watch this lecture for a review of the ATP molecule and its importance for cells.

Read this section. As you review, think about why energy storage would be vital to a living organism. Be sure to also complete the "Did I Get This" activity.

This section is a great review of energy and thermodynamic reactions. Be sure to also complete the "Tutorial" and the "Did I Get This" activities.

Watch these lectures to review the entire process of cellular respiration, from glycolysis to ATP generation, and the role of oxidation-reduction reactions in biological systems.

Read this section, which takes a deep dive into the process of glycolysis and its 'ingredients'. Be sure to also complete the "Tutorial" and the "Did I Get This" activities.

Watch this lecture for a tour of the process of glycolysis.

Read this section, which gives a detailed look at the Krebs/Citric Acid cycle and the chemical reactions involved in this cycle. You have probably noticed that there are multiple names for this cycle in Biology. All of these names (TCA cycle, Krebs cycle, and citric acid cycle) refer to the same process. Be sure to also complete the "Learn by Doing" and "Did I Get This" activities.

Watch this lecture for a tour of the Krebs/Citric Acid Cycle. 

Read this section, which outlines the final steps in cellular respiration. Pay close attention to the creation of ATP. Be sure to also complete the "Learn by Doing" and "Did I Get This" activities.

Watch this lecture for a tour of the electron transport chain.

Watch this lecture for a quick review of oxidative phosphorylation and chemiosmosis.

Plants and other photosynthetic organisms use sunlight and carbon dioxide to make their own food. Read this section for an overview of the process of photosynthesis. There are two cycles in photosynthesis: the light cycle and the dark cycle. You will explore these cycles later in the unit.

Read this section to review the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

Read this section to review the Calvin cycle, which is the light-independent reactions in photosynthesis.

Watch these lectures to review the cycles of photosynthesis. Be sure to take notes about the chemical reactions that occur throughout the process and the products of these reactions. 

Some plants go through a modified version of photosynthesis. Watch these lectures to learn about C-4 and CAM photosynthesis. Be sure to take notes about the differences between these unique types of photosynthesis processes.

Watch this lecture.

Read this section, which gives an overview of DNA and RNA and how these important nucleic acids are the foundation for life. 

Read each of the sections in Module 9. These sections give an in-depth look at DNA and RNA. Note the differences between the structures of DNA and RNA. Be sure to also complete each of the activities that accompany these sections.

Read this section to learn about the cell cycle and mitosis.

Watch this lecture for a tour of the process of mitosis.

Prokaryotic cells typically reproduce by binary fission, which is much simpler than eukaryotic cell reproduction. Read this section and note the differences observed in prokaryotic cell reproduction.

Read this introduction to sexual reproduction.

Read this section for an overview of sexual reproduction. As you read, think about the ways that sexual reproduction benefits a species by creating diversity.

The process of meiosis is unique to animals that reproduce sexually. Read this section to learn about the events that occur during meiosis.

Read this section. Be sure to also complete the multiple choice and free response questions. How would you describe stages of meiosis and how cells are produced? Can you explain why meiosis is needed for sexual reproduction? What are the cells involved in fertilization? How does fertilization occur?

Watch these lectures to see the steps of mitosis and meiosis. Note the additional step in meiosis that leads to genetic variability. 

Read this brief introduction to genetics.

Gregor Mendel is considered the father of genetics, and for good reason. Mendel's experiments in simple genetics provide a foundation for modern genetics. Read this section to review Mendel's laws, and spend time reviewing the figures.

The laws of inheritance can be used to predict traits in offspring. Read this section to review these laws, and take time to review the figures to review the movement of traits to offspring.

Read this section to explore the laws of inheritance in more detail.

Watch these lectures for an explanation of inheritance and genetics. Punnett Squares are named after the geneticist Reginald Punnett, who developed the method for predicting probabilities. Work the examples to practice Punnett squares. 

Watch this brief lecture on pedigrees, which are the way we learn more about genetics in human populations. Pedigrees are useful in populations like these, where we cannot test in a controlled environment.

Watch this lecture to review the unique inheritance patterns linked to sex-determining chromosomes.

Watch this lecture for a thorough review of DNA.

Read these four sections from Module 10, which cover DNA replication and synthesis. Be sure to attempt the challenge section as well.

Watch this brief video on DNA replication.

Read these three sections from Module 11, which cover DNA replication and synthesis. Be sure to complete the activities in each section.

The process of protein synthesis begins with the process of translation.

Read this section and complete the "Learn by Doing" and "Did I Get This" activities as you go.

Read this section, which explores the regulation of genes and how gene regulation is used in cells.

Watch this video and think about the topics from this course that are addressed in this project. As you watch, consider the following questions:

• What disease are the scientists studying?
• What is the hypothesis that the scientists hope to support?
• What causes human genetic variation?
• How do scientists determine ancestry?
• In terms of asthma, what can scientists determine when they compare ancestral patterns?
• How might these findings be used in the future?