General Biology Course Objectives

Chapter 2 - The Chemical Context of Life
Chapter 3 - Water and the Fitness of the Environment
Chapter 4 - Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Chapter 5 - The Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Chapter 8 - An Introduction to Metabolism

Chapter 2 Objectives

After reading this chapter and attending lecture, you should be able to:

Define element and compound and distinguish between them
Name the six elements which make up the great majority of living matter
Describe the structure of an atom
Define and distinguish among atomic number, mass number and atomic weight
Given the atomic number and mass number of an atom, determine the number of neutrons
Explain what an isotope is and be able to describe at least one use of radioisotopes in Biology
Explain how the electronic configuration of an atom influences its chemical behavior
Explain why noble (also called inert or rare) gases are unreactive
Define electronegativity and explain how it influences the formation of chemical bonds
Distinguish among nonpolar covalent, polar covalent and ionic bonds
Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond and how it differs from a covalent or ionic bond
Explain why weak bonds are important to living organisms
Describe how the relative concentrations of reactants and products affect a chemical reaction

Chapter 3 Objectives

After reading this chapter and attending lecture, you should be able to:

Describe how water contributes to the fitness of the environment's ability to support life
Describe the structure, geometry and polar nature of a water molecule and explain what properties emerge as a result of these characteristics
Explain the relationship between the polar nature of water and its ability to form hydrogen bonds
List five characteristics of water that result from hydrogen bonding
Distinguish between heat and temperature
Explain how water's high specific heat, high heat of vaporization and expansion upon freezing affect both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
Explain how the polarity of the water molecule makes it a versatile solvent and be able to identify those kinds of molecules likely to be highly soluble in water
Write the equation for the dissociation of water and explain what is actually transferred from one molecule to another
Explain the pH scale
Explain how acids or bases directly or indirectly affect the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution

Chapter 4 Objectives

After reading this chapter and attending lecture, you should be able to:

Explain how carbon's electronic configuration determines the number and kinds of bonds which carbon forms
Describe how carbon skeletons may vary and explain how this variation contributes to the diversity and complexity of organic molecules
Distinguish among the three types of isomers found in carbon-based molecules: structural, geometric and enantiomer (also called stereoisomer)
Recognize the major functional groups and describe the general chemical properties of organic molecules in which they occur

Chapter 5 Objectives

After reading this chapter and attending associated lecture periods, you should be able to:

List the levels of biological organization from subatomic particles through macromolecules
Describe the distinguishing characteristics of carbohydrates and explain their classification
Describe the important biological functions of polysaccharides
Explain what distinguishes lipids from other classes of biological macromolecules
Describe the unique properties, building blocks and biological roles of fats, phospholipids and steroids
Identify an ester linkage and how it is formed
Distinguish proteins from the other classes of macromolecules and list the biological functions which members of this class perform
List and be able to recognize the four major components of a typical amino acid and explain how amino acids may be grouped according to the nature of their side chain
Identify a peptide bond and describe how it is formed
Explain what determines protein conformation and why it is important
Name the four levels of protein structure and briefly describe from what aspect of protein structure each is derived
Define denaturation and explain how proteins may be denatured
Describe the characteristics that distinguish nucleic acids from the other classes of macromolecules
Summarize the functions of nucleic acids
Juggle three flaming batons...just checking that you're still paying attention (smile)
List the major components of a nucleotide and describe how these monomers are linked together to form a nucleic acid
Distinguish between a pyrimidine and a purine and name those which occur in nucleic acids
Describe at least one function of nucleotides other than their inclusion in nucleic acids 
Briefly describe the three-dimensional structure of DNA

Chapter 6 Objectives

After reading this chapter and attending lecture, you should be able to:

Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Explain why there are upper and lower limits to cell size
Explain the function of compartmentalization in eukaryotic cells
Describe the structure and function of the nucleus
Describe the structure and function of the eukaryotic ribosome
List the components of the endomembrane system, describe their structures and functions
and summarize the relationships among them
Describe the types of vacuoles and how their functions differ
Explain the role of peroxisomes in eukaryotic cells
Describe the structure of a typical mitochondrion, detail its function and explain how
compartmentaliztion in the mitochondrion is important to this function
Explain the structure and functioning of the chloroplast
Describe the functions of the cytoskeleton and distinguish among microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments
Describe the ultrastructure of flagella and cilia and briefly summarize the relationship between
this structure and their functioning

Chapter 8 Objectives

After reading this chapter and attending classes discussing these ideas, you should be able to:

Compare and contrast the role of catabolic and anabolic pathways in the energy exchanges of cell metabolism
Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy
Distinguish between open and closed systems
Explain the general meanings of the first two Laws of Thermodynamics
Explain why highly ordered living organisms are not a violation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Distinguish between exergonic and endergonic reactions
Describe the relationship between equilibrium and the free energy change for a reaction
Describe the general function of ATP in a cell
List the three separate components of ATP and indicate to which class of macromolecules it belongs
Explain generally how ATP performs cellular work
Describe the energy profile of a typical chemical reaction; include activation energy, free energy and transition state in your description
Outline the general function of enzymes in biological systems
Explain the relationship between enzyme structure and enzyme specificity
Describe at least one mechanism by which enzymes lower activation energy
Explain how changing a substrate's concentration affects the overall rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
Explain in general terms the relationship of each of the following to enzyme activity: general environmental factors such as temperature, cofactors, enzyme inhibitors and allosteric regulators