Biology | Biological Mechanisms
L112 | 1161 | Ruesink, A

This course focuses on many unifying principles of biology, showing
how organisms of various kinds meet the problems of maintaining and
propagating life.  Topics include biological molecules, enzyme
activity and regulation, structure and function of membranes,
structure and activity of cellular organelles, mitosis and the cell
cycle, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, classical and molecular
genetics, plant structure and development, plant physiology, animal
development, human reproduction, and finally animal physiology with
its topics nutrition and digestion, circulation, organismal
respiration, nervous system and receptors, endocrinology, and
immunology.  Students attend required weekly learning group sessions
that encourage the development of skills such as writing about
science, speaking about science, solving biological problems, and
generating scientific posters.  Learning groups also help prepare
students for the three hour exams and the final exam.