BIOL1506: Biology I Lecture 1: Introduction, Slides of Biology

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BIOL1506: Biology I

Lecture 1: Introduction

Dr. Jeffrey Gagnon

Introductions

Born/raised in rural Ottawa.

Ottawa University BSc in Biopharmaceutical Sciences-2002- 2006

Volunteering during the academic year and summer employment. 4 th^ year BSc honours thesis

MSc in Biochemistry @ Ottawa U (2006-2008). protein processing/maturation

PhD in Physiology and Biophysics @ Dalhousie (2009-2013). Appetite regulating hormone physiology

Postdoctoral fellowship in Physiology @ University of Toronto (2013-2014) Diabetes hormone physiology

Hired @ Laurentian in 2014 Tenure in 2019 + associate professor

Our class

• ~160-170 students
• Biology programs (Major, Biomed, Zoology)
• Other Sciences (Biochem, Forensics, Beh. Neuro, Inter, etc)
• Faculty of health programs (Kinesiology, AVDL)
• BA students (“scientific literacy)
• Minors in biology?
• Met at a recruitment event?

Goals for BIOL

-Get everyone excited about biology

-Give you a strong foundation in Biology

-Get you ready for 1507 and future BIOL

courses

When do we meet?

• Monday and Thursdays FA054, 1130-12:
• 13 weeks of fun (from Sept 6 to Dec 5 th^ )
• You also have lab
• Attendance is expected for lectures and mandatory for labs

What will we cover

• Themes of biology (Chapter 1)
• What is a biologist
• Academic research
• Chemical context of Biology (biochemistry)
• Molecules (molecular biology)
• Cells (cell biology)
• Metabolism (cell metabolism)
• Cell division (cell biology)
• Genes (genetics)
• Evolution (evolutionary biology)
• microbiology

Course Section GTA

• Tharusha Wijewardena
• twijewardena@laurentian.ca
• Any questions about assignments, reviewing exams, and assistance with course components can be sent to her.

Grade breakdown

• Laboratory: 35%
• Midterm test (in class): 20%
• Final exam: 25%
• Mastering Biology Modules: 16%
• Learning Catalytics (in class questions): 4%

In Class Participation: Learning Catalytics

• Learning catalytics is the in class question software from Pearson. You can access it through your Pearson Mastering Biology page.
• This is how I will assess class participation.

Themes of Biology

Chapter 1

Some

Properties

of Life

Figure 1.2 Some properties of life.

Theme: New Properties Emerge at Each Level in the Biological Hierarchy

Life can be studied at different levels, from molecules to entire living planet

Study of life can therefore be divided into different levels of biological organization through a strategy called reductionism

Reductionism refers to reducing complex systems to simpler components that are more manageable to study

The Power and Limitations of Reductionism

Reductionism - reduction of complex systems to simpler components

Powerful strategy in biology, as the study of individual components is more manageable

For example, studying molecular structure of DNA helps to understand chemical basis of biological inheritance

Emergent Properties

Emergent properties emerge from the arrangement and interaction of parts within a system

Novel properties emerge at each level that are absent from the preceding one

• photosynthesis only occurs in chloroplasts, not in a test tube containing chlorophyll and other chloroplast components

Emergent properties are not unique to life

• For example, a box of bicycle parts will not take you anywhere
• Assembled correctly you can pedal almost anywhere