BIOL 2601 - General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 05, CRN 42320,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Kimberly Hunter
Email: kshunter@student.ysu.edu
Course Description
2601. General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells. The chemical and physical foundations of life, structure and function of cells and organelles, metabolism, basic molecular biology and inheritance, and principles of evolution. Three hours of lecture per week. Coreq.: BIOL 2601L. Prereq. or Coreq.: CHEM 1515. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Campbell Biology 9th Edition for AP |
Additional required readings from the Open Stax Biology 2nd edition.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Ch 51 (Campbell) | Animal Behavior | Complete reading guide |
| 8/31 | Ch 2 - 2.2&2.3 Water & Carbon (OpenStax) | Chemical basis of life; bonding and properties of water | Animal Behavior Lab, Water Lab, Stats notes, reading guides |
| 9/7 | Ch 3 - biological macromolecules (OS) | macromolecules, bonding | notes, reading guides, labs Quiz ch 2-3 |
| 9/14 | ch 4 Cell structure (OS) | microscopes, cell theory, cell types, cellular organelles, cell connections | notes, reading guides, microscope lab |
| 9/21 | ch 5 (OS) | plasma membrane structure and function | notes, reading guides, pogil, lab Unit exam ch 2-5 week of 9/28 |
| 9/28 | ch 6/7 metabolisms & cell respiration (OS) | ATP, enzymes, Cell respiration - stages & pathways | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab |
| 10/5 | ch 8 photosynthesis | overview, stages, pathways | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab quiz ch 6-8 w/o 10/12 |
| 10/12 | ch 9 cell communication | types, general pathways, mechanisms | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab, project - affects of drug/disease on signalling pathways |
| 10/19 | ch 9 cell communication project | details forthcoming | project due |
| 10/26 | ch 10 Cell Reproduction | Mitosis, Cell Cycle control, Cancer | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab |
| 11/2 | ch 11 Meiosis & Sexual Reproduction | notes, reading guides, case study, lab Quiz ch 10-11 w/o 11/19RNA |
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| 11/9 | ch 12-13 Heredity | mendelian, non-mendelian genetic mechanisms | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab, practice problems |
| 11/16 | ch 14 DNA Structure & Function | historical basis, structure, replication, pro v euk replication, repair | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab |
| 11/23 | ch 15 Protein Synthesis, Gene regulation | RNA, Transcription, translation, gene regulation in pro. | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab UNit exam w/o 11/30 over ch 12-15 |
| 11/30 | Ch 18-20 Evolution, Populations, Phylogeny | Evidence of Evolution, Mechanisms of Evolution, Speciation, Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, Reproductive isolation | notes, reading guides, POGILs, lab quiz over 18-20 w/o 12/7, final exam last day of semester per WGH/WCS calendar. virus/bacteria project due finals week |
| 12/7 | Ch 18-20 Evol, Pop, Phylo |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.