Biology and Biotechnology

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify major organs, cavities, bones and bone markings, muscles, and blood vessels on models or drawings.
• explain how different organ systems contribute to the maintenance of the living cells of our bodies.
• explain how different organ systems work together to maintain homeostasis.
• correlate course knowledge of organ systems to disease, aging, and healing processes.
• integrate the body’s structural design with its functioning to explain how life is maintained.
• differentiate between credible sources of scientific information and anecdotes or stories.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify all body parts, body structures, organs, and tissues of the human body at a detailed level on models.
• assess and identify structures on a previously dissected human cadaver.
• demonstrate proper dissection technique on an undissected human cadaver.
• dissect and identify specific anatomical structures in human cadavers that are relevant to embalming procedures.
• analyze the relationships between anatomical systems by applying principles of the scientific method and inquiry.
• identify specific anatomical guides, linear guides, and anatomical limits of structures relevant to embalming procedures.
• demonstrate appropriate behavior in the presence of a human cadaver.
• enumerate ethical issues regarding working with human cadavers.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify basic microbial morphology and describe basic microbial physiology.
• interpret the relationships and interactions between a host and a parasite.
• assess the effect of environmental disinfection and decontamination procedures.
• describe the fundamentals of the infectious disease process.
• categorize specific and nonspecific defense mechanisms against disease.
• distinguish between the various methods of transmission of infectious disease.
• differentiate between normal flora, true pathogens, and opportunistic pathogens.
• identify examples of human disease and corresponding infectious agents with special emphasis on control and prevention of disease.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain basic cellular, anatomical, and physiological mechanisms by which organisms, including humans, maintain homeostasis.
• describe the basic processes of cellular reproduction and genetics.
• evaluate the pros and cons of modern biotechnologies.
• apply evolutionary theory to interpret the relationship between taxa and identify adaptations and selective pressures.
• analyze information to evaluate the validity of data, hypotheses, and conclusions.
• connect biological functions at the cell and molecular levels to the biological functions of the human body.
• produce graphs of biological data and apply quantitative reasoning to interpret other graphical representations of data.
• analyze changes in biodiversity over geologic and modern times.
• apply biological concepts to modern problems such as antibiotic resistance, climate change, or human pandemics.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze new situations using the scientific method, evaluate the validity of data, and form appropriate conclusions.
• describe the contribution of key individuals to the development of the theory of evolution.
• explain the forces that act to change the genetics of populations over time.
• explain the concept of species and how new species form.
• explain recent discoveries in the field of evolutionary developmental biology.
• describe major events in the evolution of life on earth.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify properties that are common to all living things, and identify representatives of the major groups of organisms.
• compare and contrast the structures and functions of cells, tissues, and organ systems of major groups of organisms.
• apply the scientific method: use inquiry, data collection, quantitative reasoning, and basic mathematical concepts to analyze the results of a simple experiment.
• assess the scientific quality of information based on scientific processes.
• explain how the mechanisms of evolution and the evidence supporting the theory of evolution account for both the unity and diversity of life.
• interpret results of ecological studies, including graphs, diagrams, and charts.
• correlate the basic concepts of DNA synthesis, cell division, sexual reproduction, and transmission genetics.
• understand the importance of gene expression in creating the organism.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze the biological differences in structure and function of several California ecosystems.
• examine the different relationships between species.
• apply general biological and ecological concepts to explain origins of life hypotheses, extant biological diversity, and individual traits that promote survival, growth, and reproduction.
• incorporate the principles of natural selection to explain relationships between species’ adaptations and the environment.
• explain the mechanisms of evolution and their impact on adaptations over geologic time.
• recognize common species of plants and animals in the field, and the biomes of California.
• assess the importance of climate and geology to plant and animal adaptations.
• evaluate the importance of biodiversity to ecosystem health.
• record observations on adaptations and ecology in natural environments.
• evaluate biological data and form logical conclusions suggested by the data.
• assess the scientific quality of information based on the process of science and the scientific method.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain major molecular, genetic, cellular, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary principles.
• apply major molecular, genetic, cellular, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary principles to basic biological problems.
• apply the scientific method to a biological problem.
• assess information from a variety of sources for scientific validity and meaning.
• relate biological structures to their functions and discuss their evolution.
• evaluate a hypothesis in the laboratory using inquiry, data collection and analysis, quantitative reasoning, and basic mathematical skills.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify herbs, shrubs, and trees using plant keys
• compare and contrast uses of plants from many cultures
• prepare American Indian foods
• gather and prepare plants according to appropriate seasons and methods
• compare and contrast ethnobotanical issues facing American Indians, South Americans, Europeans, and Chinese
• construct traditional items including baskets, regalia necklaces, digging sticks, and others

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• examine the nature of scientific thought and methodology as it applies to the analysis of avian biology.
• compare and contrast the current scientific hypotheses regarding the evolution of birds and flight and evaluate the evidence supporting these views.
• analyze the evolutionary forces that have led to specific avian adaptations to flight, including morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits.
• explain the genetic mechanisms that generate bird biodiversity.
• assess the scientific quality of information based on the process of science and the scientific method in the field of ornithology.
• identify the major conservation concerns in the field of ornithology and the scientific efforts that may mitigate these threats.
• evaluate the effectiveness of citizen science, digital data, and metadata systems to obtain quality ornithological data.
• demonstrate the proper use of binoculars and field guides in order to identify birds in the field.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• compare and contrast the anatomical and functional characteristics of infectious agents.
• describe the etiology, transmission, epidemiology, treatment, and prevention of major infectious diseases.
• explain how host defenses respond to infectious agents.
• assess the effects of selected infectious agents on human populations throughout history.
• evaluate factors that lead to the emergence or re-emergence of infectious diseases worldwide.
• apply microbiology concepts to current issues in human health and infectious disease.
• list examples of infectious agents used as biological weapons.
• demonstrate expertise for a specific infectious disease by preparing a research presentation including visual illustrations.
• explore how infectious diseases can be controlled by vaccines, antimicrobial agents, and behavioral and social changes.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• apply fundamental biological and ecological terms, concepts, and principles to the critical analysis of conservation issues.
• examine biodiversity in terms of biological structure, composition, and function at the genetic, species, ecosystem, and landscape levels.
• analyze the interrelationships between biological, physical, and social systems.
• assess the scientific integrity of information.
• evaluate the effectiveness of conservation strategies.
• apply the scientific process to conservation problem solving and personal decision making.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify and analyze the interrelationships between chemistry, geology, biology, and ecology in the ocean.
• explain oceanographic phenomena, such as waves, currents, and tides.
• identify and classify the various life forms in the ocean.
• evaluate major adaptations of various organisms and their evolutionary origins.
• compare and contrast various marine zones.
• apply the scientific method to a biological problem by formulating hypotheses and analyzing data.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• categorize the interconnectedness between the physical environment and living organisms.
• categorize the interconnectedness among different living organisms in marine ecosystems.
• categorize the interconnectedness between humans and the marine environment.
• explain how evolutionary processes have influenced marine organism adaptations and the biodiversity of marine communities.
• apply basic ecological principles (e.g., biodiversity, community dynamics, primary production, the niche, energy flow, or nutrient cycles) to marine organisms and/or marine ecosystems.
• apply the concept of sustainability to the human use of marine resources.
• evaluate the scientific credibility of websites and/or magazine articles related to current marine ecology issues.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• relate biological and ecological concepts and processes to specific locations in California
• describe site-specific biological and ecological phenomena
• analyze the interrelationships between biological, physical, and social systems at a particular site
• hypothesize about the causal mechanisms, both evolutionary and environmental, that make the natural history of specific field sites unique
• compose field notes
• collect and analyze field data
• demonstrate the use of field equipment

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the scientific method.
• demonstrate skills in laboratory procedures and apply critical thinking in laboratory experiments.
• evaluate data generated in the laboratory for validity and scientific meaning.
• analyze interactions between biological systems.
• assess a problem and formulate a solution in the laboratory by using inquiry, data collection and analysis, quantitative reasoning, and basic mathematical concepts.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify plant cells, tissues, and organs.
• describe the development of the primary and secondary plant body from the seed to the mature plant.
• evaluate the environmental adaptations of plants as these adaptations relate to the plants' anatomy, morphology, and physiology.
• demonstrate the use of plant keys to identify botanical organisms in the field.
• identify examples of how plants utilize hormones to interact with and respond to the external environment.
• describe the physiological pathways that plants utilize to create and store sugars and to uptake minerals.
• classify organisms into their respective domain, kingdom, and phyla based on their identifying characteristics.
• analyze evolutionary trends among fungi, cyanobacteria, protists, and plants.
• describe the major advances and evolutionary trends of the plant phyla as they adapted further onto land (charting nonvascular plants through anthophyta).
• generate hypotheses relating to ecology such as testing the effects of herbivory on plants by allowing herbivory and recording the results
• state basic ecological principles by examining the effects of CO2 on corals and breeding new resistant corals
• apply the scientific method such as generating a hypothesis for transport of photosynthetic compounds in the plant and testing these hypotheses through experimentation and examination of results

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define and give examples of the levels of organization seen in living things from cells, organs, tissues, and tissue systems to ecosystems.
• explain evolutionary mechanisms for both macroevolution and microevolution and how they relate to the diversity of life. Apply them to specific examples.
• investigate various mechanisms used by organisms to produce, store, and use energy.
• describe processes involved in embryologic development of major taxa stressing the patterns observed and relating them to evolutionary principles.
• utilize evolutionary mechanisms to critique the major body plans of organisms showing they are a result of environmental adaptations and shared ancestry.
• compare and contrast anatomical and physiological characteristics of major taxa. Focus on evolutionary relationships and adaptations to the environment.
• systematize various phyla by creating phylogenetic trees using anatomical and physiological data. Use trees to extrapolate the relationship of organisms. Evaluate hypothetical trees.
• identify basic ecological principles.
• identify, compare, and contrast life cycles observed in the major taxa with the focus on how these life cycles relate to evolutionary mechanisms and ecological principles.
• identify, compare, and contrast representative reproductive strategies seen in major phyla; detail how these relate to evolutionary mechanisms and ecological principles.
• analyze the relationship of organisms to their biotic and abiotic environment.
• integrate ecological principles with issues that affect the human condition.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe reproductive and developmental processes used by animals.
• demonstrate anatomical characteristics of animals using dissection methods.
• list the characteristics of the major animal phyla.
• construct phylogenetic trees based on anatomic, physiologic, and embryologic data.
• interpret phylogenetic trees.
• compare and contrast anatomy and physiology of the animal phyla.
• analyze the environmental adaptations of animals based on anatomic and physiologic characteristics.
• evaluate the microevolutionary processes that produce patterns in nature.
• evaluate phylogenetic hypotheses with anatomic and physiologic data.
• integrate developmental, anatomical, and environmental data to hypothesize evolutionary relationships between animals.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assemble general anatomical structures within the hierarchy of levels of organization.
• incorporate appropriate anatomical terms to demonstrate the position and relationship of anatomical structures.
• predict negative and positive feedback responses to changes in homeostasis.
• correlate the chemical structure of atoms and molecules with their physiological functions.
• predict the function of a particular cell based on its organelles.
• examine how tissues establish the framework of organs and systems.
• integrate the type of tissue present with the function of the organ.
• identify specific anatomical components of the integumentary, skeletal, muscle, and nervous systems using appropriate tools (microscope, models, preserved organs, and cadaver prosections).
• describe the mechanisms of neural communication and control.
• describe the mechanisms of muscle contraction.
• evaluate data collected during experimental challenges to homeostasis.
• apply knowledge of physiological changes to cellular and organ pathology.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify specific anatomic components of the endocrine, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems using appropriate tools (microscope, models, preserved organs, and cadaver material).
• diagram the functional relationship between each organ and the system to which it belongs.
• illustrate the relationship between basic embryonic development and mature functional structures.
• correlate the mechanisms by which the functional cells of each of the major systems respond to maintain homeostasis.
• evaluate the neuronal and hormonal responses to changes in cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics.
• evaluate the neuronal and hormonal responses to changes in digestive dynamics.
• measure physiologic data during challenges to cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, and digestive systems.
• collect data through experimental challenges to cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, and digestive challenges to homeostasis.
• predict the outcome of pathophysiological changes to various body systems.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze the properties of microorganisms in terms of cellular anatomy and physiology.
• summarize the properties of microorganisms in terms of biochemistry and genetics and correlate these properties to applications in biotechnology.
• apply microbiology concepts to current issues in human health and infectious diseases.
• demonstrate proper microbiology laboratory techniques involving microscopy, biochemical tests and diagnostic media to characterize microorganisms of significance to human health.
• describe how physical and chemical methods can be used to control microbial growth.
• explain how the human body interacts with various microorganisms through symbiotic relationships and host defenses.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate the anatomical, physiological, biochemical, and molecular properties of microorganisms.
• apply microbiology concepts to advances in biotechnology.
• evaluate how physical and chemical methods can be used to control microbial growth.
• apply microbiology concepts to current issues in public health and infectious disease.
• explain how host defenses interact with pathogenic microorganisms.
• design and evaluate experiments involving microscopy, biochemical tests, DNA techniques, and diagnostic media.
• describe various infectious diseases, including the causative agent(s), signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, virulence factors, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze the interrelationships between chemistry, biology, and ecology in the marine environment (including oceanographic phenomena such as waves, currents, and tides).
• examine and support with experimental data the mechanisms of cell biology which allow marine organisms to survive in their environment.
• categorize and contrast the various life forms found in the marine environment.
• analyze and interpret data from current scientific journals and evaluate the broader implications of each study.
• formulate hypotheses in marine biology, design experiments to test them, and interpret and present the data.
• critique plans of action for marine conservation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• develop short- and long-term goals and assess progress in reaching these goals.
• refine time management techniques and apply new techniques for avoiding procrastination.
• analyze vocabulary development strategies and apply pertinent ones to science courses.
• choose and apply the appropriate problem-solving strategies for science courses.
• construct and interpret various graphs of scientific data.
• apply active reading strategies in science texts.
• create content-based graphic organizers to facilitate understanding of complex topics.
• utilize the strategies of intensive study cycles.
• assess performance on science course exams in order to modify study strategies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• relate biological macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, to their physical properties and cellular function.
• integrate the roles of DNA, RNA, and proteins with the expression of genetic traits of cells and organisms.
• analyze the scientific concepts underlying biotechnology techniques.
• evaluate new developments in biotechnology research on current human health and disease issues.
• explain how information-based biotechnology approaches, such as genomics and bioinformatics, are used to address biomedical issues.
• examine current ethical and social issues in the use of biotechnology for human health.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain biological applications of bioinformatics concepts.
• design data retrieval strategies from bioinformatics databases.
• set up a data analysis using bioinformatics computational tools.
• analyze structure and function bioinformatics data.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain biotechnology applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
• correlate recent advances in biotechnology research with new products and processes.
• evaluate social and ethical issues involving biotechnology.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• organize and prepare materials needed for nucleic acid and protein laboratory techniques.
• calculate reagent amounts and concentrations to prepare laboratory solutions for nucleic acid and protein analysis.
• design and perform laboratory procedures involving manipulation of nucleic acid and protein samples.
• interpret and evaluate the results of nucleic acid and protein analysis experiments.
• assess biotechnology laboratory procedures on the basis of good laboratory practice, quality control, and regulatory issues.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• organize and prepare materials needed for culture media preparation, aseptic cell cultures, and DNA and enzyme diagnostic tests.
• design and perform laboratory procedures involving microbial and cell culture techniques, DNA analysis of microbiological samples, and microbial enzyme diagnostic tests.
• interpret and evaluate the experimental results of cell culture experiments, microbial DNA analysis, and enzyme diagnostic tests.
• assess the quality of laboratory data using descriptive statistical measures.
• assess needs for specific personal protective equipment and safety procedures based on an evaluation of general, chemical, and biological hazards present in laboratory situations.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate application of industry knowledge and theoretical concepts in biotechnology related to a transfer degree level career as written in the minimum three (3) learning objectives created by the student and their employer or work site supervisor at the start of the course.
• make effective decisions, use workforce information, and manage their personal career plans.
• behave professionally, ethically, and legally during work, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational norms.
• behave responsibly during work, exhibiting initiative and self-management in situations where it is needed.
• apply effective leadership styles during work, with consideration to group dynamics, team and individual decision making, and workforce diversity.
• communicate in oral, written, and other formats, as needed, in a variety of contexts during work.
• locate, organize, evaluate, and reference information during work.
• demonstrate originality and inventiveness during work by combining ideas or information in new ways, making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and reshaping goals in ways that reveal new possibilities using critical and creative thinking skills such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving.