Week 1 – Day 1
Welcome and introductions
Course overview
Chemistry demonstration
Ch 2 chemical context of life lecture
Week 1 – Day 2
Ch 2 continued
Isotope activity
Week 1 – Day 3
There will not be a class on this day.
Week 2 – Day 1
Cell lab at VCC
Week 2 – Day 2
Chapter 3 – carbon
Lecture – Carbon
Video: The Elements Song
Video: Carbon – Periodic Table of Videos
Week 2 – Day 3
Water, water everywhere!
Water lecture
Water activities – testing the properties of water at home. You will need some ingredients:
- food colouring
- white flowers, preferable tulips
- A small glass for the flowers
- a medium sized glass
- raisins
- vinegar
- baking soda
- Three differently-sized containers for water (small, medium, large)
- A glass with a flat top and about 20 quarters (or more)
Video: Rob Dunbar TED talk
Rob Dunbar talks about the chemistry of ocean acidification due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Macromolecules lecture
Week 3 – Day 1
Osmosis lab at VCC.
Week 3 – Day 2
Review and data collection of Elodea lab
Cell biology – lecture
Videos: Tour of the Animal Cell
Tour of the plant cell
Week 3 – Day 3
Cell biology – organelles Jamboard activity
Osmosis lab review and analyses
Cell membrane – lecture
Cell membrane bioflix video with worksheet:
Week 4 – Day 1
Chapter 8 – An Introduction to Metabolism (and energy) lecture
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-a-calorie-emma-bryce
Khan Academy: Introduction to metabolism
Concept map with Jamboard activity
Week 4 – Day 2
Ch. 9&10: Cellular respiration and photosynthesis
Introduction (Teacher’s Pet):
Photosynthesis (Bozeman Science)
Photosynthesis summary handout:
Photosynthesis study sheet:
Cellular respiration (Bozeman Science):
For your interest, a video about algae fuel (a biofuel)
Week 4 – Day 3
Ch 16 – DNA replication
DNA replication lecture
Bioflix replication video and quiz.
Of mice and memory: NOVA video
Personal DNA testing: NOVA video
Epigenetics: NOVA video
Week 5 – Day 1
Midterm only
Week 5 – Day 2
Chapter 17 DNA transcription and translation
Week 5 – Day 3
Discovery video: Transgenics (not available online)
DNA technology and genomics lecture
Learn to pipette teeny volumes with Robyn (4:30)
Blackett family DNA exercise (techniques used in forensic identification – DNA fingerprinting)
Spider goats:
The Magnificence of spider silk:
Week 6 – Day 1
DNA and Enzyme labs
DNA lab summary:
Enzyme lab summary up soon
Week 6 – Day 2
DNA lab demonstrations from VCC – Robyn
Lecture: Chapter 35 – plant structure
Week 6 – Day 3
Lecture: Chapter 35 – plant structure
Results: DNA lab! – Robyn
Week 7 – Reading break – no class until February 22
Work on your DNA report:
Week 8 – Day 1
Labs: Plant structure (19), and plant growth (20)
We will look at the structures from lecture: plant roots, stems and leaves.
We will look at some demonstrations of plant growth and hormone/plant interactions, and start to think about an experiment.
Week 8 – Day 2
Chapter 39 – Plant Response – 3 lectures
Week 8 – Day 3
Plant reproduction
Week 9 – Day 1
Ch 37 – Plant Nutrition
Submit proposals for plant projects and discuss with instructor – please resubmit proposals with any changes.
Week 9 – Day 2
Midterm 2: Ch 8 Metabolism and enzymes, Ch 16 DNA replication, Ch 17 From Gene to Protein, Ch 20 Biotechnology and genetic engineering
Chapter 40 – Animal structure lecture
Week 9 – Day 3
Chapter 40 –
Backchannel chat: Animal bioenergetics
Week 10 – Day 1
Plant experiments – pick up materials at VCC (unless you have what you need).
Week 10 – Day 2
Ch 41 – animal digestion. Backchannel chat.
Week 10 – Day 3
Ch 42 – circulation and gas exchange. Backchannel chat.
Week 11 – Day 1
Ch 50 – the senses. Backchannel chat.
Backchannel chat summary of links and activities for digestion, circulation and gas exchange, nervous system and senses.
Week 11 – Day 2
Senses lab
Week 11 – Day 3
Animal reproduction – backchannel chat
Week 12 – Day 1
Chapter 46 – animal development
Week 12 – Day 2
Midterm 3 – to be sent March 23. Due March 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Week 12 – Day 3
TBA
Week 13 – Day 1 (March 29)
Lab at VCC:
Week 13 – Day 2
TBA
Week 13 – Day 3
Immunity activity.
Week 14 – Day 1 (April 5)
EASTER MONDAY
Week 14 – Day 2
Animal development
Week 14 – Day 3
Lab Quiz
Week 15 – Day 1 (April 12)
Lab at VCC – animal development
Remote embryo lab:
Week 15 – Day 2
Presentations by students
Week 15 – Day 3
Beginning of exams – no class.
FINAL EXAM: April 22 – 3:30 p.m.
