Week 1 – Day 1
Welcome and introductions
Course overview
Cases of unusual chemistry in animals:
Ch 2 chemical context of life lecture Part 1 (live)
Watch Chapter 2 part 2. Link to lectures.
Review of chemistry and activities.
Week 1 – Day 2
Lab at VCC – 3275 – Elodea – plants CO2 and O2.
They Might Be Giants elements video:
Focus on: trace elements – iodine (article)
Focus on – isotopes:
Focus on: trace elements – iron:
Isotope activity
Week 2 – Day 1
Water, water everywhere!
Watch Chapter 3: water
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.
Week 2 – Day 2
Watch chapters 3 and 4, carbon and macromolecules.
Video: Carbon – Periodic Table of Videos
Review macroc
Week 2 – Day 3
Elodea and cells lab – VCC room 3275
Week 3 – Day 1
Cell biology – watch lecture before class.
Videos: Tour of the Animal Cell
Tour of the plant cell
Cell biology – organelles Jamboard activity
Week 3 – Day 2
Cell membrane – watch lecture
Cell membrane bioflix video with worksheet:
Week 3 – Day 3
Osmosis lab at VCC.
Week 4 – Day 1
TBA
Osmosis lab review and analyses
Week 4 – Day 2
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 3
Midterm – Chemistry, cell biology, cell membrane. Lab component: cells, elodea, osmosis.
Week 5 – Day 1
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 5 – Day 2
TBA
Week 5 – Day 3
Lab: Enzymes and pipetting
Week 6 – Day 1
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 6 – Day 2
Chapter 17 DNA transcription and translation
Week 6 – Day 3
DNA lab
DNA lab summary:
Week 7 – Day 1
Discovery video: Transgenics (not available online)
DNA technology and genomics lecture
Blackett family DNA exercise (techniques used in forensic identification – DNA fingerprinting)
Spider goats:
The Magnificence of spider silk:
Week 7 – Day 2
TBA
Week 7 – Day 3
Lecture: Chapter 35 – watch plant structure
Results: DNA lab! – Robyn
Week 8 – Reading break
Work on your DNA report:
Week 9 – Day 1
Midterm 2: Ch 8 Metabolism and enzymes, Ch 16 DNA replication, Ch 17 From Gene to Protein, Ch 20 Biotechnology and genetic engineering
Week 9 – Day 2
Ch 37 – Plant Nutrition
Week 9 – Day 3
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 10 – Day 1
Plant reproduction
Week 10 – Day 2
Chapter 39 – Plant Response – 3 lectures
Week 10 – Day 3
Submit proposals for plant projects and discuss with instructor – please resubmit proposals with any changes.
Week 11 – Day 1
Chapter 40 – Watch animal structure lecture
Backchannel chat: Animal bioenergetics
Week 11 – Day 2
TBA
Week 11 – Day 3
Student experiments
Week 12 – Day 1
Ch 41 – animal digestion. Backchannel chat.
Week 12 – Day 2
Ch 42 – circulation and gas exchange. Backchannel chat.
Week 12 – Day 3
Midterm 3
Week 13 – Day 1
Ch 48 – nervous system
Week 13 – Day 2
Ch 50 – the senses. Backchannel chat.
Backchannel chat summary of links and activities for digestion, circulation and gas exchange, nervous system and senses.
Week 13 – Day 3
Senses lab, eye dissection, brain dissection
Week 14 – Day 1
Animal reproduction – backchannel chat
Week 14 – Day 2
Chapter 46 – animal development
Week 14 – Day 3
Development lab
Immunity activity.
Remote embryo lab:
Week 15 – Day 1
Beginning of exams – no class.
FINAL EXAM: April 11-26 TBA