Principles of Living Systems

The Principles of Living Systems (aka POLS or BIOB 160) course is based on the Biology subject area of the Khan Academy.  This effectively eliminates the requirement for students to purchase an expensive textbook, yet cover the same topics a textbook would.

Topics for this course:

1. Intro to biology (in class Jan 6)
2. Chemistry of life
   • Elements and atoms (Jan 8)
   • Electron shells and orbitals (Jan 10)
   • Chemical bonds and reactions (Jan 13)
3. Water, acids, and bases
   • Hydrogen bonding in water + cohesion and adhesion (Jan 15)
   • Temperature and state changes in water (Jan 17)
   • Acids, bases, and pH (Jan 22…no class on Jan 20)
4. Properties of carbon (WE WILL SKIP THIS SECTION!)
5. Macromolecules
   • Carbohydrates
   • Lipids
   • Nucleic acids
   • Proteins
6. Energy and enzymes – NO OUTLINES
7. Structure of a cell
   • Introduction to cells
   • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
   • Tour of a eukaryotic cell
   • Extracellular structures and cell-cell junctions
8. Membrane and transport
   • Plasma membrane + diffusion and osmosis
   • Passive transport
   • Active transport + bulk transport
9. Cellular respiration
   • Cellular respiration: intro + steps
   • Glycolysis +pyruvate oxidation and citric acid cycle
   • Oxphos + variations on cellular respiration
10. Photosynthesis
    • Intro to photosynthesis + light-dependent reactions
    • Calvin cycle + photosynthesis variations
11. Cell signaling
12. Cell division
    • Introduction to cell division
    • The cell cycle and mitosis
    • Meiosis
    • Cell cycle regulation, cancer, and stem cells
13. Classical and molecular genetics
    • Mendelian genetics
    • Variations on Mendelian genetics
    • Sex linkage, chromosomal mutations, and nonnuclear inheritance
14. DNA as genetic material
    • Structure and Discovery of DNA (SKIP THIS SECTION)
    • DNA Replication
15. Central dogma (DNA –> RNA –> protein)
    • Central Dogma of Biology (SKIP THIS SECTION)
    • Transcription
    • Translation
    • Transcription and translation animation
16. Gene regulation
    • Gene regulation in bacteria
    • Gene regulation in eukaryotes
17. Biotechnology – NO CLASS ON FRIDAY, APRIL 19
    • Intro and DNA cloning
    • DNA analysis methods
    • Review video – The Inner Life of a Cell
18. Bacteria and archaea
19. Viruses
20. Evolution and the tree of life

Lecture notes:

Additional resources:

• But I Like Having a Textbook! (Links to free biology textbooks)