Welcome to

BIOL 1111
Fall 2024
Dr. Melinda Fowler
She/Her/Hers

Introductory Stuff and Scientific Method

Me!
Physiology of seals & birds
dabble in tropical rainforest work
 Expectations
u Course:
u First semester of introductory Biology

Scientific Method Photosynthesis

Mitosis/Meiosis
Basic chemistry
Genetics
Cellular anatomy DNA replication, transcription and
Cellular Respiration translation

Also: HOW TO COLLEGE

How to communicate effectively
How to deal with a new environment
How to manage your time
Social vs schoolwork vs other
How to study
From you:
• Take responsibility for your education; be involved
• Come to class (ON-TIME!) prepared
Do the reading, take notes
• Respond to Learning Catalytic questions
• Follow instructions!!!!
• Keep up with MasteringBiology HW and deadlines
• Utilize the resources offered to you (lecture, textbook,
tutoring, office hours)
• Communicate!
• Be respectful
Don’t wait too late!
I don’t know there’s a problem if
you don’t communicate it to me
Canvas
Canvas is the course website. CHECK IT EVERYDAY.

Powerpoint slides are posted before class

Homeworks/activities
Learning Objectives
Quiz scores and answers
Instructions for make up participation, if applicable
Your grade

If I forget to post something or settings aren’t working (it happens

sometimes!) please let me know and I’ll fix it ASAP.
Textbook
u Textbook: Campbell in Focus 3rd ed.

u Bookstore has bundled E-Text with access to MasteringBiology

u MASTERING BIOLOGY IS REQUIRED
u Homework and Learning Catalytics are linked to this!
u If you purchase or rent a hardback, you will have to purchase Mastering access
separately online Third
edition

See the instructions on Canvas under “Important Class

Information” to get logged into MasteringBiology after
purchasing. You should be able to click on the Access
Pearson link on the left side of Canvas and log in.
Mastering and Learning Catalytics are the same login!
 Grade Breakdown
Syllabus Exams (3 of them) 45%
posted on Canvas Final exam (CUMULATIVE) 20%
Quizzes 10%
Homework 15%
Participation 10%
u Exams
u In person, multiple choice
u Final exam cumulative
u Quizzes:
u Usually weekly on Thursdays
u Drop the lowest
u Multiplechoice, on paper, in class
u Must be on time to class
 Grade Breakdown
Syllabus Exams (3 of them) 45%
posted on Canvas Final exam (CUMULATIVE) 20%
Quizzes 10%
Homework 15%
u Homework Participation 10%

u Usually multiple choice practice questions on Mastering Biology or

Canvas
u May also be other activities, such as watching videos out of class,
answering case study questions etc.
u 10% deduction every day it is late.
u If you have some kind of complicating situation, I may adjust due dates,
but you have to let me know ASAP—BEFORE THE DUE DATE if there’s an
issue with getting the work done on time
u Explain the situation to me (don’t need ultra personal details). We make a
plan after your explanation to me. Must speak to me before or not later
than 1 day after due date (if there is some emergency) for
accommodations
 Grade Breakdown
u Participation Syllabus Exams (3 of them) 45%
u Learning Catalytics online posted on Canvas
Final exam (CUMULATIVE) 20%
u Online polling: phone, computer or tablet
Quizzes 10%
u Everyday I will have a few questions during lecture. Homework 15%
u Won’t start real point counting until Monday 9 Sept Participation 10%
u You need to be present and attempt at least HALF of them. You do NOT have to get them right.
u If you do this, you get 2 points in participation for the day
u You HAVE to use the program—I will not take written responses
u There are no remote options, class is in-person only
u If I catch you attempting to answer Learning Catalytics outside the classacademic
dishonesty
u The idea is to give you
u Additional motivation to come to class
u A way to earn points that is not high stress exams
participation
u

You get 2 (TWO) free days! No questions asked

for
Practice answering questions and making sure you get the concepts
Learning Catalytics
Trial question.
Does anyone have their Mastering set up yet?
Don’t worry if not, this is just a demo of how things should
go.
What is the late homework policy?
A) There is none, time management and communication are
not useful life skills, so why bother
B) 10% deduction per day late unless you have
communicated with Dr. Fowler BEFORE regarding
extenuating circumstances and made a different plan
C) 100% off per day late
D) 25% deduction per day late
 Syllabus
posted on Canvas

u What to do if you miss class?

u Excused Absences vs Non-Excused Absences
u Non-Excused: examples: oversleeping, deciding not to come cause you
don’t wanna, routine, easily rescheduled dr appointments (example:
your annual teeth cleaning at the dentist). DO NOT BOOK PERSONAL
TRAVEL ON EXAM DAYS. UNACCEPTABLE EXCUSE.
u Excused: School related event (sports or leadership conference, as
examples), sickness, emergency dental surgery (or other surgery),
religious holidays, family emergency issues. Talk to me immediately if
these come up. I can usually work with you, but you HAVE to
communicate with me
u Excused absences make up work: Quiz or Exam, email IMMEDIATELY in
order to schedule make up.
u Participation: 2 free days, after that, a make up option
Participation make up
2 free days—will be used up before any of this goes into effect
2 freebies are for ANY reason, no documentation necessary

Once you have burned your 2 freebies, there are options for 6 make up
days for EXCUSED ABSENCES ONLY
There are detailed instructions on Canvas
Basically:
-you must detail the date and thoroughly explain the reason you missed
class
-you must choose one of the options and complete it
-you must upload before last day of class (place on Canvas for these
documents)

I will not remind you.

If you have questions on it, you need to read the instructions FIRST and
then come to me with specific questions.
Syllabus
posted on Canvas

u Extra credit: No, you do not get special personalized extra credit
opportunities.
u If there is any extra credit, it will be available to ALL students, not
just you
u Instead of begging for free points, come see me about ways to
learn/prepare better if you find yourself struggling
u Remember the point is to prepare you for future classwork. If you
don’t know the stuff, you aren’t prepared and haven’t demonstrated
you earned a particular grade
 Phones
u PLEASE ONLY USE FOR LEARNING CATALYTICS
u It’s distracting to you and the people around you
u You will survive 65 minutes without responding to text
messages.
u I usually give a break midway through if you’re desperate to check
text
u If I notice a lot of abuse (playing on phones when you’re
supposed to be focusing in class), I will hand out assignments
Laptops
For notetaking

u I am NOT a fan of laptops for note taking

u Research shows writing things down is far more effective
u Watching videos, shopping, etc is distracting to you AND anyone
who can see your screen
u I have structured lecture slides so that you do not HAVE to use a
laptop
u You can use them for notetaking and Learning Catalytics, but
abusing them hurts you and the others around you
Lecture Slides
u Powerpoints posted on Canvas before class
u They are half full
u The boxes in your version are empty
u You have to come to class to get the material in the boxes
u If you miss class, you MUST get them from a classmate
u Make a friend right now who is your go-to
u I do not post or provide filled in versions
u I recommend writing the boxes (NOT SCRIBBLING EVERYTHING ON THE
PAGE)
u Anything not in a box you can find later in the online version
 Office Hours = Come visit me time!
I’m sitting in there just so you can find me!
u Please utilize this resource

sadness
u Natural Science Building 117
u HOURS: Tue 3-5 pm; Thrs: 3-4 pm; Fri 1-2
u These are the most preferable times.
u Don’t need to email ahead of time, just come by
u I often have other responsibilities outside these times, so please prioritize these time
blocks
u If you simply cannot make these times because of another class or work or some kind of
immovable responsibility, email and we’ll find a way to make an appointment to get you
help you need
u DO NOT WAIT UNTIL A FEW HOURS BEFORE AN EXAM OR QUIZ AND EMAIL ME IN A
PANIC ABOUT MEETING
u You have to plan ahead. I will make an appointment with you to the best of my ability
given the limitations of my schedule and other responsibilities
u Do not wait until 30 seconds before I hand out a quiz or exam either!
Resources and Accommodation—all listed in
syllabus too!
u DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS
u Need to coordinate with Disability Access Services (DAS)
u Sage Hall 142A or email: dasoakland@[Link]
u Mental Health
u Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Here in Oakland, Cowell building
u WeCare (out of Boston)
u Scholarly and Academic Support Major Crisis, missing several
u Remote KNACK tutoring days of class: email the CARE
u Student Hub (organizational help) team:
u Writing & Tutoring Center Oaklandsupport@[Link]
u Carnegie Hall 150
This I believe….
u 350-500 words
u Write your beliefs about:
“How my identity affects my education”
There is no right or wrong answer. Describe to me about how your background
has affected your education thus far and how you anticipate it might affect your
educational journey at Northeastern.
u Identity can refer to how you see yourself within the context of your personal history and
community. This can be your identity as an athlete, or an artist, your racial or ethnic
experiences, or as part of any particular community (disabilities and privileges can play into it
too). Or a combination of many of those things. An identity is different for everyone and can
be ever-changing as you experience new things.
u If you've never thought about aspects of your identity, now's a good time to start.
u I want to get to know more about you in the context of your personal history and your
educational journey. Only share what you feel comfortable!
u You don’t have to put super specific details if you’re not comfortable sharing!

Upload to Canvas by 8 Sept @ midnight.

Syllabus HW on Canvas

u Multiple choice on Canvas

u Easy, Due 8 Sept by midnight
u Goals:
u Make sure you know how to navigate in Canvas
u Make sure you understand the expectations
u Make sure you know where to find the information
about the expectations
u A few (20!) easy points to start you off
 FIND A FRIEND YOU CAN CONTACT IF YOU
MISS CLASS AND NEED NOTES!!!
What is life?
1) Highly ordered structure
2) Reproduction: reproduce their own kind
3) Growth and development: controlled by inherited genetic material.
4) Energy processing: chemical energy to power activities
5) Respond to the environment
6) Regulation: control internal environment to sustain life
7) Evolutionary adaptation: evolve over many generations
--individuals with useful traits reproduce more, pass on traits darwinism

Things that are in boxes you should write down! They are not provided
on the pdfs posted to Canvas
Are these things alive?

u Crystals
u Viruses
u bryozoans
Biological Organization
largest to smallest 2nd class
start
her
Biosphere
Ecosystem

Community
Population
Guanacos, a llama -like herbivore
Organism
Organ
Heart

Tissue
Muscle
Cell Organelle
Muscle Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

Molecule
No you do not have to memorize muscle structure: this is an example
ATP
The Cell is the basic unit of structure and function.
--is enclosed by a membrane
--2 types of cells

Prokaryotic cell
DNA
(no nucleus)
Membrane

1 m
Transmission of Genetic Material

Deoxyribonucleic acid = DNA

Molecule with instructions to make proteins
Transmission of Genetic Material

Genes are the unit of inheritance

 Learning Catalytics

The information needed to produce proteins is

contained in
a. nutrients.
b. tissues.
c. evolution.
d. organs.
e. genes
Transfer of Energy

Doing work: requires energy

 Energy Flow in the Environment
Energy flow

Chemicals
pass to
organisms
that eat plants.

Light Chemical
energy energy Heat

Decomposers
Chemical return
elements chemicals
to soil.
Life is DIVERSE

How can we explain the

huge diversity of life?
3 Domains

Archea Eulerrya bacteria

Figure 1.11

(a) Domain Bacteria (b) Domain Archaea

Prokaryote
Prokaryote

2 m
2 m
(c) Domain Eukarya (c) Domain Eukarya (c) Domain Eukarya

Eukaryotes

Kingdom Plantae Kingdom Fungi Kingdom Animalia

Diversity & Classification
you do not have to memorize this: it is to illustrate that groups share
characteristics

• Domain: Eukarya
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Canidae
• Genus: Canis
• Species: lupis
 Evolution: change over time
u Diversity is a product of evolution, organisms have changed slowly over time.
u Central to studying biology: understanding both the similarities and
differences of organisms and the way in which these occurred
u Why should you care?

Antibiotic Resistance
TWO BIG CONCEPTS FOR EVOLUTION:

desert with mod t natural

selection
Natural selection is not the same thing as
evolution
 Natural selection: Individuals with traits that
enable success leave more more offspring

1 Population with 2 Elimination of 3 Reproduction 4 Increasing frequency

varied inherited individuals with of survivors of traits that enhance
traits certain traits survival
Figure 1.16
3 Important patterns noted by Darwin in 1800s

Because not all individuals are exact copies of each other,

variability is super important
Some will be faster than others
Some will be more camouflaged than others
Some might have slight webbing that helps with locomotion

Without the variability, nothing to be selected for

Variability needs to be heritable: coded for by DNA

3 Important patterns noted by Darwin in 1800s

Not every offspring survives

This isn’t by choice—offspring are stuck with the traits
they are born with
They can’t decide to be faster or more camouflaged
If one gets a valuable trait—more likely to survive and
reproduce and pass it on
Summary

 Individuals with heritable traits best suited to their

environment are more likely to survive and
reproduce, passing on those traits

 This leads to unequal success over many

generations, with an increasing proportion of the
population possessing these advantageous traits

 Resulting in change over time (evolution)  the

accumulation of favorable traits in a population

2nd class stop here

 Learning Catalytics
Choose which phrase which best captures what is meant by
“descent with modification”
a) Organisms need to adapt, so they change their traits for
their descendants

b) Only the biggest organisms will modify their genes to

reproduce

c) Gradual changes over many generations resulted in diverging

species

d) Each descendant modifies it’s genes to best suit the

environment they encounter.
 Learning Catalytics
Which of the following are correct regarding evolution?
a) Only traits that are linked to genetic coding will be
passed on
b) Change doesn’t arise because organisms “wanted” or
“needed” traits
c) Does not produce perfection; “good enough to survive
and reproduce” is good enough
d) All of these are correct
Process of Science

observed
observations

as things
published
get
 Vocabulary:

hypothesis ten titive answer to a well

framed question possible explanation testable
falsify abl
Theory Incorporates many hypothesis supportedbyevidence
able to Broad scopestatement
geetenerthene
V
tonsof support doesnt mean we stop creating new
hypothesis
 STING HY
A ND TE PO
N G TH
I Testing Ideas ES
M E

R
• Forming hypotheses

FO

S
• Predicting results
• Doing experiments and/or
making observations
• Gathering data
• Analyzing results
critical
Interpreting Results
Data may… tryingto make
• Support a hypothesis sense of it
• Contradict a hypothesis
• Inspire a revised or new
hypothesis

might support it
Proof DONTUSE support
 I

sits
having another
set of
 ey
What science DOES
Provides an objective framework for us to try and understand
thenatural world
Involvesthingsthat we can collect data on has to be able to collectdata

is updatedwithnewinformation

What science DOESN’T do

• Does not address supernatural phenomena
• If we can’t collect data on it, we can’t draw conclusions about it
• Does not make moral judgments
• Does not tell you HOW to use scientific knowledge
• Does not PROVE things
with
cant collect data if it cannot be measured can'tfigureit out
science
got
08
may

onions it
deductive reasoning
logic where specific
of
type
results are predictedfrom a general assersion
u Important when testing hypotheses
u We want to know if our data supports how we think something
works good examp
u General observation  Specific results we can test

Example: Our desk lamp doesn’t work.

Hypothesis: I think it ishmm
a burnt out lightbulb
Deductive reasoning to generate a prediction: IF my hypothesis
is correct, THEN replacing the bulb should result in the light
working

Test it by replacing the bulb

 Learning Catalytics
You and a friend are walking across campus and see a
Canadian goose. Your friend says “That goose chased me
this morning, all geese are evil”.
Is this deductive reasoning? Why or why not?
a) Yes, because geese are clearly looking for sacrifices,
which is evil
b) Yes, because this statement takes a general statement
and makes it into a specific testable statement
c) No, because this statement takes a specific event and
generalizes it into a broad untestable statement
d) Yes, because evil is very straightforward to measure
u Data fall into two categories
u Qualitative
data, or descriptions rather than descriptions
measurements observations
u For example, Jane Goodall’s observations of
naturalist
how
chimpanzee behavior convert it into
times does y
data, or recorded measurements, which many
u Quantitative
are sometimes organized into tables and graphs Fur Seal Pup mass (12
weeks old)
mass
ID (g)
A425 25
R118 22
A101 33
R184 18
R105 30
R002 31
A202 20
A008 25
A222 19
controlled experiment manipulate varible
that is predicted to cause differences between
groups
EXAMPLE: gene knockout mice
a gene
The variable is manipulated in an Break
“experimental” group and the results
compared with data from an
Ifoop
unmanipulated “control” group. andnot

need control so
my
EXAMPLE: some animals get fatter
xego
you
can compare it Chial et al Nature Education (2008)
comparative experiment look fordifferences
between 2 groups
not manipulating
Example: body size in different sexes
comparinginsteadofmanipulating
The variables can not be controlled; data are gathered
from different sample groups and compared.
Observational data
Example: sample group of male seals and
compare to group of female seals
ex weigning
both comparing
math
 few e
Independent variable: the variable
being manipulated, or groups.
Example: genes in the mice
Male vs female

dependent varible 7 the response that

was measured
ex mass in both
groups
 Learning Catalytics
There are multiple pools of tadpoles. To understand the effect of a
toxin, different amounts are added to different pools. The
development of the reproductive organs of the tadpoles is
measured.
Part 1) Which pool is the control?
No toxin 10 ppm
Part 2) Is this a comparative or controlled
experiment? A B
A) Comparative
B) Controlled
Part 3) What is the dependent variable?
A) Number of tadpoles 25 ppm 50 ppm
B) Amount of water
C) Amount of toxin added C D
D)Measured abnormalities in tadpoles