Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Kabacan, Cotabato

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

SYLLABUS

I. Course Number: Bio 113a Lectures: 2 hours/ week
Course Title: General Biology Laboratory: 6 hours/ week
Credit Units: 4 Units

II. Course Description:

This course deals with the study of diverse organisms specifically focused on plant and animal cytology, anatomy, physiology and ecology.

III. General Objectives:

At the end of the term, the students should be able:

National Goals : 1. Develop his/her cultural, spiritual, moral vigor and discipline as a person.
2. Develop his/ her skills and intellectual capability to preparehim/her in the changing needs of time.

Regional Goals : 3. Develop his/ her awareness and responsibility for environmental issues and concerns.
4. Develop technological and entreprenurial skills for peace and economic prosperity.

Institutional Goals : 5. Develop critical awareness, appreciation and understanding on the impact of cultural, scientific and technological
advancement on environmental and humane values, attitudes and behavior to enable him/her to effectively bridge the
gap existing among cultural communities in the region.

Subject Goals : 6. Develop an understanding of the diverse organisms specifically on the animal cytology, anatomy, physiology and ecology; acquire
proper skills and techniques in handling different laboratory equipments; and challenge the students to apply their gained jnowledge
in general biology in everyday living.



IV. Course Outline
Topics Specific Objectives Time
Allotment
Materials Strategies/
Activities
Values Integration Evaluation
Measures
I. Orientation
1. Policies/ Rulesand regulation in
the lecture/ laboratory class.
2. Computation of grades/ grading
system.
3. Requirements in the lecture and
laboratory classes.
4. Vision, Mission, Goals and
Objectives of USM and CAS.
5. Coverage of the course/ subject.
At the end of the orientation,
the students should be able to:
1. become familiar eith
the policies, rules and
regulations in the
lecture and laboratory
classes including the
computation of grades
2. be familiar with the
coverage of the course
requirements
3. explain the vision and
mission of USM and
the goals of CAS
4. relate the objectives of
CAS to the course
1 hour Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Copy of the Vision
and Mission of
USM and goals of
CAS
Syllabus of the
course
Lecture
Discussion
Goal-Oriented Oral Recitation
II. Concepts and Methods in Biology
A. Definition of Biology
B. Branches of Biology
C. Steps in Scientific Method
D. Characteristics of Living
Organism
E. Levels of Biological
Organization
F. Diversity of Life Forms
G. Nature of Biological Inquiry
To be able to:
1. define biology and
enumerate its branches
2. enumerate the
characterictics of
living organisms
3. enumerate the steps of
scientific method
4. outline the level of
biological organization
5. discuss the diversity of
life forms
2 hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion Attentiveness Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
III. Principles of CellularLife
A. Chemical Foudations for Cells
a) Atoms
b) Bonds in Biological
Molecules
c) Properties of Water
d) Acids, Bases and Buffers
To be able to:
1. describe the structure
of an atom and identify
subatomic particles
that make up an atom
2. discuss the different
bonds in biological
6 hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
Lecture-Discussion

Understanding the
chemical and cellular
basis of biology
Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
B. Organic Compounds in Cells
a) Carbohydrates
b) Lipids
c) Proteins
d) Nucleic Acids
C. Comparison of Prokaryotic and
Eukaryotic Cells
D. Comparison of Plant and
Animals Cells
E. Cell Structure and Function
a) Plasma membrane
b) Nucleus
c) Endoplasmic Reticulum
1. Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum
2. Rough Endoplamis
Reticulum
d) Golgi Apparatus
e) Lysosomes
f) Ribosomes
g) Vacuoles
h) Chloroplasts
i) Mitochondria
j) Cytoskeleton
Microfilaments
Microtubules
F. CellTransport
a) Simple diffusion
b) Facilitated diffusion
c) Osmosis
d) Active transport
e) Endocytosis
1. Phagocytosis
2. Pinocytosis
3. Receceptor-mediated
endocytosis
f) Exocytosis


molecules
3. list the properties of
water and recognize
why water is good
solvent and why some
substances dissolve
and others do not
4. describe the rpoperties
of acids, bases and
salts and recognize
their pH differences
5. discuss the different
organic molecules
essential to living
organisms
6. list the characteristics
of carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins and
nucleis acids
7. distinguish the
characteristics of
prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells
8. discuss the functions
of the different
organelles of the cell
9. discuss how the
different molecules are
transported into and
out of the cell
10. discuss the three
different solutions and
what will happen to
the cell placed in these
solutions
DLP


IV. Metabolism
A. Anabolism and Catabolism
B. Photosynthesis
C. Aerobic Respiration
To be able to:
1. differentiate the two
processess in
metabolism: anabolism
and catabolism
2. identify the processes
involved in
photosynthesis
3. differentiate the light
and dark reactions of
photosynthesis
4. identify the different
processess involved in
aerobic respiration.
4hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion
Laboratory
Exercises
Appreciation on
the significance of
energy production
in the cell
Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
III. Principles of Inheritance
A. Cell Division
a) Comparison of Mitosis
and Meiosis
b) Mitosis
c) Meiosis
B. Patterns of Inheritance
C. DNA Structure and Functions
D. Central-Dogma
E. Recombinant DNA and Genetic
Engineering
To be able to :
1. distinguish mitosis and
meiosis
2. enumerate and
describe the stages of
mitosis and meiosis
3. discuss Mendelian and
non-medelian laws of
inheritance
4. describe the different
steps in central-dogma
of life and protein
synthesis
5. list the steps of gene
expression and
describe how genes
relate to proteins
6. describe mutations and
what can cause them
7. describe selected
techniques and
applications of genetic
6 hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion
Laboratory
Exercises
Understanding
and appreciation
on the
significance of
DNA molecule,
its expression,
and molecular
techniques used in
the study of DNA
Aware ness and
appreciation on
technological
advance ment

Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
engineering
IV Principles of Evolution
A. Theories on the origin and
evolution of life
B. Speciation
C. Fossils and other evidences
To be able to:
1. enumerate the different
theories regarding the
origin and evolution of
life
2. define a species and
determine the factors
regulating speciation
3. discuss the evidences
of the origin of life
2 hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion
Laboratory
Exercises
Appreciation on the
origin of life and unity in
diversity
Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
V. Plant Structure and Function
A. Plant Tissues
B. Plant Body
a) Shoots
b) Leaves
c) Roots
d) Stem
C. Plant Nutrition and Transport
D. Plant Reproduction
E. Plant Growth and Development
To be able to:
1. identify the different
plant tissues
2. discuss the different
features and functions
of four major organs of
plants
3. explain how water is
transported through
plants and how stems
and leaves tconserve
water
4. describe the
reproductive structures
of flowering plants
5. discuss rhe growth and
development of plants

8 hours





Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion
Laboratory
Exercises
Appreciation of
roles of plants in
the balance of
nature
awareness on the
medicinal,
nutritive and
economic values
of plants

Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
VI. Animal Sructure and Function
A. Animals Tissues
B. Organ Systems: Overview
C. Integumentary System
D. Skeletal System
E. Muscular System
F. Circulatory System
G. Digestive System
H. Respiratory System
To be able to:
1. enumerate and
describe the different
animal tissues
2. identify and discuss
the features of each of
the organ system
3. enumerate and
describe the different
10 hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion
Laboratory
Exercises
Avoidance of
practices that can
harm body organs
Strong sense of
discipline to
protect body
system
Concern for
personal and
Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
I. Lymphatic System
J. Endocrine System
K. Nervous System
L. Special Senses
M. Urinary System
N. Reproductive System
organs and functions
of the different body
systems:
integumentary system,
skeletal system,
muscular system,
circulatory system,
digestive system,
respiratoty system,
lymphatic system,
endocrine system,
nervous system,
special senses, urinary
system and
reproductive system
family health
The need to
maintain the good
health and
cleanliness
Appreciation on
the importance of
proper nutrition
VI. Ecology and Behavior
A. Population Ecology
B. Species Interactions
C. Community Interactions
D. Ecosystems
E. The Biosphere
F. Perspectives of Humans and the
Biosphere
To be able to:
1. define ecology and the
terms used to describe
the different levels of
organization found in
nature
2. decrib the flow of
energy through an
ecosystem
3. define ecosystem
4. identify and describe
some of the types of
relationships and
interactions found in
community
5. decribe how
population grow and
define the carrying
capacity and some
factors cause a
population to stabilize
6. identify various
environmental
challenges facing
2 hours Chalk/ White board
pen
Chalkboard/ white
board
Powerpoint
presentation
Laptop
DLP
Lecture-Discussion
Laboratory
Exercises
Understanding the
relationship
betweenorganism
s and their
environments and
learn to value the
environment
Short Quizzes
Midterm/final
exams
Oral Test
Laboratory
Reports
human today.

V. Reference
Mader. S. 2007. Biology. 9
th
Edition. McGraw Hill Com., Inc. USA
Starr& Taggart