BIOL 150: Organismal and Ecological Biology

We explore how to determine the nature of a mysterious, gelatinous substance found on a forest rock. By conducting a series of tests, including microscopy, DNA staining, respiration observation, and growth experiments, we aim to unravel whether this enigmatic material is alive, inanimate, or a product of a living organism.

Explore the influential Three-Domain System of classification, introduced by Carl Woese in 1978. Discover how it categorizes life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya based on distinctive cellular structures. Learn about the characteristics of each domain, from prokaryotic Bacteria and Archaea to the rich diversity within Eukarya, encompassing Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals, and the unique world of viruses.

Explore the effects of isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solutions on plant and animal cells. Understand water movement, solute concentration dynamics, and the resulting cellular changes, including turgidity in plants and crenation or lysis in animals.

Explore the critical components of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), including nerves and ganglia. Understand the distinction between sensory and autonomic ganglia and the composition of nerves' layers. Learn why nerves and ganglia lack the protective meninges found in the CNS and how they facilitate essential signal transmission within the body.

Explore the foundational processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Uncover the key roles of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Differentiate between the efficiencies and electron acceptors of both respiration types.

Explore the nature of compounds in chemistry, focusing on potassium chloride (KCl) and its dissociation. Understand the distinctions between salts, acids, bases, and buffers. Dive into the characteristic behaviors of each to identify the true nature of KCl.