BIOL 120: General Biology

Discover the origins of specialized cells in embryonic development and learn about the three essential germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Explore how these layers form the foundation for all multicellular life.

Uncover why flamingos, genetically predisposed to white feathers, sport a pink hue. Dismissing influences like weather and DNA mutations, the mystery unravels with diet: the intake of carotenoids from their food which overrides their genetic blueprint

Unravel the origins of blood cell types as we differentiate between myeloid and lymphoid stem cells, highlighting the unique lineage of platelets, B cells, and Natural Killer cells.

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.

Grasp the fundamentals of how neurons transmit electrical signals through action potentials. Understand the crucial role of myelination and fiber diameter in efficient nerve impulse conduction. Dive into the comparisons of different nerve fiber types and their properties.

Explore the differences in DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Understand the benefits of separation in eukaryotes and the efficiency of proximity in prokaryotes. Both systems reveal the ingenious ways cells adapt to their needs.