BIOL 107 - Introduction to Cell Biology

BIOL 107 is intended as an introductory biology course for first year university level students. The course is useful for students in agriculture and forestry, arts, elementary and secondary education, human or veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and science.

Prerequisites: Biology 30, Chemistry 30
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes the course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to

Cognitive Skills

1. formulate a hypothesis of how cells might have evolved from inorganic materials, and how they diversified in the three domains and six kingdoms of life.
2. outline the application of light and electron microscopes, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, electrophoresis, chromatography, and cell culture techniques to the study of cells.
3. explain the role of biological membranes, the diffusion and active transport of molecules, ions and protons across, and electron transport along the membranes of organelles and cells.
4. epitomize the energy metabolism of the cell, respiration, glycolysis, fermentation, pyruvate oxidation, Krebs cycle and electron transport chain, as well as photosynthesis, light reactions, carbon dioxide fixation and carbon reduction.
5. summarize the synthesis of macromolecules, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids, their function, secretion and absorption, their polymerization and hydrolysis.
6. describe the filaments and tubules of the cytoskeleton, and the molecular mechanisms of cell motility and contractility.
7. define the nucleoid and plasmids in Bacteria, the nuclear envelope, nuclear pores, nucleolus, and chromatin organization in Eukarya.
8. itemize the mechanisms of mitosis, control of the cell cycle, DNA replication, cell growth and differentiation.
9. contrast gene regulation in Bacteria and Eukarya, the role of growth factors and intracellular signal transduction.
10. distinguish transcription in all cells, followed by RNA processing in Eukarya only, and translation into proteins on ribosomes in all cells.
11. recognize various infectious particles, lytic and lysogenic viruses, viroids, and prions; recognize mechanisms of bacterial DNA recombination.
12. discuss the isolation, restriction, modification, cloning, and sequencing of DNA, and its amplification by the polymerase chain reaction.
13. detect specific genes, RNA, or proteins by the use of labeled DNA probes or labeled antibodies in cells, colonies, or transblots of electrophoresis gels.
14. apply the molecular cloning of DNA to introduce foreign transgenes to produce transgenic organisms.

Applied Skills

1. adjust a light microscope for the study of live and preserved cells, including the use of immersion oil.
2. draw live algal and protistan cells viewed under the microscope, estimate and calculate their sizes, the magnification of the image, and calculate the resolution of the objective lens.
3. apply the scientific method to osmosis on cell membranes of green algae, Mesotaenium and Tetraselmas, in hyper-, iso-, and hypotonic sodium chloride solutions.
4. test membrane integrity of beet cells in slices at various temperatures by betacyanin leakage measured in a spectrophotometer against a betacyanin concentration calibration curve, obtained by serial dilution of a known standard solution.
5. streak out and culture bacterial cells on solid agar medium, by using a sterilized cotton swab of unknown bacteria picked up from a smart phone touched by human hands, then categorize the grown colonies.
6. dip a cotton swab soaked with unknown bacterial cells from any lab surface into liquid medium, mix the bacteria, spread a uniform lawn of them onto agar with a sterile glass spreader, then add antibiotic-soaked felt discs.
7. measure the zone of inhibition in mm around the antibiotic-soaked discs, assessing the sensitivity or resistance of bacteria to the antibiotics tetracycline, penicillin, and chloramphenicol.
8. recognize vital and fixed cell stains, bright field, phase contrast. and epifluorescence light microscopes, used to view and measure phagocytosis in protozoans and ingestion in microscopic rotifer and roundworm animals.
9. distinguish cell and organelle movements that use either microtubule or microfilament cytoskeletal components in protozoan cells of the flagellate Euglena, ciliate Paramecium, and amoeba Chaos carolinensis.
10. colorimetrically measure amylase enzyme activity at A580nm in an iodine-starch solution in the absence or presence of the amylase inhibitor phaseolamin in a timed assay,compared to a starch concentration standard curve.
11. quantify gross photosynthesis by monitoring oxygen and in cool light; measure respiration by monitoring carbon dioxide in the dark, using an entire spinach leaf dipped in water in a closed system with gas-specific probes.
12. present discrete data on bar graphs, continuous data online graphs, distribution data on scatter plots, and frequency data on histograms, calculating the mean, median, and mode, as well as the variance and standard deviation of class data.
13. design and perform a controlled yeast fermentation experiment for optimal biofuel production from corn syrop kernels, cobs, or stems using gas-collecting Durham vials to quantify ethanolic fermentation via CO₂ gas production.
14. extract plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli bacterial cells using the supercoiled plasmid mini-prep technique, and to extract high molecular weight squished banana DNA by paper filtration of salt-heavy detergent extract, ethanol phase border DNA pickup on a sterile glass rod, and ethanol precipitation of DNA.
15. transform competent Escherichia coli host bacteria with kanamycin-resistant recombinant plasmid DNA, with or without DNase treatment, buffer controls, and use the colony count technique to count viable transformed cells.
16. calculate the percent transformation rate of viable Escherichia coli bacterial host cells and graph the plasmid-DNA-dependent kanamycin resistance rate, which supports DNA as the genetic material.
17. read a non-coding template DNA sequence from a sequencing gel, transcribe it into mRNA and translate it into its corresponding amino acid sequence for 5 human genetic disorders: phenylketonuria, sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, progeria, and galactosemia compared to normal.

Durnford D. G., Moyes C. D., and Scott K. (2021). Campbell biology (3rd Canadian ed.).

Don Mills, Ontario, Canada.: Pearson Canada Inc.

Starchuk C. (2020-2021). Biology107, Introduction to cell biology, laboratory manual.

University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.: Department of Biological Sciences.

Cuny, R. (2021). BIOL 107. Introduction to cell biology, Course Notes, printed.

Lakeland College, AB.

Cuny, R. (2021). BIOL 107. Introduction to cell biology, online if given: Desire to Learn,

Lakeland College, AB.

Optional Resource Materials:
Reference Text:

Pechenik, J.A. (2016). A short guide to writing about biology (9th ed.). Hoboken,

New Jersey: Pearson.

Conduct of Course:
This is a 3 credit course with 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of lab per week. (3-0-3).

Lectures - Three hours per week

The lectures are supported by PowerPoint projection, white board, and occasionally by a short movie. The textbook, printed course notes and electronic files placed on Desire-2-Learn must be supplemented by notes taken by the students. The library can be used to access the biological literature and on-line databases. Students are expected to do the assigned reading in the textbook and lab manual on a weekly basis.

Labs - Three hours per week

In the laboratory the students perform experiments on their own or they work in groups. Safety procedures must be followed and lab coats must be worn when in the lab. When handling acids or bases, carcinogens, flammable or corrosive liquids, pathogenic bacteria, or while viewing gels on the transilluminator, students must wear face shields or goggles and surgical gloves. Do not start the high-speed centrifuge if the tubes are not balanced, or load a gel while plugged into the high-voltage power supply.

In addition to the weekly online prelab quizzes and worksheets, three other lab activities are graded: database primary literature search, half a report, and a full lab report. All students must pass the lab safety-biosecurity quiz before continuing with labs. Prelab quizzes are completed online before each lab, or else a mark of zero will be assigned. Although the laboratory work may be performed in groups of up to 4 students, each student is responsible for an independent data analysis and individual interpretation of the results. Citation of primary research follows a scientific format (usually APA).

The WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System requires the safe handling and storage of chemicals, as specified in the (M)SDS (Materials)Safety Data Sheets. Live animals must be handled in accordance with the Guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care CCAC, and cruelty or neglect is not tolerated. Microorganisms on Schedule 2 of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act HPTA fall under the regulations of the Pathogens Regulation Directorate of the Public Health Agency of Canada PHAC, and are to be handled under supervision by qualified staff. Such microbes must be fully contained, and shall not be disposed of in the regular waste or poured down the drain. All laboratory equipment is to be operated as specified in the respective Operation Manual.

Attendance is recorded by the instructors, and lab attendance is mandatory. If you do not meet the attendance requirements of above 60% in lectures, and your learning performance is low, your instructor will recommend to the Chair that the Registrar withdraw you from the course. A failing grade of RW (Required to Withdraw) will appear on your transcripts.

Because labs are skill-based, they are mandatory. If more than 2 labs are missed, excused or unexcused, the student will either be required to withdraw (RW) or will be assigned a failing grade (F) for the entire course.

Students are only allowed to hand in a lab report for the labs they have attended. If the student’s absence is excusable, the missing lab work will not be counted. If the absence is inexcusable, the lab report will be assigned a mark of 0.

Make-up labs are difficult or impossible to set up in biology. Only students with an excused absence may be granted a make-up lab.

Content of Course:

The weighting of the course components is as follows:

No exam re-writes or supplemental assignments are allowed in the University Transfer Department. The lecture exams are composed of a 2:1 mixture of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions. The laboratory exam is a practical exam about laboratory experiments; stations are set up at the lab benches and students take turns answering the questions at each station. The laboratory reports do not exceed 2 pages single spaced, excluding tables or graphs. They follow a scientific format: Title, author’s name and address, abstract, a brief introduction and hypothesis, methods, results with tables or graphs, a discussion, a reference list (APA), and they answer questions asked in the lab manual or on worksheets. Prelab quizzes prepare the student for the lab work and must be completed before the lab. Worksheets provide a record of the data collected and their analysis.

Late submissions of assignments suffer a 5% deduction per day late, except under documented extraordinary circumstances.

Cheating, falsification or fabrication of laboratory data, plagiarism, and non-compliance with course procedures, safety regulations, copyright, or the code of conduct are academic and professional offences. Depending on the severity of the offence, a student may be reminded, sent out of the classroom, reported to the department head, may have marks deducted, assigned a failing grade in the course, or may be expelled from the college.

• Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.  
• “Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”  

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

Copyright©LAKELAND COLLEGE.
2602 - 59 Avenue, Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada T9V 3N7. Ph: 780 871 5700
  5707 College Drive, Vermilion, Alberta, Canada T9X 1K5. Ph: 780 853 8400
Toll-free in Canada: 1 800 661 6490 E-mail: admissions@lakelandcollege.ca