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Intro to
Biology 1
Life science starts here. Cells, genetics, evolution, and the core concepts that explain how living systems work at every scale.
What You'll Learn
A full semester of intro to biology 1 — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Recognize the hierarchical organization of life and describe key characteristics of living organisms to establish a foundation in biological science
- Explain the structure and function of biological macromolecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids
- Apply the scientific method to design experiments and investigate biological processes and phenomena
- Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, analyzing their structural differences and functional adaptations
- Create models of cellular processes such as cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and the cell cycle, and evaluate ethical considerations related to modern biological technologies like genetic engineering and conservation
Major Course Topics
Course chapters and lessons
Intro to Biology 1 has 15 chapters across 66 instructional hours, as listed in the course syllabus. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.
- Chapters
- 15
- Lessons
- 83
- Instructional hours
- 66 hrs
- Semester hours
- 3
Chapter 1
The Study of Life
- 1.1 The Science of Biology
- 1.2 Themes and Concepts of Biology
Chapter 2
Chemical Foundations of Life
- 2.1 Atoms, Isotopes, Ions, and Molecules
- 2.2 Water
- 2.3 Carbon
Chapter 3
Biological Macromolecules
- 3.1 Synthesis of Biological Macromolecules
- 3.2 Carbohydrates
- 3.3 Lipids
- 3.4 Proteins
- 3.5 Nucleic Acids
Chapter 4
Cell Structure and Function
- 4.1 Studying Cells
- 4.2 Prokaryotic Cells
- 4.3 Eukaryotic Cells
- 4.4 The Endomembrane System
- 4.5 The Cytoskeleton
- 4.6 Connections between Cells
Chapter 5
Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes
- 5.1 Components and Structure
- 5.2 Passive Transport
- 5.3 Active Transport
- 5.4 Bulk Transport
Chapter 6
Metabolism
- 6.1 Energy and Metabolism
- 6.2 Potential, Kinetic, Free, and Activation Energy
- 6.3 The Laws of Thermodynamics
- 6.4 ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate
- 6.5 Enzymes
Chapter 7
Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis
- 7.1 Energy in Living Systems
- 7.2 Glycolysis
- 7.3 Oxidation of Pyruvate and the Citric Acid Cycle
- 7.4 Oxidative Phosphorylation
- 7.5 Metabolism without Oxygen
- 7.6 Connections of Metabolic Pathways
- 7.7 Regulation of Cellular Respiration
- 7.8 Overview of Photosynthesis
- 7.9 The Light-Dependent Reactions
- 7.10 Using Light Energy to Make Organic Molecules
Chapter 8
Cell Communication and Reproduction
- 8.1 Signaling Molecules and Receptors
- 8.2 Propagation of the Signal
- 8.3 Response to the Signal
- 8.4 Signaling in Single-Celled Organisms
- 8.5 Cell Division
- 8.6 The Cell Cycle
- 8.7 Control of the Cell Cycle
- 8.8 Cancer and the Cell Cycle
- 8.9 Prokaryotic Cell Division
Chapter 9
Fundamentals of Genetics
- 9.1 The Process of Meiosis
- 9.2 Sexual Reproduction
- 9.3 Mendel’s Experiments
- 9.4 Characteristics and Traits
- 9.5 Laws of Inheritance
Chapter 10
Modern Understandings of Inheritance
- 10.1 Chromosomal Theory and Genetic Linkage
- 10.2 Chromosomal Basis of Inherited Disorders
Chapter 11
DNA Structure and Function
- 11.1 Historical Basis of DNA Understanding
- 11.2 DNA Structure and Sequencing
- 11.3 Basics of DNA Replication
- 11.4 DNA Replication in Prokaryotes
- 11.5 DNA Replication in Eukaryotes
- 11.6 DNA Repair
Chapter 12
Genes, Proteins and Gene Expression.
- 12.1 The Genetic Code
- 12.2 Prokaryotic Transcription
- 12.3 Eukaryotic Transcription
- 12.4 RNA Processing in Eukaryotes
- 12.5 Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis
- 12.6 Regulation of Gene Expression
- 12.7 Prokaryotic Gene Regulation
- 12.8 Eukaryotic Epigenetic Gene Regulation
- 12.9 Eukaryotic Transcription Gene Regulation
- 12.10 Eukaryotic Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation
- 12.11 Eukaryotic Translational and Posttranslational Gene Regulation
- 12.12 Cancer and Gene Regulation
Chapter 13
Biotechnology and Genomics
- 13.1 Biotechnology
- 13.2 Mapping Genomes
- 13.3 Whole Genome Sequencing
- 13.4 Applying Genomics
- 13.5 Genomics and Proteomics
Chapter 14
Evolution and Population Genetics
- 14.1 Understanding Evolution
- 14.2 Formation of New Species
- 14.3 Reconnection and Speciation Rates
- 14.4 Population Evolution
- 14.5 Population Genetics
- 14.6 Adaptive Evolution
Chapter 15
Phylogenies Biodiversity
- 15.1 Organizing Life on Earth
- 15.2 Determining Evolutionary Relationships
- 15.3 Perspectives on the Phylogenetic Tree
These chapters come straight from the official course syllabus, which also sets out the graded assignment and the proctored final exam.
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Life science starts here. Cells, genetics, evolution, and the core concepts that explain how living systems work at every scale.
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