BIOL& 223: Majors Organismal Phys

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:

1. Apply the scientific method to hypothetical biological problems; design valid experiments.
2. Describe and explain the principles and events of embryonic development including fertilization, cleavage, gastrulation, neurulation, organogenesis, and control of cell differentiation and morphogenesis.
3. Describe animal body organization including animal tissues, organs, and organ systems; describe and explain homeostasis in animals including homeostatic control strategies and systems.
4. Describe the cellular components of the nervous system and explain how neurons generate and transmit nerve impulses throughout nervous systems, and how neurons communicate electrically and chemically at the synapse.
5. Describe the different types of nervous systems found in animals and discuss the evolution of brain complexity; describe the structure and function of the vertebrate nervous system and its parts.
6. Describe, compare, and contrast the types of animal skeletons; specifically describe the vertebrate skeleton and the structure of bone. Further, describe the structure of muscle tissue, and explain muscle contraction, stimulation, and muscle function, as well as animal locomotion.
7. Describe and discuss the digestive systems of animals, especially vertebrate systems, including the mechanisms of digestion and absorption. Further discuss and explain nutrient use and storage, regulation of absorption, energy balance, and the regulation of body temperature.
8. Describe and explain animal circulatory systems comparing and contrasting open and closed systems as well as single, intermediate, and double systems in vertebrates; list and describe the components of blood and the structure and function of the vertebrate heart and vascular system.
9. Describe and explain the various types of respiratory systems; specifically describe the structure and explain the functioning of mammalian and avian respiratory systems and the mechanisms of oxygen transport in blood and ventilation.
10. Compare, contrast, and explain the different excretory systems of animals; describe the structure and explain the functioning of the mammalian kidney.
11. List and discuss the actions of animal hormones, especially the major human hormones; identify and categorize the types of hormones, describe the links between the endocrine and nervous systems, and explain hormonal control of metabolism and energy balance, mineral balance, growth and development, reproduction, and stress.
12. Describe and explain the animal immune system and immune response, including types of pathogens, innate immunity, the inflammatory response, acquired immunity, humoral immunity, and cell-mediated immunity.
13. Describe and explain the structure and functions of the vegetative plant organs: stems, roots, and leaves, including the structure and functions of meristems, tissues, and organ systems.
14. Describe plant behavior response, including cell signaling, plant hormones, responses to environmental stimuli, and environmental stress; name the major plant hormones and photoreceptors and describe their effects as well as the regulation of flowering (as time permits).
15. Explain the overall process of photosynthesis, outlining the steps involved in non-cyclic photo-phosphorylation and describing the chemical reactions that occur throughout the Calvin cycle.
16. List and discuss the nutrient needs of plants, describing soil makeup, nitrogen fixation, and biological sources of plant nutrients (as time permits).
17. Explain how water and dissolved food substances are transported throughout the plant including water potential, tissue-level transport, long-distance transport, and the regulation of stomatal opening/closing.