BIOL 1009: General Biology

BIOL 1009 focuses on several themes that are central to modern biology. The topics in the course have been chosen to build a strong foundation for understanding and appreciating biological processes. Whether you have career goals in biology or would like to simply have an appreciation of the biological systems of which you are a part, the concepts covered in this course are a good place to begin.

The major goals of the lecture are to help the student:

• Build a framework of knowledge within the major themes of the course
• View biology as a collection of organizing themes, rather than a collection of facts, that reveals the unity and diversity of nature
• Identify and understand ways that biological processes and technology directly impact our lives.

In addition, the laboratory component of the course gives the student the chance to study concepts with a hands-on approach, and exposes them to some of the equipment and techniques used in modern biology.

We hope that students find BIOL 1009 enjoyable and eye-opening, and that it leaves them with a sense of awe at the beauty and amazing workings of living organisms.

BIOL 1009 satisfies the Council of Liberal Education (CLE) laboratory distribution requirement in biology.

Sample syllabus (PDF) (Spring 2006)

Course materials for enrolled students are available through WebVista (log in in through your UMN portal page).