Schedule, Outline and Readings

Introduction to Virtual Core Biology:
The Science of Life

• Orientation: Student researchers will e-mail their Brooklyn College course instructor to find out what they should do and how they should do it.

  Depending on their skills, or experience, some students may be invited to attend a live, hands-on orientation session at Brooklyn College, in which the nature of the course, what is expected, and some assistance in using the technology will be provided. All students will be given the details of this orientation session.

  The introduction to this course includes -

• using the technology - using the World Wide Web and e-mail,
• course requirements - find out what is required of you in this course,
• important information, dates, and deadlines.

1. Biology: The Science of Life
   • what is science? - what do scientists do all day?
   • what is life? - is it something special, or not?
   • the scientific method - a way of getting answers

   Read: about What Scientists Do All Day

   Start the Story of Mendel: Chapter the First
   ... and visit all the links!

2. Start Reading - start writing Begin by reading the story on the Web Site, the section on "What scientists do all day", and start looking around to see how the information is organized.

   Your instructor will begin by asking you some questions, and possibly asking you to carry out a preliminary research assignment based on "what scientists do all day". Follow these instructions carefully and respond quickly.

   If you are not familiar with using a word processor, e-mail or a newsgroup such as Caucus, try them out now. You will need these tools and skills as your investigations proceed.

   Instructions for Using Caucus
   *** All students should read these instructions ***

   Go To Caucus
   

2. Mendel: The Start of Genetics
   • who was Mendel? - have you been reading his story?
   • what did he find?
   • what did he deduce from his data?
   • what does it mean?

   • classification schemes
   • what is a species?

   Visit the Web: Mendelian Genetics - read about the principles of Mendelican Genetics

   Continue reading the Story of Mendel: Chapter the First
   visit all the links and compare what Mendel thought about his work with what is known now

   Your First Investigation - Starts Here
   - find out what Brother Gregory wants his researchers to do
   **** all students should click here ****

   ** NOTE ** - All researchers should start answering the first "Assignment Questions" immediately. Each researcher will be given certain questions to answer. These may be the ones on the web-site, or different, personalized questions from your instructor.

   If your instructor requires it, you should be prepared to post your answers on the newsgroup (Caucus) Web page by the agreed deadline.

3. Biological Information
   • the genetic material
   • getting the message out
   • transcription and translation
   • protein synthesis

   Visit the Web: Biological Information

   Continue reading the Story of Mendel: Chapter the First

   Continue the First Investigation
   - by now you should have answered the first assignment questions and begun your classification schemes

   ** NOTE ** - Researchers should also be working on their answers to the second Assignment Questions (and posting them on the newsgroup (Caucus) Web page if required). They should be prepared to submit their classification scheme(s) at the end of this section.

3. Biological Information - Continued
   • mutations, good and bad
   • cell division and cell cycle

   Continue with: Biological Information

   Start reading the Story of Mendel and Darwin: Chapter the Second
   visit all the links and begin thinking about Evolution.

   Your Second Investigation - Starts Here
   - find out what Brother Gregory wants his researchers to do next
   **** all students should click here ****

4. Mendel meets Darwin
   • life: and everchanging picture
   • who was Charles Darwin?
   • who were his friends
   • where did he go, what did he do?
   • what did he deduce from his data?
   • adaptations
   • variations
   • natural selection

   Read: the e-textbook on Darwin and Natural Selection and Evolution in Action.

   Continue the Story of Mendel and Darwin: Chapter the Second
   visit all the links and find out why Darwin and Mendel never met

   ** NOTE** - Your answers to the first Assignment Questions should be ready, and posted on the newsgroup (Caucus) Web page if required.

   ** REMINDER ** - Your portfolio of answers to Brother Gregory's First Investigation should be ready and either electonically transmitted, sent or given to the instructors at Brooklyn College.

   All other portfolios should also be sent or given to your instructor as soon as they are ready, or when required.

Your instructor will be e-mailing you concerning the details of the written mid-term examination. You will be sent information concerning the nature of the exam, the coverage, the date the test will be given and the form the test will take (short answer, essay, multiple choice, etc.).

Look at some examples of the type of questions you may be asked if multiple choice questions are given as part of the test.

5. Mendel and Cellular Life
   • microscopes
   • the discovery of cells
   • the types of cells
   • inside cells
   • cell division: mitosis
   • cell division: meiosis

   Read: the e-textbook on The World of Cells and Eukaryotic Cell Structure.

   Continue the Story of Mendel: Chapter the Third
   ... and visit all the links!

6. Life: the Physical Structure
   • atomic structure
   • small molecules
   • polymers and biopolymers
   • types of biopolymers
   • roles of biopolymers

   Visit the Web: Physical Structure

7. Mendel and the Energy of Life
   • what is work?
   • what is energy?
   • how is energy measured
   • types of energy
   • bioenergy?
   • chemical reactions
   • catalysis and enzymes
   • metabolism

   Visit the Web: Biological Energy

   Continue the Story of Mendel: Chapter the Fourth
   ... and visit all the links!