Biology (BIOL) 205
Principles of Biology IIB (Home Lab Version) (Revision 4)
Revision 4 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online or grouped study with home labs.
Note: This course has home labs and lab simulations, but does not include an onsite lab component. AU program students and visiting students who require onsite labs for credit transfer are required to enrol in BIOL 207 instead. This course is charged a lab fee.
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Science
Prerequisite: BIOL 204 or equivalent and professor approval.
Precluded courses: BIOL 207, LABB 207
NOTE: For Athabasca University program students BIOL 207 is mandatory. It cannot be substituted with BIOL 205.
Faculty: Faculty of Science & Technology
BIOL 205 is not available for challenge.
Overview
Biology 205 is the second of two introductory courses in general biology that will prepare students for most senior-level biology courses. Designed to help students learn more about the nature of life, the main topics of this course include the diversity of organisms, including fungi, plants, protists, animals, and bacteria. The course will emphasize evolution as the overriding biological principle.
Outline
BIOL 205 covers the following chapters in the course textbook:
Chapter 17: Microevolution: Genetic Changes within Populations
Chapter 18: Species
Chapter 19: Evolution and Classification
Chapter 20: Darwin, Fossils and Developmental Biology
Chapter 21: Prokaryotes
Chapter 22: Viruses, Viroids, and Prions: Infectious Biological Particles
Chapter 23: Protists
Chapter 24: Fungi
Chapter 25: Plants
Chapter 26: Protostomes
Chapter 27: Deuterostomes: Vertebrates and Their Closest Relatives
Chapter 41: Plant and Animal Nutrition
Chapter 48: Conservation of Biodiversity
Evaluation
To receive credit for BIOL 205, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent); and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Assignment 1 | Assignment 2 | Home Labs | Midterm Exam | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | 15% | 25% | 15% | 30% | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Russell, P. J., et al. (2010). Biology: Exploring the diversity of life (1st Canadian ed.). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.
Montpetit, C, Smit, J., & Keenleyside, W. (2010). Study guide for use with Biology: Exploring the diversity of life. Toronto, ON: Nelson Education.
Other Materials
SimBio Software for evolutionary simulation exercises.
All other course materials (Course Manual, Instructional Guide, etc.) will be accessed from the online course site.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 4, May 10, 2011
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