GSci 165How Life Works

Claire Clemens

&

Jeff Kushner

Catalog Description

• GSCI 165. The Way Life Works. 1 credit.

• Patterns, energy, information, life’s machinery, feedback, community and evolution. These are major themes in how life works. This course will use these themes as a backdrop for looking at the way life works.

Course Goals

• Explore How Life Works from an assemblage of atoms into molecules, into macromolecules (CHO, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids) to cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, and populations via mutations and evolution.

• Conduct investigations to be able to diagram and identify cell structures and organelles, and describe similarities and differences between plants and animals.

Course Objectives• Students will be able to diagram patterns of cellular organization,

including cells, tissues, organs, and systems; and functions and processes of cells, tissues, organs, and systems (respiration, removal of wastes, growth, reproduction, digestion, and cellular transport).

• Students will investigate and describe the basic physical and chemical processes of energy transformations in living systems including photosynthesis, fermentation, respiration and energy and matter flow through ecosystems.

• Students will investigate and understand that organisms reproduce and transmit genetic information to new generations, including the role of DNA; characteristics that can and cannot be inherited; genetic engineering and its applications; and historical contributions and significance of discoveries related to genetics.

• Students will be able to provide examples of how organisms change over time. Key concepts include the relationships of mutation, adaptation, natural selection, and extinction; evidence of evolution of different species in the fossil record; and how environmental influences, as well as genetic variation, can lead to diversity of organisms.

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education

An information literate individual is able to:• Determine the extent of information needed • Access the needed information effectively and

efficiently • Evaluate information and its sources critically • Incorporate selected information into one’s

knowledge base • Use information effectively to accomplish a

specific purpose • Understand the economic, legal, and social

issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

Information Literacy Competency for GSci 165

• Use information effectively to Complete Homework Assignments– Determine what information is needed

– Access that information effectively and efficiently

– Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base

Learner-Centered IL Learning Objectives for GSci 165

• Use a variety of information resources to answer homework questions.

• Demonstrate the ability to find information from readings.

• Summarize, organize, and synthesize the information found.

• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of biology/life sciences information resources for answering homework questions

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

• Assignment #1 Cells & Membranes

• Assignment #2 Mitosis & Meiosis

• Assignment #3 Genetics, I, II, & III

• Assignment #4 DNA and Protein Synthesis

• Assignment #5 Cancer, Biotechnology

Additions to Homework

• Find the answers to all questions in each subject area. Use at least two sources from each information resource type (and cite using APA style) to complete each homework assignment. A given category may be used only once.

INFORMATION RESOURCE TYPES

Resource Description Examples

Reference WorksEncyclopedias, Handbooks, DictionariesIdentify by searching LEO, Library Catalog.Find in Carrier Library Reference Collection (1st floor).

Encyclopedia of Biology QH309.2 .R58 2004 The Facts on File Dictionary of Biology QH302.5 .F38 2005 Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (10 Volumes) QH302.5 .E53 2002 Frontiers of Life (4 volumes) QH302.5 .F76 2002 The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution QP34.5 .M24 2005McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Bioscience QH302.5 .M382 2003

Non-Reference WorksTextbooks, books from Carrier Library general collectionIdentify by searching LEO, Library Catalog.Find in Carrier Library Stacks.

Human chromosomes : structure, behavior, and effects / QH431 .T436 1993 Genes and DNA : a beginner's guide to genetics and its applications QH430 .O47 2004Life sciences for the non-scientist / QH307.2 .Z36 2005

Professional Websites

Search Engines

Research Databases http://www.lib.jmu.edu/education/BiologyEducation.aspx

Part 2

• After answering all of the homework questions, identify one lesson plan which a teacher could use to communicate any one of the concepts contained in each of the 5 homework assignments.

• The intended audience for the lesson should be students in an upper elementary or middle school class (your choice of Grades 4-8).

• You are strongly encouraged to use the recommended sources, although you may consult additional resources, that you have evaluated to be professional, reliable and stable sources.

RubricCriteria/Level 1 3 5

Answering Questions Provided No/incorrect/incomplete answers

Provided all correct answers not demonstrating understanding

Provided all correct answers demonstrating understanding

Sources Invalid AND Insufficient Invalid OR Insufficient Valid AND Sufficient

Cite Sources None Cited Non-APA or Incorrect/incomplete APA style

All cited properly

Lesson Plan None attached Inappropriate lesson plan or source, no SOL, or no source cited

Lesson plan attached, source correctly cited, SOL listed