Introduction to Biology II(BIOL 202 )

Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Mark Kopeny, Dr. Michael Menaker, Dr. Leo Racich

Integrated survey of the fundamentals of evolutionary theory, biological diversity, and the biology and ecology of organisms.

Biol 201 is not prerequisite.

Designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body, primarily to prepare students for 300- and 400-level biology courses; to prepare students for the Biology major.

The material covered in this course is organized into six units:

I. Evolutionary ProcessesII. Diversity of LifeIII. Plant Form and FunctionIV. Animal Form and FunctionV. Animal BehaviorVI. Ecological Patterns and Processes

Atoms organized into a chlorophyll molecule

Cells

Tissues Organ

Organism in a community

Organelle (chloroplast)

Life can be viewed at various “levels of biological organization”, but remember that the processes of life are highly integrated.

ORGANISM

BIOLOGICAL

PATTERNS

AND

PROCESSES

ACROSS

“LEVELS”

FROM

MOLECULES

TO

ECOSYSTEMS

YOU

In general, try to approach material presented in this course with these thoughts in mind:

•Search for patterns and underlying processes

•Consider ultimate and proximate causation

•Consider the relationship between form and function

•Relate new concepts to ones already explored, and consider them in a truly integrative framework

•Consider the generality of a concept (“importance” of an idea often relates to its breadth)

•Evaluate the research (experimental, comparative, modeling, descriptive, historical…) that uncovered the idea

•Consider how the idea relates to research programs of UVA science faculty, especially in Biology

We compared your DNA to that of an ape. The ape wants a second opinion.

Begin unit one on Friday; Evolutionary processes

We compared your DNA to that of an ape. The ape wants a second opinion.