The objectives of the course are for students to understand the 
importance of biology and the scientific method to modern 
concepts of the natural world. Emphasis will be placed on key 
concepts in plant biology and for all life, including: molecules 
of life, cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems, 
genetic information flow from DNA to protein, crop 
domestication, mechanisms of evolutionary change, plant and 
animal coevolution, species interactions, including plant-
microbe 
interactions and soil fertility, energy pyramids, biogeochemical 
cycles, biodiversity, and climate. The course will draw upon 
examples from everyday life. 

Students will be introduced to the scientific method, including 
hypothesis testing and quantitative approaches. Students will 
learn to appreciate the chemical composition and growth of 
plants from the molecular to cellular, individual, and 
ecological scales. They will gain insight into processes such as 
photosynthesis and respiration and their importance for the 
cycling of carbon and nitrogen, including the source and effects 
of fossil fuels. Students will learn about the nature and 
transmission of genetic material, how this relates to plant 
traits, the origin of crop plants, genetic modification, and 
evolutionary forces, including mutation, natural selection, 
genetic drift, non-random mating, and gene flow. They will also 
learn about the long-term coevolution of species, including the 
coevolution of flowers and pollinators, and the implications of 
the many kinds of species interactions. Finally, students will 
gain an understanding of the flow of energy through Earth’s 
ecosystems, ultimately applying what they learn to understanding 
important environmental concepts such as biodiversity, carbon 
footprints, and sustainability.

Plant structure and growth 
Molecules of life: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic 
acids
Cell structure, components, and their functions
Energy processes: Photosynthesis and respiration
Plant physiology and behavior: Transpiration, responses to 
light, and pathogens
Information flow: DNA replication, transcription, and protein 
synthesis
Crop breeding and genetic engineering 
Cell cycle and division
Mendelian genetics: Basic inheritance in plants
Genetics: Genetic mapping and quantitative traits in plants
Darwin, evolution, and domestication
Population genetics, including mutation, selection, genetic 
Drift, non-random mating, and gene flow
Speciation, taxonomy, and phylogenetics
Animal-plant coevolution and pollination biology 
Species interactions, including mutualism, competition, invasive 
species, ecological succession
Ecosystems, food webs, biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity, 
biomes, and climate
Domestication, land use, and the environmental impacts of 
agriculture 
Carrying capacity, ecological footprints, climate, and 
sustainability

All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty."  
Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before
performing any academic work.