Bio 206: Introduction to Organismal Biology

Prereq: Biology 205, Chem 122; pre- or co-requisite: Chem 123.

Study of the many ways that eukaryotic organisms perform basic functions and cope with varying environmental conditions. Phylogenic organismal diversity and organ system structural and functional diversity are studied in lecture/discussion and laboratory settings.

Learning Resources:

• Please complete this brief Introductory Student Assessment, which will help me get to know you better (as a class) and to create the best possible learning experience.
• You are welcome to use this Self-Assessment form to periodically reflect on your performance in the class and to evaluate possible strategies to improve you understanding of course material. This tool is designed primarily for your personal use, but you can click the "submit" button to send your comments to me. (There are no course points awarded for completing this form.)
• Hints for Success in this (and all!) College Classes
• Hints on taking good lecture notes
• How do you learn best? Click here to help find out!
• View the resources and schedule of tutors available from the Tutorial and Academic Skills Center (TASC)

Course Announcements:

• This page was current in Winter 2008, when I last taught the class. I've left some materials posted so that you can see some of my teaching tools and other course information. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this Bio 206 class. Thanks.
• Updated 3/12/08 Student-Proposed Essays for the Final Exam are now posted. Please download and print this list, and review the next handout on preparing for and writing essays for exams.
• Practice your answers to the proposed essay questions, and review this handout containing Essay Tips and the Grading Rubric for student essays.
• Did you notice? A sample of very good essays from the last exam are posted on the bulletin board outside the lab. Read these for tips regarding organization, development of ideas, and clarity of writing style.
• Bio 206 Syllabus - Winter 2008
• Scores for lecture exams will be available here. Click on this link and enter your W# to access your individual SCORES .
• FOR YOUR SAFETY - Please remember to avoid wearing contact lenses during labs that involve dissection of preserved materials (see lab syllabus for schedule of dissections).
• My jaw dropped when I saw this creative and beautiful depiction of cellular movement. You'll want to watch this over and over again.

Library of Figures: (Animal Biology)

• Powerpoint slides for Week 6: Animal Form and Function, and Thermoregulation Please note that several slides in the introductory set are included for your review, and will not be discussed in the lecture meeting (slides are hidden when in presentation mode).
• Powerpoint slides for Week 7: Animal Nutrition and Animal Circulation.
• Powerpoint slides for Week 8: Animal Gas Exchange and Animal Osmoregulation & Excretion.
• Powerpoint slides for Week 9: Chemical Signaling and an Introduction to Animal Nervous Systems.
• Powerpoint slides for Week 10: Sensory Systems and Animal Locomotion.

Other Links:

• Bio 206 Lab Homepage
• Compare the movement of this nematode C. elegans and Dugesia (planaria) with the animations of other "worms" below.
• The following animations are provided for educational purposes from a site maintained by A. Richard Palmer of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta.
  • View an animation of Earthworm locomotion here. Very cool!
  • View an animation of Polychaete swimming here, and compare to earthworm movements!
• Bio 206 Textbook Web Site - Freeman, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, 2nd ed.
• A Bio 206 student recommended this online interactive resource to study animal histology , and it is a great site!
• This site has several informative pages on insect physiology .
• You might find this Virtual Pig Dissection helpful!
• Click on this link to read about careers in animal biology.
• The Canadian government is investing billions to make Canada one of the top five nations in R&D by 2010 (New Scientist, September 27, 2003). To see a PDF of the pages of Canadian jobs as featured in this issue of New Scientist, click here.