Reading assignments include numerous scientific articles, class handouts, and sections from the course text. The topics covered in the Freeman text are also sufficiently covered in any introductory level biology text book. The course text is meant to be a detailed reference source for students on the concepts that are highlighted in the lecture and section materials of the course
Reading assignments for this courses used to include several readings from the MIT Biology Hypertextbook, but these have been removed as that site is no longer active. At this time there are no plans to re-present the materials.
Freeman, Scott. Biological Science. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002. ISBN: 9780130819239.
| LEC # | TOPICS | READINGS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | Freeman. Chapter 1, pp. 1-15. |
| 2 | Biochemistry I | Lecture Handout: Biochemistry I-III (PDF) |
| 3 | Biochemistry II | |
| 4 | Biochemistry III |
Freeman. Chapter 4, pp. 71-77. Lecture Handout: Luria Experiment (PDF) |
| 5 | Biochemistry IV | Lecture Handout: Biochemistry III and IV (PDF) |
| 6 | Biochemistry V |
Freeman. Chapter 6. Lecture Handout: Biochemistry V-VI (PDF) |
| 7 | Biochemistry VI | Freeman. Chapter 7. |
| 8 |
Biochemistry VI (cont.) DNA as Genetic Material |
Freeman. Chapter 11, pp. 217-222. |
| 9 | Molecular Biology I | Freeman. Chapter 3 and 12, pp. 59-61, including Box and 232-234. |
| 10 |
Molecular Biology II Process of Science |
Freeman. Chapter 12, pp. 234-249. |
| 11 | Molecular Biology III | Freeman. Chapter 13 and 15, pp. 252-259 and 307-309. |
| 12 | Molecular Biology IV | Freeman. Chapter 13 and 11, pp. 259-271 and Box 11.1. |
| 13 | Molecular Biology IV (cont.) Gene Regulation I |
Freeman. Chapter 14, pp. 274-289. |
| 14 | Gene Regulation II |
Freeman. Chapter 11, pp 217-229. Lecture Handout: Biochemical Genetics (PDF) |
| 15 | Bacterial Genetics | Freeman. Chapter 9 and 14, Box 9.3 and Figure 14.6. |
| 16 | The Biosphere |
Freeman. Chapter 3, pp. 40-67. Lecture Handout: The Biosphere and Carbon and Energy Metabolism (PDF) |
| 17 | Carbon and Energy Metabolism |
Freeman. Chapter 25, pp. 484-495. Kasting, James F., and J. L. Siefert. "Life and the Evolution of Earth's Atmosphere." Science 296, no. 5570 (May 10, 2002): 1066-1068. Von Dover, C. L., et al. "Evolution and Biogeography of Deep-Sea Vent and Seep Invertebrates." Science 295, no. 5558 (February 15, 2002): 1253-1257. Lecture Handout: Redox Chemistry Handout (PDF) |
| 18 | Productivity and Food Webs |
Freeman. Chapter 51, pp. 989-995. Broad, William J. "Too Rich a Soil: Scientists Find the Flaw That Undid the Biosphere." New York Times (1857-Current file), ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (Oct 5, 1993): C1. Lecture Handout: Productivity (PDF) |
| 19 | Regulation of Productivity | Mullineaux, Conrad W. "The Plankton and the Planet." Science 283, no. 5403 (Februrary 5, 1999): 801-802. |
| 20 | Limiting Factors and Biogeochemical Cycles |
Freeman. Chapter 51, pp 995-1001. Vitousek, Peter M., Harold A. Mooney, Jane Lubchenco, and Jerry M. Melillo. "Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems." Science 277, no. 5325 (1997): 494-499. |
| 21 | Mendelian Genetics | Freeman. Chapter 10, pp. 194-201. |
| 22 | Mitosis and Meiosis | Freeman. Chapter 8 and 9, pp. 155-161. |
| 23 | Diploid Genetics | Freeman. Chapter 10, pp. 201-216. |
| 24 | Recombinant DNA I | Freeman. Chapter 15 and 17, Box 15.1 and pp. 335-338. |
| 25 | Recombinant DNA II | Freeman. Chapter 17, 12, and 47, pp. 338-350, 240-242, Figures 47.2 and 47.3. |
| 26 | Recombinant DNA III | Freeman. Chapter 18, pp. 364-365 and 367. (Essay) |
| 27 | Recombinant DNA III (cont.) Immunology I |
Freeman. Chapter 46, pp. 891-903. |
| 28 | Immunology II | Freeman. Chapter 46, pp. 903-911. |
| 29 | Population Growth I | Freeman. Chapter 48. |
| 30 | Population Growth II | Palumbi, S. R. "Humans as the World's Greatest Evolutionary Force." Science 293, no. 5536 (September 7, 2001): 1786-1790. |
| 31 | Population Genetics and Evolution | Freeman. Chapter 22, pp. 429-445. |
| 32 | Molecular Evolution | Lecture Handout: Molecular Evolution |
| 33 | Communities I | Freeman. Chapter 49. |
| 34 | Communities II |
Freeman. Chapter 52, section 50.3. Wade, Nicholas. "Leapin' Evolution Is Found in Lizards," New York Times, May 1, 1997. Schultz, Ted R. "Ants, Plants, and Antibiotics." Nature 398, no. 6730 (April 29, 1999): 747-748. Grutter, Alexandra S. "Cleaner Fish Really Do Clean." Nature 398, no. 6729 (April 22, 1999): 672-673. Ahlund, M., and M. Andersson. "Brood Parasitism: Female Ducks Can Double Their Reproduction." Nature 414, no. 6864 (December 6, 2001): 600-601. |
| 35 | Communities III | Freeman. Chapter 52, section 50.2. |
| 36 | Ecological Applications | Freeman. Chapter 52. |