Biology
Introduction
Why are biology and biological sciences included in this workbook?
An understanding of biology and biological processes is crucial for any study of environmental science. Almost all problems and innovations in this field involve study of living organisms or impacts upon them. The concepts addressed in this section of the workbook will be particularly relevant to the courses you will be taking in Ecology, Applied Microbiology and Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology. The theme of biological sciences and technologies will also be part of many other courses and seminars in the BSc. program.
How is the biology section of this workbook organized?
This section of the workbook is divided into three parts, corresponding roughly with the courses that require knowledge of this background material. However, you should recognize that the basic concepts carry over to all of your biology-based courses in this program.
When should I work through this section of the workbook and how long will it take me to complete?
You will need to complete this material prior to your arrival for Foundations. Depending on your level of biology background, you can expect to spend between 40 and 80 hours on this section. You should also review this material prior to the start of the relevant courses, as the instructors expect you to understand these concepts.
What resources will I need to help me?
The following exercises can be completed using any first year biology textbook as a reference. Examples of such texts include:
- "Inquiry into Life" by Sylvia S. Mader (8th or 9th edition)
- "Biology" by Neil A. Campbell (3rd or 4th edition)
- "Biology" by Solomon, Berg, Martin and Villee (3rd edition).
Please note that some introductory biochemistry and microbiology texts may also contain some of the basic cell biology information as well. You may also find it helpful to consult texts such as:
- "Principles of Biochemistry" by Lehninger, Nelson and Cox (2nd edition)
- "Brock's Biology of Microorganisms" by Madigan, Martinko and Parker (8th or 9th edition).
