Student Learning Outcomes, Week 1

Fundamentals

1. Be able to explain the evidence to support evolution

2. Analyze a model for the origin of life on earth.

3. Learn the major periods of the history of earth and the major developments among living things.

Terms and Concepts

Evidence for Evolution: Fossil evidence

• Anatomical

• Biochemical

• fossil, index fossil

Eons

• Hadean

• Archean

• Proterozoic

• Phanerozoic

Paleozoic Era

Mesozoic Era

Cenozoic Era

Pangea

Plate tectonics

Cambrian explosion

Permian extinction

Cretaceous extinction

Biogenesis

Prokaryotes

1. Structure. Be able to recognize and describe the morphology of prokaryotes: size, shapes (bacilli, cocci, spirilli), surfaces (the cell wall and Gram staining; pili), and organization of DNA (nucleoid region, plasmids).

2. Movement. Be able to describe the movement of prokaryotes using the following terms: flagella, taxis, chemotaxis, phototaxis.

3. Growth and Reproduction. Understand basic prokaryotic reproduction and genetic recombination.

4. Nutrition and Metabolism. Be able to distinguish between the modes of metabolism.

5. Learn the major prokaryotic taxa and be able to classify representatives based on their traits and habitats.

6. Ecological Impact. Be able to discuss the ecological importance of prokaryotes.

Terms and Concepts

1.Structure

• Peptidoglycan

• Gram stain: differences + and -

• Plasmid

• Endospore

2.Movement: flagella, cilia

• Chemotaxis

• Phototaxis

3. Growth

• Transformation

• Conjugation

• Transduction

4. Nutrition and Metabolism:

• Photoautotroph

• Chemoautotroph

• Photoheterotroph

• Chemoheterotroph

• Obligate aerobe, anaerobe

• Facultative anaerobe

5. Ecological Impact

• Symbiosis

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Nitrogen fixation

• Decomposers

• Pathogens

• Exotoxin

• Endotoxin

• Bioremediation