Faculty Syllabus

BIOL-1406 Cellular and Molecular Biology

Celeste Warnke


Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

BIOL-1406-023 (48898)
LAB W 9:00am - 11:50am RRC RRC8 8315.00

LEC MW 12:00pm - 1:20pm RRC RRC3 3323.00

Course Requirements

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: General Biology course designed for science majors and students with a strong science background who desire an in-depth approach to biological topics. An introduction to the physical and chemical organization of living organisms; cell structure, function, and metabolism; classical and molecular genetics; gene regulation and genetic engineering. BIOL 1406 and BIOL 1408 may not both be counted towards graduation.

 

CREDIT HOURS: 4- combination of lectures and labs.

 

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: Reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency as determined by the COMPASS or ASSET test, or by the statewide THEA test, or by providing an official transcript from another college.

 

Transferability of workforce courses varies. Students interested in transferring courses to another college should speak with their Area of Study (AoS) advisor, Department Chair, and/or Program Director.

PREREQUISITES: One year of high school chemistry or one semester of college chemistry; two years of high school algebra or MATD 0390. Course Type: T. Skills: G.

 

COURSE RATIONALE: Biology 1406 is a major’s level course for those who wish to pursue careers in biology, biotechnology, the health sciences and other related fields. There are four units that will be explored during the semester:

1) The chemistry of living organisms including the structure of atoms and molecules, pH, the macromolecules of living organisms, and energetics, enzymes and enzymatic pathways.

2) The structure and function of cells including the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the eukaryotic organelles and biological membranes and intercellular communication.

3) Nucleic acids including mitosis and meiosis, DNA structure and replication, RNA transcription and translation and gene regulation

4) DNA technology, viruses, Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics, and Darwinian evolution.

Readings

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

This course is designated First Day. The text assigned to this class is automatically charged with your enrollment. This feature can be opted out of for a refund, though it must be done early on in the semester! Watch this video to see how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbblnCvGvVA

More information on First Day can be found here: https://www.austincc.edu/academic-and-career-programs/first-day-classes/

If you wish to keep the First Day text, you can use that as a reference for lecture.

That being said, all course materials for lecture and lab will be posted on Blackboard.

Blackboard: All other course materials and assignments are accessed and submitted through Blackboard

eID is required to access Blackboard: http://www.austincc.edu/acceid/

Email: Students must communicate with instructors using ACC email only: http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/ 

For help setting up your ACC eID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, contact the ACC Help Desk at https://www.austincc.edu/help

Required Technology & Support Services: Students in this course must have access to a computer or iPad compatible with Respondus Monitor: Technical requirements include Windows (7,8,10), Mac (OS X 10.10 or higher), iPad (iOS 10.0+) with compatible LMS integration, web camera (internal or external) & microphone, and broadband internet connection. If you do not have access to this type of computer equipment and software at home, please request this equipment through ACC resources. Technology (laptop) Request: https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/remote-student-support

For lab you will need safety goggles/glasses and closed-toed shoes.

Course Subjects

 

Date

Class Agenda

1/21 W

Lab:

  • Lab Safety

Lecture:

  • Course Overview
  • Intro to the Course

1/26 M
  • Biology- The Study of Life

1/28 W

Lab:

  • Lab 1: Collecting and Analyzing Data

Lecture:

  • The Chemistry of Life- Atoms
  • At 5pm, Orientation/Syllabus Contract Due

2/2 M
  • The Chemistry of Life- Atoms

2/4 W

Lab:

  • Lab 2: Solutions
  • Postlab for Lab 1 Due

Lecture:

  • The Chemistry of Life- Molecules and Bonds
  • Quiz 1 Due
  • Last day to drop without a W

2/9 M
  • The Chemistry of Life- Functional Groups

2/11 W

Lab:

  • Lab 3: pH and Buffers
  • Postlab for Lab 2 Due

Lecture:

  • Water and pH

2/16 M
  • Macromolecules- Carbohydrates and Lipids
  • Quiz 2 Due

2/18 W

Lab:

  • Lab 4: Microscopes and Cells
  • Postlab for Lab 3 Due

Lecture:

  • Macromolecules- Proteins and DNA

2/23 M
  • Cell Structure and Diversity
  • Quiz 3 Due

2/25 W

Lab:

  • Lab 5: Osmosis and Diffusion
  • Postlab for Lab 4 Due

Lecture:

  • Cell Membrane and Cell Wall 
  • Quiz 4 Due

3/2 M

Exam 1… Intro to Bio, The Chemistry of Life, and Macromolecules

3/4 W

Lab:

  • Lab 6: Enzymes
  • Postlab for Lab 5 Due

Lecture:

  • Cell Communication
  • Quiz 5 Due

3/9 M
  • Energetics and Enzymes
  • Quiz 6 Due

3/11 W

Lab:

  • Lab Exam 1: Labs 1-6

Lecture:

  • Respiration and Fermentation
  • Quiz 7 Due

3/16 M

COLLEGE CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK. NO CLASS

3/18 W

COLLEGE CLOSED FOR SPRING BREAK. NO CLASS

3/23 M
  • Photosynthesis
  • Quiz 8 Due

3/25 W

Lab:

  • Lab 7: Thin Layer Chromatography
  • Postlab for Lab 6 Due

Lecture:

  • Cell Cycle and Mitosis
  • Quiz 9 Due

3/30 M

Exam 2… Cell Structure, Diversity, Membranes, Walls, Communication, & Respiration, Fermentation, and Photosynthesis

4/1 W

Lab:

  • Lab 8.1: Size Exclusion Chromatography and Bradford Assay
  • Postlab for Lab 7 Due

Lecture:

  • Meiosis
  • Quiz 10 Due

4/6 M
  • DNA Structure and Function
  • Quiz 11 Due

4/8 W

Lab:

  • Lab 8.2: Polyacrylamide Electrophoresis
  • Postlab for Lab 8.1 Due

Lecture:

  • Genes and Protein
  • Quiz 12 Due

4/13 M
  • Gene Expression
  • Quiz 13 Due

4/15 W

Lab:

  • Lab 8.3: Analysis of PAGE Gels

Lecture:

  • Mendelian Genetics and Heredity
  • Quiz 14 Due

4/20 M

Exam 3… Cell Cycle, Mitosis, Meiosis, DNA Structure and Function, & Genes, Protein, Gene Expression

4/22 W

Lab:

  • Lab 9.1: GMO Food PCR
  • Postlab for Lab 8.3 Due

Lecture:

  • Heredity Variations
  • Quiz 15 Due

4/27 M
  • Chromosomal Genetics
  • Quiz 16 Due
  • Final Withdrawal Deadline

4/29 W

Lab:

  • Lab 9.2: Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
  • Postlab for Lab 9.1 Due

Lecture:

  • Viruses and Prions

5/4 M
  • DNA Technology
  • Quiz 17 Due

5/6 W

Lab:

  • Lab Exam 2: Labs 7-9.2

Lecture:

  • Principals of Evolution
  • Quiz 18 Due

5/11 M

Exam 4… Mendelian Genetics, Heredity Laws and Variation, Chromosomes, Viruses, DNA Technology, & Evolution

5/13 W

Optional Comprehensive Final Exam
     

 

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 

Course-Level: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify the 4 classes of macromolecules, their monomers, and their functions in cells.
  • Describe the structures and functions of cell organelles
  • Discuss energy transfer, enzyme function and the pathways of cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
  • Describe prokaryotic binary fission, the eukaryotic cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis.
  • Identify DNA structure and replication, transcription, translation and gene expression.
  • Solve problems in Mendelian genetics, including multiple alleles and X-linkage along with the Laws of Segregation and Independent Assortment
  • Describe modern biotechnological techniques and their impacts on society.

 

Program-Level: As a required course for an Associate of Science in Biology, students will be able to:

  • Compare the structure and function of cells.
  • Describe the chemical basis of life including the importance of water, gases and macromolecules.
  • Explain energy movement, enzyme structure and function, respiration and photosynthesis.
  • Illustrate DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis, mutations and genetic analysis.

 

General Education: As a Core Curriculum course, students completing this course will demonstrate competence in:

  • Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information. 
  • Interpersonal Skills - Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals.
  • Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods.
  • Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

 

Departmental Common Course Objectives: The ACC Biology Department has specified the content of this course in the departmental common course objectives. The departmental objectives are located at

http://sites.austincc.edu/biology/common-course-objectives/.

Office Hours

M 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM RRC 3341

NOTE

Office Hours

M 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM RRC 3341

NOTE

Published: 01/17/2026 09:15:47