Online Class: Biology 360 — From Molecules to Ecosystems

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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30Lessons
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39Exams &
Assignments -
4,987Students
have taken this course -
14Hours
average time -
1.4CEUs
Course Description
What if you could uncover the secrets of life itself-learn the intricate dance of molecules, cells, and ecosystems, and come to see the world around you with new eyes? Imagine the thrill of understanding not just how life works, but why it matters. Welcome to Biology 101, a transformative adventure into the wonders of the living world-a course designed to inspire, educate, and empower you.
Biology isn't just another subject; it's the story of life in all its glory. It's the heartbeat of medicine, the foundation of environmental science, and the key to unlocking humanity's greatest challenges and opportunities. This course isn't just about learning biology-it's about experiencing it.
From the moment you begin, you'll be drawn into a world of discovery. Together, we'll travel from the tiniest cell to the vast complexity of entire ecosystems. You'll uncover the mysteries of DNA-the blueprint of all living things-and explore the interconnectedness of life in ways that are both awe-inspiring and deeply practical.
This is not a passive learning experience. Biology 101 is designed to engage you at every step, sparking curiosity and critical thinking. We've stripped away the dryness of textbooks to create a course that is alive with vivid storytelling, rich visuals, and real-world applications. Whether you're unraveling the complexities of biochemistry or marveling at the elegance of genetic inheritance, you'll find yourself immersed in content that feels less like a lecture and more like an exploration.
What makes Biology 101 unique? It's not just the depth of knowledge-it's the personal transformation it offers. This course isn't just about facts; it's about perspective. You'll come away not only understanding biology but seeing your place in the web of life with newfound clarity and purpose.
Whether you're preparing for academic success, pursuing a career in science, or simply satisfying a thirst for knowledge, this course adapts to you. It's designed for learners of all levels, with tools that empower you to progress at your own pace and deepen your understanding at every turn.
But this isn't just an intellectual journey-it's an emotional one. Biology 101 will awaken your sense of wonder, challenge you to think critically, and inspire you to see the beauty and complexity of life all around you.
So, are you ready? Ready to unlock the mysteries of life, broaden your horizons, and ignite a lifelong passion for discovery? Biology 101 isn't just a course-it's an opportunity. An invitation. A life-changing decision.
Don't just learn biology-experience it. Join us, and let the adventure begin.
Course Motivation
Biology is the study of life in all its forms, from the origins of existence to the structure, growth, and interactions of living organisms. While its vastness can seem intimidating, this course breaks it down into clear, foundational concepts that make learning approachable and engaging.
Designed for college, pre-college students, and anyone with a curiosity about life, Biology 101 offers a self-paced, easy-to-follow curriculum supported by vivid visuals, critical thinking exercises, and comprehensive reviews. No prior scientific background is needed-just a willingness to explore!
With 24/7 enrollment and all materials included, this course is accessible and affordable, eliminating the need for costly textbooks. By the end, you'll gain a solid understanding of biology's core principles and be prepared to excel in further scientific studies or simply appreciate the science of life.
Start learning today-no prerequisites, no waiting, just discovery at your own pace.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. Biology's Beginnings: From Ancient Rituals to Rational Inquiry
From ancient times, biology evolved from mystical explanations of disease to a rational exploration of life's complexities, eventually paving the way for modern science. Anchored by pioneers like Hippocrates and Aristotle, the field has continually advanced through empirical observation and inquiry.Lesson 2. Scientific Inquiry: Observations, Experiments, and Discoveries
Essentially, the scientific method begins with keen observation and is followed by the formation of a hypothesis to explain phenomena; experiments then confirm or refute this hypothesis. Its versatility serves diverse disciplines, from uncovering the secrets of DNA to unraveling societal patterns, promoting a broad understanding of our world.Lesson 3. The Journey of Life: Understanding Cellular Foundations and Ecological Harmony
The tapestry of life, shaped over billions of years, showcases the intricate biological principles that structure and connect all living organisms on Earth. By exploring these concepts, we uncover the marvels of cellular processes, ecological balance, and evolutionary dynamics that continue to inspire scientific inquiry and appreciation.Lesson 4. Biology's Backbone: The Chemical Connection
Modern advancements like synthetic biology and systems biology demonstrate chemistry's potential to recreate and modify life's processes. With tools like CRISPR expanding genetic editing, chemistry orchestrates the molecular bonds that define life's genetic blueprints.Lesson 5. Chemical Bonds and the Molecular Mosaic
Atoms, the keystone of matter, consist of subatomic particles, each arrangement dictating an element's properties. The periodic table maps these elements, aiding in the prediction and understanding of chemical behaviors.Lesson 6. Biochemistry Basics
Biogeochemistry investigates human and natural chemical impacts on ecosystems, such as carbon emissions affecting oceans or fertilizers altering soil ecology. This field balances agricultural progress with environmental responsibility through in-depth studies of chemical interactions.Lesson 7. Cells: Life's Fundamental Units
Prokaryotic cells thrive through binary fission and diverse metabolism, showcasing their adaptability in extreme environments, while eukaryotic cells' compartmentalization allows complex organisms to perform specialized functions. The ongoing exploration of cellular mechanics, powered by advances in genetic technology like CRISPR, promises insights into disease and the future of medicine.Lesson 8. Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose, crucially involving chlorophyll in plants. Cellular respiration then breaks down glucose, releasing energy to synthesize ATP, the life's energy currency, completing the energy cycle in organisms.Lesson 9. The Genesis of Genetic Understanding: Gregor Mendel's Pioneering Insights
The mid-19th century witnessed Mendel's revolutionary experiments with pea plants, challenging the 'blending' inheritance notion by introducing particulate inheritance. His laws, Segregation and Independent Assortment, became instrumental in genetics, profoundly impacting fields like agriculture, medicine, and conservation biology.Lesson 10. Mendelian Genetics and its Contemporary Relevance
The study of genetics, pioneered by Gregor Mendel, explores how traits pass through generations, primarily through dominant and recessive alleles. Advanced understanding includes phenomena like incomplete dominance and polygenic inheritance, illustrating genetic influence across diverse traits and species.Lesson 11. Decoding the Mysteries of Molecular Genetics: From Pangenes to Personalized Medicine
Forsaking simplicity, genetic science probes deeper, intertwining genetics and epigenetics, even exploring synthetic biology's potential for societal benefits. Genetic manipulation's far-reaching implications prompt dialogue and education, curbing disparities and expanding global equality.Lesson 12. DNA & RNA: Beneath the Surface of Transcription
Gene expression is the orchestration of genetic codes into biological activity, mirroring a symphony where transcription is the opening act. Key players like transcription factors conduct this symphony, ensuring genes are appropriately expressed or silenced to create life-sustaining proteins.Lesson 13. Decoding Genetic Diversity: How Unique Are We?
Genetic science paves the way for personalized medicine, creating treatment plans tailored to an individual's genetic profile, thus improving health outcomes. Such advances extend beyond personal health, influencing public health strategies and agricultural practices, highlighting its broad societal impact.Lesson 14. The Beginning of Life: A Cosmic and Terrestrial Journey
Life's cellular complexity suggests a long evolutionary trajectory starting from primitive Earth conditions, with key processes like the Miller-Urey experiment demonstrating life's potential chemical beginnings. The RNA world hypothesis posits RNA as the precursor bridging chemistry and biology.Lesson 15. Life from Non-life: A Historical Perspective
For centuries, humanity believed in the theory of spontaneous generation, embraced by philosophers like Aristotle, suggesting life arose from non-living matter. This notion was debunked through the efforts of scientists like Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur, leading to the modern understanding that life originates from preexisting life and complex chemical reactions.Lesson 16. Unveiling the Mysteries of Life's Oceanic Origins
Theories from the Scripps Institution suggest Earth's 'Snowball Earth' period preserved the oceans as life-nurturing cradles under ice. This environment shielded early life from threats, allowing biochemical processes to flourish.Lesson 17. From Aristotle to Lamarck: Pioneers of Evolutionary Theory
Ancient philosophy and mythology shaped early evolutionary ideas, although they lacked scientific rigor. In the Middle Ages, scholars like Al-Jahiz and Aquinas infused religious and empirical thought, laying groundwork for future evolutionary discussions.Lesson 18. Genetic Evolution: The Symphony of Natural Selection and Drift
The intricate tapestry of life is illuminated by the mechanisms of evolution, where principles like natural selection and genetic drift shape organisms' survival. Charles Darwin's concept of non-random environmental pressures highlights how advantageous traits prevail, while genetic drift adds a layer of randomness, especially in smaller populations.Lesson 19. Unveiling Evolution's Patterns
Sympatric speciation challenges traditional evolution by proposing species divergence within the same habitat, while parapatric views gradual change across environments. Evolutionary patterns reveal dynamic routes like allopatric isolation, demonstrated vividly by Australia's and Madagascar's unique wildlife.Lesson 20. Echoes of Evolution: A Journey of Change and Influence
Adaptation is nature's way of ensuring survival by fine-tuning traits to meet environmental challenges, as seen in wolves and Darwin's finches. Similarly, coevolution creates intricate interdependencies between species, enhancing their evolutionary prospects, such as the yucca plant and yucca moth.Lesson 21. Evolutionary Connections: Darwin to Modern Genetics
The intersection of DNA sequencing and archaeological research offers a cohesive understanding of human evolution, evidenced by findings of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans. These multidisciplinary approaches validate migration theories and offer a timeline of early human encounters and interactions.Lesson 22. Evolution Unveiled: Humanity's Continuous Story
Acknowledging our evolutionary roots enriches our understanding of modern health and behavior, offering insights that influence medical interventions and mental health strategies. This knowledge empowers us to recognize and adapt to contemporary challenges by aligning them with our biological frameworks.Lesson 23. Population Dynamics: Unveiling the Patterns of Growth and Decline
Factors such as carrying capacity and resource availability critically shape population dynamics and inform policies from wildlife management to urban development. Linear and exponential growth models offer perspectives on population changes, with real-world complexities highlighting the limitations and potential outcomes these models reveal.Lesson 24. The Complex Web of Population Dynamics
Birth rate intricacies revolve around factors such as fertility, fecundity, and cultural influences, impacting population structures significantly.Lesson 25. The Dance of Nature: Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Harmony
Limiting abiotic factors determine species presence, with organisms like camels and cordgrass displaying extreme adaptations to thrive in challenging conditions. These factors, including soil pH and temperature, create niche ecosystems where only specialized life forms can prevail.Lesson 26. Exploring Nature's Interconnected Energy Pathways
Energy flow in ecosystems is a critical process that underscores the interconnectedness and resilience of life, with food chains illustrating this dynamic as producers, consumers, and decomposers engage in a cyclical transfer of energy. Food webs add complexity by showing multiple interactions and flexible roles among organisms, which enhance biodiversity and ecosystem adaptability.Lesson 27. Diving Deep: The Stratified Layers of Oceans
Ocean productivity, driven by phytoplankton photosynthesis, is limited by nutrient availability in surface waters, leading to low productivity despite the ocean's vastness. Events such as upwellings and polar summer blooms greatly enhance nutrient levels and support vibrant marine food webs, critical for species like krill and blue whales.Lesson 28. Life's Cycles: Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Planetary nutrient cycles like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus illustrate the complex web of biochemical interactions essential for ecosystem resilience and global sustainability. By embracing innovative technologies and fostering collaborative conservation efforts, we can safeguard these cycles and contribute to Earth's ecological harmony.Lesson 29. Ecological Succession: Nature's Recovery Journey
Ecological succession illustrates the dynamic shift from desolation to vitality as ecosystems recover and mature over time through both primary and secondary pathways. The invisible work of pioneer species setting the stage for a myriad of flora and fauna exemplifies resilience, while secondary succession showcases faster regeneration due to existing soil and seed banks.Lesson 30. From Insecticide to Ecological Menace: The Story of DDT
Greenhouse warming, driven by the reliance on fossil fuels, encapsulates the urgent challenge and opportunity humanity faces in mitigating climate change through sustainable practices. As greenhouse gases accumulate, they intensify global temperature rises, manifesting in severe weather events and prompting a unified global response geared towards renewable energy adoption and environmental rehabilitation.
Learning Outcomes
- Define the concept of rationalism and its role in transforming early Greek biological investigations from supernatural explanations to observations based on reason and evidence.
- Identify key advancements during the Renaissance that revived biological inquiry, including the contributions of scientists like Andreas Vesalius and Francesco Redi.
- Demonstrate the ability to design a basic scientific experiment by identifying independent, dependent, and controlled variables in a given scenario.
- Recognize and describe the steps of the scientific method, including observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion.
- Explain the process of photosynthesis in cells, detailing how solar energy is converted into chemical energy and its role in sustaining food webs.
- Identify and describe the hierarchical organization of living systems, including subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, and cellular structures.
- Describe the role of chemical reactions in sustaining biological functions, providing at least two examples of organic and inorganic compounds involved.
- Identify and explain how enzymes facilitate biochemical reactions at the cellular level, highlighting the involvement of inorganic elements.
- Recognize the formation and significance of hydrogen bonds, exploring their impact on molecular properties and biological processes.
- Define the structure and role of subatomic particles, including protons, neutrons, and electrons, in atomic configuration and chemical behavior.
- Identify and explain the interrelationship between biochemistry, biogeochemistry, and bioinformatics in addressing global challenges in the biosciences
- Recognize the role of enzymes in catalyzing cellular chemical reactions and describe their efficiency and specificity in metabolic processes
- Recognize and describe the structural differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the presence of membrane-bound organelles.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
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Student Testimonials
- "Instructor was great, and I learned a great deal on the course. I didn't have many issues with it, and overall I leaned a lot." -- Justine C.
- "A helpful instructor who provided a quick turnaround when grading assignments." -- Frieda F.