General Biology I (Bio181) focuses on the principles of biological science underlying the structure and function of living things: basic chemistry, cells and organelles, enzymes, respiration, photosynthesis, reproduction, genetics, genomics, and evolution. It is an entry-level course for biology majors and students entering healthcare professions. Biology 181 is a requirement for all advanced biology courses.

Biology 181 is a "hybrid" course. The lecture component is offered via the Internet. The required laboratory component will be conducted at the times/locations listed in the College Schedule of Classes. You must travel to a campus for the laboratories.

You must be an experienced Internet user who owns a personal computer with one of the following software configurations to take this course. A high-speed Internet connection is necessary to support the graphics/video files used in the course.

Operating System	Internet Browser
Windows XP, Vista, or 7	Firefox 10.0+
Macintosh OS 10.6, 10.7, or 10.8	Firefox 10.0+

You will need Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash player, and Apple QuickTime player loaded on your computer. All of these programs are free downloads.

To start the course, click on the Getting Started link in the menu on the left side of the page and follow the instructions therein.

Please check your email daily, and contact me at james.jacob@npc.edu if you encounter any problems.


James S. Jacob, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Biology

Textbook: Campbell Biology, Chapters 1-24, 9th Edition, Reece et. al., 2011. Pearson. NOTE: This is a custom preparation of the Campbell and Reece Biology textbook which contains only chapters 1 to 24 used in this course. ISBN 978-1-256-10276-2.  

The Mastering Biology Web site is not used in this section of Biology 181.

Note for iPad Users: you may want to consider the Inkling version of this textbook for your iPad. Inkling rebuilds textbooks for iPad to make them cheaper, easier to study, and more interactive and engaging. You can download a free chapter for iPad at Inklingʼs Web store (www.inkling.com/store) and also download the free Inkling app by searching for Inkling in the iTunes App Store.

Inkling also available on Web:  Inkling is now offering a Web-based version of the content that was initially created for the iPad.  Further information is available at https://www.inkling.com/.  A list of Inkling titles recommended at NPC is available at https://www.inkling.com/store/school/npc. 

Laboratory Manual: BIO 181 Lab Manual. McGraw-Hill, 2010. NOTE: This is a custom combination of selected exercises from two lab manuals prepared only for Northland Pioneer College. ISBN 978-1-121-14471-2.

Supplemental Book on Evolution: Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body, Neil Shubin, 2008, Pantheon Books, New York. ISBN 978-0-375-42447-2.2.

The advantage of an Internet-based lecture is that you can work on the course material when it is convenient; the problem is that it is easy to get behind in your work. This course is learner centered; it is dependent upon you acting responsibly and taking control of your learning.