Table 1 Basic components, as related to evolution science, found in typical post-secondary biology curricula
a. Typical post-secondary biochemistry/genetics curriculum | b. Typical post-secondary organismal biology curriculum |
|---|---|
Intro Cell and Molecular Biology | Intro Organismal Biology |
• DNA ⇒ RNA ⇒ Proteins | • Chromosomes ⇒ Genes/alleles ⇒ genotype: Punnett square |
Genetics | • Chromosomes ⇒ Genes/alleles ⇒ phenotype: genes “for a trait” (these ideas often are not connected) |
• More detailed discussion of DNA ⇒ RNA ⇒ Proteins | • biodiversity and ecology |
• Regulation of gene expression | • Separate treatment of variation and natural selection |
• Chromosomes ⇒ Genes/alleles ⇒ genotype: Punnett square | Ecology |
• Chromosomes ⇒ Genes/alleles ⇒ phenotype: genes “for a trait or traits” | • Population ecology |
Biochemistry | • Interrelationship of Organisms (competition, predator–prey, etc.) |
• Details of transcription, translation, etc. | Evolution |
• Protein structure and function | • Ideally integrates concepts addressed in other courses: molecular genetics, biochemistry, genotype, phenotype, variation and natural selection |