BIO-135 Biology and Society: Science for the 21st Century

How does biology impact your life and future? From genetics to climate change, biology shapes the world around us—and understanding it gives you the power to make informed decisions about health, technology, and the environment. In this course, students will explore how living systems function, evolve, and interact with the environment. Topics include genetics, biotechnology, evolution, ecology, neuroscience, and climate change, with a focus on real-world applications and contemporary scientific challenges.

Through hands-on labs, discussions, and case studies, students will develop scientific reasoning skills by analyzing data, evaluating evidence, and understanding the methods scientists use to study the natural world. Whether we’re investigating the ethics of genetic engineering, the effects of AI in biology, or the impact of climate change, this course will help students build a foundation in scientific literacy that extends beyond the classroom.

This lab course is designed for non-science majors and will be accessible, engaging, and relevant to students of all backgrounds. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Science (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.

Credits

4

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

2

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

  • Science & Technology

Grading Scheme

  • Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

  • Yes

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

  • Fall
  • Spring
  • Summer

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. 1. Apply the scientific method to biological questions and critically evaluate scientific claims in the media.
  2. 2. Explain core biological concepts (genetics, evolution, biodiversity, physiology, and ecology) and relate them to real-world issues.
  3. 3. Demonstrate scientific reasoning by making evidence-based conclusions and informed decisions on personal, societal, and environmental issues.
View Course Outline

BIO 135: Biology and Society: Science for the 21st Century

Department

Science and Technology

Course Description

How does biology impact your life and future? From genetics to climate change, biology shapes the world around us—and understanding it gives you the power to make informed decisions about health, technology, and the environment. In this course, students will explore how living systems function, evolve, and interact with the environment. Topics include genetics, biotechnology, evolution, ecology, neuroscience, and climate change, with a focus on real-world applications and contemporary scientific challenges.

Through hands-on labs, discussions, and case studies, students will develop scientific reasoning skills by analyzing data, evaluating evidence, and understanding the methods scientists use to study the natural world. Whether we’re investigating the ethics of genetic engineering, the effects of AI in biology, or the impact of climate change, this course will help students build a foundation in scientific literacy that extends beyond the classroom.

This lab course is designed for non-science majors and will be accessible, engaging, and relevant to students of all backgrounds. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Science (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.

Credit Hours

4

Contact Hours

Lecture3
Lab2
Other0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall, Spring, Summer

SUNY General Education Course

  • Natural Science and Scientific Reasoning

First Year Experience Course

No

Capstone Course

No

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. 1. Apply the scientific method to biological questions and critically evaluate scientific claims in the media.
  2. 2. Explain core biological concepts (genetics, evolution, biodiversity, physiology, and ecology) and relate them to real-world issues.
  3. 3. Demonstrate scientific reasoning by making evidence-based conclusions and informed decisions on personal, societal, and environmental issues.

Topic Outline

Theme 1: Science, Life, and the Scientific Method

  • The Scientific Process & Pseudoscience
  • What is Life? (Cells, Emergent Properties)
  • Life’s Chemistry & Energy
  • AI in Science

Lab Unit 1: What Makes Something Alive?

Students will explore the characteristics of life through experimental design, microscopy, and data analysis.

  • Part 1: Designing & Conducting an Experiment to Test Biological Activity
  • Part 2: What is Life? Using microscopes to identify cellular structures and compare living vs. non-living samples
  • Part 3: Scientific Data Analysis – analyzing data from their own experiments as well as utilizing simple AI-tools to recognize patterns in real-world biological data sets

Theme 2: Genetics, Biotechnology & The Future of Life

  • DNA, Mitosis & Meiosis
  • Inheritance & Genetic Disorders
  • Genetic Engineering, CRISPR, & Synthetic Biology
  • Personalized Medicine & AI in Healthcare

Lab Unit 2: Genetics & Biotechnology – Designing a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

Students will explore genetic modification through hands-on DNA extraction, gene editing simulations, and ethical discussions.

  • Part 1: Extracting DNA and completing exercises to understand how genes encode traits; begin designing a theoretical GMO.
  • Part 2: Simulating gene editing with CRISPR and refining GMO designs while considering feasibility and ethics.
  • Part 3: Presenting GMO designs and debating ethical and societal issues; exploring AI’s role in biotechnology.

Theme 3: Evolution, Diversity, & The Microbial World

  • Natural Selection & Human Evolution
  • Microbes: The Good, The Bad & The Essential
  • The Tree of Life: Plants, Animals & Beyond
  • Biodiversity & Conservation

Lab Unit 3: Evolution in Action – From Natural Selection to Biodiversity

Students will explore how natural selection drives evolution, leading to speciation and biodiversity through simulation, data analysis, and case studies.

  • Part 1: Simulating natural selection using a predator-prey model.
  • Part 2: Investigating how genetic changes accumulate over time, leading to speciation and adaptation.
  • Part 3: Using phylogenetic trees and online databases to explore biodiversity and evolutionary relationships.

Theme 4: Human Biology, The Brain & Health

  • Homeostasis & Human Physiology
  • Neuroscience & Behavior (Consciousness, Addiction, Technology & the Brain)
  • Gut Microbiome & Health
  • One Health: Human, Animal, and Planetary Health

Lab Unit 4: Neuroscience & Human Biology – How Substances Affect the Brain

Students will investigate how stimulants and depressants alter brain function through reaction time testing, experimental design, and real-world data analysis.

  • Part 1: Measure baseline reaction times using a digital test and design a blinded caffeine experiment.
  • Part 2: Conduct the experiment, analyze pre- and post-caffeine reaction times, and discuss stimulant effects on the brain.
  • Part 3: Analyze real-world data on alcohol/marijuana impairment, explore DUI regulations, and debate how science informs public policy.

Theme 5: Ecology, Climate, and the Future of Our Planet

  • Ecosystem Interactions & Sustainability
  • Climate Change, Emerging Diseases, & Human Impact
  • Conservation & Solutions for a Changing World

Lab Unit 5: Conservation in Action

Students will explore the causes of an ecological crisis (ex. coral reef decline, deforestation, endangered species) and propose science-based conservation strategies using real-world data and hands-on modeling.

  • Part 1: Analyze real-world data from an ecological study and conduct a related hands-on experiment (ex. Coral reef bleaching demonstration).
  • Part 2: Design a conservation strategy, balancing ecological, economic, and policy factors, and present findings in a mini-presentation or policy proposal.