Introduction to Life Processes

This course is a part of:

Associate of Paralegal Studies

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

Bachelor of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

This course is an introductory study of the life processes of all organismsbut focuses particularly on the life processes of human beings. It begins with some necessary background information about molecular and cellular structure and then moves into the life processes. These include nutrition, respiration, circulation, excretion and regulation and the maintenance of homeostasis. The course examines each of these processes and the human organ systems that carry them out. Diseases and other disruptions of homeostasis are also considered and discussed

Course Learning Outcomes

• Apply the scientific method to the development and testing of hypotheses, collecting data and experimentation.

• Describe the roles of the major types of biological molecules in forming living organisms and carrying out life processes.

• Apply the roles of each of the parts of a cell to the life processes that they carry out.

• Analyze the manner in which substances that help determine genetic inheritance, including chromosomes, DNA, nucleotides, etc., impact the genetic characteristics of offspring.

• Apply the various life processes carried out by human organs and organ systems to the over-all goal of maintaining homeostasis in human beings.

• Evaluate the impacts that various interferences with homeostasis may have on the functioning of the human body and identify the steps that the human body takes to deal with such interference.