Biology 101: Intro to Biology
98% developed About this course
Course Chapters
- 9. Genetic Mutations
- 10. Metabolic Biochemistry
- 11. Cell Division
- 12. Plant Biology
- 13. Plant Reproduction and Growth
- 14. Physiology I: The Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Excretory, and Musculoskeletal Systems
- 15. Physiology II: The Nervous, Immune, and Endocrine Systems
- 16. Animal Reproduction and Development
Science Basics
Science Vocabulary & Concepts: Study Skills & Word Parts
Start Course
All Videos in Science Basics
Review of Inorganic Chemistry For Biologists
The Atom
All Videos in Review of Inorganic Chemistry For Biologists
- 1. The Atom
- 2. The Electron Shell
- 3. Chemical Bonds I: Covalent
- 4. Chemical Bonds II: Ionic
- 5. Chemical Bonds III: Polar Covalent
- 6. Chemical Bonds IV: Hydrogen
- 7. Properties of Water
- 8. Solutions, Solutes, and Solvents
- 9. Osmosis, Diffusion and Saturation
- 10. Acids and Bases
- 11. The Laws of Thermodynamics
- 12. Redox (Oxidation-Reduction) Reactions: Definitions and Examples
- 13. How to Write and Balance Chemical Reactions
- 14. Weak Acids, Weak Bases, and Buffers
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Introduction to Organic Molecules I: Functional Groups
All Videos in Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- 1. Introduction to Organic Molecules I: Functional Groups
- 2. Introduction to Organic Molecules II: Monomers and Polymers
- 3. Structure and Function of Carbohydrates
- 4. Structure and Function of Lipids
- 5. Proteins I: Structure and Function
- 6. Proteins II: Amino Acids, Polymerization and Peptide Bonds
- 7. Proteins III: Structure and Characteristics of the 20 Amino Acids
Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA
DNA: Chemical Structure of Nucleic Acids & Phosphodiester Bonds
All Videos in Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA
Function of Enzymes: Substrate, Active Site & Activation Energy
Cell Biology
How a Phospholipid Bilayer Is Both Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic
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- 1. How a Phospholipid Bilayer Is Both Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic
- 2. The Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell Membrane
- 3. Passive Transport in Cells: Simple and Facilitated Diffusion & Osmosis
- 4. Active Transport in Cells: Definition & Examples
- 5. Endocytosis and Exocytosis Across the Cell Membrane
- 6. Structure of the Nucleus: Nucleolus, Nuclear Membrane, and Nuclear Pores
- 7. The Ribosome: Structure, Function and Location
- 8. The Endomembrane System: Functions & Components
- 9. The Cytoskeleton: Microtubules and Microfilaments
- 10. Mitochondria Structure: Cristae, Matrix and Inner & Outer Membrane
- 11. Chloroplast Structure: Chlorophyll, Stroma, Thylakoid, and Grana
- 12. Plant Cell Structures: The Cell Wall and Central Vacuole
- 13. Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells: Similarities and Differences
- 14. Viruses: Bacteriophage Lytic and Lysogenic Cycles
DNA Replication: Processes and Steps
What Is DNA Replication? - Conservative, Semi-Conservative & Dispersive Models
All Videos in DNA Replication: Processes and Steps
- 1. What Is DNA Replication? - Conservative, Semi-Conservative & Dispersive Models
- 2. How Helicase Unwinds the DNA Double Helix in Preparation for Replication
- 3. How DNA Polymerase and RNA Primase Initiate DNA Replication
- 4. DNA Replication: The Leading Strand and DNA Polymerase Activities
- 5. DNA Replication: Review of Enzymes, Replication Bubbles & Leading and Lagging Strands
The Transcription and Translation Process
Protein Synthesis in the Cell and the Central Dogma
All Videos in The Transcription and Translation Process
- 1. Protein Synthesis in the Cell and the Central Dogma
- 2. Transcription of Messenger RNA (mRNA) from DNA
- 3. Regulation of Gene Expression: Transcriptional Repression and Induction
- 4. How An Operon Controls Transcription in a Prokaryotic Cell
- 5. RNA Processing in a Eukaryotic Cell: Splicing of Introns & Exons
- 6. What Is the Genetic Code That Translates RNA Into Amino Acids?
- 7. Making Sense of the Genetic Code: Codon Recognition
- 8. Codon Recognition: How tRNA and Anticodons Interpret the Genetic Code
- 9. The Role of Ribosomes and Peptide Bonds in Genetic Translation
- 10. Translation of mRNA to Protein: Initiation, Elongation & Termination Steps
How Point Mutations, Insertions, and Deletions Affect DNA
Metabolic Biochemistry
Cellular Respiration: Energy Transfer in Cells
All Videos in Metabolic Biochemistry
- 1. Cellular Respiration: Energy Transfer in Cells
- 2. Redox Reactions & Electron Carriers in Cellular Respiration: Definitions and Examples
- 3. Glycolysis Pathway: Steps, Products & Importance
- 4. The Citric Acid (Kreb) Cycle: Products and Steps
- 5. The Electron Transport Chain: Products and Steps
- 6. Lactic Acid & Alcoholic Fermentation: Comparison, Contrast & Examples
- 7. Chlorophyll: Absorbing Light Energy for Photosynthesis
- 8. Photolysis and the Light Reactions: Definitions, Steps, Recants & Products
- 9. Dark Reactions of Photosynthesis: The Calvin-Benson Cycle
Cell Division
The Genome
All Videos in Cell Division
- 1. The Genome
- 2. The Structure of Chromosomes
- 3. The Cell Cycle
- 4. DNA Packaging and Chromosome Condensation
- 5. Physical Features of a Chromosome
- 6. Mitosis I: The Mitotic Spindle
- 7. Mitosis II: Phases of Chromosome Segregation
- 8. Cytokinesis: Animal Versus Plant Cells
- 9. Asexual Versus Sexual Reproduction
- 10. Overview of Meiosis
- 11. Meiosis I: Reductional Cell Division
- 12. Meiosis II: Equational Cell Division
- 13. Nondisjunction and Aneuploidy
Plant Biology
Classification of Vascular, Nonvascular, Monocot & Dicot Plants
All Videos in Plant Biology
- 1. Classification of Vascular, Nonvascular, Monocot & Dicot Plants
- 2. Structure of Plant Stems: Vascular and Ground Tissue
- 3. Apical Meristem & Primary Shoot System Growth
- 4. Lateral Meristem & Secondary Shoot System Growth
- 5. Structure of Leaves: The Epidermis, Palisade and Spongy Layers
- 6. Primary Root Tissue, Root Hairs and the Plant Vascular Cylinder
- 7. Root System Growth: The Root Cap, Primary Roots & Lateral Roots
- 8. Nitrogen Fixation: Significance to Plants and Humans
- 9. Xylem: The Effect of Transpiration and Cohesion on Function
- 10. Phloem: The Pressure Flow Hypothesis of Food Movement
- 11. Flowers: Structure and Function of Male & Female Components
- 12. Methods of Pollination and Flower-Pollinator Relationships
Plant Reproduction and Growth
Alternation of Generations: The Gametophyte and Sporophyte
All Videos in Plant Reproduction and Growth
- 1. Alternation of Generations: The Gametophyte and Sporophyte
- 2. A Moss Life Cycle: Dominant Gametophyte
- 3. A Fern Life Cycle: Plant Reproduction Without Flowers or Seeds
- 4. A Gymnosperm Life Cycle: Reproduction of Plants with 'Naked Seeds'
- 5. An Angiosperm Life Cycle: Flowering Plant Reproduction
- 6. Asexual Plant Reproduction: Vegetative Propagation and Bulbs
- 7. Tropisms: Phototropic, Geotropic and Thigmotropic Plant Growth
- 8. Photoperiodicity: Short-day, Long-day and Day-Neutral Plants
- 9. Seasonal Growth Cycles: Perennial, Annual and Biennial Plants
- 10. Plant Hormones: Chemical Control of Growth and Reproduction
Physiology I: The Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Excretory, and Musculoskeletal Systems
Multicellular Organisms, Tissues and Epithelium
All Videos in Physiology I: The Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Excretory, and Musculoskeletal Systems
- 1. Multicellular Organisms, Tissues and Epithelium
- 2. Types of Connective Tissue
- 3. Skeletal System and Muscular System
- 4. Circulatory System I: Types of Circulatory Systems
- 5. Circulatory System II: The Human Vascular System
- 6. Circulatory System III: The Heart
- 7. Circulatory System IV: Red Blood Cells
- 8. Circulatory System V: Hemoglobin
- 9. Gas Exchange in the Human Respiratory System
- 10. Digestive System I: The Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
- 11. Digestive System II: The Lower Gastrointestinal Tract
- 12. Excretory System
Physiology II: The Nervous, Immune, and Endocrine Systems
Homeostasis and Temperature Regulation in Humans
All Videos in Physiology II: The Nervous, Immune, and Endocrine Systems
- 1. Homeostasis and Temperature Regulation in Humans
- 2. Homeostasis of Glucose Levels: Hormonal Control and Diabetes
- 3. Functions of the Nervous System
- 4. The Structure and Function of Neurons
- 5. The Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems
- 6. The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
- 7. Brain Structures and Functions Part I
- 8. The Cerebral Cortex: Brain Structures and Functions Part II
- 9. Innate Immunity: Inflammation, Neutrophils & Natural Killer Cells
- 10. Acquired Immunity: T Cells, B Cells and Antibodies
- 11. Antibiotics and Vaccines
- 12. Flu Viruses, HIV and Immune System Evasion
- 13. Pathogens: Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence
Animal Reproduction and Development
Overview of Animal Reproduction and Development
All Videos in Animal Reproduction and Development
- 1. Overview of Animal Reproduction and Development
- 2. Spermatogenesis: How the Male Reproductive System Produces Sperm
- 3. Oogenesis: How the Female Reproductive System Produces Eggs
- 4. Early Embryonic Development: The Morula and Blastula
- 5. Embryo Implantation and Placenta Formation
- 6. The Placenta and the Fetus: Structure and Function
- 7. Amniotic Fluid, The Amnion, and the Yolk Sac
- 8. Gastrulation and the 3 Germ Layers (Ectoderm, Endoderm & Mesoderm)
- 9. Spemann's Organizer: Controller of Cell Fate
- 10. Concentration Gradients, Signaling Molecules & Inhibitors in Development
- 11. How Signaling Molecules Control Differentiation
- 12. How Fate Mapping Is Used to Track Cell Development
Genetics: Principles of Heredity
Overview of Genetics
All Videos in Genetics: Principles of Heredity
- 1. Overview of Genetics
- 2. Properties of Alleles
- 3. Mendel's First Law: The Law of Segregation
- 4. Application of Mendel's First Law
- 5. Mendel's Second Law: The Law of Independent Assortment
- 6. Application of Mendel's Second Law
- 7. Exceptions to Simple Dominance: Codominance and Incomplete Dominance
- 8. Exceptions to Independent Assortment: Sex Linked and Sex Limited Traits
- 9. Chromosomal Linkage and Crossing Over
- 10. Human Genetics and Model Organisms
Principles of Ecology
The Environment, Levels of Ecology and Ecosystems
All Videos in Principles of Ecology
- 1. The Environment, Levels of Ecology and Ecosystems
- 2. Ecosystems, Habitats and Ecological Niches
- 3. Food Chains, Trophic Levels and Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
- 4. Interspecific Competition, Competitive Exclusion & Niche Differentiation
- 5. Predator/Prey Interactions, Camouflage, Mimicry & Warning Coloration
- 6. Symbiotic Relationships: Mutualism, Commensalism & Parasitism
- 7. Populations: Density, Survivorship and Life Histories
- 8. Carrying Capacity, Migration and Dispersion
- 9. Dispersal, Colonization, and Island Biogeography
- 10. Conservation Biology, Habitat Fragmentation, and Metapopulations
- 11. Ecological Succession: From Pioneer to Climax Communities
- 12. How Introduced and Invasive Species Alter Ecological Balance
- 13. Biomes: Desert, Tropical Rainforest, Savanna, Coral Reefs & More
- 14. Biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Temperate Grassland, and Coastlines
- 15. Biogeochemical Cycling and the Phosphorus Cycle
- 16. The Nitrogen Cycle, Acid Rain and Fossil Fuels
- 17. The Carbon Cycle and Long-Term Carbon Storage
- 18. Fossil Fuels, Greenhouse Gases, and Global Warming
Principles of Evolution
Theory of Evolution
All Videos in Principles of Evolution
- 1. Theory of Evolution
- 2. Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium I: Overview
- 3. Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium II: The Equation
- 4. Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium III: Evolutionary Agents
- 5. Natural Selection and Adaptation
- 6. Types of Natural Selection
- 7. Speciation I: Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation
- 8. Speciation II: Prezygotic Barriers
- 9. Speciation III: Postzygotic Barriers
The Origin and History of Life On Earth
The Origin of Life on Earth: Theories and Explanations
All Videos in The Origin and History of Life On Earth
Phylogeny and the Classification of Organisms
Taxonomy: Classification and Naming of Living Things
All Videos in Phylogeny and the Classification of Organisms
- 1. Taxonomy: Classification and Naming of Living Things
- 2. The Evolution of Prokaryotes: Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
- 3. The Evolution of Protists: Importance & Evolutionary History
- 4. The Evolution of Plants and Fungi: Characteristics & Evolutionary History
- 5. The Evolution of Humans: Characteristics & Evolutionary History
Social Biology
Innate Behavior: Reflexes, Kineses and Taxes
All Videos in Social Biology
- 1. Innate Behavior: Reflexes, Kineses and Taxes
- 2. Learned Behavior: Imprinting, Habituation and Conditioning
- 3. Social Behavior: The Cost-Benefit of Altruism and Kin Selection
- 4. Social Systems vs. Individual Fitness: The Queen/Worker Relationship
- 5. The Theory of Demographic Transition: Overview
- 6. Carrying Capacity of a Population: Effect of Biomedical Progress
Basic Molecular Biology Laboratory Techniques
What is Genetic Engineering? - Definition and Examples
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- 1. What is Genetic Engineering? - Definition and Examples
- 2. What is a DNA Plasmid? - Importance to Genetic Engineering
- 3. Restriction Enzymes: Function and Definition
- 4. How Ligase is Used to Engineer Recombinant DNA
- 5. What is Agarose Gel Electrophoresis?
- 6. Ethidium Bromide, Loading Buffer & DNA Ladder: Visualizing DNA and Determining its Size
- 7. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Equipment & Procedure
- 8. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Results Analysis
- 9. Bacterial Transformation: Definition, Process and Genetic Engineering of E. coli
- 10. Bacterial Transformation: Antibiotic Selection and Positive & Negative Controls
- 11. PCR: Reagents Used in Polymerase Chain Reaction
- 12. PCR: Steps Involved in Polymerase Chain Reaction
- 13. The Sanger Method of DNA Sequencing
Interpreting Tables of Scientific Data: Practice Problems
About This Course
Biology 101 takes the mystery out of topics like genetics, organic chemistry, and cellular biology. Dr. Greg Chin, Dr. Meg Desko, and Danielle Weber take you through these major concepts of biology ten minutes at a time, using stories, animation and even flying hamsters to make the lessons fun and interesting.
If you're interested in learning how the human body works, Dr. Josh Anderson has the information you need. Whether you need to understand the brain, the heart or the digestive system, there's a lesson that has the information you need.
These lessons can be viewed as many times and in any order that works for you. You can also take our free quizzes after each lesson to see how much you've learned!
Here's what biology instructors have to say about this course:
- Your intro biology units are terrific! Such information density presented with such clarity - very impressive indeed.
- I personally think it is great for the students.
Get started with Biology 101 today!
How to Earn Real College Credit You Can Transfer
Biology 101: Introduction to Biology prepares you to earn college credit by taking the College Board's Biology CLEP exam. Watch our free videos to learn about genetics, physiology, inorganic chemistry and more. For more details about earning credit, click here.
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Education Portal Instructors
Education Portal's 53 instructors bring a diverse array of experience and expertise to each course. From teaching philosophy in Athens, Greece, to exploring the mystery of genetics, each instructor is uniquely qualified to bring students the best online learning experience possible. Meet them now!
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Jessica Bayliss, M.S.
Jessica is our Director of Education and leads the development of Education Portal's free courses. She has 10 years of experience in education and online teaching. Her work with students of all age levels drives
her belief in the power of free online resources to make higher education more affordable and efficient. Jessica's favorite part of the day is
reading feedback from Education Portal's students. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in
instructional technology from Texas A&M - Kingsville.
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Greg Chin, Ph.D.
Greg has taught genetics, molecular biology, and general biology to
high school, collegiate, and post-graduate students at Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, Santa Clara
University and the Dolan DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He has also taught science workshops for the general
public and led biology teacher enrichment workshops throughout the U.S. He received a B.S. in Genetics from the University of
California, Davis, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Find out how your genes work in Greg's introduction to genetics video lesson!
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Max Pfingsten, M.Ed.
Max has taught classics, history and philosophy
at a variety of levels at the Dikemes Academy in Athens, the Boulder Valley School District, University of Colorado at Boulder and
the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). His work is noteworthy for its synthesis of technology and simulation with more
traditional teaching approaches. He received a B.A. in Classics from Depauw University, a M.A. in Classics from University of
Colorado at Boulder, and a M.Ed. from Jones International University. See Socrates come to life in Max's lesson on the life, death,
and philosophy of the great Socrates.
- Meet all 53 of our instructors
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