It is an exciting time to study biology. Every week major changes occur in the the field of biology. The frontiers of medicine is unraveling the mysteries of the genome. The human genome was recently sequenced. The consequences for the field of medicine are enormous. At the same time our planet is burdening under the strong environmental pressures of the growing human population as well as the enormous use of resources. Many other species depends on the policies and priorities of the human species.  This nonmajors course will give you a foundation in the major principles of biology. The course will survey the diversity of life, the biology of cells, the structure and function of genes and the principles of heredity, evolution, the function of selected systems in organisms as well as ecological concepts and environmental biology.