Course Description:

This course is an essential step for those accepted into the Health Informatics and Bioinformatics Graduate Program, providing the foundational knowledge you’ll need to succeed in your advanced studies and future career.

This course is designed to familiarize you with key human biology concepts, such as cellular structure and function, genetics, molecular biology, and the organization of body systems. These topics are vital for understanding the biological context behind the computational tools and health data you’ll encounter in health informatics and bioinformatics.

This online course is delivered asynchronously, allowing you to learn at your own pace while maintaining the same level of academic rigor as an on-campus course. While the flexibility of online learning is a benefit, success in this course will require commitment, organization, and self-discipline.

Instructor: Dr. Suhila Sawesi, Ph.D., MPharm, BPharm

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will:

• Understand the basic principles of biology as they apply to human health.
• Learn the organization of the human body from the cellular to the systemic level.
• Gain insights into essential biological processes, including genetic mechanisms and cellular functions.
• Build a strong foundation for interpreting health-related data in future coursework.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Explain the hierarchical organization of the human body from cells to organ systems.
2. Describe the basic chemical principles and macromolecules essential to life.
3. Understand the structure and function of cells, including major organelles and cellular communication.
4. Summarize the key processes of DNA replication, transcription, and translation.
5. Identify the principles of inheritance, genetic variation, and their role in human health and disease.
6. Recognize the role of epigenetics in regulating gene expression and its impact on health.
7. Describe the fundamental methods used to study and analyze biological molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Optional Textbook

1. Campbell Biology (11th Edition) by Lisa A. Urry et al.
   • Comprehensive coverage of foundational biology concepts.
   • Citation: Urry, L. A., Cain, M. L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P. V., & Reece, J. B. (2017). Campbell biology (11th ed.). Pearson.
2. Essential Cell Biology (5th Edition) by Bruce Alberts et al
   • Focused on cell biology and molecular biology.
   • Citation: Alberts, B., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A. D., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2019). Essential cell biology (5th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.

***This course is a one-month cohort. Registration ends on Thursday, March 6, and the course starts on Monday, March 10. All course material including the final exam must be turned in by April 7.

Please note that you will receive your continuing education Blackboard account credentials no less than two business days prior to the start date of this course.

For assistance registering for the course or issues logging in to Blackboard, please contact our front desk by emailing learn@gvsu.edu. For questions regarding the content of the course, please contact Johanna Swanson, Graduate Programs Coordinator: swansjoh@gvsu.edu.

Students may cancel their registration up to the day the course starts by contacting our office at learn@gvsu.edu.

To view our complete policies, please visit: www.gvsu.edu/learn/policies