Study Saturday: Conquering General Biology I

General Biology I is the course that introduces the molecular and cellular foundations of life. For DPT applicants, it is a required prerequisite at nearly every program and the starting point for understanding how organisms function at the most basic level. The material can feel abstract at first, but strong performance here signals to admissions committees that you can handle graduate-level science coursework.

What You Will Cover

A standard Gen Bio I course typically includes:

• Chemistry of life: atoms, bonds, water properties, organic molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids), enzymes
• Cell structure and function: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells, organelles, the endomembrane system
• Membrane transport: diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis
• Cellular energy: ATP, cellular respiration (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain), photosynthesis, fermentation
• Cell division: the cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, cancer biology
• Genetics: Mendelian inheritance, non-Mendelian patterns (incomplete dominance, codominance, polygenic traits), pedigree analysis
• Molecular biology: DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation, mutations, biotechnology basics (PCR, gel electrophoresis)

The course bridges chemistry and biology, so expect to draw on your chemistry knowledge regularly.

Study Strategies That Work

Draw processes from memory. Biology is built on pathways and cycles. After studying cellular respiration or the cell cycle, close your notes and draw the entire process from start to finish. Then compare against the source to find gaps. Research on retrieval practice shows this is far more effective than re-reading.

Learn vocabulary roots. Many biology terms use Greek and Latin roots. Knowing that "cyto-" means cell, "-lysis" means breakdown, and "endo-" means within lets you decode unfamiliar terms on exams without memorizing every definition individually.

Focus on processes over facts. Gen Bio I exams test your understanding of how things work. Knowing the steps of protein synthesis matters more than memorizing isolated definitions. For each process, ask yourself: What triggers it? What are the inputs and outputs? What would happen if one step failed?

Study the textbook figures. Textbooks like Campbell Biology invest heavily in process diagrams. These figures often appear (modified) on exams. Study them separately from the text.

Use spaced repetition. Review material at increasing intervals rather than cramming before exams. The pattern: review the day after learning, again 3 days later, again at 1 week, and again at 2 weeks. Anki automates this scheduling for you with flashcards.

Interleave topics. Mix subjects within a single study session rather than spending an hour on only one topic. Alternating between cell transport, genetics problems, and metabolic pathways in one sitting improves your ability to discriminate between concepts on exams.

Connect lab to lecture. Lab exercises reinforce concepts with hands-on experience. Make explicit connections between what you observe under the microscope and the processes you study in lecture.

Free Resources

Video lectures:

• Khan Academy Biology covers every Gen Bio I topic with videos, articles, and practice exercises
• Khan Academy AP/College Biology offers more rigorous coverage aligned with college-level expectations
• CrashCourse Biology has 50 short, animated episodes produced in partnership with HHMI BioInteractive

Free textbook:

• OpenStax Biology 2e covers the same scope and sequence as a standard two-semester biology sequence, completely free under a Creative Commons license

Interactive tools:

• BioMan Biology offers free games, virtual labs, and quizzes covering cells, genetics, ecology, and biochemistry
• HHMI BioInteractive provides data analysis activities, virtual labs, and short films on biological concepts
• PhET Simulations from the University of Colorado includes interactive simulations for natural selection, gene expression, and neuron function

Recommended Textbooks

• Campbell Biology (12th edition) by Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky, and Orr (Pearson) is the most widely assigned introductory biology textbook at U.S. colleges. The 11th edition covers nearly identical material at a lower price.
• OpenStax Biology 2e by Clark, Douglas, and Choi is free and peer-reviewed, covering the same scope as Campbell
• Life: The Science of Biology by Sadava, Hillis, Heller, and Hacker is another popular choice for introductory biology sequences
• Essential Cell Biology by Bruce Alberts et al. is a strong supplement if your course has a heavy molecular and cell biology emphasis

Apps Worth Using

• Anki for spaced repetition flashcards. Pre-made biology decks are available on AnkiWeb, and creating your own cards is one of the best study methods available.
• Quizlet has extensive pre-made sets aligned to Campbell Biology chapters, with multiple study modes
• Visible Biology (Visible Body) provides 3D interactive models of cells and biological processes
• BioMan Biology for gamified review of cells, genetics, and biochemistry at no cost

The highest-value free combination: Khan Academy (video explanations) + OpenStax Biology 2e (textbook) + Anki (flashcards) + BioMan Biology (interactive review). This covers reading, visual learning, active recall, and practice at zero cost.

How This Connects to PT School

General Biology I builds the cellular and molecular foundation that every other prerequisite course expands on. Cell membrane transport reappears in physiology. Genetics informs your understanding of inherited conditions you will see in patients. Cellular energy production connects to exercise physiology and how muscles generate ATP during rehabilitation exercises. Admissions committees also use your Gen Bio grade as an early indicator of whether you can handle the pace and rigor of a DPT curriculum.

This is part of our Study Saturday series, where we break down how to succeed in each PT school prerequisite course. For an overview of all prerequisites, see understanding PT school prerequisites.