As everyone else has pointed out: material is extremely straightforward, and the amount on each of the 4 non-cumulative exams is in no way anything to complain about. I didn't read the book, but going back to the book and reading the caption on the figures/graphs/experiments cited in lectures is worth it -- it gives a clear and concise takeaway for when it's not clear in class (frequently the case). I highly recommend going to office hours and the optional discussion (and attempting those review questions beforehand!), just so you can learn how the TA/professor thinks: the key to success in this class. Material is easy, but the exam averages are consistently in the 70s because there's more than one "true" answer but only one "correct" answer. Examples will be presented in class that contradict the answers on exams because you weren't thinking of the right takeaway from the examples, and those less important takeaways are presented as answer choices on questions asking you to apply the course content in novel ways. Go to office hours.

This class is not a good one. The material is very interesting and I genuinely liked nearly all the topics we covered. However, the test questions are terrible. They test more of whether or not you can think like the professor/TA than whether or not you actually understand the material. I studied quite a bit for the exams and still found myself struggling to do well on the tests. The textbooks are helpful in understanding all the concepts, but they still did not prepare me for their test questions. Honestly not entirely sure how I could have done better in this class. Good luck if you have to take this for the Bio major!

Not a bad class! The course material is not difficult, but the exams are tricky because they test really nuanced concepts and the questions often have typos, punctuation errors, etc. Definitely go to discussion and office hours; it will save you

As others have said, the content of this course is fairly easy. None of the concepts are very hard or difficult to grasp, so you likely won't need much outside help. The both textbooks are both. Both lecturers take all their examples and info from the book and incorporate it into their slides. Both are nice people who seem very approachable. The problem are the tests. The questions are worded so poorly that multiple answers are possible based on different interpretations. There isn't really a curve. The grades are based on 4 exams of equal weight. I studied quite a bit for this class, and the exam grades still felt random because of the variability in interpreting the question the way the professor intended. You will understand when you go to discussion and review the homework questions. Slides and textbook are both useful. You can probably get away without studying the textbook, but it's valuable to get a more complete understanding of the material.

This course is described to be one of the easier biology core courses between this, genetics, and cell bio. However, although the material may be less challenging, the tests are extremely difficult regardless. You could study for hours and know the powerpoints and essentially be able to teach the class and do poorly on the exams just because of the wording of the questions and the fact that you cannot read the professor's mind.

This class is pretty cut and dry. It is taught in two parts--half by Prof. Galloway and the other half by Prof. Roach. Both are enthusiastic professors but neither is a very clear lecturer. In addition, the exams are SOOOOOO ambiguous. Questions are confusingly worded, often with typos, and you will probably get more wrong for not understanding what they're "getting at" then for not knowing the material. Overall though, the course is not too difficult and with pretty consistent effort and class attendance you can get a B or above.

I'm not sure why everyone says not to buy the textbooks. All of the slides in this class come directly from the texts for this course, including 95% of figures on the slides. The textbooks are easy to understand and present the material more completely and with more fluidity than the lecture provides. Just follow the slides and study the corresponding book information and then complete the practice problems posted online. You'll be set.

You do not need the textbook for this class. Just go to class, understand the concepts, and know everything that comes out the professor's mouth. Every...single...little..thing...and you will do fine.

This class is super boring if you're not into evolution and ecology, but it's required for the major. If you go to class, pay attention during lecture, do the practice questions, and study it's pretty easy to do well. You don't need the books at all if you go to lecture and take notes.

Reading is not important - you don't even need to buy the textbook. You just have to go to every single class!