Sophia Learning

SCIE1021: Human Biology Lab (ACE recommends

1 credit)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Sophia’s science lab courses are designed to be used with the accompanying lecture course, creating a robust
investigation and journey into the natural sciences. It’s recommended that you complete this Human Biology
Lab course simultaneously with Human Biology, so you fully experience the application and real-world
relevance of the subject.

Important!
Please plan ahead. While you can take as many Sophia courses as you’d like each month with
your membership, you are only allowed to be active in two courses at a time. Taking this lab
course along with the Human Biology lecture will occupy your two-course limit.
This course requires a reliable internet connection and a laptop or desktop computer that meets
minimum specifications.

In this lab course, you’ll apply the scientific method, explore phenomena, and exercise critical thinking skills
using virtual lab simulations from Labster, a leader in interactive science. All labs are performed online without
any need for specialized science equipment. This lab course reinforces topics from the lecture course such as
the molecular and cellular basis of life, genetics, organ system structure and function, and the impact of
pathological conditions on human health. To meet the lab requirement, you’ll be expected to write lab reports
and answer formative quiz questions as you advance through the course.

COURSE EFFECTIVE DATES: May 2025–Present

PREREQUISITES: No prerequisites are required, but it's recommended that you complete this Human Biology
Lab course simultaneously with the Human Biology lecture course. A course in college algebra is a
recommended prerequisite for Human Biology Lab but not a strict requirement. Students should be familiar with
evaluating algebraic expressions, operations with fractions and decimals, unit conversions, scientific notation,
and properties of exponents.

© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 1
 LENGTH OF COURSE: This is a self-paced course. Students may use as much or as little time as needed to
complete the course.

ACE LEARNING EVALUATIONS RECOMMENDATION: In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree

category, 1 semester hour in Introduction to Human Biology Laboratory (SOPH-0067)

GRADING: This is a pass/fail course. Students must complete 14 Labster simulations with embedded formative
quiz questions and 2 Touchstones (project-based or written assessments) with an overall score of 70% or better.

Activities Points Possible

Activity 2.1: Lab Safety 100

Activity 2.2: Cell Membrane and Transport: How Transporters Keep Cells
100
Healthy

Activity 2.3: Building Animal Cells 100

Activity 3.1: Skeletal Muscle Movement: Build your own muscle system 100

Activity 3.2: Muscle tissues: An overview 100

Activity 4.1: Gross Function of the Nervous System: Let your brain learn about
100
itself

Activity 4.2: Sensory transduction: Learn why you feel pain when you get hit
100
by a rock

Activity 5.1: Hematology: Introduction to Blood 100

Activity 5.2: Introduction to Immunology: Organs and cells of the immune

100
system

Activity 6.1: Cardio-respiratory Physiology: How can seals dive so deep for so
100
long?

Activity 6.2: Absorption In the Small and Large Intestines: Journey from the
100
stomach to the bloodstream

Activity 7.1: Exploring Human Reproductive Cells 100

Activity 7.2: DNA: Structure and Function 100

Activity 7.3: Mendelian Inheritance: From genes to traits 100

Total 1400

Touchstones Points Possible

Touchstone 4: Lab Report - Sensory transduction: Learn why you feel pain
350
when you get hit by a rock

Touchstone 5: Lab Report - Hematology: Introduction to Blood 350

© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 2
 Total 700

Grand Total 2100

Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you refine skills, and
demonstrate application of knowledge. Read further for information on the Touchstones in this course:

Touchstone 4: Lab Report - Sensory transduction: Learn why you feel pain when you get hit by a rock
(350 points): Complete a Lab Report based on the Sensory transduction: Learn why you feel pain when you
get hit by a rock lab simulation in Unit 4, describing the hypothesis, steps, and conclusions you drew from
the lab experience.
Touchstone 5: Lab Report - Hematology: Introduction to Blood (350 points): Complete a Lab Report based
on the Hematology: Introduction to Blood lab simulation in Unit 5, describing the hypothesis, steps, and
conclusions you drew from the lab experience.

For more general information on assessments, please visit the Student Guide located on your course
dashboard.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: The simulations in this course are accessible online and require memory
on your computer. You will need a reliable internet connection and a laptop or desktop that meets minimum
specifications. Please visit Check Your Device for a list of the minimum computer specifications. Important:
While a Labster app is available on the App Store, the app is not compatible for use with this course.

TIPS FOR ACCESSING LABSTER: Visit the Labster Help Center to read about topics such as getting started,
troubleshooting, working in accessibility mode, and understanding your score. The following sections in the
help center will be most useful to you:

Access to Labster
Simulation Issues & Tips
Check Your Device (mentioned earlier)
Contact Our Support Team

CONTACT LABSTER SUPPORT: Still having trouble? For live assistance with the virtual simulations, contact
Labster Support to chat online with a Labster representative.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Understand the scientific method, microscopy, and lab reports.

2. Demonstrate laboratory safety, measurements, and knowledge of the basic structure and function of
human life.
3. Recognize the structures responsible for support, protection, and movement in the human body.
4. Characterize the role of the nervous system and senses within the human body.

© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 3
 5. Articulate the correlations between the fluids of the body and their role in transport of nutrients, proteins
and cells.
6. Analyze the respiratory and digestive system and their role in energy and maintenance of the human body.
7. Evaluate the process of human development, nucleotide base pairing, and trait inheritance to predict
variation among offspring.

COURSE COMPETENCIES AND TOPICS

Unit Competencies Major Topics

1. Introduction to Understand the steps to getting started with The Scientific Method and
Human Biology Lab science labs, including accessing Labster the Nature of Scientific
simulations, technical requirements, and where Inquiry
to get help. Microscopy
Describe the importance and nature of scientific Lab Reporting
inquiry.
Identify the steps of the scientific method in a
given scenario.
Describe the history of the microscope,
distinguishing features of a brightfield
microscope, and typical uses of different types
of microscopes.
Identify the connections between hypothesis,
results, and concepts using evidence.

2. Basic Human Correctly use the lab safety equipment and Lab Safety
Biology Concepts react in an emergency situation. Cell Membrane and
Differentiate between intracellular and Transport
extracellular components forming eukaryotic Building Animal Cells
cells.
Differentiate between intracellular and
extracellular components forming eukaryotic
cells.

3. Support and Apply skeletal muscle types to form a functional Skeletal Muscle Movement
Movement muscle group. Muscle Tissues
Analyze the basic makeup and behavior of
muscles.

4. Regulation, Compare the structure and function of the Gross Function of the
Integration, and central and peripheral nervous systems. Nervous System

© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 4
 Control Understand the types of sensory neurons and *Sensory Transduction
their responses to different stimuli to determine
which anesthetic drugs should be administered
to an injured individual.

5. Fluids and Transport Prepare peripheral blood smears and analyze Hematology
for pathological conditions. Immunology
Identify the major organs of the immune system.

6. Energy, Evaluate respiratory and cardiovascular function. Cardio-respiratory

Maintenance, and Analyze nutrient absorption in the small and Physiology
Environmental large intestines. Absorption in the Small
Exchange Identify the primary and accessory sex organs and Large Intestines
and their functions.

7. Human Use a microscope to identify sperm and ova Human Reproductive Cells
Development and the based on structural characteristics. DNA Structure and
Continuity of Life Produce matching DNA visual representations Function
that reflect base paring rules and nucleotide Mendelian Inheritance
structure.
Analyze how traits are passed on from parents
to their offspring and variation between siblings.

CONTENT ALIGNMENT BETWEEN LAB AND LECTURE

In Sophia’s science lab courses, you will engage in real-world lab scenarios called Activities. In each Activity,
you will find the learning objectives and estimated time needed to finish the simulation.

You will also see links to relevant tutorials from the lecture course to reinforce the relationship between theory
and skills. Look for the sections marked “Make The Connection” at the beginning of each lab activity.

 MAKE THE CONNECTION

© 2025 SOPHIA Learning, LLC. SOPHIA is a registered trademark of SOPHIA Learning, LLC. Page 5