Virginia Tech BIOL 1105: Principles of Biology
BIOL 1105 is the first half of Virginia Tech's majors biology sequence, covering cell biology, energetics, genetics, and molecular biology. It's taken by biology majors and pre-health students, usually alongside the separate 1115 lab, with BIOL 1106 completing the year.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with Virginia Tech. This is an unofficial study guide.
What makes it hard
The volume is the workload: dense molecular detail at a pace that buries crammers, with exams mixing recall and application questions that high-school biology habits can't answer. The genetics and molecular units demand working through problems, not rereading, a study-style shift many freshmen make one exam too late.
What you'll cover
- • Cell structure and function
- • Energy and metabolism
- • Cell division
- • Genetics and inheritance
- • DNA and gene expression
- • Intro molecular biology
The BIOL 1105 study guide
How to study for Virginia Tech BIOL 1105, step by step.
- 1
Learn processes as causal chains
BIOL 1105 exams ask what happens if a step fails, not just what the step is called. For metabolism, division, and expression, study the why and the what-if alongside the vocabulary.
- 2
Do genetics as problems, not notes
Crosses, pedigrees, and probability questions are worked skills. Practice predicting outcomes from scratch. Rereading worked examples builds recognition, and exams test production.
- 3
Grow the flashcard deck continuously
The vocabulary volume stays manageable only if captured weekly. Short daily review of a continuously growing deck beats every cramming strategy at this material density.
- 4
Keep the 1115 lab on its own track
Lab deadlines run parallel all semester. Handle pre-labs and reports near the session so they never compete with exam weeks for the same nights.
Today
Today's BIOL 1105 plan
What a Fennie Daily Plan looks like for BIOL 1105. Yours is built from your own syllabus and adapts every day to your deadlines and progress.
First plan free, no card required. Fennie is independent and unaffiliated with your school.
FAQ
Is BIOL 1105 at Virginia Tech hard?
It's demanding through volume and pace: dense molecular material with exams mixing recall and application. Students who do genetics as worked problems and review on a spaced schedule handle it; crammers visibly don't.
What's the difference between BIOL 1105 and 1106?
1105 covers the cellular and molecular half: cells, energetics, genetics, gene expression. 1106 continues into evolution, biodiversity, physiology, and ecology. Together with the labs they form the majors' first-year sequence.
How do I study for BIOL 1105 exams?
Study processes as causal chains and practice what-if questions, work genetics problems from scratch rather than rereading, and review with a continuously growing flashcard deck in short daily sessions.
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