UCLA LS 7B: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology
LS 7B is the second course in UCLA's Life Sciences core, covering Mendelian and population genetics, the mechanisms of evolution by natural selection, and population, behavioral, and community ecology. Like the rest of the 7-series it's taught flipped-classroom, with pre-class videos feeding in-class active learning.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with UCLA. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my LS 7B study planWhat makes it hard
The genetics and population-genetics material is quantitative in a way LS 7A wasn't — Hardy-Weinberg and inheritance problems require setup and calculation, not just recall. The flipped format still front-loads the work, and exams emphasize applying concepts to novel scenarios and data, blindsiding students who only memorized the videos.
What you'll cover
- • Mendelian inheritance and genetic crosses
- • Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg
- • Mechanisms of evolution and natural selection
- • Speciation and phylogenetics
- • Population and community ecology
- • Experimental design and data interpretation
The LS 7B study guide
How to study for UCLA LS 7B, step by step.
- 1
Never skip the pre-class videos
LS 7B's flipped format front-loads the work: arrive unprepared and the in-class active-learning sessions become useless. Watch the videos and finish the pre-class assignments before every session.
- 2
Drill genetics problems until setup is automatic
Crosses and Hardy-Weinberg problems are the quantitative core, and they reward a fixed setup routine. Work them daily once the unit starts so calculation never eats your exam time.
- 3
Study from the learning objectives
Exam questions map to the published objectives. Turn each into a question you can answer from memory and you've effectively built the exam blueprint.
- 4
Practice applying concepts to new data
Exams present unfamiliar scenarios and datasets, so memorizing the videos isn't enough. For each mechanism, ask what data would test it and what pattern you'd predict — that's the question format.
- 5
Run the flipped classroom on Fennie
Upload the LS 7B schedule and Fennie's Daily Plans put pre-class videos, genetics practice, and learning-objective review on a daily cadence, auto-generating problem sets and scenario quizzes from your actual course materials. Free to start.
Start my LS 7B plan free
How Fennie helps with LS 7B
Fennie's Daily Plans schedule the LS 7B pre-class videos, genetics problem practice, and learning-objective review on a daily cadence — the flipped classroom rewards exactly that steady preparation. Auto-generate genetics and Hardy-Weinberg problem sets, then use chat to practice applying evolutionary and ecological concepts to new data, the format exams use.
FAQ
Is LS 7B hard at UCLA?
It adds a quantitative layer LS 7A lacked — genetics and Hardy-Weinberg problems require setup and calculation — on top of the flipped format's front-loaded work and scenario-based exams. Students who do the pre-class work and drill genetics problems consistently do well.
How should I study for LS 7B exams?
Drill genetics and population-genetics problems until your setup routine is automatic, study from the learning objectives, and practice applying evolution and ecology concepts to unfamiliar data. Memorization alone underperforms against the scenario-based exam style.
What comes after LS 7B?
LS 7C (physiology and human biology) completes UCLA's Life Sciences core sequence, followed by upper-division coursework in your specific major. LS 7B's genetics foundation feeds directly into later molecular and physiology courses.
Pass LS 7B with a plan, not a cram
Upload your LS 7B materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
Get started freeMore UCLA courses
LS 7A — Cell and Molecular Biology
LS 7A is the first course in UCLA's Life Sciences core, covering cell structure, energy and metabolism, the central dogma, and cell signaling. It's the gateway for every life-science major and the pre-med masses, taught flipped-classroom style with pre-class videos and in-class active learning.
LS 7C — Physiology and Human Biology
LS 7C is the final course in UCLA's Life Sciences core, covering the organization of cells into tissues and organs and the physiology of the major organ systems, with an introduction to human genetics and genomics. It completes the 7-series and is the bridge to upper-division physiology and pre-health coursework.