UT Austin BIO 311D: Introductory Biology II
BIO 311D is the second course in UT's introductory biology sequence — genetics and inheritance, evolution, and ecology — completing the foundation BIO 311C began for biology majors and UT's large pre-health population.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with The University of Texas at Austin. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my BIO 311D study planWhat makes it hard
The course pivots from 311C's molecular memorization toward problem-solving and population-level reasoning: genetics crosses are math problems wearing biology vocabulary, and evolution questions test whether you can apply selection logic to scenarios, not recite definitions. Students who carry over a pure-memorization strategy find the exam questions strangely unanswerable.
What you'll cover
- • Mendelian genetics and inheritance
- • Chromosomes and linkage
- • Population genetics
- • Evolution and natural selection
- • Speciation and phylogenetics
- • Ecology and population dynamics
The BIO 311D study guide
How to study for UT Austin BIO 311D, step by step.
- 1
Treat genetics as problem-solving, not recall
BIO 311D's genetics questions are quantitative — crosses, ratios, pedigrees, linkage. Work problems until the setups are automatic, the way you'd study for a math course.
- 2
Apply selection logic to scenarios
Evolution questions present situations and ask what follows. Practice running the logic — variation, heritability, differential success — on cases you haven't seen.
- 3
Do pedigree and probability drills weekly
Inheritance-pattern questions reward fast, accurate probability reasoning, and that speed only comes from repetition.
- 4
Keep the vocabulary layer current with flashcards
There's still real terminology across ecology and phylogenetics. Daily short passes hold it so exam prep can focus on the problem-solving.
- 5
Split the work with Fennie
Upload your BIO 311D lecture notes and Fennie's Daily Plan schedules genetics problem practice alongside spaced concept review, auto-generating problem-style quizzes and flashcards from the actual content. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with BIO 311D
Fennie's Daily Plans split BIO 311D's two demands — daily genetics problem practice and spaced review of evolution and ecology concepts — so neither gets crowded out. Chat through any cross or pedigree you set up wrong, and drill generated scenario questions since the exams test application over recall.
FAQ
Is BIO 311D harder than BIO 311C?
Different — 311C is volume and molecular precision; 311D is problem-solving, especially in genetics. Students comfortable with quantitative reasoning often prefer 311D; students who thrived on memorization have to change methods.
Is BIO 311D required for pre-med at UT?
Yes — 311C and 311D together form the introductory biology foundation pre-health tracks require, and the genetics and evolution content maps directly onto the MCAT.
How do I study for BIO 311D exams?
Work genetics problems like math homework — crosses, pedigrees, linkage — until setups are automatic, and practice applying selection logic to unfamiliar scenarios. Flashcards handle the vocabulary; problems produce the grade.
Pass BIO 311D with a plan, not a cram
Upload your BIO 311D materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
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BIO 311C — Introductory Biology I
BIO 311C is UT's first majors biology course, covering biochemistry foundations, cell structure, energy metabolism, and molecular genetics. It's the gateway for biology majors and UT's very large pre-health population, with exams that test molecular detail at depth.
BIO 325 — Genetics
BIO 325 is UT's core genetics course — transmission genetics, molecular genetics, gene regulation, and genomic analysis — required for biology majors and a fixture of pre-health degree plans after the introductory sequence.