COURSE TITLE: BIOLOGY
COURSE CODE: BIO111
INTRODUCTION
The course is designed to provide the students with knowledge and understanding of complex forms
involving humans, animals and plants. The course will also help students to understand the interaction
between humanity and the world as it relates to environmental health.
COURSE AIM: To provide students with a basic conceptual framework and logical structure to
understand biological phenomena as related to environmental health.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe evolutionary hypotheses of life and the biomolecules.
2. Explain the physico-chemical foundations of life
3. Explain the basic structure and functions of biomolecules.
4. Describe the structure and functions of cell components.
5. Classify the different life forms.
COURSE COMPETENCES:
1. Illustrate the dumbbell and hour glass theories.
2. State the rationale of RNA preceding both DNA and Protein
3. Elucidate functions nucleic acids.
4. Identify the biomolecules using their structures
5. Classify amino acids 6. Relate structure of biomolecules to function.
7. Illustrate protein biosynthesis.
8. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, plant and animals.
9. Explain the fluid mosaic model of membranes.
10. Relate cell ultrastructure to cell function.
11. Use a microscope.
12. Calculate magnification.
13. Classify organisms.
14. Differentiate closely related organisms.
15. Construct a simple classification key.
COURSE CONTENT: UNIT 1: EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF BIOMOLECULES AND THE
CELL
1.1 Hour glass and dumbbell theories.
1.2 Evidence of RNA rich primitive earth conditions.
UNIT 2: PHYSICO-CHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE
2.1 Biophysics
2.1.1 Hydrogen ion concentration-pH
2.1.2 Buffers 2.1.3 Osmosis and osmotic pressure.
2.1.4 Gibbs Domain equilibrium.
2.1.5 Colloids 2.1.6 Surface tension.
2.1.7 Absorption 2.1.8 Viscosity.
UNIT 3: BIOMOLECULES
3.1 Carbohydrates
3.1.1 Definition
3.1.2 Classification and general structure of carbohydrates: monosaccharaides, oligosaccharides and
polysaccharides
3.1.3 Functions
3.2 Lipids
3.2.1 Definition
3.2.2 Classification and general structure of lipids (fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, sphingolipids
and ketone bodies)
3.2.3 Function
3.3 Protein structure and function
3.3.1 General structure of amino acids
3.3.2 Classification of amino acids.
3.3.3 Functions of amino acids.
3.3.4 Proteins 3.3.5 Classification of proteins (simple, conjugated and derived)
3.3.6 Four level of protein architecture
3.4 Nucleic acids
3.4.1 Introduction.
3.4.2 Bases: pyrimidines and purines.
3.4.3 Sugars (pentose sugars: ribose and deoxyribose)
3.4.4 Deoxyribose nucleic acids (DNA) and ribose nucleic acids
3.4.5 Biologically important nucleotides (NAD, ATP).
3.5 Protein biosynthesis
3.5.1 Central dogma of molecular biology.
3.5.2 General characteristics of the genetic code
3.5.3 Salient features of the four steps of protein biosynthesis.
3.5.4 Post-translational modification.
UNIT 4: CELL ORGANISATION, SUBCELLULAR STRUCTURE AND CELL DIVISION
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 Cell theory
4.1.2 Cell types: prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
4.1.3 Cell size and shape
4.2 Mycoplasmas, rickettsia, Viruses and prions.
4.3 Generalized prokaryotic cell
4.4 Eukaryotic cell organization:
4.4.1 Plasma membranes
4.4.2 Cytosol, cytoplasmic matrix and cytoplasmic inclusion.
4.4.3 Structure and function of the organelles: nucleus; endoplasmic reticulum.; mitochondrion; Golgi
bodies; ribosomes; plastids; vacuoles; cell division; cell cycle; and mitosis and meiosis.
UNIT 5: DIVERSITY OF LIFE FORMS.
5.1 Hierarchical organization of life.
5.2 Classification of organisms
5.2.1 Levels of grouping organisms
5.2.2 Domains
5.2.2.1 Kingdoms
5.2.2.1.1 Difference between taxonomy and classification.
5.2.2.1.2 Nomenclature of the major animal and plant groups
TRAINING METHODS
1. Lectures.
2. Group work
3. Practicals
4. Demonstrations