General Biology Course (BIO101)
Basic Information
1. An introductory course designed primarily for first year
faculty of science students.
2. Title: General Biology : four credit hours (lecture 3 + 1 lab).
Objectives of the course
1. To introduce students into the long-term key concepts in
biology which represent general source for their further
education.
2. Help students to recognize the methods scientists use to
explore natural phenomena and learn to think as scientists.
3. Give students the opportunity to apply what they have
learned by asking their own biological questions and
conducting their own investigations.
Course content
Themes connect the concepts of biology- new properties emerge
at each level in the biological hierarchy- organisms interact with
their environments, exchanging matter and energy - structure and
function are correlated at all levels of biological organization- cells
are the basic units of structure and function of all living organismsthe continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of
DNA - feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life - Scientists use
two main forms of inquiry in their study of nature - The molecule
that supports all of life - Carbon: the backbone of life - The
structure and function of large biological
( carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins , nucleic acids) - A tour of the cell (Eukaryotic and
prokartotic cells, organelles) - Membrane structure and function -
The cell cycle – photosynthesis, The process that feeds the
biosphere - Photosynthesis converts light energy to the chemical
energy of food - cellular respiration - Meiosis and sexual life cycles
- Mendel and the gene idea - The chromosomal basis of
inheritance - The molecular basis of inheritance – Biodiversity
(Phylogeny and the tree of life - Bacteria and arachaea – protists plant diversity – fungi – An introduction to animal diversity –
invertebrates – vertebrates.
Textbook: Biology, 8th ed. (2008) by Campbell, N.A. and Reece,
J.B –Pearson international edition.
1- Introduction: Themes in the study of life
(1.1,1.3) pages: (1-11,18-24) 2 Hours
1- Inquiring about the world of life.
2-Themes connect the concepts of biology: Evolution, the overarching theme of
biology.
3- Theme: new properties emerge at each level in the biological hierarchy:
a- Emergent properties
b- The power and limitations of reductionism
c- (Exploring levels of biological organization – from biosphere to
molecule).
d- Systems biology
4-Theme: organisms interact with their environments, exchanging matter and
energy.
a- Ecosystem dynamics
b- Energy conservation
5- Theme: structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological
organization.
6- Theme: cells are an organism's basic units of structure and function.
7- Theme: the continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA.
a- DNA structure and function.
b- systems biology at the level of cells and molecules.
8- Theme: feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems.
9-Theme: unity and diversity of life.
a- organizing the diversity of life
b- grouping species: the basic idea
c- the three domains of life
d- unity in the diversity of life
Theme: Scientists use two main forms of inquiry in their study of nature.
(discovery science – a case study in scientific inquiry – limitations of science –
theories in science – model building in science – the culture of science – science,
technology, and society).
4- Carbon and Molecular diversity of life
(4.1,4.2,4.3) pages: (58-66)
2 Hours
1.Carbon: the backbone of life.
2. Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms.
3. A small number of chemical groups are key to the functioning of biological
molecules.
a-The chemical groups most important in the processes of life.
b- ATP: an important source of energy for cellular processes.
5- The structure and function of large biological
molecules
(5.1,5.2,5.3,5.4,5.5) pages: (68-89)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
4 Hours
The molecules of life
Macromolecules are polymers built from monomers
Carbohydrates serves as fuel and building material
Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic Molecules
Proteins have many structures resulting in a wide range of functions
Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary information
The DNA double helix.
Midterm Exam: From 3-4-2010 TO 7-4-2010
CHAPTER 6 : A tour of the cell
(6.1,6.7) pages: (94-122)
4 Hours
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The fundamental units of life
To Study Cells biologists use microscopes and the tools of biochemistry
Eukaryotic cells have internal membranes compartmentalize the functions
Exploring animal and plant cells.
Eukaryotic cell's genetic instructions are housed in the nucleus and carried out
by the ribosomes
6. The endomembrane system regulates protein traffic and performs metabolic
functions in the cell.
7. Mitochondria and chloroplasts change energy from one form to another
8. The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers that organizes structures and activities in
the cell (In Brief).
9. Extracellular components and connections between cells help coordinate
activities.
10. Exploring intercellular junctions in animal tissues.
CHAPTER 7 : Membrane structure and function
(7.1,7.5) pages: (125-139)
2 Hours
1.
2.
3.
4.
Life at the edge
Cellular membranes are fluid mosaics of lipids and proteins.
Membrane structures results in selective permeability
Passive transport is diffusion of a substance across a membrane with no energy
investment
5. Active transport uses energy to move solutes against their gradients
6. Bulk transport across the plasma membrane occurs by exocytosis and
endocytosis
CHAPTER 12 : The cell cycle
(12.1,12.2) pages: (228-237)
2 Hours
1. The key roles of cell division
2. Cell Division results in genetically identical daughter cells
3. The mitotic phase alternates with interphase in the cell cycle
CHAPTER 13 : Meiosis and sexual life cycles
(13.1,13.2,13.3,13.4) pages: 248-260
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
2 Hours
Variation on a theme
Offspring acquire genes from parents by inheriting chromosomes
Fertilization and meiosis alternate in sexual life cycles
The variety of sexual life cycles
Meiosis reduces the number of chromosomes sets from diploid to haploid
Genetic variation produced in sexual life cycles contributes to evolution
CHAPTER 14: Mendel and the gene idea
(14.1,14.2,14.3,14.4) pages: (262-282)
3 Hours
1. Drawing from the deck of genes
2. Mendel used the scientific approach to identify two laws of inheritance(the law of
segregation and the law of independent assortment).
3. The laws of probability govern Mendelian inheritance
4. Inheritance patterns are often more complex than predicted by simple Mendelian
genetics
5. Many human traits follow Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
CHAPTER 15: The chromosomal basis of inheritance
(15.1,15.4) pages: (286-289)
2Hours
1. Locating genes along chromosomes
2. Mendelian inheritance has its physical basis in the behavior of chromosomes
UNIT 2 : CHAPTER 16: The molecular basis of
inheritance
(16.1,16.2,16.3) pages: (305-323)
1.
2.
3.
4.
3 Hours
Life's operating instructions
DNA is the genetic material
Many proteins work together in DNA replication and repair
A chromosome consists of a DNA molecule packed together with proteins
CHAPTER 32: an introduction to animal diversity
(32.1,32.4) page (654-655,661-662)
1Hour
1-Welcome to our kingdom
2-Animals are multicellular,heterotrophic eukaryotes with tissues that develop from
embryonic layers
CHAPTER 33: invertebrates
Pages: (666-669)
2Hours
1- Life without a backbone
2- Exploring Invertebrate diversity
CHAPTER 34: vertebrates
Pages: (698-701)
1Hours
1- Half a billion years of backbone
2- Chordates have a notochord and a dorsal, hollow nerve cord
- Derived Characters of Chordates
*Notochord
*Dorsal hollow nerve cord
*Pharyngeal slits or clefts
*Muscular, post-anal tail
Grade Distribution:
INSTRUCTORS:
Midterm Exam:
15
Dr. Mohammad Asem
Practical Part:
25
Dr. Adel Abdelmageed
Assignments, ….etc.: 10
Dr. Sherif Shaarawy
Final Exam:
50
Dr. Annur Abdelmajid
Total:
100
Dr. Al-Sayed Fuda
Dr. Ahmad Hussein
Dr. Loay Hassonah
Dr. Ahmed Maslat