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The scope of Biology and its place in human welfare including characteristics of life, concepts in biology, topical issues in biology and career opportunities. Diversity and classification of living things. Cell structure and organisation; functions of cellular organelles; diversity, general reproduction, interrelationship of organisms, heredity and evolution; elements of ecology and types of habitat. Differences between plants and animals. Variation and life cycles of plants to include non-vascular plants like algae, fungi, bacteria, viruses, bryophytes and petridophytes. Varieties and forms life cycles and functions of flowering plants.
A generalized survey of the Animal kingdom based mainly on study of similarities and differences in external features; ecological adaptation of these forms. Structural, functional and evolutionary study of
Protozoans, Coelentrates, Platyhelminthes, Nematodes,
Annelids, Arthropods, Echinoderms and Molluscs.
Evolutionary sequence in the form and functions of
Protochordates and various classes of vertebrates. I
ntroduction to ecology to include simple ecological
facts in terrestrial and aquatic habitat and the relationships
between an organism and its environment.
The meaning and importance in modern biology. Mendelian
genetics. Probability and test of goodness of fit. Quantitative
inheritance. Gene and chromosome theories of inheritance.
Linkage, crossing over and chromosome mapping. Sex linkage.
Physical and chemical nature of genes: DNA replication,
transcription and translocation. Mutations and variations in Genome
structure. Introduction to microbial genetics, extrachromosomal and
epigenetic systems. Variation, natural selection and introduction to
population genetics. Human genetics and genetic analysis
See course description in the department of Microbiology
Concepts and definitions of ecosystems. Biotic interactions, energy flow and nutrient Cycling. Trophic structure and productivity. Current concepts of evolution and origin of life to include Theories of evolution and Evidences supporting evolution. Geological time scale of evolutionary events (Periods, epochs and events). Genetic variation and separation. Evolution of selected organisms, particularly the Hominid line.
(Pre-requisite to BIO 206 and BIO 306)
Physical and chemical processes in animal and plant physiology including homoestasis, movement of materials across cell membranes, physiological principles of nutrition, food components such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins etc. Enzyme systems, nervous and hormonal communications.
Microscopy, preparation of microscope slides, photometry, colorimetry, chromatography, Condoctometry, experimental design, electrophoretic techniques, centrifugation. Techniques in detecting contaminants in stored commodities.
(Pre-requisite to BIO 403).
History and present trend: The works of Robert Hooke, Antoni Van Laeuneemhoek, Mathias Jakob Schleiden and Theodore Schwann. Use of microscope in the study of cell, types of cells, Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Similarities and differences, Structure and functions of cell organelles, such as Cytoskeleto, Mitochondria, Chloroplast, Ribosome, Golgi complex, Iysosome, Rough and smooth endoplsmic reticulum etc; Nucleus, nucleolus, Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA; Cell division: Mitosis and meiosis, Cell reproduction: Sexual reproduction, Conjugation; asexual reproduction; binary fission; multiple fission, regeneration, budding, vegetative reproduction, parthenogenesis, cloning; cell differentiation and growth – Types of eggs, Fertilization, Cleavage, gastrulation, organogeny/Histological differentiation; Molecular basis of cell structure and development: The work of James D. Watson and Francis Erick, carbohydrates (Starches, Cellulose, simple sugars), proteins (amino acids), Catalysts (Enzymes), oils and fats (fatty acids), vitamins.
(Carbohydrate, protein and lipid, metabolism. Photosynthesis – importance, photosynthetic pigments, biochemistry of photosynthesis, metablolism glycerate phosphate and triose phosphate; factors affecting photosynthesis. Respiration – definition, cell respiration, gaseous exchange in flowering plants; Transport – movement of water through the flowering plants, transpiration, translocation etc. Food storage, growth, dormancy, germination and senescence, movement and flowering. Plant – water relations, growth and growth regulation, plant growth substance, hormones; Physiological aspects of crop yield.
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