Department of Biotechnology

BT 1010 Life Sciences

Jul-Nov 2021 Semester

OBJECTIVE AND OVERALL STRUCTURE

The overall aim of BT 1010 is to provide suitable exposure to the fundamentals in biology
in a manner that interests the students, so that they refresh/update their knowledge and apply
it effectively when needed later in life.

The course consists of two modules

(1) Core Module
(2) Elective Modules

CORE MODULE
The core module runs in the first half of the semester.
The core module is handled in 5 separate sections.

ELECTIVE MODULES
The two elective modules run in the second half of the semester.
The following five elective modules are offered.

1. Bioenergy
2. Bioprocess
3. Big data
4. Biosignals and physiological modeling
5. Biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics

The students would give a preference list of elective modules.

The elective modules will be allotted as per the student’s preference list and their core module
attendance subject to a maximum number (Total no. of students / 5) of seats in each elective
module.

GRADING
Mid Semester Examination is based on core module syllabus given in the later section. A
common exam will be conducted for all students. The students will be tested on only the
below given contents at different extents of learning - information recall, understanding,
analysis, application and synthesis.

End Semester Examination is based on the allotted two elective modules.

MARKS DISTRIBUTION
Mid Semester Examination: 50
End Semester Examination: 50 (Each elective module-25)
Total: 100
Grading: Relative
CORE MODULE SYLLABUS
(The numbers below refer to the concept numbers in Campbell and Reece, Biology, 7th
edition)

Origin of Life and Evolution

26.1 Conditions on early earth made the origin of life possible
26.2 The fossil record chronicles life on earth
Page 8, Chapter 1 – two different types of cells
26.3 As prokaryotes evolved, they exploited and changed young earth
26.4 Eukaryotic cells arose due from symbioses and genetic exchanges between
prokaryotes
1.3 Biologists explore life across its great diversity of species
1.4 Evolution accounts for life’s unity and diversity
22.1 The Darwinian revolution challenged traditional views of a young earth inhabited by
unchanging species
22.2 In The Origin of Species, Darwin proposed that species change through natural
selection
22.3 Darwin’s theory explains a wide range of observations

Biomolecules, Enzymes, Introduction to Metabolism

4. Overview of Carbon: The backbone of biological molecules
5.1 Most macromolecules are polymers built from monomers
5.2 Carbohydrates serve as fuel and building material
5.3 Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic molecules
5.4 Proteins have many structures, resulting in a wide range of functions
5.5 Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary information
8.1 An organism’s metabolism transforms matter and energy, subject to the laws of
thermodynamics
8.3 ATP powers cellular work by coupling exergonic reactions to endergonic reactions
8.4 Enzymes speed up metabolic reactions by lowering energy barriers
9.1 Catabolic pathways yield energy by oxidizing organic fuels

Cell Structure, Cell Cycle

6. Overview: The importance of cells
6.1 To study cells, biologists use microscopes and tools of biochemistry
7.1 Cellular membranes are fluid mosaics of lipids and proteins
7.2 Membrane structure results in selective permeability
6.2 Eukaryotic cells have internal membranes that compartmentalize their functions
6.3 The eukaryotic cell’s genetic instructions are housed in the nucleus and carried out
by ribosomes
6.4 The endomembrane system regulates protein traffic and performs metabolic
functions in the cell
6.5 Mitochondria and chloroplasts change energy from one form to another
6.6 The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers that organizes structures and activities in the
cell
6.7 Extracellular components and connections between cells help coordinate cellular
activities
12.1 Cell division results in genetically identical daughter cells
12.2 The mitotic phase alternates with interphase in the cell cycle
13.2 Fertilization and meiosis alternate in sexual life cycles
13.3 Meiosis reduces the number of chromosome sets from diploid to haploid
Mendelian Genetics
14.1 Mendel used the scientific approach to identify two laws of inheritance
14.2 The laws of probability govern Mendelian inheritance
14.3 Inheritance patterns are often more complex than predicted by simple Mendelian
genetics
14.4 Many human traits follow Mendelian patterns of inheritance

Chromosome, DNA Structure, Replication, Transcription and Translation

15.1 Mendelian genetics has its physical basis in the behaviour of chromosomes
16.1 DNA is the genetic material
16.2 Many proteins work together in DNA replication and repair
17. Overview: The flow of genetic information
17.1 Genes specify proteins via transcription and translation
17.2 Transcription is the DNA-directed synthesis of DNA: a closer look
17.3 Eukaryotic cells modify RNA after transcription
17.4 Translation if the RNA-directed synthesis of a polypeptide: a closer look
17.7 Point mutations can affect protein structure and function
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