BIO400 Concepts of Biology

Teaching Methodologies

Lectures – 2hrs/wk
Practical – 1 hr/wk
Tutorial – 1 hr/wk

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the concept of biology related to cellular and molecular biology, biodiversity and
organismal biology (C2)
2. Describe the scientific methodology in biology (C5)
3. Display practical skills in basic experimental biology (P2)

Recommended Text

1. Eldon Enger, Frederick C Ross, David Bailey, Concepts in Biology, 14, McGraw-Hill
Education, 2014, ISBN: 13:978-00734
2. Amar Chatterjee, Rita Chatterjee, Mohd Hamim Rajikin, Key Concepts of Medical
Physiology, University Publication Centre, ISBN: 9789673630479
3. Peter Raven and George Johnson and Kenneth Mason and Jonathan Losos and Susan
Singer, Biology, 11, McGraw-Hill Education, 2017, ISBN: 13: 978125982
4. Neil A. Campbell and Jane B. Reece, Biology, 8, Pearson, 2015, ISBN: 13: 978-03215

Assessment

PLO
Items Method Assessment %
MQF2
Chapter 1 → Chapter 4 MCQ, True/False, Test 1 30
PLO1
Structured, short
Chapter 5 → Chapter 9 Test 2 (C2) 40
answer, short essays
PLO2
Practical 1-8 Short Report Lab Report 15
(C5)
PLO3
Practical 1-8 Lab Skill Lab Skill 15
(P2)
BIO400 Lesson Plan Semester 20234
Week
Wk Lectures Practical Assessment %
of
Topic 1: Introduction to Biology
• Characteristics of living things
1 2/10
• Hierarchy of biological organization
• Scientific methods
9/10 Topic 2: Biological Chemistry Practical 1 - Microscope- Exploring
2 • Properties of water and its and Viewing
importance
• Organic compounds: Basic
structures and functions of Practical 2 - The Molecules of Life:
3 BLOCK 16/10
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and Biochemistry Carbohydrates
1
nucleic acids
Practical 3 - Redox Reaction/
4 23/10 Topic 3: Biology of the Cell
• Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells Catalase Activity
• Cell structure and function Practical 4 - Specialized Cells and
5 30/10 • Membrane structure and function
Staining Technique
Topic 4: Energy
6 6/11 • Cellular respiration Practical 5 - Osmosis Test 1 30
• Photosynthesis
13/11 BREAK Diwali
Topic 5: Cellular Reproduction,
7 20/11 Genetics and Molecular Genetics Practical 6 - Cellular Respiration
• Cell division
• Classical Genetics
8 27/11 • Molecular Genetics Practical 7 - Extracellular Matrix
• Introduction to Genetic Engineering
Topic 6: Biological Diversity
• Taxonomy
9 BLOCK 4/12 Practical 8 - Mitosis and Meiosis Lab Skill 15
• The characteristics of the 3-domain
2
• Introduction to viruses
Topic 7: Systems and their Control
10 11/12 (selected systems) Lab Report 15
• Homeostasis and its mechanism
• Circulatory system
11 18/12 • Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Urinary system
25/12 BREAK Xmas
Topic 8: Reproduction and
Development
12 1/1
• Introduction to animal reproduction
• Introduction to plant reproduction
BLOCK Topic 9: Organisms and the
13 3 8/1 Environment
• Population ecology
• Community interactions
14 15/1 • Ecosystems Test 2 40
• Human impact on the biosphere
18 22/1 STUDY BREAK
18 29/1-
EXAMS
20 18/2
19/2-
SEMESTER BREAK
17/3