Komar University of Science and Technology

College of Medicine

General Medical Biology

Lecture1: Introduction to Biology

Assessment tools

Assessments Weight

Tests 20%

Quizzes 10%

Presentation or report 10%

Practical part 30%

Final test 30%

Course topics include:

1. Cell biology and the chemical basis of life

2. Comparison of prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell structures

3. Cell transport

4. DNA replication, Transcription and Translation

5. Cell division

6. Introduction of viruses (as non-living organism)

7. General characteristics of bacteria

8. General characteristics of fungus

9. General characteristics of parasites

10. General characteristics of human tissue

 Biology

▪ Biology is the science that deals with the

study of living things.
▪ The word biology originates from two Greek
words:
• Bio - means life
• Logos or logy - means study
▪ Therefore, biology is a study of life and
living organisms.
 Characteristics of Living organisms
▪ The term ‘living organism’ is usually used to describe something which displays all the
characteristics of living things.
▪ What makes living things different from non-living things?
• There are six activities which make organisms different from non-living things.
→ Cellular organization
→ Metabolism
→ Homeostasis
→ Respond to stimuli
→ Reproduction ,growth and development
→ Adaptation through evolution
 Classification of living things
▪ Classification is the grouping of living organisms according to similar structures and
functions.
▪ The levels in the accepted hierarchy include;

▪ The grouping of organisms into domains

and kingdoms is based on three factors:
1. Cell type (prokaryotic or eukaryotic)
2. Cell number (unicellular or
multicellular)
3. Feeding type (autotroph or
heterotroph)
▪ Current classification systems now generally recognize the categorization of organisms
into three domains,
1. Bacteria
2. Archaea
3. Eukarya
 Kingdoms
▪ Living organisms are classified into one of six kingdoms of life. They are placed
into these categories based on common characteristics.

Kingdom Cell type Cell number Feeding type Cell wall

Archaea Prokaryote Unicellular Autotroph Yes
Bacteria Prokaryote Unicellular Both Yes
Protista Eukaryote Most Both Yes & No
unicellular
Fungi Eukaryote Both Heterotroph Yes
Plantae Eukaryote Multicellular Autotroph Yes
Animalia Eukaryote Multicellular Heterotroph No
Human Classification
Scientific name

Organism has two names (common and scientific names): Scientific name consists of two parts. The first is

genus name and second is species name. It is always written in italics (if typed) or underlined (handwritten). The first

letter of genus name is always capitalized. Examples:

Human: Homo sapeins

Domestic Cat: Felis domesticus

Onion: Allium cepa

 The Chemistry of Life

▪ All organism are chemical machines.

▪ Any substance in the universe that has the mass and
occupies space is defined as matter.
▪ Matter is composed of extremely small particles called
atoms.
▪ Atom is the smallest amount of an elements consists of
proton, neutron and electrons
▪ Molecules: is a group of atom held together by
chemical bonds. E.x. glucose
▪ Macromolecules: A macromolecule is a very large
molecule, such as carbohydrate, commonly created by
polymerization of smaller subunits (monomers).
 Chemical composition of cells

▪ There are about 94 elements occurring naturally on

earth.
▪ From these 94 element, only about 25 elements are
needed to build living organisms.
▪ Almost 99% of the mass of the human body is made
up of six elements (essential elements): oxygen,
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and
phosphorus.
▪ Only about 1% is composed of another five
elements (trace elements): potassium, sulfur,
sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.
 Chemical composition of cells

Essential elements Trace elements

Compounds

Organic compounds Inorganic compounds

Contain Carbon Do not contain carbon
• Carbohydrates • Water
• Lipids • NaCl (dissociate to
• Proteins produce ions)
• Nucleic acid
• Vitmains
 Organic compounds
The four major macromolecules essential forms of CELL are proteins, nucleic acids,
carbohydrates, and lipid

1. Proteins
▪ Each protein is made from a specific
sequences of amino acids joined
together by peptide ponds.
▪ The sequence of amino acids is the
primary structure of the protein. The
chain of amino acids then folds into
its final shape.
▪ Function
• Storage: Iron, amino acids
• Structural protein: support and shape
(collagen)
• Signalling: membrane receptor proteins
& chemical messengers
• Contractile: cell movement (cilia,
flagella, muscle)
• Defensive: against foreign substances
and disease causing organisms
(antibodies)
• Enzymes: biological catalysts
• Transport: haemoglobin
2. Nucleic acids
▪ Nucleic acids are macromolecules found in all cells
which participate in the storage transmission and
translation of genetic information.
▪ It is a very large molecule that have two main parts;
• The back bone of a nucleic acid is made of
alternating sugar and phosphate molecules bonded
together in a long chain phosphodiester bonds.
• Each of the sugar groups in the backbone is attached
to a third type of molecule called a nucleotide base.
▪ There are two types of nucleic acids:
• Deoxyribonucleic acid
• Ribonucleic acid
▪ DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

• DNA is made of two polynucleotide chains, where the backbone is constituted by

sugar phosphate, and the bases project inside.
• The two chin have anti-parallel polarity, it means, if one chain has the polarity
5`🡪3`, the other has 3`🡪5`.
▪ RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
• Structurally, DNA and RNA are nearly
identical. As mentioned earlier,
however, there are three fundamental
differences that account for the very
different functions of the two
molecules.
✔ RNA is a single-stranded nucleic
acid.
✔ RNA has a ribose sugar instead of
a deoxyribose sugar like DNA.
✔ RNA nucleotides have a uracil
base instead of thymine.
3. Carbohydrates
▪ Fuel for cell functions
▪ Made up of saccharides (sugars)
▪ Base structure (CH2O)n
▪ It has a diverse functions as energy storage (glycogen) and structure formation
(cellulose and chitin).
 Carbohydrate classification
▪ A carbohydrate with one unit of sugar is called a
simple sugar or a monosaccharide.
▪ A disaccharide: is the sugar formed when two
monosaccharides (simple sugars) are joined by
glycosidic linkage.
▪ Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate
molecules composed of long chains of
monosaccharide 
4. Lipids
▪ Formed from fatty acids
▪ A Fatty acids are comprised of hydrocarbon chains terminating with carboxylic acid
groups.
▪ Functions
• Stored energy
• Triglycerides
• Cell membrane structure
• Phospholipids
• Steroids
• Cholesterol
• Testosterone
• Estrogen
…….. and many more
 5. Vitamins

•Vitamins are chemically unrelated organic compounds that cannot be synthesized in adequate quantities by humans
and, therefore, must be supplied by the diet.
• Nine vitamins (including non-B coplex and B complex vitmains) are classified as water soluble. Because they are
readily excreted in the urine.

• Four vitamins (A, D, K, and E) are termed fat soluble. They are
released, absorbed, and transported with dietary fat. They are not
readily excreted, and significant quantities are stored in the liver
and adipose tissue.
Functions of some vitamins

• Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin.
• Vitamin B6 helps form red blood cells and maintain brain function.
• Vitamin B12 helps form red blood cells and maintain the central nervous system.

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that promotes healthy teeth and

gums. It helps the body absorb iron and maintain healthy
tissue. It is also essential for wound healing.
• Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.
Functions of some vitamins
•Vitamin E helps the body form red blood cells and use vitamin K.
•Vitamin K plays a role in blood clotting, bone metabolism, and regulating blood calcium levels.
•Folate works with vitamin B12 to help form red blood cells. It is needed for the production of
DNA, which controls tissue growth and cell function.
•Vitamin B2 is important for body growth and the production of red blood cells.
•Vitamin B1 helps the body cells change carbohydrates into energy.
 Non-organic compound

▪ Water
• Water (H2O) is the most abundant molecule in
cells, whole organisms and on earth.
• Water is the most abundant molecule in cells,
accounting for 70% or more of total cell mass.
There are few exceptions like bone.
Main functions of cell water

▪ It therefore serves as a natural solvent for most macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates

and nucleic acids, and small molecules like mineral ions, salt, sugar.

▪ It forms fluids such as tears, saliva, mucous and semen.

▪ It acts as the lubricates in the joints.

▪ Water flush waste product mainly in urine.

▪ Helps deliver O2 and nutrient.

▪ Water regulate body temperature through sweating

▪ Moisten tissues such as in nose, mouth, and eye.

▪ Prevent constipation.
▪Cell Ions (electrolytes)
• Electrolytes are substances that dissociate in solution.
• Electrolytes are the smallest of chemicals that are important for the cells in the body to function and allow
the body to work.
 Na+ K+ Mg++
Regulate osmotic pressure and the Transmit nerve signals, Contract muscles, form bones and
body’s water content, transmit and contract muscles teeth, activate enzymes, etc.
nerve signals, contract muscles, etc including the heart, etc.

Ca++ Cl- PO4

Transmit nerve signals, Regulate osmotic pressure and Part of bones and teeth
contract muscles, form the body’s water content, Functions in energy exchange
bones and teeth, clot enable the secretion of Make DNA and RNA
blood stomach acid, etc.
 Levels of
Biological
Organization