BT 1010 Life Sciences

Welcome!

Instructor: K. Subramaniam
Overall aim:

1. To familiarize students with the fundamental concepts of

biology. (first 20 lectures)

2. To introduce the applied aspects of biology. (second 20

lectures)
Please attend classes only in the
allotted section. Otherwise,
attendance may not be properly
marked.
 Elective modules available this semester:

1. Big data in biology

2. Bioprocess
3. Biosignals and physiological modelling
4. Biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics
5. Bioenergy
• Students need to give a preference list of elective modules
(google form – link on moodle).
• Allotment according to the preferences, subject to a certain
maximum number of seats in each elective module.
Conflicts will be resolved based on the attendance in the
first module until the allotment time.
• Each elective module will run twice in the second half of
the semester.
Evaluation

Core module: 50% weight

Elective modules: 25% weight, each

Core module: Evaluation based on a common mid-

semester examination (MCQ) to all students in the course.
Although each instructor will handle the core module in the
way (s)he sees it as the best, the questions in the exam will
be based only on particular sections (concepts) in the text-
book.

Those sections/concepts are given on the moodle page. The

student is responsible for all the sections given on the
moodle page.
The MCQ will be designed to test the different
extents of learning – information recall,
understanding, analysis, application and probably
synthesis.

Mid-semester exam will be on the date decided in

the class committee meeting – yet to be held.

Elective modules: End-semester exam (MCQ), two

1.5 h exams, back-to-back, on the date to be
decided by the class committee.
Wish an enjoyable learning experience!
 Concept 1.1. Evolution accounts for
the unity and diversity of life.
• An organism’s adaptations to its environment are
the result of evolution
– For example, the ghost plant is adapted to
conserving water; this helps it to survive in the
crevices of rock walls
• Evolution is the process of change that has
transformed life on Earth

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.2
 • What is life?
• Life defies a simple, one-sentence definition
• Life is recognized by what living things do

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.3

Order

Response to the
environment

Evolutionary adaptation

Reproduction

Regulation

Energy processing

Growth and
development
Concept 1.2: New Properties Emerge at
Each Level in the Biological Hierarchy

• Life can be studied at different levels, from

molecules to the entire living planet
• The study of life can be divided into different
levels of biological organization

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.4
The biosphere
Tissues
Ecosystems
Organs and
organ systems

Communities
Cells
Organelles

Organisms Atoms

Populations Molecules
Concept 1.3: Organisms Interact with Other
Organisms and the Physical Environment
• Every organism interacts with its environment,
including nonliving factors and other organisms
• Both organisms and their environments are
affected by the interactions between them
– For example, a tree takes up water and minerals
from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air; the
tree releases oxygen to the air and roots help
form soil

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.5
Sunlight

Leaves absorb
light energy from Leaves take in
the sun. carbon dioxide
CO2 from the air
and release
oxygen.

O2

Cycling
of
chemical
nutrients

Leaves fall to Water and Animals eat

the ground and minerals in leaves and fruit
are decomposed the soil are from the tree.
by organisms taken up by
that return the tree
minerals to the through
soil. its roots.
Concept 1.4: Life Requires Energy
Transfer and Transformation
• A fundamental characteristic of living organisms is
their use of energy to carry out life’s activities
• Work, including moving, growing, and reproducing,
requires a source of energy
• Living organisms transform energy from one form
to another
– For example, light energy is converted to chemical
energy, then kinetic energy
• Energy flows through an ecosystem, usually
entering as light and exiting as heat
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Figure 1.6a

Sunlight

Producers absorb light

energy and transform it into
chemical energy.

Chemical
energy

Chemical energy in
food is transferred
from plants to
consumers.

(a) Energy flow from sunlight to

producers to consumers
Figure 1.6b

Heat

When energy is used

to do work, some
energy is converted to
thermal energy, which
is lost as heat.

An animal’s muscle
cells convert
chemical energy
from food to kinetic
energy, the energy
of motion. A plant’s cells use
chemical energy to do
work such as growing
new leaves.

(b) Using energy to do work

Concept 1.5: Structure and Function Are
Correlated at All Levels of Biological
Organization
• Structure and function of living organisms are
closely related
– For example, a leaf is thin and flat, maximizing
the capture of light by chloroplasts
– For example, the structure of a bird’s wing is
adapted to flight

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.7

(a) Wings
(b) Wing bones