Week I

Lecture 1: Basics

  • Introduction to the Course
  • Definition, Characteristics and Hierarchy of Life
  • Scope of Ecology: habitat, Population, Community, Ecosystem
  • The Scientific Method
  • Evolution and Classification
  • Systematics, taxonomy, phylogeny

Lecture 2: The Origin and Evolution of Life

  • Darwin & Evolution
  • The Origin of Life
  • The Geological Time Scale
  • Cellular History
  • Kingdoms and Domains

Week II

Lecture 3: Inorganic Chemistry I

  • Definition, Classification and Properties of Matter
  • Atomic Structure
  • The Periodic Table
  • Isotopes
  • Electrons and Energy
  • Energy
  • Chemical Reactions: Exergonic and endergonic
  • Activation Energy
  • Oxidation and Reduction

Lecture 4: Inorganic Chemistry II

Elements, Compounds, Molecules and Mixtures
Bonds: Weak and Strong

Week III

Lecture 5: Water and pH

  • Importance and Properties of H2O
  • Acids, Bases, pH, Buffers

Lecture 6: Organic Chemistry

  • Importance of Carbon
  • Organic vs. Inorganic Compounds
  • The Hydrocarbons
  • Functional Groups
  • Isomers

Week IV

Lecture 7: Examination I (Weeks 1-6 inclusive)

Lecture 8: Macromolecules I

  • Monomers and Polymers
  • Dehydration Synthesis and Hydrolysis
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids

Week V

Lecture 9: Macromolecules II

  • Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids
  • ATP
  • Enzymes and Metabolic Pathways

Lecture 10: Cells

  • The Cell Theory
  • Methods of Studying Cells
  • Cellular Size Limitations
  • Cell Composition
  • Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
  • Cellular Evolution
  • Anaerobic and Aerobic Cells; Endosymbiosis; Multicellularity; Viruses, Bacteria
  • and Archaea

Week VI

Lecture 11: The Eukaryotic Cell

  • Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function

Lecture 12: Membranes and Transport

  • Membrane Structure and Function
  • Passive Transport Processes
  • Active Transport Processes
  • Cell Surface Modifications

Week VII

Lecture 13: Examination II (Lectures 8-12 inclusive)

Lecture 14: Energy

  • Cells and the Flow of Energy
  • Metabolic Reactions and Energy Transformations
  • Metabolic Pathways
  • Oxidation and Reduction

Week VIII

Lecture 15: Cellular Respiration I

  • Cellular Respiration (Anaerobic)
  • Outside the Mitochondria: Glycolysis
  • Fermentation

Lecture 16: Cellular Respiration II

  • Cellular Respiration (Aerobic)
  • Inside the Mitochondria:
    • The Preparatory Reaction (Hub)
    • Citric Acid Cycle (TCA)
    • Electron Transport Chain (ETC)
  • Metabolic Pool

Week IX

Lecture 17: Photosynthesis I

  • Photosynthetic Organisms
  • The Process of Photosynthesis
  • Plant as Solar Energy Converters: Light Reactions

Lecture 18: Photosynthesis II

  • Dark Reactions: Calvin Cycle Reactions (Carbon Fixation)
  • Other Types of Photosynthesis

Week X

Lecture 19: Asexual Reproduction

  • The Cell Cycle and Its Control
  • Mitosis and Cytokinesis
  • The Cell Cycle and Cancer
  • Prokaryotic Cell Division

Lecture 20: Sexual Reproduction

  • Halving the Chromosome Number
  • Genetic Variation
  • The Phases of Meiosis
  • Comparison of Meiosis and Mitosis
  • The Human Life Cycle (Spermatogenesis & Oogenesis)

Week XI

Lecture 21: Chromosomes

  • Changes in Chromosome Number and Structure

Lecture 22: Examination III (Lectures 14-21 inclusive)

Week XII

Lecture 23: Genetics I

  • Gregor Mendel
  • Mendel’s Law
  • Human Genetics Disorders

Lecture 24: Genetics II

  • Extending the Range of Mendelian Genetics
  • Multiple Allelic Traits
  • Incomplete Dominance
  • Pleiotropy
  • Polygenic Inheritance
  • X-Linked Inheritance
  • Environmental Influences

Week XIII

Lecture 25: DNA

  • The Genetic Material
  • DNA Structure
  • DNA Replication
  • Prokaryotic versus Eukaryotic Replication

Lecture 26: Gene Function

  • The Genetic Code
  • Transcription
  • Translation
  • Structure of the Eukaryotic Chromosome

Week XIV

Lecture 27: Genetic Regulation

  • Prokaryotic
  • Eukaryotic
  • Regulation Through Mutations

Lecture 28: Biotechnology and Genomics

  • DNA Cloning
  • Biotechnology Products
  • Gene Therapy
  • Genomics

Week XV

Lecture 29: Animal Development

  • Early Developmental Stages
  • Developmental Processes
  • Human Embryonic and Fetal Development

Lecture 30: Examination IV (Weeks 23-29 inclusive)

Continue to Lab Schedule
Return to Course Outline
Print this page