To introduce fundamental concepts of biological structure and function. To provide an introductory course in cellular energetics and respiration, photosynthesis, animal physiology, and microbiology.

Introduction to biology, characteristics of life, scientific methodology, biomolecules, chemistry of the cell and organism, cell structure and function, membrane structure and function. Cellular energy and metabolism, enzymes and enzyme reactions, cellular respiration; photosynthesis. Introduction to micro-organisms, microbiology, prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Plant structure and function; transport in plants, reproduction, seed structure, germination, growth and development, plant adaptations. Principles and scope of ecology; ecosystems; cycles in nature; energy flows; population and community dynamics; limiting factors; food chains: succession, environmental concerns.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Describe the scientific method and explain the importance of control experiments. Define characteristics that living things have in common and explain organisation within living things, the concept of emergent properties, and how organisation extends beyond the individual. Identify the form and function of cells and cell components and membrane structure and function. Discuss cellular respiration, glycolysis, the citric acid (Krebs) cycle, chemiosmosis and oxidative phosphorylation, and anaerobic fermentation. Define what an autotroph is, depict or illustrate the organization of the light reactions of photosynthesis, and explain the gross and net photosynthetic reaction. Able to differentiate between the light reactions and the Calvin cycle, will be able to describe the action spectrum, based on the absorption spectra of different photosynthetic pigments. Illustrate what happens to electrons in non-cyclic electron flow and cyclic electron flow, and how chemical energy is consequently stored. Describe two photosynthetic adaptations, the reasons why they are useful, and the principal differences between both adaptations. Describe the main types of tissues and structures found in plants and relate these to function and environmental influences. Give a detailed account of reproduction in flowering plants and show this differs from typical reproduction in animals. Show how ecosystems are structured and explain the energetic and material cycles that underlie ecosystems. Describe some common types of microorganisms and what they do. Employ basic microbiological techniques to isolate microorganisms from different environments and differentiate Gram-negative and Gram-positive types. Describe the role of antibiotics and other control agents in the control of microorganisms.

The student will appreciate the great diversity of life and consider how it evolved and may be supported.

The student will be able to identify and manipulate the parts of a microscope, prepare slides, mount them on the microscope, and operate it so that specimens can be clearly viewed. The student will carry out qualitative tests for proteins, carbohydrates

The student will be taught in a series of lectures, with nine accompanying laboratory sessions. The conduct and results of experiments must be filled into the laboratory manual provided, and a series of weekly online tests will assist in the assessment of the laboratory element of this module.