Subsections
[Cr:3, Lc:2, Tt:1, Lb:0]
- Diversity of Life forms and the evolution of body plans. Properties of
life. Darwins voyage and the theory of natural selection- an
introduction.
- Molecules of Life: pH and Buffers in Biology. Chemistry of water. The
chemistry of carbon. Proteins. Functions of proteins. Amino acids as
building blocks of proteins. How proteins fold and unfold. Nucleic
acids as information molecules. DNA and RNA Carbohydrates. Simple
sugars, polysaccharides. Lipids and Vitamins
- Origin of Life: Origin of cells. Cell Theory What is life? Theories
about the origin of life. The Miller-Urey experiment. Theories about
the origin of cells
- Cell structure and cell processes: Prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic
cells Organelles of eukaryotic cell: Nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum,
Golgi apparatus, vesicles, peroxisomes, hydrogenosomes, Organelles
that contain DNA. The evolution of eukaryotic organelles
- Membranes as fluid layers of lipid: The phospholipids bilayer. The
fluid mosaic model. Model Membranes Membrane proteins. Passive
transport across membranes: Diffusion, facilitated diffusion, Osmosis.
Active transport
- Cell-cell interactions: Receptor proteins and signaling between cells.
Types of cell signaling. Intracellular receptors Cell-surface
receptors. Second messengers to transmit signals. Cell-surface
proteins mediate cell-cell interactions. Intercellular adhesion. Tight
junctions. Anchoring junctions. Communicating junctions.
- Energy and metabolism: The law of thermodynamics in living things.
Free energy. Activation energy. Enzymes as biological catalysts.
Mechanisms of enzyme action. Enzymes take many forms-multienzyme
complexes, Ribozymes and Abzymes Factors affecting enzyme action. ATP
as the energy currency of life. Metabolism as the chemical life of a
cell.
- How cells harvest energy: Chemical energy to drive metabolism.
Energy-rich intermediates. Mitochondria. Harvesting energy by
extracting electrons. The chemiosmotic hypothesis. Summarizing aerobic
respiration. Regulating aerobic respiration. Catabolism of proteins
and fats as a source of energy. Fermentation. Metabolism of food
without oxygen Chloroplasts-photosynthetic electron transport, Calvin
cycle.
- D. Sadava, W. K. Purves, G. H. Orians, and H. C. Heller, Life:
the science of biology, 8th Edn., Sinauer Assoc. & Freeman & Co.
(2008).
- N. A. Campbell, J. B. Reece, R. B. Jackson, M. L. Cain, L. A. Urry, S.
A. Wasserman, P. V. Minorsky, Biology, 8th Edn.
Benjamin-Cummings Pub Co. (2007).
