Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
BB10008 Introduction to biodiversity |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 100%, PR 0% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: To introduce prokaryote life forms. Explore fungal growth forms, life styles and reproductive strategies. To review the diversity among the Protista and define their relationship to other living things. To explore the role of model organisms in modern biology and to place these organisms in the context of the biodiversity of living things. To examine the structure, lifestyle, replication and transmission of viruses.
Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to: * debate the principles behind the domain theory of the "tree of life" * discuss bacterial growth in terms of nutritional requirement and the influence of physicochemical factors on growth and survival * demonstrate an appreciation of how and why Protists may be classified in more than one "Kingdom" and an understanding of the major themes in this diverse grouping * demonstrate a knowledge of the structure and function of organisms at major levels in the "tree of life" * to discus the strengths and weaknesses of current model organisms in the study of living things * explain the importance of fungi to the productivity and biodiversity of ecosystems and how and why fungi form mutualistic and parasitic relationships with other organisms * explain why viruses are difficult to treat compared to diseases caused by bacteria and answer the question "is a virus alive?". Skills: aseptic technique, use of microscopes, dissection, working collaboratively (in groups), evaluating evidence (e.g. by exploring the data used to support classification of living things), report writing. Content: Introduction: Classification of life - how many kingdoms? Protists: the evolution of multicellularity and beyond Viruses: properties and life cycles Fungi: an outline of form and function. Bacteria and Archaea: relationship to the other domains of cell-based life; bacterial cell shapes and size, ubiquity and adaptability; methods for their visualisation; anatomy, from chromosome to capsule, via ribosome's, cytoplasmic inclusions, cell membrane, cell wall, pili, flagella and endospores; growth/cultivation; nutritional requirements, modes of energy-yielding metabolism, influence of physical factors. Animals: from germ layers to body cavities - how are animals constructed? Animals - levels of organisation; "Model" animals, what are they and why have they been chosen? Where do model animals fit into the "tree of life", What are the limitations of the use of model organisms? Plants: What it means to be a plant - constraints and opportunities of converting sunlight into growth. Arabidopsis as a model plant - the case for the inclusion of other "model" plants. |