Introduction to Biology

Depertment of Biology

15101146 Introduction in Biology (1ο semester) 6 ECTS

• The Science of Biology - Βasic Properties of Life  (1 Hour): Cellular Base of Life. Relation of Structure and Function.
• The Origin and evolution of Life (2 Hours): Theories of Origin and Evolution of Life. Darwinism. Aviogenesis Theory. Simple organic molecules - Polymers. Catalytic properties of RNA.
• The Chemistry of Life (2 Hours): Atoms, bonds and simple molecules. The biological importance of water. Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic acids..
• Energy and Metabolism (2 Hours): Forms of Energy - Energy Transformations. The Laws of Thermodynamics. Free Energy, ATP and cellular work. Enzymes, Enzyme Activation Energy. Cofactors, Inhibitors and Metabolism control.
• Eukaryotic Cells - Structure and Function (7 Hours): Cell Theory. Introduction to principal methods used to study cells. Biological Membranes: Structure and Function. Mitochondrion: Cellular Respiration. Chemiosmosis and the production of ATP. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). Golgi Apparatus. Lysosomes. Peroxisomes. Cell Nucleus. Cytoskeleton.
• Cell Cycle and Cell Division (2 Hours): Mitosis. Meiosis. Regulators of Cell Cycle Progression.
• Procaryotic microorganisms (2 Hours): Bacteria: Bacterial Conjugation. Viruses, Viral Growth: Lytic and Lysogenic Cycles. DNA and RNA Phages.
• DNA, the genetic material (2 Hours): DNA Structure - Replication.
• From Nucleic acids to Proteins (5 Hours): RNA synthesis (Transcription). Protein Synthesis (Translation), The Genetic Code.
• Mutations (2 Hours): Types of mutations. Mutational Agents and DNA damage, DNA repair.
• Introduction to Genetics (3 Hours): Mendelian Laws. Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance. Genetic recombination. Gene mapping.
• Recombinant DNA Technology (3 Hours): Restriction enzymes, Cloning. DNA vectors. Selection of transformed cells. Study of Human Genome and Modern Medicine. Subjects of Moral Safety.
• Topics on ecology (6 Hours): The Science of Ecology. Hierarchical levels of Ecological Studies. The Biosphere - structure of the biotic component. The Biodiversity of Planet Earth. Adaptations of organisms to the major environmental factors (light, temperature, salinity…).

Textbook [5445]:  Biology - Volume I, 1st Edition, Campell N., Reece J., et.al. Details

Textbook [33133232]: The Cell: A Molecular Approach, Geoffrey M. Cooper & Robert E. Hausman Details