Course:

PLB 101 Cell Biology (2credits compulsory)

Course duration: 15 weeks at 1 h (T) and 3 h (P) per week; Two hours per week
for 15 weeks (30 hours) as taught in 2011/2012 session
Lecturers:
(i) Prof. Etejere, E. O.
Qualification: B.Sc., Ph.D. Ibadan, MBA, Ilorin
E-mail: etejere@unilorin.edu.ng
Office location: Block 3, F13 Dept. of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of
Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Consultation hours:(ii) Prof. J. A. Morakinyo.
`
Qualification: B.Sc, M. Sc. Ph.D. Ife
E-mail: arakinyo@unilorin.edu.ng, morakinyoja@yahoo.com
Office location: Block 3, F Dept. of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of
Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Consultation hours:- 12 2.00 pm, Mondays and Thursdays
(iii) Dr. O. T. Mustapha.
Qualification: B. Sc, M. Sc. Ph. D. Ilorin
E-mail: otiem787@yahoo.com
Office location: Block 3, F Dept. of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of
Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Consultation hours:(iv) Dr. Olorunmaiye, Kehinde Stephen,
Qualification: B.Sc., PGDE, Ilorin, M.Sc (Ibadan) Ph.D Ilorin.
E-mail: ksolorunmaiye@yahoo.com, ksmaiye@unilorin.edu.ng
Office location: Block 3, Rm F17, Dept. of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science,
University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Consultation hour: Wednesday12-2.00 pm
(v) Mrs.B.K.Saliu.
Qualification: B.Sc, Ilorin, M.Sc. Ibadan
E-mail:
Office location: Dept. of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin,
Nigeria
Consultation hours:-

Course content: Cellular basis of life, Structure of plant and animal cells. Cell theory.
Functions of cells and cellular organelles. Heredity and cell division, Cell macromolucules,
Photosythesis, enzyme and enzymatic reactions, Respiration, bioenergetics, water. pH and
buffers. organic assimilates 15h(T) 45h(p): C
Course Description: PLB 101 is designed for all year one students of Plant Biology,
Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology, Computer Science, Agricultural science, Health science
and Science Education. The course is designed to bring the students in to a better
understanding of cells as the basic units of life and their functional importance.
Course Justification: Adequate knowledge of students about cell is imperative for the
subsequent understanding of life processes in all living things and their basic differences based
on their cellular compositions and evolutionary trends.

1 Nucleus 2 Nuclear pore 3 Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) 4 Smooth endoplasmic

reticulum (SER) 5 Ribosome on the rough ER 6 Proteins that are transported 7 Transport
vesicle 8 Golgi apparatus 9 Cis face of the Golgi apparatus 10 Trans face of the Golgi
apparatus 11 Cisternae of the Golgi apparatus
Course objectives: The objectives of this course are to enhance adequate understanding of
students on the types, structures, functions and the dynamics of cells as the basis of the
complex anatomical, physiological, genetics and activities of plants and animals.
At the end of the course the students are expected to:
(i)
Tell unambiguously what a Cell is and its structure.
(ii)
Know the differences between plant and animal cells.
(iii) Know the various cell organelles and their functions.
(iv) To explain cell division as a basis of growth and reproduction.
(v) Describe the various reactions that take place in the cells.
Course requirements: This is a compulsory course for all year one students that offer the
course. The students are expected to make a satisfactory attendance in both lecture and
practical classes of not less than 75%. The students will be assessed through written tests and
examination.
Methods of Grading:
Test30Marks
Examination- 70Marks
Total100%
Course Delivery Strategies:
laboratory practicals.

The course will be delivered through class lectures and

Lectures
WeeK 1: Definition of Cell. Types of cells, their structures and functions.
Objective: The students are already familiar with living things.
At the end of the weeks lecture schedule, they are expected to be able to tell what a cell is,
types and structures.
Description: The course contents will be introduced to students with emphasis on cell types,
nature and structure. Each of these will be taught to students through lecture and practical
methods.
Assignment: Read about cell types and theory.
Reading list: (i) Biology- A functional approach by M. B. V. Robberts
(ii) Plant Physiology by S. N. Pandey and B. K Sinha (2006)
pp3-53
(iii)
Sandi Barkalow, Noreen Khalid,Robert Pongsajapan:Library
thinkquest. Org/12413/index.html
(iv)
www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html
.
Weeks 2-3: Cell organelles and their functions.

Chloroplast ultrastructure:
1. outer membrane 2. intermembrane space 3. inner membrane (1+2+3: envelope) 4. stroma
(aqueous fluid)
5. thylakoid lumen (inside of thylakoid) 6. thylakoid membrane 7. granum (stack of
thylakoids) 8. thylakoid (lamella 9. starch
10. ribosome 11. plastidial DNA 12. plastoglobule (drop of lipids)
Objective:- The students are already familiar with cells and their structures.

At the end of the weeks lecture schedule, they are expected to be able to mention some cell
organelles, their locations and functions.
Description: The students will be introduced to cell organelles as either single or double
membrane bound and their functions.
Reading List: Plant physiology fourth edition (2006) by S. N. Pandey and B.K. Sinha pp533537.
Assignment: The students are to read more about the topic on the net as well as text Books.
Study Questions:
1. What is a cell organelle? Give five examples.
Reading list: Plant physiology fourth edition (2006) by S. N. Pandey and B. K.
pp 3 - 53
Week 4: Heredity and cell division.

Objective: The students are already aware of cells as the basic

units of life as well as the building units of living organisms.
They are to further learn about how cell division leads to
growth and formation of gametes in living organisms. The
students are to learn about heredity as the basis of transfer of characters from parents to
offsprings.
Description: The concepts of heredity and cell division will be introduced to the students by
defining the two concepts, types of cell division, Mendellian laws and heritable and nonheritable characters. Gene as the basis of inheritance.
Study Questions:
(i)
Describe briefly cell division.
(ii)
What do you understand by the following:(i) Gene. (ii) Heredity
Reading list: (i) Plant physiology (fourth edition 2006) by S. N. Pandey and B.K Sinha 527 530.Botany for degree students (Reprint 2011) by A.C. Dutta pp608-625
(ii)
www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html
(iii)
M.B.V.Roberts(1976).Biology-A
Functional
Approach.Second
edition.p366-377
Weeks 5-6: Photosynthesis, Enzymes and Enzymatic reactions
Objective: The students are already aware of cells, their features and functions.
Nutrition is one of the cardinal physiological activities carried out by cells and the entire living
systems within the organism. In green plants photosynthesis is the mode of nutrition. The
students are also to know that all the metabolic reactions that take place in living organisms
require the mediation of organic catalysts known as enzymes.
Description: Photosynthesis is the feeding method in green plants which entails the
combination of Carbon (iv) Oxide (CO2) and Water (H2O) using light energy to produce
sugar(Glucose). From glucose other carbohydrates are produced. The process of
photosynthesis can be represented by the chemical equation:
Light

6CO2 + 6H2O =
C6H12+6O2.
Chlorophyll
The process of photosynthesis is an oxidation-reduction reaction which proceeds in two
major stages or phases known as Light and Dark phases. The light phase involves the
photolysis of water and the generation of H+ ions and other substrates for the dark phase. Dark
phase is the reduction of Carbon (iv) Oxide to Sugar. Most of the reactions in living organisms
are catalyzed by protein molecules called enzymes. Enzymes can rightly be called the catalytic
machinery of living systems. They can be classified as follows: (i) Oxidoreductases catalyze
oxidation or reduction of their substrates. (ii) Transferases catalyze group transfer. (iii)
Hydrolases catalyze bond breakage with the addition of water. (iv) Lyases remove groups from
their substrates. (v) Isomerases catalyze intramolecular rearrangements. (vi) Ligases catalyze
the joining of two molecules at the expense of chemical energy.
Study question:
(i)
What do you understand photosynthesis?
(ii)
What do you understand by Enzymes?
(iii)
Attempt the classification of Enzymes.
Reading list:
(i)
Plant physiology (fourth edition 2006) by S. N. Pandey and B. K. Sinha pp197221,240-250.
(ii) Prashantkumar Kudli Shrinivas:

E-mail: prashantkudli@yahoo.co.in

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Prashantkumar_Kudli_Shrinivas
(iii) M.B.V.Roberts(1976).Biology-A Functional Approach.Second edition.p87-90,

Week 7: Bioenergetics.
Objective: The students are aware of energy generation and transformation in all living
organisms. They can now appreciate specific metabolic processes that result in energy
generation and transformation.
Description: The ability to harness energy from a variety of metabolic pathways is a property
of all living organisms. Life is dependent on energy transformations. Living organisms survive
because of exchange of energy within and without.Various metabolic processes like
photosynthesis, cellular respiration (photo and oxidative phosphorylation) can lead to energy
generation.
Study Questions:
(i)
Define bioenergetics
(ii)
Mention some metabolic processes that can lead to energy generationin living
organisms.
Reading list: http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioenergetics
Weeks 8-9: Structures and biosynthesis of Biological macromolecules.
Objective: The various activities of the living organisms lead to the syntheses of
macromolecules in them.
Description: Biological macromolecules are defined as large molecules made up of smaller
organic molecules. There are four classes of macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins
and nucleic acids.
SIMPLE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
MACROMOLECULES
Monosaccharides
Polysaccharides
Fatty Acids and Glycerol
Simple and Complex Lipids
Amino Acids
Proteins
Nucleotides
Nucleic Acids
Study Questions:
1.
What are macromolecules.
2.
Give the importance of macromolecules.
3.
What are monomers?
Reading list:
(i)
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/nestsite2/webunit3.html
(ii)
M.B.V.Roberts(1976).Biology-A Functional Approach.Second edition.p63-80

Week 10: Water, pH and buffers.

Objecctive: The students are be made to understand that a very large percentage of both cell
and body tissues of organisms are made up of water and that biochemical reactions takes place
in a close to neutral medium.
Description: Water is a compound chemical formula H2O. Its molecule contains one oxygen
and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds.Water has the unique properties that
make it conducive for living organisms are: (i) Heat capacity (ii) Freezing property(iii)Surface
tension(iv)Solvent property. pH of a living organisms is being made constant by the presence
of buffers in them.
Study Question
1.
List the inherent properties of water.
2.
What are buffers?
3.
Why should the pH of a living organism be kept constant?
Reading list:
(i)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water#Chemical_and_physical_properties
(ii) M.B.V.Roberts(1976).Biology-A Functional Approach.Second edition.p58-62
Weeks 11-12: Respiration.
Objective: Respiration is the major way energy lease in living organisms.
Description: Respiration can be of two types, aerobic and anaerobic. Cytoplasm and
mitochondria as the site for anaerobic (glycolysis) and aerobic respiration (itriric acid cycle)
respectively. Respiratory quotient as the ratio of the volume of the CO 2 evolved/volume of the
O2 absorbed
Study Questions:
1.
Distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
2.
What is respiratory quotienr?
Reading list:
(i)

Plant physiology (4th edition 2006) By S. N. Pandey and B. K. Sinha p 319360

(ii)
M.B.V.Roberts(1976).Biology-A
Functional
Approach.Second
edition.p95- 110

Week13:

Revision

Weeks 14 and 15: Class Test and Examination.

General Reading List
1. Plant physiology (4th edition 2006) By S. N. Pandey and B. K. Sinha p 319-360.
2. M.B.V.Roberts(1976).Biology-A Functional Approach.Second edition.p95110.
3. Sandi
Barkalow, Noreen Khalid,Robert
Pongsajapan:Library thinkquest.
Org/12413/index.html.
4. www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html
5. Prashantkumar Kudli Shrinivas:
E-mail: prashantkudli@yahoo.co.in
6. http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Prashantkumar_Kudli_Shrinivas
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water#Chemical_and_physical_properties

Legend
1 Available in the University Library
2 Available in local bookshops
3 Available on the web
4 Personal collection