BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS

FIRST SEMESTER 2019-2020
Course Handout
Date: 25/07/ 2019
In addition to part-I (General Handout for all courses appended to the timetable) this portion
gives further specific details regarding the course.

Course No. : BIO F214

Course Title : INTEGRATED BIOLOGY
Instructor- in Charge : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Instructors : Prof. Sumit Biswas, Prof. Rajesh Mehrotra

1. Course Description:
The course intends to bridge the gap as well as opens new vistas to students taking up
biology. The course covers two tracks, essentially. The first track introduces the student to
the ordering that helps biologists to actually study the vast diversity of the living world.
This track would encompass questions related to the origin and evolutionary pathways
followed in nature, as well as the methods followed by biologists to systematically
categorize and document them. The second track highlights the uses and applications of
biology in everyday life – whether in the economic or in the social realms. Together, the
course projects the subject in a way from which the student can choose and implement his
biological knowledge vis-à-vis his/her interests.

2. Scope and Objectives:

Being a follow-up course on general biology, Integrated Biology exposes the students to
those subjects which they would be covering in due course. Besides, it also provides the
basic biological knowledge required to master the Biology subjects at higher levels. At the
end of the course, the student will have developed a basic understanding of the evolutionary
processes, rationale for taxonomic arrangements, and an idea of how biology can be used
and adapted according to various social and economic uses.

3. Textbook:
Raven, P.H. and George B. Johnson.Systematics and Evolutionary Biology (BITS-Pilani
Custom Edition 2012). New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd., 2012.

4. Reference Books:
RB1: Strickberger, M.W. Evolution (Third Edition 2000). Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
RB2: Alberts Bruce, Bray D, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, and Watson James D. Molecular
Biology of the Cell, 3rd edition. Garland Science; 1994.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20684/)
RB3: Alcock . Animal Behaviour- An Evolutionary Approach. (7th ed.) Sinaur Associates,
Inc. 2001.
RB4: Drickamer & Vessey. Animal Behaviour –Concepts, Processes and Methods (2nd
ed.), Wadsworth, 1986.
RB5: B.D Singh. Plant Biotechnology. 2nd Edition (2011), Kalyani Publishers.

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5. Lecture Plan:
Lect.
Learning Objectives Topics to be covered Chap. #
#
Origin of life: hypotheses and theories; Origin
1-2 The Origin of Life 20
of primordial molecules
Natural selection; artificial selection; The
Evolution and Origin of
3-5 concept of species; mechanisms of speciation: 21-22
species
Isolation, genetic drift; Extinction
Systematics and Systematics; cladistics; Taxonomy; systematics
6-7 22
Taxonomy and classification; Rules of taxonomy

Evolution from a minimum common ancestor;

8-12 Diversification RB1
The five kingdom system of classification

Invertebrates: Understanding and evolution of

13-14 The Invertebrates 32-35
phyla;

Vertebrates: Classes, Introduction of

15-20 Vertebrates RB 3, 4
specialized behavior
Parthenogenesis in animals; Assisted
Reproductive ethnology
21-24 Reproductive Technology – in vitro RB3, 4
and ageing
Fertilization; concepts of ageing
Class
25 Economic zoology Sericulture and Pearl culture glimpse
lectures
Class
26-27 Parasitology glimpse Malaria, Sleeping sickness
lectures
Class
28-29 Animal cell culture Culture of animal cells and its applications
lectures
Introduction to algae, Lower plants and Higher
plants; Introduction to fungi: ecology, fungal 30-31
parasites and pathogens; economic importance
Algae, Fungi and Plantae
of fungi; evolution of seed plants and their
30- Applications of
economic importance
37 Biotechnology in the
Molecular Markers and Marker assisted RB5
Plantae
selection in plants, Gene transfer in plants,
Transgenics in crop improvement, Biosafety
concern and regulations. Phytoremediation.
Plant biosphere and Plant biogeography, climate change,
biotechnology agriculture and biosphere, Economic Botany;
Plant breeding, Gene transfer in plants,
38-42 RB5
Transgenics in crop improvement, Biosafety
concern and regulations. Phytoremediation,
Integrated Pest Management

One field trip would be necessary for the proper appreciation of the subjects being
taught and would be undertaken.

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6. Evaluation Scheme:
Evaluation
# Duration Weight Date and Time Remarks
component
28/09/19,11.00-
1 Midsem exam 90 min. 30% Open/Closed book
12.30pm
Class quizzes
To be Some will be surprise
3 and Variable 30%
announced components
Assignments
Comprehensive
4 180 min. 40% 07/12/19 (FN) Open/Closed book
Examination

7. Grading Policy:
Award of grades would be guided by the histogram of marks and course average. If a
student happens to be in the borderline of two grades, the decision on the final grade will be
based on his/her regularity in attending classes, participation in discussions, and an
assessment whether the student has shown an upward trend in scoring in the course.

8. Chamber consultation hour: To be announced in the class

7. Important things to remember:

 Notice: Attendance is of utmost importance, as there will be surprise components
throughout the semester.
 Besides, application-based problems will be discussed in classes which are not in
the prescribed books.
 Students are advised to regularly consult new publications from journals to be in
touch with current updates in the field.
 Assignments and paper presentations have to be on time; no requests for retake
will be entertained.
 Anybody coming to class after 5 minutes of scheduled start will be denied entry.

9. Course Announcements:
They will be communicated through the course server. There will be no consideration for
students who don’t check the news and announcements.

Instructor-in-Charge
BIO F214