BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani

Pilani Campus
AUGS/AGSR Division

SecondSemester 2018-19
Course Handout (Part II)
Date: 07-Jan-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 F111

Course Title : GENERAL BIOLOGY
LPU :303
Instructor-in-Charge :Dr. Manoj Kannan
(manojkannan@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Tutorial Instructors : Dr. Pankaj Kumar Sharma
(pankajsharma@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Dr. Syamantak Majumder
(syamantak.majumder@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Dr. Uma S Dubey
(uma@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Dr. Vishal Saxena
(vishalsaxena@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury
(rajdeep.chowdhury@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Dr. Jola Dubey
(dubeyjola@gmail.com)
Dr. P.R. Deepa
(deepa@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Ms. Visalakshi
(akshibhanot92@gmail.com)

1. Course Description:
Living systems and their properties; biochemistry and cell biology; primary
biochemical/metabolic pathways; introductory genetics; biotechnology and its
applications; basic human physiological processes. These topics will be taught using
an integrated approach – by interlacing concepts at the cellular level with those that
happen at the organ system level.
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/AGSR Division

2. Scope and Objectives:

The course is aimed to provide a broad introduction to the major principles and topics
in biology. The relationship of the living organism with its environment at the
molecular level is highlighted in line with modern research in biological sciences. By
the end of the course, the student would have gained an overall understanding of the
core biological principles and wide-ranging applications of biology in industry,
medicine and human health.

3. Textbook:
Simon, E.J. et. al. Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology (5th edition). Noida:
Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd., 2016.

4. Reference Books:
 Enger, E.D., Ross, F.C. and David B. Bailey. Concepts in Biology (14th edition,
BITS-Pilani Custom Edition 2012). New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing
Company Ltd., 2012.
In this book, topics such as biochemical pathways and cell biology are given in
fairly great detail.
 Raven, P.H., et. al.Biology (9th ed.). Singapore: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company
Ltd., 2012.
All chapters are elaborately described and can be used as an excellent supplement
to the textbook.
 Starr, Cecie. Biology: Concepts and Applications (6th ed.). India: Thomson
Brooks/Cole, 2007.
The chapters are crisply presented, with excellent end-of-chapter questions to
accompany each chapter.

5. Course Plan:
Ref.
Mod.
Lecture Session Details (TB Learning Outcomes
No.
chap.)
Lectures 1 – 3: Getting introduced to biology  Associate organelles
and its scope (in different types of
Biology and the scientific method; cells) with their
1 characteristics of life; diversity of life and 1,4 cellular functions
classification of living forms; major types of  Categorize
cells and their internal organization organisms into taxa
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/AGSR Division

Ref.
Mod.
Lecture Session Details (TB Learning Outcomes
No.
chap.)
Lectures 4 – 6: Organic chemistry of living  Differentiate
things between the types of
2 3 organic molecules
Introduction to the four major categories of that comprise cells
macromolecules of cell
Lectures 7 – 8
Processes involved in photosynthesis 7  Trace the steps of
Basics of photosynthesis; light reactions; how food is
Calvin cycle manufactured by
Lectures 9 – 11: Unifying concepts of animal plants, consumed by
structure and function heterotrophs and is
ultimately used to
Introducing human physiology; the structural give energy to cells
3 organization of animals – tissues, organs and 13,14
organ systems; exchanges with the external  Contrast the various
environment (drawing examples from ways by which cells
digestive system and excretory system) harness energy from
food, under varying
Lectures 12 – 13: How cells acquire energy conditions

Energy flow and chemical cycling; cellular 6

respiration - three stages of generating ATPs;
process of fermentation

Lectures 14 – 16: Mechanisms and processes  Differentiate

involved in cellular reproduction between mitosis and
meiosis –
The cell cycle and mitosis; meiosis and the 8 mechanisms, uses
origins of genetic variation; consequences of
improper cell division (cancer and  Ability to solve
chromosomal disorders) simple problems of
4 predicting outcomes
of crosses
Lectures 17 – 19: Patterns of inheritance:
Mendelian genetics and beyond  Develop an
appreciation of how
Mendel’s experimentation and laws; solving 9 genes work and give
problems in Mendelian inheritance; family
rise to
pedigrees; human disorders; variations on
characteristics in an
Mendel’s laws
individual
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/AGSR Division

Ref.
Mod. Learning Outcomes
Lecture Session Details (TB
No.
chap.)
Lectures 20 – 23:Structure and function of
DNA, and viruses
 Learn about the
DNA structure and replication; the genetic 10 molecular basis of
code; transcription; eukaryotic RNA the working of genes
processing; translation; mutations; viruses and genetic material
 Deduce the mRNA
Lectures 24 – 26:Genetic regulation and the and protein
process of cloning sequence from a
How and why genes are regulated; cloning 11 given gene sequence
5 plants and animals; the genetic basis of  Understand how the
cancer cell controls genes
and how this
Lectures 27 – 30: Principles of DNA knowledge can be
manipulation and applications of DNA applied in
technology biotechnology
12
Introducing recombinant DNA technology  Learning how
and techniques for DNA manipulation; DNA knowledge of biology
fingerprinting; genomics and proteomics is applied in society

Lectures 31 – 32: The body’s defenses

(Immune system)  Associate the
16 constituent
Non-specific defenses; specific defenses
components with
(adaptive immune system); immune disorders
organ systems in
the body, and
Lecture33: Hormonal control in humans ascribe functions to
6 General principles of hormone action and 17 each of them
specific examples of glands and hormones  Identify how each of
these body systems
Lectures 34 – 36: Nervous, sensory and motor contribute to
systems homeostasis, and
Neurons and nerve impulses; central and 19 how disruption
peripheral nervous systems; nervous system leads to disease
disorders

Lecture 37:Biomedical and bio-engineering  To appreciate the

7 - interdisciplinary
Devices and other applications of biology in
nature of biology
engineering and vice versa
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/AGSR Division

Ref.
Mod. Learning Outcomes
Lecture Session Details (TB
No.
chap.)
 Develop proper
Lectures 38 – 39: Concepts of human
understanding and
reproduction and development
scientific awareness
8 Human sexuality spectrum; human male and 18 about reproductive
female reproductive systems, gametogenesis; health and
hormonal control of female reproduction; reproductive
human development behaviours
 Reflect on the
Lecture 40: Conclusion of the course
learning developed
9 Summarizing and integrating overall - throughout the
principles of biological systems course

Self-study Topic:
Principles and functions of human circulatory and respiratory systems (Chapter 15)

6. Evaluation Scheme:
Weightage Date and Nature of
Component Duration
(%) Time component
Mid-semester 20% 16/3 9:00 -
1½ hrs. Open-book type
Test (40 marks) 10:30 AM
Comprehensive 40% One section will be
3 hrs. 13/5 FN
Examination (80 marks) open-book type
Assignments/ Quiz 1: 23/2 Some will be closed-
35%
Homework / - Quiz 2: 13/4 book type; others
(70 marks)
Quizzes Time: TBA open-book type
Class 5% Regularly
- -
participation (10 marks) assessed

7. Chamber Consultation:
For any assistance in the course and clarifications, students can meet the instructors
who will make themselves available at least one hour per week (chamber consultation
hour). The lecture and tutorial instructors will announce their availability for
consultation during the first class meeting.

8. Course Announcements and Notices:

All announcements regarding the course will be made in the lecture classes. Certain
others information (e.g. seating arrangement and venue for exams) will be also be
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/AGSR Division

share through BITS email. Additional material shall be shared through Google Drive
and/or Nalanda.

9. Make-up Policy:
If a student misses any of the evaluation components due to a genuine reason (serious
medical causes leading to hospitalization, personal/family emergencies or absence
from classes due to official purposes) there exists a provision to apply for make-up.
Prior permission must be taken from the Instructor-in-Charge whenever possible,
before applying; otherwise, he must be informed at the earliest after missing the
component. Due to the nature of the component, granting make-up for group activities
that are held in lecture/tutorial classes may not be possible. The decision to grant
make-up or not is taken by the Instructor-in-Charge (in consultation with the other
instructors) and shall be final.

10. Grading Policy:

Award of grades would be guided by the histogram of marks and course average. The
same procedure will be followed for mid-semester and final grading. For a student on
the borderline of two grades, the decision on the award of grade will be taken based on
progressive improvement he/she has shown throughout the semester, overall course
attendance and the tutorial instructor’s recommendation (regarding student’s
promptness in turning in assignments and involvement shown in the class).If a
student has not attempted any one or moreevaluation components entirely, or has
attempted components just for the sake of attempting, his/her performance in the
course may be reported as ‘NC’ (Not Cleared).

11. Academic Conduct Policy:

It is expected that all students follow the highest standard of academic practice when
participating in any evaluation component. Some activities may be collaborative, and
others individual. Collaborating on individually assigned tasks would also be
considered dishonesty, as would plagiarizing from other sources. Having a zero–
tolerance for academic dishonesty, any case of misconduct, however minor, will be
dealt with appropriately. The case may be reported for action to the Examination
Committee, if necessary.

Instructor-in-Charge
BIO F111