After successful completion of the course, students are able to:
- to define the essential processes of life and to distinguish them from the abiotic world
- to formulate the storage and flow of information in biological systems and to describe it on a molecular biological level
- to discuss the importance of the life sciences for the field of biotechnology and related disciplines within the era of technology and natural sciences.
The teaching content consists of the following parts:
What is life? Evolution: origin of living diversity; Chemical foundations of life and biomolecules; Formal genetics and laws of inheritance; Genetic information; Mutation - change in the genetic program; Reproduction: propagation and transmission of a life program;
Viruses, plasmids and mobile genetic elements; Cytology; Bacteria as simple cells and experimental objects;
Importance and principles of biotechnology and genetic engineering;
Assessment of adverse effects of chemical substances and processes on humans, animals and ecosystems
Exams are currently being held in presence again.
Only in case of a fallback scenario a return to online exams is planned. We will inform about this at short notice if necessary.
Slides of this course are available (download in TUWEL).
Campbell/Reece/Simon: Essential Biology with Physiology. 2nd ed., Pearson Intl 2007
