Boston University British Programmes Biology: Origin of Life and Evolution: A Study in Transformations CGS NS 201 (CGS) Fall 2009

Transcription

1 Boston University British Programmes Biology: Origin of Life and Evolution: A Study in Transformations CGS NS 201 (CGS) Fall 2009 Instructor Information A. Name Julie Thompson B. Day and Time Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9.30am-12.30pm Wednesday, am (lecture) and pm (field trip) C. Location Bell room, Crofton, 14 Queens Gate, SW7 5JE D. BU Telephone E. Julie.thompson@bu-london.co.uk F. Webpage G. Office hours By appointment Course Overview Coming to a new place for your studies exposes you to new ways of seeing and doing things. We hope that being in the UK, where Newton, Darwin, Crick and Watson all made their discoveries, will inspire you to think about science in a different way and to consider in some depth how personality, culture and place influence scientific endeavor. We will be considering biology in the context of transformations. While biological transformations can take many forms, an over-arching transformative process in biology is complexity. Simple components of the biosphere (i.e. abiotic molecules such as carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen), combine to form extremely complex living systems. Biological systems can be seen within a hierarchy of complexity from molecules to cells and tissues to organisms, populations, and ecosystems. This course focuses on the transformations involved in the origin of life. Charles Darwin, in the 19th century, proposed the most cogent explanation we have for these transformations. For this reason, we will examine the foundations of biology from Darwin on through biomolecules. We will come to understand the foundations of biochemistry by synthesizing principles that unite all living systems. The result, we hope, will be both challenging and exciting for you. Darwin's theory of evolution fits within a very broad scientific approach called the naturalistic philosophy, which states that natural phenomena have natural causes. How energy is transformed and utilized by living things is a phenomenon that is central to our understanding of life. Similar to the naturalistic philosophy, science is guided by the mechanistic theory, which states that all living phenomena are subject to chemical and physical laws. We will study metabolism within this mechanistic context. 1

2 By understanding the mechanisms of respiration and photosynthesis, the basis of energy transfer in the biosphere, we will build the foundation necessary to understand the biological world around us. Further, we will be better prepared to understand the underlying causes of real-world phenomena we observe. Course Aims To review the concept of Darwinian evolution and neo- Darwinism To review the structure and basic functions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells To understand the structures and functions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and nucleic acids To understand the concept and importance of cellular respiration and photosynthesis in the context of evolution To understand the concept of origin of life and evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells To understand the importance of collections as a basis for empiricism To reflect on the influence of personality, culture and place on scientific endeavor Assessment 4 quizzes (1/week; weeks 3-6) will account for 40% of the course grade 3 short written assignments will account for 40% of the course grade A brief power point presentation will account for 10% of the course grade Attendance and active involvement in all lectures and field trips is mandatory and will account for 10% of the course grade. Grading Please refer to the Academic Handbook for detailed grading criteria, attendance requirements and policies on plagiarism: Remember that the higher grades require extra reading and work outside of class. 2

3 Course Chronology Thursday 27th August Introduction and Course Overview Evolution: The Unifying Principle o a review of the Darwinian paradigm Assessment: Written Assignment 1: British Scientist (hand in date Thursday 17 th September) Reading: Jefferys, D. (2004): Aspirin (I want you to read the whole book, asap!!) Tuesday 1 st September Water, Water Everywhere o structure and characteristics of water Assessment: Written Assignment 2: The Molecule (hand in date Thursday 1 st October) Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Wednesday 2nd September Preparation for Field Trip to Natural History Museum Natural History Museum Assessment: Written Assignment 3: the Geological Period (hand in date Thursday 24th September) Thursday 3rd September Life of the Cell o a review of cellular structure and function Reading: Jeffreys, D (2004): Aspirin Monday 7th September Lipids and Membranes o structure and functions of lipids and the fluid mosaic model Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Assessment: Quiz 1 Tuesday 8th September Protein Structure and Function Transport across Membranes Reading Hammer, S. and Busher, P.E. (2006): Laboratory Manual for the Biological Sciences. Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp and pp Wednesday 9th September Preparation for Chelsea Physic Garden Chelsea Physic Garden 3

4 Thursday 10th September Nucleic Acids and the Genetic Code Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Monday 14th September Protein Synthesis and Mutations Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Assessment: Quiz 2 Tuesday 15th September Mutations Structure and Biology of Carbohydrates Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Wednesday 16th September Preparation for field trip to Kew Gardens Kew Gardens (Group A) Free Choice (Group B) Thursday 17th September Energy for Life (Glycolysis and Fermentation) o prerequisite for life Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Assessment: Hand in Written Assignment 1: British Scientist Monday 21st September Photosynthesis o light dependant reaction Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Assessment: Quiz 3 Tuesday 22nd September Photosynthesis o chemi-osmosis and the electron transport chain o light independent reaction 4

5 Wednesday 23rd September Aerobic Metabolism o evolution of a new energy producing pathway o link reaction, Krebs cycle and electron transfer chain Volume 1 (15th Edition), pp Kew Gardens (Group B) Free Choice (Group A) Thursday 24th September Origin of Life o the story so far Assessment: Hand in Written Assignment 3: Geological Period Monday 28th September Morning Session Assessment: Quiz 4 Field Trip: Victoria and Albert Museum Tuesday 29th September Morning Session Field Trip: National Portrait Gallery Wednesday 30 th September All Day Field Trip Down House Thursday 1st October Assessments Hand in Written Assignment 2: Biological Molecule Power Point Presentations 5