20121 Introduction to Life Sciences 1
Credits: 6 introductory credits in Life Sciences
Prerequisites: none
The course is based on a Hebrew translation of selected chapters in Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (8th ed.), by C. Starr and R. Taggart (Wadsworth, 1998).
The course is intended for students of the Sciences and other disciplines who are not studying toward a degree in Life Sciences but wish to acquire basic knowledge in Biology. The chapters selected (19 of the 28 chapters in Vol. I and 8 chapters from Vol. II) provide general knowledge of key issues and acquaint students with research at the forefront of modern biology.2 Course materials include instructional software for enrichment.
Topics: Principles of cell structure and function (chemistry, macromolecules, organelles and the flow of energy); Principles of inheritance (mitosis meiosis and Mendelian principles of heredity, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis); Evolution and diversity; Animal structure and function (cardiovascular system, neural control, internal defense, reproduction and development); Ecology and behavior.
1There is some overlap in the content of this and other courses. For details, see Overlapping Courses.
2Students who take this course and wish to fulfill the requirements for a degree in Life Sciences are required to study the additional chapters in Volume I, submit the assignments on these chapters, and take the course General Biology II (20119).