Life on Earth

Code

LIFE1030

School

Life Sciences

Level

1

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

The Life on Earth module will introduce the students to the vast range of living (and many extinct) species to be found on Earth. The various domains of life will be explored with due attention to the two prokaryote groups, the archea and eubacteria and then detailed views of the eukaryotes. Issues of how they arose and how the process of endosymbiosis added much more complexity will be examined. Questions about the processes that drove the evolution of complexity and multicellularity, the development of mitosis, meiosis and the production of asymmetrical gametes will be considered. Within the context of the most recent phylogenetic trees the distribution of phyla will be examined in detail with the most complex groups, fungi, animalia and plantae being targeted for special consideration. The course will emphasise our current understanding of biodiversity and how a simple morphological-based taxonomy has been shaken up by current molecular techniques. The module concentrates on the unity and diversity of life set in an evolutionary context and how the genotype gives rise to both phenotype and behaviour.

Target Students

Students on the first year of undergraduate degrees in the School of Life Sciences, Cancer Sciences students or Environmental Biology students. This module is not open to students outside the School (except where agreement exists with other Schools), any enrolments made by students from outside the School will be cancelled without notice.

Co-requisites

Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:

• Core Skills in Pharmacology (LIFE1056)

Classes

This module may be delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and labs etc

Assessment

• 50% Practical Assessment: ExamSys in-class test (2 hours).
• 50% Exam 1 (2-hour): May/June - multiple choice ExamSys examination.

Assessed in both autumn & spring semest

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this module will be able to

-       explain what it means to be alive and how life first evolved on this planet 

-       explain the structure of cells, the basic unit of life 
 

-       describe differences in cell structure in different domains of life 
 

-       describe the early evolution of ancestral prokaryotes in the absence of oxygen 

-       explain the evolution and diversity of Archaea and Bacteria 
 

-       explain the impact that the evolution of photoautotrophs had on the evolution of life on Earth 

-       explain how eukaryotic cells incorporated prokaryotes via endosymbiosis 
 

-       describe the diversity of Protists 

-       explain the beneficial and detrimental effects of fungi 

-       discuss multicellularity and the evolution and diversity of Fungi, Plants and Animals 

-       explain key feature of the genetics of organisms, their genomic relationships and their phylogeny 

-       know and apply the terminology, as well as the nomenclature and classification of extant and extinct organisms 

-       describe structure-function relationships in organisms 

-       explain their relevance in the context of evolution 

-       describe the interaction of organisms in the context of their evolution 

-       relate organismal biology to other aspects of the natural sciences

-       work safely in the laboratory, using appropriate equipment and instruments and assess related safety issues in order to make and record accurate observations and measurements 

-       acquire information systematically, process it effectively, and draw appropriate conclusions 

-       demonstrate numeracy and written skills in the evaluation of the results from practical work 

-       identify and use both compound and stereo microscopes and be capable of observing and recording detail of organisms and their structures under the microscope 
 

The module makes the following contributions to the learning outcomes of the Biology/Genetics/Zoology degree courses:

Students will have the ability to…

contribution

Knowledge and understanding

A1 understand the relationship between Biology and other disciplines  

A2 appraise current trends and developments in Biology  

A3 understand the importance of Biology in human health and disease and its relevance to medicine and biotechnology 
 

A4 use appropriate terminology, nomenclature and classification  

A5 demonstrate knowledge of genetics and evolution of living organisms  
 

A6 demonstrate knowledge of cell and molecular biology  
 

A7 demonstrate knowledge of organism structure and physiology 

A8 demonstrate knowledge of organism behaviour 

A9 demonstrate knowledge of interaction of organisms and their environment  

A10 identify weaknesses and limitations of existing research and create and evaluate opportunities for future research (MSci only) 

Intellectual Skills

B1 critically analyse and interpret published information and data  

B2 think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others  

B3 understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions 

B4 acquire substantial quantities of information systematically, process it effectively, and draw appropriate conclusions   

B5 make and record accurate observations and measurements  

B6 demonstrate numeracy and written and oral communication skills including writing and constructing scientific documents (e.g. research reports) using appropriate styles, conventions, and terminology and making oral presentations on biological topics. 

B7 develop effective ways of working including productive team work, scheduling of tasks and time management to meet deadlines 

B8 demonstrate digital literacy 

B9 reflect on their own progress and academic strengths and weaknesses an"

Conveners

• Dr Martin Gering