LIF 101

Instructors: Dr. Jonaki Sen (BSBE, IIT K)Prof. P. Sinha (BSBE, IIT K)

Biology

Lecture 1

The study of living thingsis Biology

What is Life?

“Life” is an outcome of ancient events by which nonliving matter-atoms and molecules became assembled into the first living cells

Atom

Molecule

Cell:The cell is the smallest unit of life

Tissue: Organized array of cells

Organ:Structural unit of interacting tissues

Organ system:Structural unit of interacting organs

“Life” is a way of capturing and using energy and raw materials.

“Life” is a way of sensing and responding to the environment.

“Life” is a capacity to reproduce, grow and develop

DNA is the blueprint of life

“Life” evolves, meaning the traits characterizing the individuals of a population can change through generations.

http://www.all-creatures.org/hope/gw/02_paleobiological_background.htm

The “big picture” of LIFE

BacteriaArchea

Eukarya

Bacteria Archaea

Bacteria are the most numerous organisms on the planet. All are single-celled, but different types vary in shape and size.

Archaea do not have a nucleus but differ from bacteria in some biochemical aspects and are more closer to eukaryotes.

Protists

Plants Fungi

Animals

Everyone should study Biology

Why?

Biology has made giant strides in the last 60

years

Mitochondrial Eve

Falashas Jews

Public service Discovery

Making moneyCuring diseases

Journalism LAW

Course Structure: 28 Lectures Tuesdays and Fridays : 2 to 3 PM

Course Contents:

Part I: Principles of Cellular Life 14 lectures

Dr. Jonaki Sen

Part II: Principles of Inheritance: Information processing in living systems14 lectures

Prof. Pradip Sinha

Principles of Cellular Life

Molecules of Life

( 8 lectures)

Cell: structural and functional unit of life

(5 lectures)

Text book :

50 copies available in the reference section of the library

http://home.iitk.ac.in/~jonaki/LIF101/

For downloading course material please go to the following web-link

The lectures and sample question will all be available at Copy Point, Shopping Complex, IIT Kanpur.