《An Introduction for Life Science》
1. Basic information
Course code:
Total teaching hours: 32
Credits:
Owner of the course: College of Biological Sciences
Majors applicable: All majors
Prerequisites: None
Person in charge of the course: Han Jianyong
2. Teaching Philosophy
Classroom teaching is carried out around learning. The student are the main bodies. Diversification and personalization of classroom teaching are needed, and should combine with interaction and feedback. Raising student independent observation, thinking, problem solving ability through the organic combination of basic and frontier and unity of the theory and practice. To maximize students' internal potential and learning motivation to be excellent talents who are brave in exploration and innovation.
3. Course Objectives
（1）General Aim
“Introduction to life sciences” is a core general course in schools. It focuses on basic knowledge and major research progress in recent years. It is a professional basic course to expand knowledge level and is suitable for the students whose major is biological and non-biological specialties. This course mainly helps students master the basic concepts, knowledge and theoretical overview of modern life sciences, and understand basic research methods, thinking modes, new trends and hot issues of life sciences. The main contents include genetic information, microbial community and application, animal individual development and genetic operation, plant life history and diversity, and biology and environment. It will enable students to understand the course contents from the shallower to the deeper, the development of modern life science and the inevitable trend of penetration with other natural science cross, and master the differences among animal, microorganisms and plants. In addition, it will provide a guidance role for students to further study.
（2）Branch Objectives
The First one：Chapter 1 Introduction
Enable students to understand the research object and purpose, content and methods of this course.
The Second one：Chapter 2 Genetic information flow of cells
Understanding the nature of life phenomena at the cellular and molecular level. Making students to learn about the basic structure of cells, the genetic material DNA in cells, the process and regulation of genetic information flow, and the global level understanding of intracellular macromolecular interactions.
The Third one：Chapter 3 Microbial Groups and Applications
Understanding the main groups of microorganisms and their characteristics, microbial metabolism, the role of microorganisms in the development of life sciences and their applications.
The Fourth one：Chapter 4 Animal development and genetic manipulation
From the formation of gametes (spermatozoa and eggs), fertilization, embryonic development and differentiation to the formation of tissues and organs, and ontogenetic development, gametes are re-formed to constitute the animal life cycle. Focusing on key events in the life cycle to reveal the occurrence and development of life, the development and current status of related biotechnologies are also introduced.
The Fifth one：Chapter 5 Plant Life History and Diversity
Taking the life history of angiosperms as teaching clues, master the general process of plant development; through the current status, history and introduction of plant diversity, master the systematic relationships among the major groups in the plant community, and understand the relationship between systems and evolution.
The Sixth one：Chapter 6 Biology and the Environment
Understanding the basic concepts of ecology and focus on grasping hot issues and concepts related to human beings.
The Seventh one: Innovative Thinking Education and Professional Ideological Education
The Eighth one: Extending knowledge, cultivating the habit of active thinking and improve the ability to analyze problems.
4、The Diagram between Course Content、Teaching Requirements and Course Objectives
Course Modules
Course Content and Teaching Requirements
Class hours
Corresponding Course Objectives
Graduation Requirement
Chapter One: Introduction
Understanding the subject and purpose, content and method of this course
2
1
1,7,8
Chapter 2: Genetic Information Flow of Cells
1. Explaining the law of life at the molecular level.
2. Understanding the exact replication of genetic and mutation from the special structure of DNA.
3. Emphasizing the interaction between nucleic acids and nucleic acids, the interaction between nucleic acids and proteins, and the conversion of genetic code to protein to phenotype.
4. Understanding how intracellular and extracellular signals affect the expression of genetic information.
5. Understanding genomics and research contents from a global perspective.
6
2
2, 7,8
Chapter 3: Microorganisms and Applications
1. Understanding the definition, types, characteristics of microorganisms, the relationship between microbes and humans, the development of microbiology, and the role and application in the development of life sciences.
2. Representative morphological characteristics of prokaryotic microorganisms, bacterial reproduction and population morphology, morphological characteristics of eukaryotic microorganisms, and morphological structure of the virus.
3. The main characteristics of primary metabolism and secondary metabolism of microorganisms and the application of their products.
6
3
3,7,8
Chapter 4: Life History and Diversity of Plants
1. Introduction on the relationship between plant systems, the theory of major taxa, and the generation and maintenance of plant diversity. Understanding the systematic relationships among major groups in the plant kingdom; understanding the diversity of taxa and its mechanisms; understanding the relationship between systems and evolution.
2. Master the basic morphological structure and the main course of individual development; understanding the general process of plant development; understanding the relationship between plant establishment and function and development.
7
4
4,7,8
Chapter 5: Biology and Environment
1. Introduction on environment and ecological factors, ecological levels and structure. Grasping the basic concepts of ecological factors; understanding the level and structure of ecology; understanding the impact of the environment on ecological diversity.
2. Introduction on the global ecology, ecological restoration, biological disasters and biological safety. Understanding of the impact of human activities on the environment.
2
5
5,7,8
Chapter 6: Animal Development and Genetic Operation
1. Introduction on the animal life science research content as a whole, including the classification of animals, the animal life cycle, and the birth and development of animal biotechnology.
2. From the formation of gametes, fertilization, differentiation of the three germ layers to the formation of tissues and organs, metabolism and aging, the development of the animal's individual development and the influence of these processes on the expression and regulation of specific genes and the environment.
3. Emphasis on embryo engineering and cell therapy, including embryo preservation and embryo transfer, IVF, stem cell and cell therapy.
4. Introduction on the concept, development and latest technology of gene editing, the significance and development trend of animal genetic transformation and cloning, and the ethical issues involved in animal welfare and life science.
9
6
6,7,8
4、Methods of Assessment
Evaluation Content
Score
Scoring Method
Corresponding Course Objectives
Schoolwork
Experiment
Project Research
Periodic Examination
Course Paper
100
The novelty of the topic (8 points)
Clear scientific issues and comprehensive overview of progress (8 points)
Design is reasonable and feasible, using the latest method (8 points)
Expected result is reasonable (8 points)
References Major progress in coverage areas (8 points)
course sub-objectives 1-8
Final Examination
(If you have any other evaluation content，please fill in the bottom of the form)
5. Teaching materials or references:
"Animal cloning and genome editing", editor in chief: Li Ning, China Agricultural University Press, published in June 2012, first times.
" Animal Reproductive Biotechnology ", editor in chief: Sang Runzi, China Agricultural University Press, published in June 2016, second times.
