General biology and an experimental approach to biology

Teacher(s)

De Smet Charles; Demoulin Jean Baptiste (coordinator); Kienlen-Campard Pascal;

Language

French

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: French language knowledge, qualities of observation, of intellectual curiosity, of reasoning, of synthesis.

Main themes

In a first part of the course, the cell is studied by closely associating morphology and function. The diversity and evolution of the living is first tackled by the study of meiosis, fertilization and Mendelian genetics.
The study of animal evolution from the first animals to modern Man is based on arguments of anatomy and compared embryology illustrating the principle « ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny ».

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	After this course, students should understand the basis of life on Earth and be able to answer the following key questions: what are living organisms, what do they have in common, and what differentiates them. These lectures constitute a framework that will be developed in more detailed courses in the following years, with a special focus on cellular and molecular biology, Mendelian genetics and evolution from bacteria to modern Man. Those aims try to develop qualities of intellectual curiosity, observation, reasoning, synthesis, scientific rigour, oral, written and iconographic expression, and finally of self-learning, stimulating the consultation of books, scientific reviews, and informatics materials (CD-Rom, websites).

Content

Contents: (this course is given in French)
Chapter 1: The chemistry of life
Chapter 2: The cell
Chapter 3: Cell physiology
Chapter 4: Cell communication and signaling
Chapter 5: Reproduction and genetics
Chapter 6: Cell differentiation and embryology
Chapter 7: Evolution
Chapter 8: Experimental biology (for biomedical students only).

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures, practical works and tutorials. 

Evaluation methods

Assessment: Written exam.

Other information

Online resources

See Moodle

Faculty or entity

FASB