That's Life: Biology Today

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
  1. Explain the basic principles of biology to non-biologists (DNA, inheritance, cell functioning and replication, basics of functioning of the human body, evolution, biodiversity, basics of ecology, major threats to the environment such as climate change)
  2. Explain a biological related news items to non-biologists
  3. Give examples of how biology plays a role in our daily life and contemporary social issues
  4. Formulate an opinion on current societal issues from biological perspective (e.g. climate change, use of GMO)
Exams are primarily related to objective 1
Societal context assignments are primarily related to objective 2, 3 and 4
The presentation is primarily related to objective 1 and 2

Vakinhoudelijk

This course is designed for students in the Humanities or Social Sciences with no previous education in Biology. It may also serve as a remedial course for students with a high school Biology background insufficient for entering a regular level 1 Biology course.

The course centers around three major themes: the basics of life, genes and evolution, and essential body functions. Studying these issues allows students to gain knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of fundamental biological principles and concepts. These include: characteristics and basic units of life, biodiversity, molecular basis of inheritance and genetics, origin of life and evolution, proliferation and differentiation of cells, principles of development and cancer, metabolism and energy, nutrition and health, nervous system and behaviour, biological defence and communication, and reproduction and ageing.
Throughout the semester, we read and discuss Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything. It details the author’s fascinating quest to understand how we developed to become what we are by reviewing the past from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. Additionally, this popular science book bridges the gap between the different natural sciences, as well as between the natural sciences and the humanities and social sciences.

Format
Each of the course’s main themes—the basics of life, genes and evolution, and essential body functios—is covered in a module of intensive study. In preparation for class, students read and study chapters from the textbook and share problems on Workspace. Classes include workshops and interactive lectures, review and problem solving, oral presentations, and discussions. Students complete a written test after each module. Additionally, students summarize, present and discuss an item from the news relevant for the subject matter of the class.
With regard to Bryson’s work, students write an opinioned essay about the book and discuss this in class before writing a second essay in which they show their fascination with a Science topic they encountered in their own life.

Werkvormen

UCU SCI 0 course

Toetsing

Debate

Verplicht | Weging 5% | ECTS 0,38

Academic Attitude

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Written assignments

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Presentation

Verplicht | Weging 15% | ECTS 1,13

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Exam 1

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Exam 2

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Exam 3

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Debatteren / discoursanalyse
  • Presenteren
  • Samenwerken

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

Materiaal Omschrijving
BOEK Biology : Concepts and Applications, Starr/Evers/Starr, Cengage Learning, 10th edition, ISBN 978-1-305-96733-5

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. P.J.E.C. Wijchers p.j.e.c.wijchers@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. M.A. Döke PhD m.a.doke@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien