Lecture 1

LIF 101
Biology
Instructors:
R. Sankararamakrishnan (BSBE, IIT K)
Prof. Pradip Sinha (BSBE, IIT K)

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Course Structure: 28 Lectures

Wednesdays and Fridays : 2 to 3 PM
Course Contents:
Part I:
Principles of Cellular Life - 14 lectures
R. Sankararamakrishnan
Part II:
Principles of Inheritance: Information
processing in living systems - 14 lectures
Prof. Pradip Sinha
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Principles of Cellular Life

Molecules of Life
( 8 lectures)

Cell: structural and functional

unit of life
(5 lectures)

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Text book :
Biology: Concepts and Applications without
Physiology
International Edition, 8th Edition
By Cecie Starr, Christine Evers & Lisa Starr
ISBN-10: 0538736186
ISBN-13: 9780538736183
2011

50 copies available in the reference section of the library

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

For downloading course material

please go to the following web-link
http://home.iitk.ac.in/~rsankar/courses/

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Mid-Semester Exam: 50%

Portion: Part-I (Principles of Cellular life)
End-Semester Exam: 50%
Syllabus: Part II (Principles of inheritance:
Information processing in living systems)

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Todays Biology

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Around 18,000 new

species are discovered
every year

New Amphibian species

Wild Banana Species

20 species become
extinct every minute
in rain forests alone

Source: THE HINDU

June 11, 2015

Humans are intimately

connected with the
world around us
Pea-sized frog

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/g214/strange-new-animals-0917/

Human connection
with all life on earth
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

The study of living things

is 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
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Levels of
organization in Life
http://anatomyandphysiologyi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/levels-of-structural-organization.jpg

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Different levels of Lifes Organization

Atoms: Fundamental units of all
substances, living and nonliving
Molecules are atoms joined in chemical bonds
Molecules of life: DNA, RNA, Protein etc.

Cell is the smallest unit of life

Tissue: Organized array of specialized cells

Example: muscle tissue, adipose tissue
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Different levels of Lifes Organization

Organ is an organized array of interacting

tissues. Examples flower, heart

Organ system is a set of interacting organs

that keep the individuals body working
properly. Circulatory system, digestive
system

Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Topics to be covered
Biomolecules (Proteins, DNA, RNA, lipids,
carbohydrates)
Cell and different cell organelles
Cell Metabolism
Photosynthesis
Release of stored energy from molecules

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Life requires ongoing inputs of energy and raw

materials.
All living things can be classified
into two categories
Producers make their own food
using energy and simple raw
materials from the environment
Consumers get energy and
nutrients by feeding on other
organisms
Nutrients cycle between the producers and consumers
Energy flows through the world of life in one direction: from
environment, through organisms and back to environment
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Life is a way of sensing and responding to the

environment.

Homeostasis: By sensing and adjusting to change,

organisms keep conditions in the internal environment
within a range that favors cell survival
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Life is a capacity to reproduce, grow and develop

DNA is the blueprint of life
Inheritance:
Transmission of
DNA from parents
to offspring

DNA is the basis of similarities and differences

in form and function among organisms
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

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 Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

The big picture of LIFE

A three-domain system sorts

all life into three domains

A six-kingdom classification system

All eukaryotes have been sorted into one of
four kingdoms
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Bacteria

Bacteria are the most numerous

organisms on the planet. All are
single-celled, but different types
vary in shape and size.
DNA is not contained within a
nucleus

Archaea

Archaea do not have a

nucleus
They differ from bacteria in
some biochemical aspects
More closer to eukaryotes.
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Protists

Simplest Eukaryotes; extremely diverse

Eg.: single-celled amoebas, giant multi-celled seaweeds
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Plants

Multicelled eukaryotes
Live on land or
freshwater environments
Most are photosynthetic
producers
Primary producers in land
ecosystems

Fungi

Most are multicelled

Parasites, pathogens and
decomposers
Secrete enzymes that
digest food outside the body
Their cells absorb the
released nutrients
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Animals

Multicelled consumers
Ingest tissues or juices of other organisms
Herbivores, carnivores, scavengers, parasites
All kinds actively move at least part of their lives

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Taxonomy
A system of naming and classifying species
Every species is given a unique two-part scientific name
Genus the first part; a group of species that share a unique
set of features
Specific epithet second part
Genus and species names are always italicized.
Eg.: Homo sapiens, Oryza sativa
Species: one or more groups of individuals that potentially
can interbreed, produce fertile offspring, and do not
interbreed with other groups
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Genus, family, order, class,

phylum, kingdom, domain

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Everyone should study

Biology

Why?
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Biology has made giant

strides in the last 60
years

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

http://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/gcoe/eng/message/
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Regenerative_Medicine/Pages/2006Chapter1.aspx
Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I

Curing diseases

Journalism

Public service

Making money

LAW

Discovery

Dr. R. Sankar, LIF101 -2015-16-I