Sulit

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

Faculty : Applied Sciences

Program : Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biology

Subject : Biological Diversity

Subject Code : BIO 460

Credit Hours :4

Contact Hours :6

Semester :1

Subject Status : Core

Pre-requisite : None

1.0 Course Information

This is a course on biodiversity that looks at the huge diversity of species,
either living or extinct. It also touches on how organisms are grouped,
classified and named. The course covers the Six-Kingdom classification
system as used in the recommended textbook.

2.0 Objectives

At the end of this course students should be able to:

2.1 State and describe the evidences of macroevolutionary processes

and the concept that all organisms originate from common
ancestors.
2.2 Describe the diversification of biological organisms as a
consequence of microevolutionary processes.
2.3 Explain the processes in the beginning of life on early earth and the
conditions of the early atmosphere and the sequence in the origin
of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.
2.4 Classify the wide diversity of biological organisms into major groups
in different classification systems and discuss the importance of
classification.

Universiti Teknologi MARA

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2.5 Differentiate and classify each group of organisms into the six-
kingdom classification system by looking at the common features
and considering some of their life cycle.

3.0 Contents

3.1 The scope of life’s diversity

3.1.1 Historical explanation on the first atmosphere
3.1.1.1 The Big Bang - The first atmosphere
3.1.1.2 The endosymbiotic theory – Origin of life
3.1.2 Categories of evidence for the evolutionary explanation
3.1.1.1 Macroevolution
3.1.1.1.1 Fossil records
3.1.1.1.2 Structure homologies
3.1.1.1.3 Distribution of species
3.1.1.1.4 Developmental biology
3.1.1.1.5 Evidence from molecular comparison
3.1.1.2 Microevolution
3.1.1.2.1 Nonrandom mating
3.1.1.2.2 Gene mutation
3.1.1.2.3 Gene flow
3.1.1.2.4 Genetic drift
3.1.1.2.5 Natural selection

3.2 Classification
3.2.1 Binomial system of nomenclature
3.2.2 Taxonomy
3.2.3 Classification systems
3.2.4 Systematics

3.3 Viruses
3.3.1 Characteristics of viruses
3.3.2 Viral classification
3.3.3 Viral replication
3.3.3.1 Phage
3.3.3.2 Enveloped eucaryotic viruses
3.3.4 Viruslike agents

3.4 Bacteria
3.4.1 Domain Eubacteria
3.4.1.1 Growth and reproduction – Prokaryotic fission / Conjugation
3.4.1.2 Gram Classification of bacteria
3.4.1.2.1 Nutritional classification Photoauto/heterotrophs &
Chemoauto/heterotrophs
3.4.2 Domain Archaebacteria

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3.4.2.1 Thermophiles / Thermoacidophiles

3.4.2.2 Metanogens
3.4.2.3 Halophiles

3.5 Protista
3.5.1 General characteristics
3.5.2 Excavates – Diplomonads, parabasalids and euglenozoans
3.5.3 Chromalveolates – Alveolates and stramenophiles
3.5.4 Rhizarians – Forams and radiolarians
3.5.5 Archaeaplastida- Red algae and green algae
3.5.6 Unikonts – Amoebozoans and opisthokonts

3.6 Fungi
3.6.1 General characteristics
3.6.2 Chytridiomycota
3.6.3 Glomeromycota
3.6.4 Basidiomycota
3.6.5 Zygomycota
3.6.6 Ascomycota
3.6.7 Symbionts
3.6.4.1 Lichen
3.6.4.2 Mycorrhizae

3.7 Plants
3.7.1 Evolution of plant
3.7.2 Non-vascular plants
3.7.2.1 Bryophyta
3.7.3 Non-seed vascular plants
3.7.3.1 Pteridophyta
3.7.4 Seed plants
3.7.4.1 Gymnosperm
3.7.4.2 Angiosperm

3.8 Invertebrates
3.8.1 General characteristics
3.8.2 Calcarea (Porifera)
3.8.3 Cnidaria
3.8.4 Platyhelminthes
3.8.5 Nemertea
3.8.6 Rotifera
3.8.7 Nematoda
3.8.8 Coelomates – Protostomes, deuterostomes
3.8.9 Lophophores – Ectoprocta, Phoronida, Brachiopoda
3.8.10 Mollusca
3.8.11 Annelida
3.8.12 Arthropoda

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3.8.13 Echinodermata
3.8.14 Major trends in evolution

3.9 Vertebrates
3.9.1 Chordates
3.9.2 Trends in vertebrate evolution
3.9.3 Fishes
3.9.4 Amphibians
3.9.5 The rise of the amniotes
3.9.6 Reptiles
3.9.7 Birds
3.9.8 Mammals
3.9.9 Primates
3.9.10 Hominid evolution

4.0 Teaching Methodology

The course will be conducted through formal, structured lectures with

laboratory experiments.

5.0 Laboratory Practical

Practical 1 : Basic Types of Living Cells

Practical 2 : Viruses Practical 1
Practical 3 : Eubacteria
Practical 4 : Protistans Practical 2
Practical 5 : Fungi Practical 3
Practical 6 : Bryophytes Practical 4
Practical 7 : Pteridophytes
Practical 8 : Gymnosperms Practical 5
Practical 9 : Angiosperms
Practical 10 : Animalia Practical 6

* The practical are grouped together in order to complete the three-hour

laboratory time slot.

Field Trip: Aquaria KLCC (Exposure to biological diversity in six

artificially generated ecosystems similarly found in Malaysia)

or

Institut Biodiversiti Kebangsaan, Bukit Rengit, Lanchang,

Pahang Darul Makmur. Students will be exposed to
biological diversity of natural rainforest and river ecosystem.

Universiti Teknologi MARA

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6.0 Evaluation

Continuous Assessment : 50%

- Tests (3 tests) : 30 %
- Lab report (6 labs, 1 acad visit) : 10 %
- Assignments : 5 %
- Quizzes (5-8) : 5 %

Final Examination : 50%

Total 100%

7.0 Recommended text

Campbell, N.A. and Reece, J.B. (2008) Biology. 8th Edition. Pearson
Benjamin Cummings.

8.0 Additional references

Starr, C. and Taggart, R. (2006). Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life.
11th Edition. Brooks/Cole
Solomon, E.P., Berg, L.R. and Martin, D.W. (2005). Biology. 8th
Edition. Thomson Brooks/Cole.
Alters & Alters. (2006). Biology :Understanding Life. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.
Starr, C. (2006). Biology: Concepts and applications 6th Edition.
Brooks/Cole

Universiti Teknologi MARA

© Hak Cipta Terpelihara Tahun 2009/2010