| CODE | BIO1030 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Diversity of Life: Non-Animals | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | (1) Principles of nomenclature and classification (2) Prokaryotes: Brief survey of the main prokaryote groups: Archaea and Eubacteria (including Cyanobacteria) (3) Eukaryotes:Evolution of the eukaryote cell including primary and secondary endosymbiosis. Types of flagella, mitochondrial cristae and chloroplasts. (4) Protozoa (5) Chromalveolata (6) Fungi (7) Plant life cycles, a general review (8) Chlorophyta: characteristics and classification of the green algae (9) Charophyta: in particular their role as embryophyte ancestors (10) Bryophytes: adaptations to life on land; Bryophyta; Marchantiophyta; Anthocerotophyta (11) Vascular Plants: review of pteridophyte groups (including reference to fossil record) (12) Seed plants: The seed and the basic life cycle (13) Review of Gymnosperm groups including reference to fossil record (14) Angiosperms: evolution of flower and enclosed ovules from gymnospermous structures; dicots and monocots. Important note: Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless they attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical reports is a minimum of 45%. Furthermore, students are informed that regular lecture attendance is obligatory. A grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if the student's attendance to lectures and practical sessions has been regular. Study-unit Aims This study-unit is meant to give students an idea of the diversity of non-animal biota highlighting the criteria used for determining taxonomic groupings. It will cover systematics in relation to non-animal organisms as well as nomenclature conventions. Furthermore, it will focus on eukaryotic non-animal organisms. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: Appreciate the diversity of lifeforms and strategies of non-animal organisms in the biosphere; Describe the main characteristics and evolutionary trends of several major groups; Appreciate that the taxonomy of smaller non-animal organisms is in a constant state of flux; Appreciate the principal structures that may be used to trace phylogenetic lineages. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: Critically appraise various points of view when explaining the same phenomenon. Explain complex processes by starting from the basic principles of science. Identify a number of distinctive species. Interpret morphological structures as adaptations to environmental pressures. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: SIMPSON, MG (2010). Plant Systematics. [Second Edition]. Academic Press. GRAHAM, LE, GRAHAM, JE & WILCOX, LW (2009). Algae. [Second Edition]. Benjamin Cummings. BARNES, R.S.K. (1998) – The Diversity of Living Organisms. Blackwell Science. Other texts and readings may be indicated throughout the duration of the course. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Offered to B.Sc. (Hons) Biology and Chemistry. Pre-Requisite: A-Level Biology or equivalent. Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Sandro Lanfranco |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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