General Principles of Biology

At the end of lectures in Plant Biology, students should be able to: 1. explain cells structure and organisations; 2. summarise functions of cellular organelles; 3. characterise living organisms and state their general reproduction; 4. describe the interrelationship that exists between organisms; 5. discuss the concept of heredity and evolution; and 6. enumerate habitat types and their characteristics.

Cell structure and organisation. functions of cellular organelles. characteristics and classification of living things. chromosomes, genes their relationships and importance. General reproduction. Interrelationships of organisms (competitions, parasitism, predation, symbiosis, commensalisms, mutualism, saprophytism). Heredity and evolution (introduction to Darwinism and Lamarckism, Mendelian laws, explanation of key genetic terms). Elements of ecology and types of habitat.