Expand+BIOL10140 Life on Earth
Academic Year 2022/2023

Life is the defining feature of our planet. In BIOL 10140 Life on Earth, we will consider how life arose and evolved into the myriad of forms it takes today.

We will introduce the principles of e...

Hide-BIOL10140 Life on Earth
Academic Year 2022/2023

Life is the defining feature of our planet. In BIOL 10140 Life on Earth, we will consider how life arose and evolved into the myriad of forms it takes today.

We will introduce the principles of evolution and explore the tree of life, highlighting the major evolutionary advances that have enabled organisms to exploit every habitat on Earth. The major living groups of microbes, plants and animals will be presented and the key features of their biology will be discussed and illustrated. A wide range of examples will be given, spanning microbial parasites, plants, fungi, jellyfish and corals, worms, insects, crustaceans, fish, birds, mammals. We will examine how they feed, survive and reproduce, and, importantly, how they impact our daily lives.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module a student should be able to:
(1) classify protists, fungi, plants and animals into their major groups and describe the basis of that classification,
(2) recognise fundamental characteristics of selected groups of protists, fungi, plants and animals,
(3) demonstrate a knowledge of the nature and origins of biodiversity,
(4) explain the key components of evolutionary theory,
(5) demonstrate a practical understanding of the use of a microscope,
(6) use a dichotomous key to identify an unknown organism,
(7) recognise and explain mechanisms of adaptation,
(8) handle, dissect and make accurate drawings of biological specimens.