Page 48 - Handbook Bachelor Degree of Science Academic Session 20202021

Faculty of Science Handbook, Academic Session 2020/2021

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE PROGRAMME chromosomes and test crosses. Students will be first
refreshed on probability calculations, the Punnet
The Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB) offers degrees in square and linkage&mapping methods. The
BSc for 8 programmes (124-126 credits): Bioinformatics, component will later discusses deeper topics of
Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biohealth, Genetics and inheritance which include Extensions to Mendelian
Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Inheritance Concept (Epistasis, Sex linkage), Sex
Science and Environmental Management. Students are influenced inheritance and Pedigree analyses. At the
accepted into one of these programmes on the following end of this component students will be exposed to
criteria: (1) merit; (2) capacity ; (3) completion of all pre- topics such as Human Genetics, Genetic Counselling
requisites for year 1 courses. and finally a brief introduction to Population Genetics
and Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium.
RESEARCH AREAS ii) Cell Biology
This component will discuss on the basic structures and
Researchers in ISB carry out research in many different functions of organelles and also processes involving
areas. Examples include biodiversity and plant mitosis and meiosis.Students will also be introduced to
conservation, plant and environmental ecology, genetics prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; and the differences
(human and biochemical), plant and animal breeding, between these two types of cells.
cytogenetics, immunology, biohealth sciences, bioassays, iii) Molecular Biology
cancer studies, genetic engineering and recombinant DNA In this component, students will first be refreshed on
technology, animal and plant virology, bacteriology, basic aspects of molecular genetics (Historical account,
microbiology (industrial, food, medical, environmental), direct and indirect evidences of DNA as genetic
animal biotechnology, neurobiology, biosystematics, materials, structure and properties of DNA, DNA
applied entomology, pest control, fresh and marine water replication, transcription and translation in prokaryotes
management, applied toxicology. and how to decipher genetics codes). The component
will later discusses on regulation of gene expression in
prokaryotes (lac operon, catabolite repression and trp
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
operon and attenuation), control by sigma factor, anti-
termination, post-transcriptional control of RNA (trans-
Our BSc graduates are employed in the education, and cis-acting regulators), riboswitch as ribozymes and
business, management, administration sectors. Some finally the applications of these knowledge in DNA
choose to further their studies either locally or abroad, and recombinant technology.
may one day return to ISB to become academicians or
researchers. Others are gainfully employed in local or Assessment Methods:
overseas research institutes. Continuous Assessment: 50%
Final Examination: 50%
COURSE SYNOPSES
Medium of Instruction:

LEVEL 1 COURSES English

SIJ 1001 LIFE PROCESSES References:
1. Principles of Genetics 6th Edition (Snustad and

This course discusses the structures and roles of chemical Simmons, 2011). Wiley Publications
components of the cell at the atom, molecule and 2. GenesX I (Lewin, 2014)
macromolecule level. Students will also learn about 3. Becker, Smith and Hardin (2010). The world of the cell
enzymes including catalysis, types and control of activity. (8th edition). Pearson Education Inc. Publ.
This course also covers membrane biology, photosynthesis
system and cell respiration as well as growth and
development of animals and plants. SIE 1001 BIOLOGY OF ORGANISMS

Assessment Methods: Characteristics of living organisms; classification based on
evolution, morphology and molecular biology; naming of
Continuous Assessment: 40%
Final Examination: 60% organisms based on the binomial system; description of the
major taxa from virus, bacteria, protist, fungi, bryophytes,
Medium of Instruction: ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms, to invertebrate and
English vertebrate animals; adaptations, life cycles and inter-
relationships among organisms.

References:
1. Brooker, R.J., Widmaier, E.P., Graham, L.E. & Assessment Methods:
Stiling,P.E. (2010). Biology. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill: New Continuous Assessment: 50%
York. Final Examination: 50%

2. Garrett, R.H. & Grisham, C.M. (2001). Principles of Medium of Instruction:
Biochemistry with a Human Focus. Brooks Cole. English
3. Rost, T.L., Barbour, M.G., Stocking, C.R. & Murphy, T.M.
(2006). Plant Biology. 2nd ed. Brooks Cole. References:
th
1. Urry et al. 2017. Campbell Biology (11 edition).
Pearson. 1488 pp.
SIL 1001 CELL BIOLOGY 2. Solomon, E., Berg, L. & Martin, D.W. 2014. Biology
th
(10 ed). Brooks Cole. 1440 pp.
This course is divided into three components namely 3. Barnes, R.S.K. 1998. The Diversity of Living
Genetics, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology. Content of Organisms. Blackwell Science. 345 pp.
each is stated below: 4. Brooker et al. 2014. Biology. McGraw-Hill Higher
i) Genetics: Education
This component comprises of quick introduction of
Mendel’s Law, the concept of alleles, loci, genes and

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