FIRST SEMESTER COURSES

BIO 001: GENERAL BIOLOGY (3 Units)

BIO 002: MICROBIOLOGY (3 Units)

SECOND SEMESTER COURSES

BIO 003: BOTANY (3 Units)
BIO 004: ZOOLOGY (3 Units)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
BIO 001: GENERAL BIOLOGY
Specific objectives
At the end of the course, the candidates should be able to:
1. Explain living things in nature and biological molecules
2. Discuss cell as fundamental unit of living things and describe levels of
organization of living things
3. Discuss biological methods and their applications (biostatistics,
taxonomy and nomenclature);
4. Discuss principles of genetics, variation and heredity; and
5. Conduct laboratory and field practical in biology
Course content
S/ TOPICS SUB – TOPICS DETAILS & NOTES
N
1. Origin of living The Science of Biology Definition of Biology
things Branches of biology
Importance of biology
The nature of science
- Scientific methods
- Testing of hypothesis
- Data collection and
analysis
Application of scientific methods
in biological experiments
Relationship between Biology &
Medicine, Agriculture, etc.
Brief history of organic molecules

Origin of Organic Molecules Brief history of organic molecules.

Origin of the First Cells Brief history of the evolution of

the first cells
 The Earliest Cells: Relate the living cell to the fossil
- Living
- Fossils

Basic biostatics Definition of the basic biostatics

Central tendencies tendency
measurement

2. Living Things in Diversity of Living Things Different kingdoms and

Nature and Biological characteristics.
Molecules

Practical class- field observation of

diversity of living things

Biological molecules Carbohydrate, lipids, protein and

nucleic acids

3. Cell organization, Cell Theory, Cell Structure Demonstration of cell structure on

Structure and and functions microscopes.
Functions

Cell Organization, Forms in Biological drawings of plant and

which cells exist animal cells.
Comparisons of plant and animal
cells

4. Cell division, Cell divisions, Mitosis in Definition, Cell cycle, Basic

Principles of Somatic cells, Meiosis in concepts in genetics:
Genetics, Variations Germ cells, Principles of Chromosome, Gene, allele,
and Heredity Genetics dominant, recessive,
Variation and Heredity Heterozygous, Hybrid, genotype,
phenotype etc.

Mendel’s law of inheritance The nature of genes and

chromosomes
Mendelian genetics

Practical class:
Determination of inheritance using
colored seeds e.g. beads, grains,
 etc.
Verifications of principles of
Mendel’s law and its deviation

Human Cell division experiment using

Inheritance, onion root.
Human Genetic Identification of stages of meiosis,
Disorders e.g. Traits controlled by Multiple
sickle cell anemia, albinism. alleles
Rhesus Factors, e.g. blood group, eye color.
Polyploidy, Sex- Determination of inheritance using
linked Traits; colored seeds e.g. beads, grains
application of etc.
Genetics in Verifications of principles of
Agriculture, Mendel’s laws.
Medicine,
Criminology, etc.

5. Systematics, Basis of Taxonomy Criteria for classification

Taxonomy and Rules of systematics Naming Taxonomy hierarchy
Nomenclature of Organisms Binominal nomenclature: Genus &
(Nomenclature) Species

Practical class:
Classification and identification
Of organisms, Highlighting
Adaptive features and their uses

6. Ecology Basic Concepts in Ecology Ecosystem, food chain, food web,

nutrient cycling, biogeochemical
cycles

Biological Associations and Symbiosis, mutualism, parasitism,

Interactions commensalism, ammensalism &
synergism

Ecology studies, Practical use of ecological

Types of Habitats equipment,
Population study in a specific
habitat

Ecology and Natural Environmental changes

Selection. Biological impacts of climate
 change

7. Biological Methods Rules of Biological Drawings Standard drawing rules governing:

and Application use of pencils, specimen proportions,
magnification, size of specimen
Drawing and labelling:
Diagrams must be according to length
specification,
Lines must not be woolly or broken.
Drawings must carry appropriate
titles at the correct position
Labelling must be horizontal &
parallel with ruled guidelines
Drawing must not be artistic i.e. no
shading or painting. Spelling must be
correct and touched by labelling lines.

8. Evolution Geological Times, and Definition of evolution,

Mega Geological Events, Types of evolution,
evolutionary trends in Application of Evolution
animals and plants,
theories of Evolution –
to plants &
Lamarck and Darwin Animals Taxonomy.
Theories of
Evolution. Evidence of
evolution from Anatomy
Embryology,
Biochemistry.

9. Enzymes Properties of Enzymes, Types of enzymes

Enzymes, & Factors affecting rate of
Mechanism of enzyme action
Enzyme reaction,
Enzyme inhibition &
Enzyme Cofactors
BIO 002: MICROBIOLOGY
Specific objectives
At the end of this course, candidates should be able to:
1. Discuss history and discovery of micro-organisms
2. Discuss the different types of micro-organisms and the taxonomic groupings
3. Explain microbial cellular structures, morphology and biochemical
characteristics
4. Explain microbial genetics and applications in biotechnology; and
5. Enumerate economic importance of micro-organisms.

Course content

S/N TOPICS SUB - TOPICS DETAILS & NOTES

1. History of the Spontaneous The theory of spontaneous
Discovery of Generations generation of organisms,
Microorganisms Microorganisms Conflict over spontaneous
as the Cause of
some Diseases
generations,
The golden era of
microbiology (1860 –
1910), The germ theory of
disease,
The discovery of viruses,
 microorganisms in the 20th
century

Practical class – introduction

to basic microbial laboratory
equipment, principles of
operation and drawings

2. Types and Seven Levels of Bacteria – size, shapes,

Taxonomic Classification motility, unusual types, general
Groupings of Prokaryotic Cells methods of bacteria
Microorganisms Eukaryotic Cells classification.
Fungi – yeast and mould –
Size, shape, general fungal
classification
Protozoa – specific examples,
motile and non- motile types,
nutrition types.
Viruses – sizes,
bacteriophages, viroid, prions,
Algae – sizes, types, diatoms,
sea weeds, lichens, sexual and
asexual reproduction
Archaea – general features,
origin and evolution

Practical class- aseptic

techniques in microbiology

3. Structures, Morphology and Structure of bacteria cells –

Morphology structures of capsule, flagella, pilli and
and Microbial Cells, fimbriae, cell wall, plasma
Characteristics Biochemical membrane, cytoplasm
of micro Characterization Cell wall of fungal cells,
organisms Reproduction, cytoplasm
Growth Types and Cultural characteristics of
 Phases. bacterial growth – on solid and
liquid media, forms of growth
Cultural and cellular
characteristics of mould and
yeast on solid and liquid
media, hyphal and mycelial
types
Biochemical characterization
of bacteria and fungi
Viruses and their structures
Reproduction and microbial
growth phases

Practical class- Cultivation and

identification of bacteria from
soil, water and decomposing
food

4. Microbial Microbial Predation, Competition,

ecology Interactions with Synergism, Commensalism,
animals, plants and infectious diseases, immunity,
microbes spoilage of food, control of
microbial activities

5. Microbial Genetic Nature of DNA, Nucleosides

Nucleic Acids Materials, and nucleotides, types of RNA,
in Information Mutation and Enzymes in DNA replication,
Storage and Mutagenesis Genetic code,
Transfer Transcription and translation,
Transfer of genetic materials
inn prokaryotes, Spontaneous
mutation, induced mutation,
expression of mutation.
 6. Microorganisms Biotechnological Biotechnological
and their Application of Use of microorganisms in
Application in Microorganism in Food industry, Environment,
Biotechnology Various Fields Pharmaceuticals, Medical and
Agricultural fields.

BIO 003: BOTANY

Specific objectives
At the end of this course, candidates should be able to:
1. Discuss general characteristics of plants
2. Explain the taxonomy of lower and higher plants
3. Discuss biodiversity and conservation of plants
4. Explain plant structures, functions and physiological processes in plants; and
5. Enumerate economic and ecological importance of plants

Course content

S/N TOPICS SUB – TOPICS DETAILS & NOTES

1. General Characteristics of lower Classification of major plants
characteristics and and higher plant groups groups (lower and higher plants
diversity of plants Divisions up to generic level
Lower plants – algae, fungi,
bryophytes, pteridophytes

Morphology and life Morphological and life cycle of

cycle of lower and named example in each major
higher plants group considering the simplest and
complex in each group of the lower
plants.
Economic and ecological
importance of plant groups

Practical class- classification and

morphological drawings of lower
plants:
Algae (chlorella,
euglena/chamydomonas, volvox,
spirogyra)
Fungi e.g; riccia, marchantia,
funaria
Pteridophytes, e.g. lycopodium,
seleginella, nephrolepis
Higher plant (non-vascular and
vascular plants)
Spermatophtes e.g. cycas, pinus,
gnetum, hibiscus rosa-sinesis

Morphology of Eleusine indica and talinum

Eleusine indica and triangulae treated comparatively
morphology of
Talinum triangulare

2. Taxonomy of lower Plant taxonomy and Definition, plant nomenclature,

and higher plants systematic taxonomy of plant classification & the difference
lower and higher plants between taxonomy and systematics.

3. Plant Importance of plant Definition, concepts in plant

conservation conservation. conservation, in-situ and ex-situ
Measures in plant conservation.
 conservation. Advantages and disadvantages of
Climate change each: biological control, pest
management, impact of climatic
change on plants

4. Plant tissues Plant tissues Emphasis on compositions,

and functions Anatomy & functions distributions, forms and functions
of each tissues: parenchyma,
collenchyma, shlerenchyma,
epidermal, peridermal, cascular
(cambium, phloem, xylem)

5. Morphology of plant Morphology of roots, stems, leaf

parts types and their modifications due to
functions

Anatomy of plant Anatomy of monocot and dicot

parts roots, stem and leaves with
emphasis on tissues management in
relation to functions and
environment

Types of roots Practical class –

Roots:
 Adventitious and tap root
systems, modification and
adaptations
 Anatomical observation and
drawing of
temporary/permanent
mount of monocots and
dicots root (T.S and L.S)
 Locate, draw and label
different plant tissues
(parenchyma, collenchyma
etc)

Types of stem Stem:

 Aerial and underground
stem,
modifications/adaptations
related to functions
 Anatomical observation and
 drawing of
permanent/temporary
mount of monocot and dicot
stems (T.S and L.S)
 Locate, draw and label
different plant tissues
(parenchyma, collenchyma
etc)

Types of leaves Leaves:

 Simple and compound
leaves, arrangements,
modifications to suit
habitats
 T.S of leaves of both
monocot and dicot plants
 Locate, draw and label
different plant tissues
(parenchyma, collenchyma
etc)

Types of flowers Flowers:

 L.S of dicot flowers e.g.
regular and irregular
flowers, floral diagrams and
formula

Types of fruits Fruits:

 L.S and T.S of various
types of fruits (dry,
dehiscent, indehiscent and
fleshy fruits should be
observed and drawn)

6. Nutrition in plants Nature and types of Autotrophic (photosynthetic and

nutrition chemosynthetic), dark and light
reactions in photosynthesis,
heterotrophic & holozoic nutrition,
mineral requirements of plants,
their sources, roles and deficiency
symptoms, composition of
chemical fertilizers
 Practical class:
Demonstration of etiolation.
Measurement of photosynthesis in
leaf
Growth experiments to show
deficiency symptoms.
Field study of deficiency symptoms
in plants

7. Transport system in Need for transport Mineral requirements of plants

plants system. Transport in xylem
Water relation Transport in phloem
Transport media in plant and
materials to be transported

Practical class
- Transpiration, osmosis and
food transport in plants

8. Respiration Mechanism of Stomata apparatus, lenticels,

gaseous exchange aerobic and anaerobic respiration

9. Plant sexual and asexual Definition, asexual reproduction,

reproduction reproduction types of asexual reproduction,
vegetative propagation.
Sexual reproduction in flowering
plants, angiosperm flower and
differences between monocot and
dicot flowers

10. Growth in higher Plant growth, roles and Growth in roots and shoots
plants and growth interactions of growth Auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins,
regulators regulators ascorbic acids, ethylene
Growth in higher
plants and growth
regulators

11. Crop Importance of GMC Genetically modified crops (GMC)

improvements Challenges of resistant plant
species, ethical implications of
genetic modifications.

Economically important food

 plants, economically valuable
medicinal plants & ornamental
plants

BIO 004: ZOLOGY (3 UNITS)

Specific objectives
At the end of this course, candidates should be able to:
1. Discuss the general characteristics of kingdom Animalia
2. Explain the taxonomy of invertebrates and vertebrates;
3. Discuss diversity of animal species
4. Explain physiological processes in animals; and
5. Enumerate the economic and ecological importance of animals

Course content

S/N TOPICS SUB-TOPICS DETAILS & NOTES

1. Diversity and What is zoology? Definition, general characteristics of animals,
general What are animals? diversity of lifestyles, habitats, categories of
characteristics Scope and areas in animals
of animals zoology
Importance of zoology

2. Systematics Classification of Unicellular levels of organization – protozoa,

(taxonomy) of animals, basis of cellular levels of organization- eumetazoa,
animals animal classification, multicellular level of organization- metazoan.
levels of animal Classification of invertebrates
organization. - Animals without tissues
- Phyla of - Animals with tissues
- Animals exhibiting bilateral symmetry
animals
(bilateria)
- Tissues and
- Animals with body cavity
organs of (coelomates)
animals - Segmented animals
- Animals with jointed appendages
- Animals with backbones (vertebrates)
Major and minor phyla
 Types of tissues and organ system

Practical class –
- Identification and classification of
animal specimens in different phyla
- Dissection of selected animals:
cockroaches, fish, frog, rat, etc

3. Evolution of History and origin of Adaptation of animals in water

animals animals, major Adaptation of animals on land
evolutionary Adaptation of animals in air
Adaptation of animals

4. Invertebrates Phylum protozoa Taxonomy, characteristics, diversity, lifestyle,

Phylum porifera morphology and life cycle providing named
Phylum cnidarian representative examples in each order
(coelenterata) Free living flat worms
Phylum Parasitic flat worms (trematodes and
Platyhelminthes cestodes) of medical and veterinary
importance
Phylum nematode
Emphasize on the body plan
Phylum annelida
Why arthropods are successful
Phylum arthropoda
Phylum Mollusca
Phylum
echinodermata

5. Introduction Adaptation of Challenges and adaptations to living in the

to chordates chordates to water, different habitats, history and important
land and air. adaptations, diversity, classification,
Protochordates morphology and life cycle, providing,
- Class representative examples from the different
chondrichthyes orders, history and important adaptations, rise
and fall of dominant reptiles, clearly state the
- Class
taxonomic features that warrant the grouping
osteichthyes
into classes
- Class
amphibian
- Class reptilian
- Class aves
- Class
mammalia
6. Ecologic and Diverse economic Benefits of animals to man, economic
economic importance of animals importance of arthropods
importance of - Invertebrates
animals - Vertebrates
Ecological importance
of animals

7. Physiological Nutrition in animals Types of nutrition in animals, nutrition in

processes humans, types of dentition in animals,
alimentary system in man, digestion (diverse
enzymes) and absorption

Practical class – food test

Characteristics of respiratory surfaces, lung as

a respiratory organ, breathing mechanism,
human respiratory structure and function
Role of circulatory system in respiration

Axial and appendicular skeleton, types of

muscular movements, control of muscle
contraction, joint (types of joint) & functions
of skeleton

8. Transport of Diffusion, osmosis, Osmotic balance, selective transport of

substances plasmolysis, substances across membranes, osmotic
across flaccidity, haemolysis pressure, turgor pressure & active transport
membranes crenation & turgidity

9. Nervous Coordination and Nerve cells (neuron and reflex)

system control Structure of neuron
Reflex arc
Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
system

10. Sense organs Structures and Structure and functions of the human ears,
functions of sense eyes, nose, skin and tongue
 organs
Chemoreception,
mechanoreception and
photoreception
11. Endocrine Mechanism of Types of hormones, control of hormonal
system hormonal action actions, secreting glands, functions of
hormones