551-0002-00L  General Biology II

SemesterSpring Semester 2016
LecturersU. Sauer, R. Aebersold, H.‑M. Fischer, W. Gruissem
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionGerman


AbstractBasics of molecular biology (gene expression and its regulation; from gene to protein); evolution of biological diversity (bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, plants); basics of the physiology of higher plants (structure, growth, development, nutrition, transport, reproduction)
ObjectiveThe understanding of basic concepts in biology: gene expression, its control and regulation; life histories of pro- and eucaryotic microorgamisms; structure, function, and reprodction of higher plants.
ContentFrom gene to protein; molecular genetics of microbial systems; structural and metabolic diversity of prokaryotes; diversity of eukaryotic microorganisms; the eukaryotic genome; regulation of gene expression; the genetic basis of the development of multicellullar organisms. Plant physiology: structure and growth, physiology of photosynthesis incl. C4 and CAM, nutrition and transport processes, reproduction and development, response to internal and external signals.

The following Campbell chapters will be covered:

16 The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
17 From Gene to Protein
18 Regulation of Gene Expression
19 Viruses
20, 38 Biotechnology, Biosafety
27 Bacteria and Archae
28 Protists
31 Fungi
29, 30 Plant Diversity I & II
35 Plant Structure, Growth, and Development
36 Resource Acquisition and Transport
37 Soil and Plant Nutrition
38 Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology
39 Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals
Lecture notesno script
LiteratureN. A. Campbell, J. B. Reece: "Biology" (8th edition); Pearson, San Francisco 2008.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture is the second in a series of two lectures given over two semesters for students of agricultural and food sciences, as well as of environmental sciences.