ENSb1247 Introduction to Biology

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Stanislav Ožana, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petr Pyszko, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Hana Šigutová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Klára Dubinová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! ENS247 Introduction to Biology &&!NOW( ENS247 Introduction to Biology )&&TYP_STUDIA(B)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The course is based on and extends secondary school biology. At the end of the course students should be able to conceive of the contemporary biology potentials, of what can be answered employing biological sciences and of what kind of answers they offer based on the selected explained biology phenomena. Furthermore, students should understand environmental issues from biological standpoint so that they are able to adequately participate in such discussions.
Learning outcomes
To identify and summarize current perspectives on the definition and emergence of life. To find the logical relations among processes, which occur in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. To explain the meaning of microorganisms in current biosphere and describe it´s importance for human. To identify significant bioindicators in environmental and put their occurence to relation with the degree of environmental loading. To introduce strong and weak sides of current views on evolution and to know the interconnection between some aspects of evolution theory and processes on molecular scale. To take into account trophic relationships and other links between ecosystem members in environmental risk analysis and management. To work critically with biologically oriented literature and to describe the biological nature of some significant environmental causes.
Key topics
This is the outline of the topics, the specific layout for the teaching weeks is given in the Study Materials of the course in a Word file. INTRODUCTION: Why biology for environmentalists? Connections with environmental problems. Creating a biological minimum - what biological knowledge should an environmentalist have? Motivation: when can the basics of biology be useful to me? Message: for an environmentalist, the biological aspect of nature protection is one of the relevant ones. ECOLOGY - WE ARE NEVER ALONE: Look for a relationship behind everything, the classic categorization of relationships between organisms and their relativization. The way ecosystems are built and food chains. Message: each organism can be understood as part of broader relationships. ATLAS OF ECOSYSTEMS: Significant ecosystems in the Czech Republic and Europe and their threats. Message: solving regional environmental issues requires knowledge of the region. AT THE BEGINNING: What distinguishes living systems from non-living ones? The rise of living form. The uniqueness of the cell and its metabolism. Different types of metabolisms appearing during evolution. Unicellular organisms and paths to greater complexity. Message: The origin of life is shrouded in mystery. LIFE WHERE YOU LOOK: Continuation of the story of Earth, the emergence of multicellularity. The transition of life to land. What life on land and in water entails from the perspective of multicellular organisms. Message: The diversity of life forms reflects the diversity of the environment. STRESS AND DAMAGE THROUGH THE EYES OF A BIOLOGIST. Biological theory of stress. Stress at the level of the cell, organism and ecosystem. Chemical stress. Current problems of environmental pollution. Message: Living systems have tools to cope with a certain degree of stress, in a rapidly changing environment these tools fail to some extent. GENETICS, BREEDING, GMO, SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY. Message: basic principles of genetics and heredity, the difference between natural and artificial selection, classical breeding and methods of genetic engineering and synthetic biology, the possibilities of today's biology or what we know, what we think we know and what we don't know. MICROORGANISMS, GREY EMMINENCES OF THE BIOSPHERE: The importance of microorganisms and their role in current environmental problems. Message: The enormous importance of microorganisms fills us with humility. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES VERSUS SOCIETY. Paradigm, reductionism, holism. Technooptimism. Postnormal science. Message: what answers are biological sciences able to give and the limitations of their use, the mutual interweaving of "objective" biological sciences and society. FUNDAMENTALS OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 1: What is evolution, biological evolution, its peculiarities, conditions and mechanisms. Microevolution (selection, genetic drift and draft, gene flow). FUNDAMENTALS OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 2: Macroevolution (speciation, extinction), coevolution, human evolution, criticism and defense of evolutionary theories. The mission of both classes: understanding the broadest interpretive framework of biology, distinguishing the questions of "why" in biology, extinction and the emergence of new species from an evolutionary perspective, why today's organisms look and function exactly like this. FUNGI, PLANTAE, ANIMALIA 1: focusing on indicator species. Evolution and ecology of selected species, their position in the system, brief characteristics of the given taxon. Principles of bioindication and selection of experimental organisms. Message: difficulty in drawing precise boundaries between kingdoms, reasons and limitations of using certain species as indicator organisms in specific samples. FUNGI, PLANTAE, ANIMALIA 2: focusing on experimental species. Presentation of results from field exercises. Evolution and ecology of selected species, their position in the system, brief characteristics of the given taxon. Message: reasons and limitations for using certain species as experimental organisms in specific demonstrations.

Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • Rádl, E. (2006). Dějiny biologických teorií novověku I a II. Praha, Academia
  • Sapp, J.: Genesis: velký příběh biologie. Praha: Academia, 2015
  • Lhotský, J.: Úvod do studia symbiotických interakcí mikroorganismů: nový pohled na viry a bakterie. Praha: Academia, 2015
  • Lhotský, J.: Symbiotický vesmír: biologický horizont událostí. Praha: Academia, 2014
  • Traavik, T. a Ching, L. L.: Biosafety first - Holistic Approaches to Risk and Uncertainty in Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms. Trondheim: Genok, 2007
  • Schrödinger, E. (2004). Co je život? Duch a hmota. K mému životu. Brno, Vutium
  • Klouda, P. (2005). Biochemie. Ostrava, Pavel Klouda
  • Markoš, A., Hajnal, L. (2007). Staré pověsti (po)zemské aneb Malá historie planety a života. Pavel Mervart
  • Funtowicz, S. a Ravetz, J. Uncertainty, Complexity and Post-normal Science. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 1994, 13 (12), 1881-1885
  • FLEGR, Jaroslav. Evoluční biologie. 2., oprav. a rozšíř. vyd. Praha: Academia, 2009, 569 s. ISBN 9788020017673. info
  • DARWIN, Charles and Stanislav KOMÁREK. O vzniku druhů přírodním výběrem. Edited by Hana Marsault, Translated by Emil Hadač - Alena Hadačová. Vyd. 3., V nakl. Academia 2. Praha: Academia, 2007, 579 s. ISBN 9788020014924. info
  • Dějiny biologických teorií novověku. Edited by Emanuel Rádl - Anton Markoš - Zdeněk Neubauer, Translated by Tomá. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2006, 482 s. ISBN 8020013946. info
  • KAUFFMAN, Stuart A. and Anton MARKOŠ. Čtvrtý zákon : cesty k obecné biologii. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2004, 261 s. ISBN 8071856363. info
  • ZRZAVÝ, Jan; David STORCH and Stanislav MIHULKA. Jak se dělá evoluce : od sobeckého genu k rozmanitosti života. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2004, 289 s. ISBN 8071855782. info
  • MARGULIS, Lynn. Symbiotická planeta : nový pohled na evoluci. Translated by Zdeněk Urban. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2004, 150 s. ISBN 8020012060. info
  • CAPRA, Fritjof. Tkáň života : nová syntéza mysli a hmoty. Translated by Jan Pokorný. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2004, 290 s. ISBN 8020011692. info
  • ROSYPAL, Stanislav. Nový přehled biologie. 1. vydání. Praha: Scientia, 2003, xxii, 797. ISBN 9788086960234. info
  • MARKOŠ, Anton. Tajemství hladiny : hermeneutika živého. Vyd. 2., v Dokořán 1. Praha: Dokořán, 2003, 350 s. ISBN 8086569675. info
  • NEUBAUER, Zdeněk. Biomoc. Vyd. 1. Praha: Malvern, 2002, 272 s. ISBN 8090262864. info
  • DAWKINS, Richard. Slepý hodinář : zázrak života očima evoluční biologie. Praha: Ladislav Horáček - Paseka, 2002, 357 s. ISBN 807185445X. info
  • SÁDLO, Jiří and David STORCH. Biologie krajiny : biotopy České republiky. Vyd. 2. Praha: Vesmír, 2000, 94 s. ISBN 8085977311. info
  • KOMÁREK, Stanislav. Příroda a kultura : svět jevů a svět interpretací, aneb, Jak je to doopravdy. 1. vyd. Praha: Vesmír, 2000, 180 s. ISBN 8085977338. info
  • DAWKINS, Richard. Sobecký gen. 1. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1998, 319 s. ISBN 8020407308. info
  • Model a analogie ve vědě, umění a filozofii : (sborník příspěvků). Edited by Jiřina Stachová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia - nakladatelství Filosofického ústavu AV ČR, 1994, 317 s. ISBN 8070070595. info
  • LOVELOCK, James. Gaia : nový pohled na život na zemi. Translated by Jan Edlman. Vyd. 1. Prešov: Abies, 1993, 175 s. ISBN 8088699037. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures, discussions, presentation of students, individual preparation of students for some lessons (reading, field exercise, presentation preparation).
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The course will be assessed by a written exam, which will consist of all taught topics. In total, it will be possible to obtain up to 99 points, while the minimum required to complete the course is 45 points (A: 99-89, B: 88-78, C: 77-67, D: 66-56, E: 55-45, 44 and less F.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every other week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2026/ENSb1247