FSS:ENS247 Introduction to Biology - Course Information

ENS247 Introduction to Biology

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Veronika Chvátalová, PhD (lecturer)
Mgr. Pavel Rotter, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Hana Librová, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Veronika Išová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies

Timetable

Wed 13:30–15:00 U32

Prerequisites

ENS116 Zoological Review ENS118 Botanical Review

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

there are 20 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

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.

Syllabus

• 1. Introduction: Why biology for environmentalists? Links to environmental issues.
• 2. In the beginning: What does set living systems apart inanimate systems? The cell and its metabolism. Unicellular organisms and ways to greater complexity.
• 3. Microorganisms: their significance and role in actual environmetal issues.
• 4. Life all round the world: the origin of multicellularity, transition of life from water to the ground.
• 5. Ecology, we are never alone: relations among organisms and their relativity, ecosystems and food webs. Ecosystem atlas: significant ecosystems and threats to them in the Czech Republic and Europe.
• 6. Introduction to evolutionary biology 1: biological evolution, its specifics, conditions and mechanisms, microevolution (selection, genetic drift and draft, gene flow).
• 7. Introduction to evolutionary biology 2: macroevolution (speciation, extinction), co-evolution, evolution of man, criticism and defence of evolutionary theories.
• 8. Fungi, Plantae, Animalia 1 with focus on indicator species. Evolution and ecology, identification of selected species and their ranking in the system. Principle of bioindication.
• 9. Fungi, Plantae, Animalia 2 with focus on test species. Students presentations of field exercise findings. Evolution and ecology of selected species, their ranking in the system.
• 10. Stress and damage from the biological standpoint. Biological theory of stress. Stress at the cell, organism and ecosystem level. Chemical stress. Actual issues of environmental pollution.
• 11. Genetics, breeding, GMO, synthetical biology, biotechnology.
• 12. Biological sciences versus society. Paradigm, reductionism, holism. Technooptimism. Postnormal science.

Literature

recommended literature
• Klouda, P. (2005). Biochemie. Ostrava, Pavel Klouda
• Lhotský, J.: Úvod do studia symbiotických interakcí mikroorganismů: nový pohled na viry a bakterie. Praha: Academia, 2015
• Schrödinger, E. (2004). Co je život? Duch a hmota. K mému životu. Brno, Vutium
• Traavik, T. a Ching, L. L.: Biosafety first - Holistic Approaches to Risk and Uncertainty in Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms. Trondheim: Genok, 2007
• Markoš, A., Hajnal, L. (2007). Staré pověsti (po)zemské aneb Malá historie planety a života. Pavel Mervart
• Rádl, E. (2006). Dějiny biologických teorií novověku I a II. Praha, Academia
• Sapp, J.: Genesis: velký příběh biologie. Praha: Academia, 2015
• Lhotský, J.: Symbiotický vesmír: biologický horizont událostí. Praha: Academia, 2014
• 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 Anton Markoš - Zdeněk Neubauer - Emanuel Rádl, 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

Teaching methods

Lectures, discussions, presentation of students, individual preparation of students for some lessons (reading, field exercise, presentation preparation).

Assessment methods

Three parts are assessed equally (for each of the part minimum of 15 points is needed out of 33 points possible, total at least 45 points out of 99 possible): 1) Students preparation and work in the course of the semester (reading, field exercise, presentation, discussion in the lessons), 2) test from the readings and lessons – written choice test, 3) oral exam.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• ENSb1247 Introduction to Biology
  !ENS247&&!NOW(ENS247)&&typ_studia(B)  

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2016, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2016/ENS247