GENERAL BIOLOGY (GNS 230/ODFeL/PUB/1st)

i. Course Information

Course Code: GNs 230

Course Title: General Biology

Level/Year Of Study: One

Course Unit: 2 Credit Units

Semester: First

ii. Course Introduction and Description

This course is designed to introduce you to basic biological sciences and to make you understand the environment in which you live. It is also designed to develop your basic knowledge of biology as a science. General biology as a course introduces you to living things around you and your relationship with them. You will also learn the basic unit of living things including why and how living things are grouped. The course will also help you to identify the different features of different groups of living things. This will assist you in learning the interaction between an organism and its environment and to know the fundamentals of inheritance.

iii. Course Prerequisites

You are required to have the following to be qualified for this course.

1.  5 credits in “O” level certificate

2.  An interest in science, your environment and nature.

3.  Proficiency in English language

4.  Proficiency in basic computer operations and online interaction

iv. Course Learning Resources

Falusi, O. A. (2003). Introductory Biology. Davies publishing co. Kaduna. Pp 46-48

Isah, S.E., Alli. I. and J.Y. Karago. (2012). Basic Concepts in Biology. Print point publishing Co. Kaduna. Pp 22 – 50

Nweze, C. (2004). Comprehensive Biology for Senior Secondary Schools. A Johnson Publishers Ltd, Lagos. Pp 97

Ramalingam, S. (2000). Modern Biology Africa – FEB Publishers Limited. Pp 205-209

Raven, H. and Johnson, B. (1989). Biology. Second Edition. St. Louis, Times Mirror/mosby College Publishing.

Roberts, M. B. V. (1983). Biology of Functional Approach. Third Edition. The English Language Book Society and Nelson. Butler and Tanner Ltd, Frome and London. Pp 47-50.

Stone, R. H., Cozens, A. B. and Ndu, F. O. C. (1999). New Biology for Senior Secondary Schools. Longman Group, UK Limited. Pp 282.

Suleiman, M. M. (2008). Revision notes in Biology. Spectrum Books Limited Ibadan. Pp 146-s148.

v.  Course Outcome

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Explain the concept of living things and the structure of cells

2. Identify the principal features of different groups of living things

3. Describe the method by which plants and animals feed and generate energy from their

food

4. Explain how plants and animals remove their waste products.

5. Explain how living things move

6. Describe how living things increase in size and number

7. Explain the interaction between an organism and its environment

8. Understand man’s interference with his environment.

9. Explain the fundamentals of biological inheritance.

vi. Activities to Meet Course Objectives

The course material has been simplified as much as possible for easy understanding especially for you who may not have had formal training in biology. You are expected to take your studies seriously by reading this course material very well with understanding. There will be online interaction, classwork, chatting and assignments. You are encouraged and expected to interact with each other, and also to have software applications (WhatsApp, Facebook, telegram etc.) and a functional email address on your device (phones, laptops, etc.)