2007 Handbooks

BIOL114, and its companion unit BIOL115 The Thread of Life, introduce you to the essential concepts in current biology - the foundations of biological sciences in the new century. The units are designed for two groups of students. They form the first step for students pursuing a career in the Biological Sciences and also provide a basis for students in other disciplines who wish to maintain an interest in this dynamic field.

The process of evolution has resulted in an amazing diversity of life forms. As a consequence of recent discoveries in a variety of biological disciplines, we can now begin to understand not just what, but also how and why, life has evolved in the way it has. BIOL114 focuses on the major concepts underlying current biological understanding. It commences with ideas on the origin of life and continues through energy flow, genetic diversity, natural selection, speciation and biogeography. The essential steps in the evolution of the major lifeforms are described and methods for determining the relationships amongst them are discussed. Throughout the unit, these core concepts are illustrated with examples from current research.