After completing this course students are able to:

This course is an introduction to the fundamental characteristics of life on earth. All organisms are composed of cells, and all cells come from pre-existing cells. Cells are the basic building blocks of life and their properties can be explained in physical and chemical terms. Cells interact with the environment: they take in raw materials and energy and convert these to biologically useful products required for survival and reproduction. Genetic information in the form of DNA encodes the cellular repertoire of proteins and is transmitted from one generation to the next. This genetic information thus determines (sub-) cellular structures and activities. Mutation and recombination of genetic material, however, cause genetic variation that enables evolution by natural selection. As a result of evolution, our earth is inhabited by nearly thirty million different species of organisms! This course focuses mainly on what all those organisms have in common.

Class meetings (appr. 60 hours)
The course covers approximately 210 hours. During the semester about twenty interactive introductions of about 45 minutes are given on the main topics. The introductions give a broad overview of the topic and also discuss the relations between the topics. After each introduction, they are challenged to work with the acquired knowledge through computer-based learning or essay questions. 

Self Study (appr. 100 hours)
Besides attending the introductions, students study the corresponding chapters of the course book in advance. In these chapters students may find extensive descriptive texts, illustrations, useful examples, and study questions. ‘Power, sex and suicide’ is a popular science paperback on which students write two opinionated essays (800-1200 words) that serve as a basis for class discussions.

Paper and oral presentation (appr. 40 hours)
Students also write a paper and give an oral presentation on a biological topic. The papers are subject to peer assessment and the oral presentation is followed by a general discussion. Paper and presentation must give evidence of students’ ability to gather relevant information from biological handbooks and other resources, and to analyze a biological topic critically.