General Biology

Biology, the study of living organisms, is intriguing, since it includes us. Anything makes sense, when it relates to us. A working knowledge of the living world and how it functions, is cardinal to understand the principles of life and its unifying features. The awareness acquired through a systematic study of the subject will be pluralistically useful. It is a welcome step taken by AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education), to introduce a course in 'general biology' for all specializations of undergraduate studies in engineering in India, on par with the already offered courses in physical sciences. Design of living forms and the execution of life activities, are perfect and beyond improvement. They serve as exemplary models to emulate in engineering design. The syllabus has been aptly devised by AICTE, towards driving to this end. This book covers in toto, all the topics in the prescribed syllabus, and an additional topic on applied biology-biotechnology (included in the syllabus modified by APSHE (Andhra Pradesh State Higher Education) for the colleges in the state of AP). The choice of the content in each topic, and the extent to which it is dealt, is meant to achieve the learning objectives intended in the syllabus. Topics dealt with are: organization underlying the bewildering biodiversity prevailing in microscopic to gregarious large forms; working knowledge on inheritance pattern; physical and chemical nature of the genetic material and mechanism of its expression; genetic predetermination and the level of its flexibility and their role in disease; the architecture and functioning of various kinds of biomolecules, that are at the helm of organizing the structure of life forms, and running life processes; the mechanism of basic metabolic activities and energy transfers, that are in tune with the laws of thermodynamics; and finally, the outstanding and exciting applications of biology - genetic engineering, cloning, industrial applications of biomolecules, fermentation technology, and highly sensitive and extremely useful miniature devises like biosensors and biochips consider breaking sentence. Interesting and exemplary experiments have been detailed where relevant, to draw attention to the simplicity, precaution and the conceptual design involved in an elegant scientific enquiry and nurture scientific temper. The book will be useful for all under and post graduate students in life sciences and to the +2 level study in life sciences, to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the topics. A pedantic dealing of the topic has been avoided; detailing only enough to know the essentials and breadth of each topic to create interest for further study.