ΠΕΡΙΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΜΑΘΗΜΑΤΟΣ

The aim of the module is to enable students to understand the principles of biology and the basic biological mechanisms as well as the fundamental principles of molecular biology.

• Adapting to new situations.
• Decision-making.
• Working independently.
• Team work.
• Project planning and management.
• Respect for difference and multiculturalism.
• Working in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Respect for the natural environment.
• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking.

• Introduction to Life Sciences: The way all organisms share certain properties. Cells: the fundamental units of life. The way organisms interact with their ecosystems. Species organization into groups. Evolution through natural selection.
• Life chemistry: Chemical composition of living matter. Carbon and the molecular diversity of life. Structure and function of large biological molecules.
• The cell: The fundamental unit of life. Description of the cell. Introduction to metabolism. Cellular communication. The cell cycle.
• Energy and Life: Energy flow through an ecosystem.
• Cellular respiration: Aerobic respiration, Anaerobic respiration, Fermentation.
• Chromosomes and Heredity: Sexual or Genetic Reproduction, Inbreeding or asexual reproduction, Number and structure of chromosomes, Mesophase, Mitosis, Cytokinesis, Karyotype, Reduction, Independent gene transfer, Random insemination,  Non-segregation, Basic principles of Mendelian genetics, Punnett’s square, Multigene inheritance, Linked genes, Genetic recombination, Phylogenetic inheritance, Cloning, Nuclear transplantation, Stem cells
• DNA: The life molecule, DNA replication and repair. From gene to protein, Genetic information flow, Genetic code, Regulation of Gene Expression, Mutations and Metalaxigens, Point mutations,  Reading frame shift mutations, Proto-tumor genes, Oncogenes, Growth factors, Tumor suppressor genes, Cancer.
• Biotechnology. Genetic Engineering, Gene Cloning, DNA Synthesis, Transgenic Animals and Cultures, Genetically Engineered Foods, PCR Technique, Short Sequential Repeats STR, STR Analysis, Human Genome Project, Gene Therapy.
• Biodiversity – Microscopic organisms. Biogenesis, Territories, Prokaryotes, Ancient, Useful & Harmful Bacteria, Plasmids, Intermingling in eukaryotic cells, Protists, Structure of viruses, Bacteriophage lytic and lysogenic cycle, Collection of viruses, Structure, life cycle and anti-HIV drugs, Prions, Viroids.
• Biodiversity – Fungi and plants. Fungi as decomposers, Fungal collection, Fungal reproduction.
• Systems of the human body. The body stands in a structural hierarchy, Different types of tissues in the human body, Homeostatic mechanisms, Negative – Positive feedback, Food intake and processing – balanced and unbalanced diet, Respiratory, Circulatory, Immune, Endocrine, Nervous, Urinary, Reproductive system.