2024 Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth-Life Science
Earth-Life Science B
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth-Life Science
- Instructor(s)
- Tomoaki Matsuura / Shawn Mcglynn / Kosuke Fujishima / Mina Okochi / Nathaniel David Virgo / Liam M Longo
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Tue / 1-2 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ELS.C402
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The purpose of this class is to provide students with a wide range of fundamental knowledge in life science and related fields (molecular and cell biology, biochemical engineering, population dynamics, bioenergetics, synthetic biology, astrobiology, etc.). This class is also aimed for students who did not have the opportunity to study life science during their undergraduate period. We expect this class to provide basic knowledge towards becoming an interdisciplinary researcher through the Earth-Life Science graduate course.
Course description and aims
The goal is to learn the meanings of technical terms in fields related to life science and basic knowledge, techniques, and concepts, including laws and formulas so that students can have conversations and discussions with researchers in the same field.
Keywords
life science, molecular and cell biology, biochemical enginnering, population dynamics, bioenergetics, astrobiology, synthetic biology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The lecture will be given by six faculty members and will be delivered in person. Materials necessary for the lecture will be available for download from OCW in advance, and assignments will be given at the end of each class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction to life on Earth and what it is made of | What are the chemical components of cells |
| Class 2 | Bioenergetics | What is chemical energy and how is it used? |
| Class 3 | Protein structure and function | What are proteins? What are enzymes? |
| Class 4 | Peptide chemistry | Understanding the function and chemical properties of peptides |
| Class 5 | DNA chromosomes and replication | What is DNA? What is chromosomes? How do they replicate? |
| Class 6 | From DNA to Protein: How Cells Read the Genome | Understanding the mechanism of gene regulation and how proteins are expressed |
| Class 7 | How Genes and Genomes Evolve | Generating Genetic Variation Life's Family Tree Mobile Genetic Elements and Viruses The Human Genome |
| Class 8 | Analyzing the Structure and Function of Genes | Isolating and Cloning DNA Molecules Polymerase Chain Reaction DNA Sequencing Exploring Gene Function |
| Class 9 | Population Dynamics 1 | Basics of population ecology Exponential and logistic growth models Lotka-Volterra models for predator-prey systems |
| Class 10 | Population Dynamics 2 | Phase portraits for dynamical systems - stability and instability, coexistence and extinction Multi-species models and chaos |
| Class 11 | Evolutionary Dynamics | Basics of evolutionary modelling Replicator dynamics Dynamics of gene frequencies |
| Class 12 | Cellular membrane and compartments | Structure and properties of biomembranes. |
| Class 13 | Role of compartments for living systems 1 | Transport Across Cell Membranes |
| Class 14 | Role of compartments for living systems 2 | Intracellular Compartments and Protein Transport Cell Signaling |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Essential Cell Biology, 6th International Student Edition (2023), WW Norton & Co
Astrobiology (Charles Cockell)
Evolutionary Games and Population Dynamics (Cambridge University Press)
Cell Biology by the Numbers (Garland Science)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Each lecturer will prepare a slide and will be shared before or after the class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be graded based on class assignments and attendance record.
Related courses
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
- LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
- LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
Prerequisites
Basic