2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Basic science and technology courses
Fundamental Life Science 1-2 K
- Academic unit or major
- Basic science and technology courses
- Instructor(s)
- Tomoyo Akashi / Ako Fujita / Masayuki Takahashi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Fri
- Class
- K
- Course Code
- LAS.B102
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course gives fundamentals of diverse fields of life science and introduction of current topics. The classes cover fundamentals of animal tissues and organs, functions and structures of brain, nervous and endocrine systems, sensory systems, immune systems, plant cell structures and photosynthesis, biotechnology, and bioinformatics, as well as current topics such as stem cells, brain science, infectious diseases.
This course aims to provide fundamental knowledge on life sciences as the basis not only for advanced life sciences but also for broad fields in science and technology.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will understand the fundamentals of life sciences, which shall be the basis for broad fields in advanced science and technology. In addition, the students will more deeply understand current topics related to life sciences.
Keywords
biology, photosynthesis, brain, immune system, virus, biotechnology, bioinformatics
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students will learn the topics with a textbook, PowerPoint slides, and handouts. Students are divided into eight classes (in Japanese) and one class (in English). A class session for each of them takes place once per week. The lecture will be provided face-to-face.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Three domains (Eucarya, Bacteria, Archaea) and viruses | Understand the differences among eucarya, bacteria, archaea, and viruses |
| Class 2 | Structure and functions of sugars, lipids, and biomembranes | Understand the basic structures and functional importance of sugars, lipids and biomembranes |
| Class 3 | Respiration and energy conservation | Understand the basic mechanisms of respiration and energy conservation |
| Class 4 | Structure of plant cell, photosynthesis, and biofuels | Understand the structure of plant cells and basic mechanisms of photosynthesis |
| Class 5 | Immune system, vaccine, and infectious disease | Understand the basic mechanisms of immune systems |
| Class 6 | Structure and functions of brain, nervous and endocrine systems | Understand the basic structures and functiones of brain, nervous and endocrine systems |
| Class 7 | Sensory mechanisms | Understand the basic mechanisms of sensory systems |
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)
"Biology", C. Starr, C.A. Evers, L. Starr
Reference books, course materials, etc.
"Introduction to Biology", MIT OpenCourseWare
Evaluation methods and criteria
Learning achievement is evaluated by short tests (Google form) in every classes and a final exam in person.
Related courses
- Fundamental Life Science 1-1
- Fundamental Life Science 2-1
- Fundamental Life Science 2-2
- Fundamental Life Science Laboratory
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have completed Fundamental Life Science 1-1 (not conditioned).
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
takahashi.m.ay[at]m.titech.ac.jp （Prof. Masayuki Takahashi）
Office hours
Contact by e-mail.
Other
When you have a question about the class, send email to:
seimeikiso@bio.titech.ac.jp