2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Basic science and technology courses
Fundamental Life Science 2-2 C
- Academic unit or major
- Basic science and technology courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yuichi Hongoh / Masato Nikaido / Kosuke Fujishima / Tatsuki Nagasawa / Masaki Tamori
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - unknown
- Class
- C
- Course Code
- LAS.B104
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 3, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
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 evolution, systematics, ecology, as well as current topics such as origin of life, biodiversity, and environmental problems.
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, genetics, evolution, ecology, cancer
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students will learn about the topics with a textbook, PowerPoint slides, and handouts. Students are divided into eight classes (in Japanese) and one (in English), taking a class session once per week.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Evolution of life : Origin and early evolution of life |
Understand the theories of origin and early evolution of life |
| Class 2 | Evolution of life : Concept and evidence of evolution |
Understand the process of the development of theories of evolution |
| Class 3 | Evolution of life: natural selection, molecular evolution, and speciation |
Understand the basic mechanisms of evolution and basis of systematics |
| Class 4 | Three domains of life and phylogenetic diversity of organisms |
Understand the basis of phylogenetic diversity of organisms |
| Class 5 | Animal Behavior |
Understand the basis of animal behavior |
| Class 6 | Ecology of community and population |
Understand the basis of ecology and what biodiversity is |
| Class 7 | Ecosystems and environments |
Understand the basis of ecosystems and importance of conservation of environments |
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.
Campbell "Biology".
Inform if necessary.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Learning achievement is evaluated by short tests using Google form or marksheet in every classes and a final exam in face or online.
Related courses
- Fundamental Life Science 1-1
- Fundamental Life Science1-2
- Fundamental Life Science 2-1
- Fundamental Life Science Laboratory
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have completed Fundamental Life Science 1-1 and 1-2 (not conditioned).
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
yhongo[at]life.isct.ac.jp (Prof. Yuichi Hongoh) (A to H class)
ray.d.f51f[at]m.isct.ac.jp (Prof. Steven Davis) (K class)
Office hours
Contact by email only.