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Course Synopses
Cell biology including mitosis and meiosis. Structure, nutrition, growth reproduction
and economic importance of bacteria, viruses and fungi. General characteristics, classification of major animal and plant groups including life cycles of selected economically important organisms. Plant and animal tissues and their organization. Introductory animal physiology- nutrition, respiration, circulation, excretion and coordination.
B204 Introductory Ecology (4 c.h.)
The basic concepts of ecology; ecosystem, biomes, niche, biosphere, zonation (horizontal and vertical), habitat and microhabitat. Parameters of eco-systems, trophic levels, population ecology, introductory biometry. Ecological features of
B213 Evolutionary Biology (3 c.h.)
This history and basic concepts of the theory of organic evolution. Evidence for evolution derived from: comparative anatomy, embryology, biogeography, fossil record and artificial selection. Mechanisms of evolution – Lamarckism, Darwinism and the theory of punctuated equilibrium. Sources of variation and types of selection processes in nature. Species concept and role of isolating mechanisms in speciation. Theories on the origin of life and the evolution of eukaryotes. Population genetics. Human evolution.
B214 Introduction to Genetics and Animal Development (4 c.h.)
Heredity and variation, the gene, gene environment interactions. Mendelian inheritance, dihybrid crosses, the chromosome theory of inheritance, penetrance and expressivity, chromosome and gene mutations, the genetic material. Oogenesis, spermatogenesis and fertilization in mammals. Comparison of early developmental processes of selected animals.
B224 Introductory Plant Anatomy and Physiology (4 c.h.)
Chemistry in cells including photosynthesis and respiration, introductory plant anatomy and physiology, development and growth in plants, tropic movements. Introduction to plant biotechnology, totipotency, role of tissue culture in clonal propagation, introduction to plant engineering.
B304 Cell Biology (4 c.h.)
The cell theory; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cell membranes and cellular transport, organisation and functions of organelles, the nucleus, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, plastids, cytochemical methods, molecular biology of the cell, origin of the cell, normal and abnormal divisions, communication and interactions between cell, gene action, splicing of genes, recombinant DNA, cloning and other practices in genetic engineering.
B314 Biochemistry (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: C235
Fluid mosaic model of biomembranes. Transport across membranes. Proteins: structure and function. Amino acids- levels of structural organization; Ramachandran plot. Isolation and purification. Proteins and peptides of specific importance. Classification and characterisation of enzymes, mechanisms of inhibition and inhibitors, industrial uses. Metabolic pathways. Integration of metabolism.
B324 Lower Plants (4 c.h.)
Pre-requisites: B204, B214 and B224
Biology of cryptogams (algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes and ferns); their ecology and evolutionary trends. The approach will be to deal with these groups in an interactive manner encompassing gross morphology, comparative anatomy and reproductive strategies both within and between groups attempting to establish their evolutionary affinities. Economic importance of selected species within each major group will also be undertaken.
B334 Higher Plants (4 c.h.)
Pre-requisites: B204, B214 B224
Survey of seed plants (angiosperms & gymnosperms): gross morphology and adaptations; reproductive strategies and embryology; evolution of angiosperms; an account of artificial, natural & phylogenetic classification of angiosperms; modern trends in plant taxonomy; basic rules of nomenclature (ICBN); taxonomy and economic importance of selected local angiosperm families
B344 Invertebrate Biology (4 c.h.)
Pre-requisite: B204, B214 and B224
Criteria used for invertebrate classification. Starting with the unicellular eukaryotes (protozoans) the body form (morphology) and function (life processes) of each of the main groups (phyla) of invertebrates will be examined. Particular emphasis to be placed on the adaptive significance of structural features as well as the comparative morphology and evolutionary relationships of various invertebrate groups.
B354 Vertebrate Biology (4 c.h.)
Pre-requisite: B204, B214 and B224
The developmental patterns of representative vertebrates. This is to be followed by a study of gross morphology, natural history, interrelationships, representative examples and body systems of protochordates and different vertebrate classes such as Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia.
B364 Biological Methods I (4 c.h.)
Fixation and embedding for light and electron Microscopy; use of microtomes for sectioning and staining methods for light microscopy. Histochemistry of lipids, glycogen, DNA, phosphatases, dehydrogenases. Microscopic measurements, camera lucida. Phase-contrast, fluorescence, TEM and SEM microscopy. Biological photography. Taxonomic methods-codes and nomenclature. Collection, preservation and handling of biological specimens including herbarium procedure and museum curation. Tissue culture techniques; maintenance of experimental animals and plants for experiments including glasshouse and animal house procedures.
B374 Biological Methods II (4 c.h.)
Application of statistical methods in experimental design and data analysis in Biological context. Fundamentals of Biometry, basic concepts, symbols and notation; variables and variation, probability, sampling theory, analysis of variance, linear regression, correlation and non-parametric tests. Principles of Bioinformatics.
B404 Advanced Ecology (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: B204
Definition of concepts, subdivisions {syncology and autecology}. Population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem attributes and relationships. Aquatic and terrestrial factors affecting distribution of organisms, problems and adaptations. Applied ecology – man and the ecosystems, development and pollution, environmental management conservation, disturbance, succession, biodiversity, resource valuation techniques, methods in ecology.
B414 Animal Physiology (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: B344 and B354
Concepts of physiological regulation and homeostasis. Cell membrane structure and transport. Nutritional requirements and the control of digestion. Respiratory surfaces and gaseous exchange, pigments and association/dissociation curves. Circulatory patterns including blood flow mechanics and cardiac activity. Muscle physiology. Nerve impulse generation and transmission. Sensory Processing and Sensory Receptors. Mechanisms of action of hormones and control of reproductive cycles. Excretory organs and the excretion of nitrogenous waste. Mammalian kidney structure and function. Osmoregulation in freshwater, marine and terrestrial environment. Temperature effects and adaptations for living in cold and hot environments.
B424 Entomology (4 c.h.)
Pre-requisite: B344 and B354
Classification and identification of insects. The importance of insects and reasons for their success. Environmental and other factors influencing insect survival and numbers; development, growth and reproduction including ecdysis and hormonal control of insect development. External and internal morphology of insects; insect behaviour; insect collection and preservation. Insect collection and preservation. Insects and man: The importance of insects in agriculture and human health.
B434 Project (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: Registration as Biology major
Students will do their own literature search, active research, data analysis, writing of project report and presentation of seminar under the guidance of a departmental supervisor.
B444 Parasitology (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: B344 and B354
Concepts related to parasitism; definition, types of associations. Importance of adaptations for successful parasitism and types of adaptation (structural, biochemical, physiological and ecological). Common habitats of endoparasites and generalisations of life cycles associated with different habitats; ectoparasites. Immunology of parasitic protozoa and metazoa. Epidemiology and control of parasitic infections.
B454 Plant Physiology (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: B 324 and B 334
Water relations and the water economy of plants, mineral nutrition and deficiency diseases; Photosynthesis and plant productivity; C3 C4 and CAM metabolism; respiration; lipid and carbohydrate metabolism; nitrogen metabolism; physiology of plant distribution. The effect of plant disease on growth and the application of plant growth substances.
B464 Plant Systematics (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite B 324 and B334
Introduction to SystematicBotany. Classification: artificial, phyletic, phenetic and cladistic approaches. History: Early Western Civilizations; the Middle Ages, Linnaeus contribution, Ray , Bentham & Hooker. Cladistics: Cytotaxonomy and chemotaxonomy. Nomenclature: basis of scientific names; principles, typification; rule of priority; citation of author;s names; Describing a species new to science- recent developments. Field and Herbarium methods. Nomenclature. Classification. Taxonomic literature. Selected families of flowering plants. Floristic regions of
B474 Genetics (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: B214 and B224
Nature and properties of genetic material-structure and relation of structure to function, replication; gene and gene transcripts; gene expression and its control; gene and chromosome mutations and variations in chromosome numbers. Introduction to genetic engineering – restriction enzymes, cloning and cloning vectors, DNA sequence analysis, PCR; linkage; crossing over and chromosome mapping; recombination genetics; population genetics; statistical methods in genetics.
B484 Microbiology (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: B214 and B314
Organisation and function in the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and classification of viruses, bacteria and fungi; principles of microbial growth, metabolism; microbiology of the air, water and soil; normal and pathogenic relationships to vertebrates; host resistance and the theory of immunity, prevention and control of diseases; micro-organisms as spoilage organisms; methods of microbiology; industrial microbiology.
BT314 Biochemistry - Secondary Metabolism (4 c.h.)
BT324 Biotechnological Methods (4 c.h.)
Extraction of DNA, PCR methods for gene cloning; principles of paper, column and thin layer-chromatography, separation of proteins (enzymes) by electrophoresis; methods of tissue culture to propagate plants and/or prepare cultures of animal and microbial cells; immunological and serological techniques.
BT334 Microbial Physiology (4 c.h.)
Integration of central biochemical pathways in microorganisms. Variations in fermentative metabolism. Breakdown of polymers and non-carbohydrate substrates by microorganisms. Autotrophic growth. Anaerobic Respiration. Assimilation of inorganic nutrients.
BT344 Growth and Death of Microorganisms (4 c.h.)
Patterns of microbial growth in a batch, continuous and synchronous cultures. Measurement of growth. Growth equations: exponential growth, specific growth rate, doubling time and yield coefficients. Factors affecting growth. The Monod equation. Microbial death: death rate, decimal reduction time and Z value. Factors affecting death. Practical applications of killing by heat. Heat resistance. The effects of other antimicrobial agents. Microbial Nutrition.
BT354 Introduction to Biotechnology (4 c.h.)
The history of biotechnology. Traditional biotechnology in
BT414 Microbial Ecology (4 c.h.)
Interactions of microbes with plants and animals. Microbial communities and ecosystems. Quantitative and habitat ecology. Effects of abiotic factors and environmental extremes on microorganisms. Microorganisms in their natural habitats. Biogeochemical cycles. Biotechnological aspects of microbial ecology. Ecological aspects of biodeterioration control, soil waste and water management. Microbial interactions with xenobiotic and inorganic pollutants. Microorganisms in mineral and energy recovery, fuel and biomass production.
BT424 Food Biotechnology (4 c.h.)
Beer and wine production, cheese and yoghurt manufacture, meat fermentation, single cell protein production, production of fructose syrups, and food ingredient manufacture. Gene cloning of new and improved enzymes for application in the food industry. Employment of biotechnology to obtain natural alternatives to synthetic sweeteners. Use of microbe derived enzymes in food and beverage processing, baking, production of glucose from starch, brewing, beer making, and juice/wine clarification. Food preservation: use of smoke, sugar and other chemical additives, drying technology, radiation, and pasteurization. Product development.
BT434 Research Project (4 c.h.)
Prerequisite: Registration as a Biotechnology Major
Students will do their own literature search, active research, data analysis, writing of project report and presentation of seminar under the guidance of a departmental supervisor. BT444 Water and Industrial Microbiology (4 c.h.)
Water, wastewater, and processwater microbiology. Steps in water treatment and purification. Treatment of wastewater. The use of biofilms. Testing for indicator organisms. Treatment of processwater, and microbiological composition and standards. Obtaining, handling and maintaining microorganisms in industry. The role of microorganisms in the industrial production of amino acids, organic acids, antibiotics, Baker’s Yeast, enzymes, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polysaccharides, lipids, and recombinant proteins.
BT454 Food Quality Management (4 c.h.)
Management and inspection in the sanitation set-up in a food industry. The principles of the cleaning process. The nature of soil deposits. Physical methods for cleaning and sterilization, factors influencing the cleaning and disinfection process. Detergents and disinfectants, contamination sources, waste product handling, and pest control in a food industry. Quality control and sanitation program. HACCP.
BT464 Bioprocess Engineering Principles (4 c.h.)
Bioreactor configurations. Instrumentation, measurement and process control. Scaling up and scaling down. Sterilization. Solid-state cultivation: principles, reactors and processes. Biotransformation: use of microbial cells or enzymes for the conversion of organic compounds; downstream processing.
BT518 Professional Attachment/Special Project ( 18 c.h.)
The aim of the project attachment is to provide students with the experience of working within an industry, company or government framework.
The student will be attached to a company or industry or government office for a period of one semester, where he/she will have the opportunity to transfer the knowledge from the theoretical courses to real and practical situations as they are encountered in industry.POSTGRADUATE COURSE SYNOPSES
B502 Population and Evolutionary Genetics (2 c.h.)
Hardy–Weinberg–Tscetverikov equilibrium and its extensions. Non-random mating; models of population genetics including random genetic drift, Founder effects and Bottlenecks. Natural selection and types of selection models. Selection-mutation equilibria. Evolution and speciation. Genetic variation.
B508 Management of Biological Resources (8 c.h.)
The Southern African terrestrial environment, biomes and communities, Introduction to GIS; importance and valuation of biological diversity; economic valuation of biological diversity; protected areas; traditional/indigenous knowledge systems; property rights and use of biological resources; environmental impact assessment; impact of biotechnology on biodiversity; environmental law and policy.
B512 History and Philosophy of Natural Sciences (2 c.h.)
The course will involve lectures and seminars in which the changing philosophy of the subjects as it has developed. It will also consider traditional aspects such as scientific ethics, the conflict between exploitation, regulation and the protection of scientific inventions.
B514 Biometry (4 c.h.)
Principles of experimentation, biological variables and experimental design in biology. Application of statistical concepts in biological data analysis e.g. accuracy, precision, frequency, distribution, probability. Estimation and hypothesis testing; analysis of variance including nested analysis, two way analysis and multi way analysis. Correlation and regression analysis.
B524 Comparative Vertebrate Reproduction (4 c.h.)
Basic physiological processes involved in vertebrate reproduction will be taught using mammals as the primary example and contrasting their reproductive processes with those of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. Teaching of reproductive cycles and their controlling factors are of use for captive breeding and conservation of endangered species.
B534 Phytogeography and Economic Botany (4 c.h.)
Plant distribution patterns and their causes, the history of the flora and vegetation, the floristic kingdoms and the regions of the world. Plants and people: beginnings of agriculture; spices and herbs; drugs from plants; cellulose products of plants, economic botany of Basotho people.
B544 Afroalpine Ecology (4 c.h.)
Afroalpine environments; macroclimates, precipitation, microclimates, soils. Adaptive trends in the afroalpine flora: protection against radiation, temperature insulation. Afroalpine life forms; current life form systems, tussock grasses, cushion plants, sclerophyllous shrubs. Water economy in the Afroalpine flora, principal Afroalpine communities; Helichrysum scrub, Carex bogs and related communities
B554 Plant Ecophysiology (4 c.h.)
Plant water relations: terminology, uptake and transport mechanisms (transpiration-photosynthesis compromise), plant-soil-water dynamics, water deficits and osmotic adjustment. Carbon utilisation and dry matter production; carbon allocation and cost of plant tissues. Growth and development: germination and establishment, regulation of growth and development; growth regulators and environmental cues. Physiology of plant distribution, mineral nutrition.
B564 Soil Microbiology (4 c.h.)
Physical characteristics of soil: mineral particles, organic residue, water. Microbial flora of soil: bacteria, fungi, algae, and viruses. Interactions among soil microorganisms: neutral, positive, and negative associations. Biochemical transformations of nitrogen compounds: the nitrogen cycle: proteolysis, amino acid degradation, nitrification, nitrogen fixation.