Level 1000 Life Sciences

Modules offered in Academic Year 2009/2010

Timetables for Level 1000 modules offered in Semester 2 will be uploaded as soon as they are confirmed. Please check this page regularly.

For Life Sciences students, please note that LSM13XX cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
Exception: Life Sciences students with no 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology (or equivalent), and have to read and pass LSM1301, the module may contribute 4MCs for the Unrestricted Elective category as part of graduation requirements. Please note that LSM1301 is taken as one of the 'A' Level Biology equivalents.

Overall Timetable Semester 2 AY 2009/2010

Module (Click code for details)	Title	Semester Day-to-Day Timetable	Module coordinators	Department(s)
LSM1101	Biochemistry of Biomolecules	Sem1 / Sem2	Dr Alena Jacobson	Biochemistry
LSM1102	Molecular Genetics	Sem1 / Sem2	Dr Chew Fook Tim	DBS
LSM1103	Biodiversity	Sem1 / Sem2	Mr N. Sivasothi (Sem1) Dr Ng Ngan Kee(Sem2)	DBS
LSM1104	General Physiology	Sem1 / Sem2	Prof Ip Yuen Kwong	DBS
LSM1202	Human Anatomy	Sem2	Dr He Beiping	Anatomy
LSM1301	General Biology	Sem1 / Sem2 / Sem4	Dr Seow Teck Keong (Sem1) A/P Loh Chiang Shiong (Sem2) Dr Wu Jin Lu (Sem4)	DBS
LSM1302/ GEK1527	Gene and Society	Sem1 / Sem2 / Sem4	Dr Lam Siew Hong (Sem1&4) Dr Lin Qingsong (Sem2)	DBS
LSM1303	Animal Behaviour	Sem2	Mr N. Sivasothi	DBS
LSM1401	Fundamentals of Biochemistry	Sem1 / Sem2	Dr Kim Chu Young (Sem1) Dr Seow Teck Keong (Sem2)	DBS
CM1401	Chemistry for Life Sciences	Sem1 Please contact Chemistry Dept for details.	Timetable Coordinators Dr Sim Wee Sun Dr Toh Chee Seng Lecturer Dr Lu Yixin & Dr Emelyn Tan	Chemistry
CM1417	Fundamentals of Chemistry	Sem1 Please contact Chemistry Dept for details.	Timetable Coordinators Dr Sim Wee Sun Dr Toh Chee Seng Lecturers Dr Maung Maung Saw Dr Weng Zhiqiang	Chemistry
ST1232	Statistics for Life Sciences (To be read during Year 2 of Life Sciences Major)	-	-	Statistics

Brief Description of Modules

LSM1101 Biochemistry of Biomolecules (Essential 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology or equivalent or LSM1301.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 18 practical hours

This module provides an overview of pH and buffers, and the physical-chemical basis of biological molecules: nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids; their structure-function relationships. Enzymes, enzyme kinetics and applications of enzymes, heme biosynthesis and metabolism will also be covered.  

LSM1102 Molecular Genetics (Essential 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology or equivalent or LSM1301.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 24 practical and tutorial hours

The course will cover topics on (i) the patterns of inheritance, (ii) the molecular structure and replication of genetic material, (iii) the molecular properties of genes, and (iv) genetic analysis of individuals and populations. This will include an in-depth understanding of mendelian patterns of inheritance and variations that could occur due to multiple alleles, lethal genes, chromosomal variations, linkage, gene interaction and other genetic phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of the underlying molecular and biochemical basis of inheritance. Quantitative and population genetics will also be discussed with the emphasis of understanding the processes and forces in nature that promote genetic change.

LSM1103 Biodiversity (Essential 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology or equivalent or LSM1301.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 18 practical hours

The course aims to inculcate in students an understanding for the need of a diverse and intricate balance of nature and the morality of conservation. It involves an introduction to the diversity of major groups of living organisms, and the importance of maintaining diversity in natural ecosystems. Emphasis is on the need for conservation of biodiversity to maintain a balance of nature. The course will highlight to the students the biodiversity in the major habitats and vegetation types in and around Singapore.

LSM1104 General Physiology (Essential 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass in GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology, or GCE 'O' Level Biology, or LSM1301.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 2 CA hours + 4 tutorial hours + 18 practical hours

This module deals with “General Physiology” and its theme is “Biological Transducers and Energy Transformation”. This module will start with bioenergetics which stresses on the application of thermodynamics to physiological processes in both animals and plants. Six types of energy will be dealt with, concerning (1) the transformation of light energy to chemical energy by plants, (2) the transformation of chemical energy to chemical potential energy of ions and water across biomembranes, (3) the transformation of chemical potential energy to electrical energy by plasmalemma with special emphasis on neurons, (4) the transformation of chemical energy to mechanical energy by muscle, and (5) the production and release of heat during energy transformation. Since neurons and muscle tissues require a relatively constant extracellular environment for them to function properly, the important concept of homeostasis will be discussed. Emphasis will be on extracellular fluid volume and composition. In addition, mechanisms involved in the balance of heat gain and heat loss to maintain a constant body temperature will be covered.

CM1401 Chemistry for Life Sciences (Essential 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Chemistry or equivalent or CM1417.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 4 mass tutorial hours + 5 small group tutorial hours + 15 practical hours

This is a Chemistry module catered for Life Sciences students and deals primarily with the basic principles to understand the structure and reactivity of organic molecules, basic thermodynamics and kinetics, and basic analytical techniques.

ST1232 Statistics for Life Sciences (Essential 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass GCE 'AO' Level or H1 Level Mathematics or equivalent.
Workload: 39 lecture hours + 11 tutorial hours

This module introduces life science students to the basic principles and methods of biostatistics, and their applications and interpretation. A computer package is used to enhance learning and to enable students to analyze real life data sets. Topics include probability, probability distributions, sampling distributions, statistical inference for one and two sample problems, nonparametric tests, categorical data analysis, correlation and regression analysis, multi-sample inference. This module is essential to students of the Life Sciences.

LSM1202 Human Anatomy (Elective 4MC)
Prerequisite: Pass in GCE 'O' Level Biology, or LSM1301.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 24 laboratory hours

This module provides a basic introduction to human structure and function, comprising gross anatomy integrated with microscopic anatomy. Histological organization of the primary tissues: epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous tissues will also be covered. Clinical relevance of the anatomical structures will be discussed.

LSM1301 General Biology (Elective 4MC - Not for Life Sciences Major unless as bridging module)
'Bridging Module for those without GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology (or equivalent)'
Preclusions: Must not have read GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology, or equivalents. Cannot be read concurrently with LSM1101, LSM1102, LSM1103, LSM1201 and LSM1202.
Workload: 24 lecture hours + 26 tutorial hours (assignments, museum visit, open practical sessions)

This is an introductory module that explores what a living thing is, the basics of life, and the science behind it. The course will introduce the chemistry of life and the unit of life. The question of how traits are inherited will be discussed and the field of biotechnology, including its applications and the ethical issues involved be will introduced. The diversity of life on earth will be explored, with discussions how life on earth possibly came about and how biologists try to classify and make sense of the diversity. The course will also introduce the concept of life functions from cells to tissues and from organs to systems. The concept of how organisms maintain their internal constancy and organisation of major organ systems will be discussed. The focus will be to introduce the unifying concepts in biology and how they play a role in everyday life.

LSM1302 / GEK1527 Genes and Society (Elective 4MC - Not for Life Sciences Major)
Preclusions: Not for Life Sciences Major/Minor, FST or Pharmacy Majors.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 4 hours large class tutorials + 8 hours (4x2) compulsory readings + 5 hours CAL- individual study + 6 hours assay preparation + 1 hour mid-term quiz

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the modern concepts in biology and to enable them to evaluate independently the potential benefits and risks of the biotechnological revolution and its implications for society.

LSM1303 Animal Behaviour (Elective 4MC - Not for Life Sciences Major)
Preclusions: Not for Life Sciences Major/Minor, FST or Pharmacy Majors or Bioengineering program. Must not have read GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Biology, or equivalents.
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 18 practical hours

An understanding of an animal’s behavior gives us an appreciation of the uniqueness of that particular species and perhaps other similar ones. The knowledge gained through animal behavior possibly can be translated into better animal care and conservation, and perhaps a better insight into our own behavior. This course introduces different types of animal behavior such as communication, territoriality and predator avoidance. How an animal’s behavior is best suited to particular ecological conditions will be explored through current theories in animal behavior such as optimality and sexual selection. Research approaches to study animal behavior will also be discussed.

LSM1401 Fundamentals of Biochemistry (Elective 4MC - Not for Life Sciences Major)
Preclusions: Not for Life Sciences Major/Minor.
Prerequisite: Pass GCE 'A' Level or H2 Level Chemistry.
Workload: 28 lecture hours + 10 tutorial hours + 3 practical sessions

Restriction: Semester I module is offered only to Engineering students.

This module is aimed at providing an understanding of the fundamentals of biochemistry needed by non-Life Sciences majors. The module will emphasize on the relevance and application of biochemistry in biological, chemical and environmental engineering practices. It will cover the major aspects of cell biology, concept and importance of pH and buffers in maintenance of living systems, structure and properties of biological molecules, enzymology and cellular metabolism, microbial growth and culture, and applications of biochemistry in engineering practices. In addition to lectures, there will be laboratory and assignments to help the students appreciate the relevance of biochemistry in engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical fields.