Module Overview

This module introduces foundational topics in biology, focusing on the properties of life, the history of life on Earth, viruses, prokaryotic domains (Bacteria and Archaea), and protists. The content aligns with the following textbook chapters:

• Chapter 1 (select topics): The Properties of Life

• Chapter 25: The History of Life on Earth

• Chapter 19: Viruses

• Chapter 27: Bacteria and Archaea

• Chapter 28: Protists

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Explain the properties of life: Identify and describe the characteristics that define living organisms, such as cellular organization, metabolism, growth, adaptation, response to stimuli, and reproduction.

• Discuss the key events in life's history: Summarize major milestones in the evolution of life on Earth, including the origin of cells, the rise of eukaryotes, multicellularity, and diversification of life forms.

• Explain what viruses are, how they replicate, and how they impact life: Define viruses, describe their structure, modes of replication (lytic and lysogenic cycles), and their effects on host organisms and ecosystems.

• Compare and contrast the synapomorphies of the two prokaryotic domains: Analyze the unique and shared features of Bacteria and Archaea, and discuss their ecological and medical significance.

• Compare and contrast the three domains and explain how eukaryotes evolved: Distinguish among Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, and outline hypotheses for the origin of eukaryotic cells (e.g., endosymbiotic theory).

• Differentiate among the protist lineages: Classify major groups of protists based on their evolutionary relationships, structural features, and ecological roles.