General Physiology I
- Sciences
- 200 level
- 2 credit units
- 246 pages
- 19 units
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to general physiology, focusing on the fundamental principles governing living organisms. It explores physical and chemical processes in animals and plants, including diffusion, osmotic pressure, and gas exchange. Key topics include water potential, turgor, plasmolysis, and the Gibbs-Donnan relationship. The course also covers nutrition, respiration, photosynthesis, and metabolism, equipping students with a solid foundation in physiological concepts and their applications.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assessments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of BIO203, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
BIO203 · UNIT 1 CELL AND ITS DISCOVERY
1.1 Introduction: Cell is the basic unit of life. All livings are made up of cell(s) and are either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Its discovery took many years of efforts by diligent scientist using crude tools available at that time.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the structure and function of plant cells and their organelles.
- Explain the principles of membrane transport and water potential.
- Describe the processes of respiration and photosynthesis.
- Discuss the roles of plant hormones in growth and development.
- Identify the essential mineral nutrients for plant growth and their deficiency symptoms.
What it prepares you for
- Agricultural Scientist
- Plant Physiologist
- Horticulturist
- Botanist
- Environmental Scientist
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Food Science
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Cell definition and discovery
Unit 4: Structure and Function of Membranes: I
Understanding the Gibbs-Donnan relationship requires a strong foundation in physical chemistry and equilibrium principles.
- Module 3: Mineral uptake in plant
Unit 2: Physiology of nutrient uptake
The Nernst equation involves complex calculations and understanding of electrochemical gradients.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Cell definition and discovery
Unit 1: Cell and its Discovery · 2 hours
Define cell and its components.. Describe the discovery of the cell and its significance.. Explain the cell theory and its evolution..
- Week 2Module 1: Cell definition and discovery
Unit 2: Structure and Function of Plant Cells: I · 2 hours
Identify the components of plant cells.. Explain why cells are small and their implications.. Describe the structure and function of the plant cytoskeleton..
- Week 3Module 1: Cell definition and discovery
Unit 3: Structure and Function of Plant Cells: II · 2 hours
Distinguish between the two types of cell walls.. Identify the areas of connection between cells.. Describe the structure of the nucleus and its functions..
- Week 4Module 1: Cell definition and discovery
Unit 4: Structure and Function of Membranes: I · 2 hours
Describe the structure of the cell membrane using the fluid mosaic model.. List the important activities of membranes.. Discuss the significance of diffusion and potential energy in plant cells..
- Week 5Module 1: Cell definition and discovery
Unit 5: Functions of the Cell Membrane · 2 hours
Explain the differential permeability of membranes.. Discuss facilitated diffusion, active transport, and bypassing membrane transport.. Distinguish between exocytosis and endocytosis..
- Week 6Module 2: Energy and Its Uses by Plants
Unit 1: Energy and its uses by Plant · 2 hours
Define energy and its measurement units.. Name the two basic types of energy.. State the first and second laws of thermodynamics..
- Week 7Module 2: Energy and Its Uses by Plants
Unit 2: Energy Metabolism I · 2 hours
Give the meaning of metabolism and metabolic pathways.. Explain bond energy, free energy, enthalpy, and endothermic/exothermic reactions.. Understand the role of ATP in energy transfer..
- Week 8Module 2: Energy and Its Uses by Plants
Unit 3: Energy Metabolism II · 2 hours
Explain the mechanism of enzyme action.. Define energy of activation.. Describe the two major energy transformation activities in plants..
- Week 9Module 2: Energy and Its Uses by Plants
Unit 4: Respiration · 2 hours
Define respiration and its substrates.. Outline the steps of glycolysis and Krebs cycle.. Describe the electron transport system..
- Week 10Module 2: Energy and Its Uses by Plants
Unit 5: Respiration I · 2 hours
Discuss the significance of glycolysis and Krebs cycle.. Identify factors affecting respiration.. Explain light compensation point and respiratory quotient..
- Week 11Module 3: Mineral uptake in plant
Unit 1: Mineral uptake in plant · 2 hours
Discuss the mineral requirements of plants.. Explain mineral deficiency symptoms.. Classify plant mineral nutrients according to biochemical function..
Unit 2: Physiology of nutrient uptake · 2 hours
Discuss the various mechanisms for nutrient uptake.. Explain passive and active transport mechanisms.. Describe the roles of channel proteins and transporters..
- Week 12Module 3: Mineral uptake in plant
Unit 3: The Photosynthetic Process I · 2 hours
Narrate the history of photosynthesis.. Describe the process of photosynthesis in plants.. Identify photosynthetic pigments and their roles..
Unit 4: The Photosynthetic Process II · 2 hours
Describe different pathways of photosynthesis in different plants.. Explain special modes of nutrition.. Discuss factors affecting photosynthesis..
- Week 13Module 4:
Unit 1: Discovery And Chemical Nature Of Auxin · 2 hours
State how auxins were discovered and name the pioneering scientists.. Describe how auxins are transported and list their effects.. Explain the chemical nature of auxin and its synthesis..
Unit 2: Discovery And Chemical Nature Of Gibberelin · 2 hours
State how gibberellins were discovered.. Explain how gibberellins are synthesized in plants.. Discuss gibberellins' physiological effects..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed concept maps linking cell structure (Module 1) to membrane transport (Units 4-5).
- Practice solving water potential problems from Unit 4 weekly.
- Focus on the steps of glycolysis and Krebs cycle (Module 2) and their energy yields.
- Review the roles of each plant hormone (Modules 4-5) and their interactions.
- Memorize the deficiency symptoms of essential mineral nutrients (Module 3) and their functions.
- Use flashcards to memorize key terms and definitions from each unit.
Questions students ask about this course
What is BIO203 about?
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to general physiology, focusing on the fundamental principles governing living organisms. It explores physical and chemical processes in animals and plants, including diffusion, osmotic pressure, and gas exchange. Key topics include water potential, turgor, plasmolysis, and the Gibbs-Donnan relationship. The course also covers nutrition, respiration, photosynthesis, and metabolism, equipping students with a solid foundation in physiological concepts and their applications.
How many units does BIO203 have?
BIO203, General Physiology I, has 19 units across 5 modules, over 246 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is BIO203?
BIO203 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Sciences.
Is BIO203 hard?
BIO203 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does BIO203 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 19 units.
How is BIO203 assessed?
BIO203 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.
What can I do with BIO203?
Agricultural Scientist, Plant Physiologist, Horticulturist, Botanist and Environmental Scientist.