Biology for engineers and other non-biologists

It is well known that this is the century of biology in which significant advances in the understanding and application of biological systems are expected. The significant impact on the world is expected in terms of better healthcare, better processes, better products and an overall better quality of life. Thus, any person can be interested in knowing the fundamentals of biology to be able to understand, or participate in the biological revolution. For example, any engineer, irrespective of the parent discipline (mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, metallurgical, etc.,) has a high probability of using the disciplinary skills toward designing/improving biological systems in the future. This course is designed to convey the essentials of cell and molecular biology to provide a frame-work for more specific understanding, and contribution by any interested person.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Any interested learnersPREREQUISITES: NIL

COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1 : Introduction (G. K. Suraishkumar),Origin of life and Evolution (Madhulika Dixit)Week 2 : Water, Biomolecules, Enzymes, Introduction to metabolism (G. K. Suraishkumar)Week 3 : Cell structure, Cell cycle (Madhulika Dixit), Culture growth (G. K. Suraishkumar),Mendelian genetics (G. K. Suraishkumar)Week 4 : Chromatin, DNA structure, replication, transcription and translation (Madhulika Dixit)