Biology: The Science of Life

Course Overview

Get the complete background and professional guidance to explore the fundamental principles of how living things work, taught by an award-winning Duke University professor.

Course No. 1500

This comprehensive 72-lecture course covers living systems at all levels – from molecules to global ecosystems – revealing how modern biology is transforming medicine, agriculture and technology. Professor Nowicki presents biology conceptually, helping you:

• Understand headlines about scientific breakthroughs
• Appreciate nature’s complexity
• Make informed decisions as a voter and consumer
• Grasp unifying principles of all life

Key Topics Covered:

• DNA structure and genetic engineering
• Evolution and natural selection
• Cellular respiration and photosynthesis
• Immune system function
• Ecological systems and biodiversity
• Human population growth impacts

Video Lectures

01: The Scope of “Life” (31 min)

Introduction to biology’s big questions and course structure.

02: More on the Origin of Life (30 min)

Examining how early life met evolutionary challenges.

03: The Organism and the Cell (30 min)

Hierarchy of biological systems from cells to organisms.

04: Proteins—How Things Get Done in the Cell (30 min)

Four major biomolecules and protein functions.

05: Which Molecule Holds the Code? (31 min)

Key experiments proving DNA carries genetic information.

06: The Double Helix (30 min)

Watson and Crick’s discovery of DNA structure.

07: The Nuts and Bolts of Replicating DNA (31 min)

DNA replication process and its significance.

08: The Central Dogma (31 min)

Genetic information flow from DNA to RNA to proteins.

09: The Genetic Code (30 min)

How protein structure is encoded in DNA.

10: From DNA to RNA (29 min)

Transcription process creating messenger RNA.

11: From RNA to Protein (30 min)

Translation process synthesizing proteins.

12: When Mistakes Happen (30 min)

DNA copying errors and repair mechanisms.

13: Dividing DNA Between Dividing Cells (30 min)

How offspring inherit parental DNA.

14: Mendel and His Pea Plants (30 min)

Foundational genetics experiments anticipating modern concepts.

15: How Sex Leads to Variation (29 min)

Mendel’s studies of multiple trait inheritance.

16: Genes and Chromosomes (31 min)

Post-Mendel understanding of genetic basis.

17: Charles Darwin and “The Origin of Species” (30 min)

Theory of natural selection and species change.

18: Natural Selection in Action (30 min)

Field and lab examples demonstrating evolution.

19: Reconciling Darwin and Mendel (30 min)

Modern synthesis modeling gene frequency changes.

20: Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change (30 min)

Factors beyond natural selection affecting gene pools.

21: What Are Species and How Do New Ones Arise? (30 min)

Biological species concept and allopatric speciation.

22: More on the Origin of New Species (30 min)

Sympatric speciation without physical separation.

23: Reconstructing Evolution (31 min)

Organizing life’s diversity through phylogenetics.

24: The History of Life, Revisited (31 min)

Primordial life to modern biodiversity.

25: From Cells to Organisms (30 min)

Introduction to multicellular development.

26: Control of Gene Expression I (30 min)

Jacques Monod’s gene regulation experiments.

27: Control of Gene Expression II (30 min)

Mechanisms turning genes on/off.

28: Getting Proteins to the Right Place (31 min)

Protein targeting within and outside cells.

29: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (30 min)

Gene modification and sequencing techniques.

30: How Cells Talk—Signals and Receptors (30 min)

Extracellular signal transmission.

31: How Cells Talk—Ways That Cells Respond (30 min)

Molecular mechanisms changing cell function.

32: From One Cell to Many in an Organism (30 min)

Single cell to complex organism development.

33: Patterns of Early Development (30 min)

Fertilization, cleavage, gastrulation, organogenesis.

34: Determination and Differentiation (31 min)

Cytoplasmic segregation in cell specialization.

35: Induction and Pattern Formation (30 min)

Cell stimulation driving differentiation.

36: Genes and Development (30 min)

Fruit fly gene influence on development.

37: Homeostasis (31 min)

Maintaining constant internal environments.

38: Hormones in Animals (30 min)

Endocrine system chemical communication.

39: What is Special about Neurons? (30 min)

Nervous system information transmission.

40: Action Potentials and Synapses (30 min)

Neural impulse propagation mechanisms.

41: Synaptic Integration and Memory (30 min)

Neural input processing and storage.

42: Sensory Function (31 min)

Obtaining environmental information.

43: How Muscles Work (31 min)

Molecular basis of muscle contraction.

44: The Innate Immune System (30 min)

Nonspecific defense mechanisms.

45: The Acquired Immune System (30 min)

Targeted immune responses to infection.

46: Form and Function in Plants I (30 min)

Plant structure and physiology basics.

47: Form and Function in Plants II (31 min)

Plant homeostasis and environmental responses.

48: Behavior as an Adaptive Trait (30 min)

Evolutionary significance of organism responses.

49: Energy and Resources in Living Systems (30 min)

Transition to ecosystem-level energy concepts.

50: How Energy is Harnessed by Cells (31 min)

ATP as cellular energy currency.

51: Enzymes – Making Chemistry Work in Cells (30 min)

Catalysts lowering reaction activation energy.

52: Cellular Currencies of Energy (30 min)

ATP production from glucose and organics.

53: Making ATP – Glycolysis (31 min)

First stage of cellular energy production.

54: Making ATP – Cellular Respiration (30 min)

Krebs cycle and electron transport chain.

55: Making ATP – The Chemiosmotic Theory (31 min)

Solving the ATP production mystery.

56: Capturing Energy from Sunlight (30 min)

Photosynthesis converting light to chemical energy.

57: The Reactions of Photosynthesis (31 min)

Calvin cycle and plant mass increase.

58: Resources and Life Histories (29 min)

Population growth constraints.

59: The Structure of Populations (30 min)

Ecological population characteristics.

60: Population Growth (30 min)

Exponential vs. logistic growth models.

61: What Limits Population Growth? (31 min)

Real-world population regulation factors.

62: Costs and Benefits of Behavior (30 min)

Evolutionary behavior optimization.

63: Altruism and Mate Selection (31 min)

Evolutionary explanations for altruism.

64: Ecological Interactions Among Species (31 min)

Predator-prey relationships and principles.

65: Predators and Competitors (30 min)

Species competition dynamics.

66: Competition and the Ecological Niche (30 min)

Niche concept from competition studies.

67: Energy in Ecosystems (30 min)

Energy flow through ecological systems.

68: Nutrients in Ecosystems (30 min)

Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles.

69: How Predictable Are Ecological Communities? (30 min)

Disturbance patterns vs. ideal communities.

70: Biogeography (31 min)

Global species distribution patterns.

71: Human Population Growth (31 min)

Resource use redefinition enabling expansion.

72: The Human Asteroid (32 min)

Biodiversity loss and conservation hope.