Full sylabus

• Biology - 250 hours of courses

  1. The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules.
  The diversity of polymers. Carbohydrates. Proteins. Nucleic acids. Lipids.
  2. Prokaryotic cell structure and function.
  Cell surface structures. Motility. Internal organization and DNA (nucleoid, plasmids). Binary fission and conjugation in bacteria.
  3. Eukaryotic cell structure and function.
  Plasma Membrane. Compartmentalization. Cytoskeleton. Endomembrane system: endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi Apparatus and lysosomes. The Nucleus. Ribosomes. Mitochondria.
  4. Cell communication.
  Cell junctions. Local and long distant signaling. Chemical messengers. Receptors. The stages of cell signaling.
  5. Cell cycle.
  Mitosis and meiosis. Cellular organization of genetic material. Phases of cell cycle. The mitotic spindle. Cytokinesis. Cellular organization of genetic material. The stages of mitosis and meiosis. A comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis. Origins of genetic variation among offspring.
  6. Cellular respiration and fermentation.
  Catabolic pathways and production of ATP. The stages of cellular respiration (glycolysis, oxidation of puryvate, citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation). Anaerobic respiration. Types of fermentation.
  7. Viruses.
  Structure of viruses. General features of viral replication cycles. Viroids and prions. Viral diseases. Emerging viruses.
  8. Bacteria and Archaea.
  Cell surface structures. Motility. Internal organization. Reproduction and adaptation. Diverse nutritional and metabolic adaptation – oxygen and nitrogen metabolism, cooperation. The role in the biosphere (chemical recycling, ecological interactions). Beneficial and harmful impacts of Prokaryotes on humans.
  9. Protists
  Structural and functional diversity in Protists. Role of Protists in ecological communities.
  10. Fungi.
  Nutrition and Ecology. Body structure. Sexual and asexual reproduction. Fungi as pathogens. Practical uses of fungi.
  11. Chromosomal and Molecular Basis of Inheritance.
  The chromosomal basis of sex. Inheritance of X- and Y-linked genes. Alternation of chromosome number and structure. Human disorders due to chromosomal alternation. Inheritance of organelle genes. DNA as genetic material. Structural model of DNA. Chromosomes’ structure.
  12. Genetic mechanisms.
  The flow of genetic information. Replication: base paring to a template strain, synthesis of new DNA strands. Transcription: molecular components of transcription, posttranscriptional modifications (alternation of mRNA ends, RNA splicing). Translation: molecular components of the process. Building of polypeptide. Genetic code. Type of mutations.
  Regulation of Gene Expression (promoters, transcription factors).
  13. Tissues and body membranes.
  Structure and physiology of: connective, muscle, epithelial and nervous tissue; serous, mucous, synovial and cutaneous membranes.
  14. Senses.
  Hearing and equilibrium. Visual perception. Taste. Smell. Types of sensory receptors.
  15. Nervous system.
  Organization of nervous system. The central nervous system. The organization of human brain. Peripheral nervous system: motor and autonomic nervous system. Glia. Blood-brain barrier. Nervous system disorders.
  16. Neurons, synapses and signaling.
  Neurons structure and function. Resting and action potential. Conduction of action potentials. Postsynaptic potential. Neurotransmitters.
  17. Hormones and endocrine system.
  Intercellular communication. Endocrine tissues and organs. Chemical classes of hormones. Multiple effects of hormones. Simple hormone pathways. Feedback regulation.
  18. Immune system. Innate and adaptive immunity.
  Antigen. Antibody. The humoral immune response. The cell-mediated immune response. Inflammatory response. Immunological memory. Allergies. Immunization (vaccination).
  19. Cardiovascular system.
  Organization of human circulatory system. Heart and heart’s rhythmic beat. Blood vessels structure and function. Blood pressure. Blood composition and function.
  20. Respiratory system.
  Organization of human respiratory system. Negative pressure breathing. Hemoglobin.
  21. Digestive system and nutrition.
  Essential nutrients. Dietary deficiencies. Organization of human digestive system. Chemical digestion in the human digestive system. Dental adaptation.
  22. Human reproduction and development.
  Female and male reproductive anatomy. Hormonal control of reproductive system. Gametogenesis. Conception. Embryonic development. Birth.
  23. Osmoregulation and excretion.
  Excretory organs. Kidney structure. Nephron organization and function. Kidney function, water balance and blood pressure.
  24. Evolution.
  Evolution of population. Evolution of human being. The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates. Phylogeny and the Tree of Life.
  25. Ecology
  Biotic and abiotic factors, habitats, niches, levels of organization, symbiosis, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism, trophic levels, nutrient cycles (water, carbon and nitrogen), food chains, primary producers, types of consumers, energy and biomass pyramids, limiting factors, tolerance, carrying capacity, adaptation, succession, climax community, pioneer species, biomes.
  26.Genetics of population.
  Genetic drift and effective population size, bottleneck effect, adaptation and phenotypic variance, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis.

• Chemistry - 250 hours of courses

  1. Atoms
  Atomic theory
  Elements and atomic number Isotopes and atomic weight
  2. The Periodic Table The periodic table and some characteristics of different groups Electronic structure of atoms and electron configurations Electron configurations and the periodic table Electron-dot symbols
  3. Ionic Compounds The octet rule ions and ionic bonds Periodic properties, ion formation formulas, naming ionic compounds Some properties of ionic compounds H + and OH - ions: an introduction to acids and bases 4. Molecular Compounds Covalent bonds and the periodic table Multiple covalent bonds and coordinate covalent bonds Characteristics of molecular compounds Molecular formulas and Lewis structures Polar covalent bonds and electronegativity, polar molecules Naming binary molecular compounds
  5. Classification and Balancing of Chemical Reactions Classes of chemical reactions
  Chemical equations and balancing chemical equations Acids, bases, and neutralization reactions Redox reactions 6.Mole and Mass Relationships The mole and Avogadro’s number Gram–mole conversions
  7. Reaction Rates and Chemical Equilibria.
  Endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions
  Factors that influence chemical reaction rates Chemical equilibrium
  Equilibrium constants
  8. Nuclear Chemistry
  Radioactivity
  Radioactive half-life
  9. Physical quantities
  Metric system of units Metric units of length Metric units of mass Metric units of volume
  Significant figures
  10. Fundamental Chemical Laws
  Law of conservation of mass
  Law of definite proportions
  Law of multiple proportions
  11. Chemical Calculations
  Mole concept and chemical formulas
  Calculations involving chemical equations
  Calculations involving volume and concentration
  12. Solutions Mixtures and solutions Units of concentration Dilution Ions in solution: electrolytes
  13. Acids and Bases Acids and bases in aqueous solution, some common acids and bases The Brønsted–Lowry definition of acids and bases Acid dissociation constants. Acid and base strength Some common acid–base reactions
  Acidity and basicity of salt solutions
  14. Buffers
  Measuring acidity in aqueous solution: pH Buffer solutions Titration
  15. Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes The nature of organic molecules The structure of organic molecules: alkanes and their isomers Drawing organic structures
  The shapes of organic molecules Naming alkanes Properties of alkanes Reactions of alkanes
  16. Cycloalkanes Drawing and naming cycloalkanes 17. Alkenes and Alkynes Alkenes and alkynes Naming alkenes and alkynes The structure of alkenes: cis–trans isomerism Properties of alkenes and alkynes Types of organic reactions Reactions of alkenes and alkynes
  18. Aromatic Compounds
  Alkene polymers Aromatic compounds and the structure of benzene Naming aromatic compounds Reactions of aromatic compounds 19. Alcohols Some common alcohols Naming alcohols Properties of alcohols, acidity of alcohols Reactions of alcohols
  20. Phenols
  Some common phenols Acidity of phenols
  21. Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen Ethers Thiols and disulfides Halogen-containing compounds 22. Amines Amines Properties of amines Heterocyclic nitrogen compounds Basicity of amines Amine salts
  23. Aldehydes The carbonyl group Naming aldehydes Properties of aldehydes Some Common aldehydes Oxidation of aldehydes Reduction of aldehydes
  24. Ketones
  Naming ketones
  Properties of ketones
  Some Common ketones
  Reduction of ketones 25. Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives Carboxylic acids and their derivatives: properties and names Some common carboxylic acids Acidity of carboxylic acids Reactions of carboxylic acids: ester and amide formation
  Hydrolysis of esters and amides
  26. Amino Acids and Proteins Amino acids structures Acid–base properties of amino acids Chemical properties of proteins
  27. Enzymes and Vitamins Catalysis by enzymes How enzymes work Vitamins and minerals 28. Carbohydrates
  Classification of carbohydrates The D and L families of sugars: drawing sugar molecules Structure of glucose Disaccharides, structure of maltose Some important polysaccharides Properties of carbohydrates
  29. Lipids
  Structure and classification of lipids Fatty acids and their esters Properties of fats and oils
  30. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis DNA, chromosomes, and genes Composition of nucleic acids The structure of nucleic acid chains Base pairing in DNA: the Watson–Crick model

• Physics - 210 hours of courses

  Module total hours: 210 (lectures 70 h, classes 110 h, laboratories 30 h)

  Mechanics:

  • motion, velocity, acceleration
  • forces, work, Newton’s laws of motion
  • energy, momentum, angular momentum, conservation laws
  • gravity
  • liquids – Archimedes principle, Pascal principle, Bernoulli equation, surface tension

  Teaching methods and hours: lecture (20 h), classes (20 h), laboratory (10 h)

  Electricity and magnetism:

  • electric charge, Coulomb’s law
  • electric field, electric potential, capacitors, capacity
  • electric current, voltage and current, resistance, Ohm’s law
  • magnetic field, Ampere’s law
  • electromagnetic induction, Maxwell equations

  Teaching methods and hours: lecture (10 h), classes (30 h)

  Vibrations and Sound:

  • harmonic motion, amplitude, period, frequency
  • damped vibrations, forced vibrations, resonance
  • waves – perpendicular and longitudinal, wavelength
  • reflection and interference of waves
  • sound – characteristics, beats, Dopler’s effect, shock wave, ultrasound

  Teaching methods and hours: lecture (10 h), classes (20 h), laboratory (10 h)

  Light and Optics:

  • light and electromagnetic waves
  • geometric optics, the law of reflection, the law of refraction (Snells’s law), refractive index
  • lens equation, optical instruments
  • wave nature of light - Huyghen principle, diffraction and interference of light
  • polarization of light, liquid crystal display

  Teaching methods and hours: lecture (10 h), classes (20 h), laboratory (10 h)

  Heat and atomic structure of matter:

  • atomic structure of matter
  • temperature and thermal equilibrium
  • ideal gas and its transformation
  • heat, specific heat, calorimetry
  • entropy, laws of thermodynamics

  Teaching methods and hours: lecture (20 h), classes (20 h)