University of Lakki Marwat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 28420,

Pakistan

Course outline
Department of Zoology
Program BS 5th Semester

S. No Course Category Course Code Course Title Credits

1 Major ZOO-351 Animals Physiology 4 (3+1)
2 Major ZOO-352 Environmental Biology 4 (3+1)
3 Major ZOO-353 Molecular Biology 3 (2+1)
4 Major ZOO-354 Conservation Biology 3 (3+0)
5 Major ZOO-355 Zoogeography and Palaeontology 3 (3+0)
Total Credits 17 (14+3)
 ZOO-351 Animals Physiology 4 (3+1)

Objectives
The course aims to
 Provide information about the physiological mechanisms underlying animal
functions.
 Enable students to understand neuro-endocrine coordination, physiology of
heart, hemodynamics and kidney function.
 Impart information on respiratory function and gut physiology.
 Give understanding about the mechanism of homeostasis, physiological
regulation of temperature and its maintenance
Course Contents
Central themes in Physiology: Homeostasis, Concepts of conformity and
regulation; physiological adaptations. Membrane Physiology: Ionic distribution
across membrane, Resting membrane potentials: Electrogenic ion pump, Donnan
equilibrium, Ion channels Nerve and Muscle Physiology: Action potentials in
neurons; Electrical and chemical synaptic transmission; Neurotransmitters;
Excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials; tetany; Muscles: Structure, types,
components, muscle proteins, molecular basis of muscle contraction: sarcoplasmic
reticulum and role of calcium, muscle action potentials, isometric and isotonic
contraction, leverage factor, muscle fatigue.
Receptors Physiology: Receptor types: Mechanoreceptors, Olfactory and taste
receptors, Photoreceptors, Photochemistry and Phototransduction; acoustico-
lateralis system, Cutaneous receptors, electro-receptors. Sensory transduction,
coding and adaptations. Range fractionation. Endocrine Physiology: Gland types;
Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Pineal, Pancreatic Islets, Gastric
glands, Adrenal, Ovary, Testis and Placenta; Overview of hormones; types, peptide
and steroid hormones, chemistry, synthesis and roles. Hormone receptors and
signal transduction. Feedback mechanisms.
Cardiovascular Physiology: Electrical activity of heart: Autorythmicity,
Electrocardiography, Kymography; Hemodynamics, Relationship between blood
flow, pressure and resistance. Control of cardiac activity, cardiac output and
peripheral circulation.
Respiratory Physiology: Respiratory epithelia, gas exchange in gills and lungs;
Transport of O2 and CO2, Structure of alveoli, lung volumes and capacities,
surfactants, control of breathing; hypoxia; Hypercapnia etc., air breathing in divers.
Renal Physiology: Osmoregulation: Osmoregulation in aquatic and terrestrial
animals; Kidney and Vertebrate nephron as osmoregulatory and excretory organ:
Glomerular filtration, Tubular absorption and secretion; Nitrogenous waste
products; Patterns of nitrogenous excretion and their phylogenetic significance.
Physiology of Digestion: Physiologic anatomy of digestive tract (mammalian
model), Regulation of digestive secretions; Absorption of water, ions and nutrients;
Potential and Movements in gastrointestinal tract; Control of motility. Deglutition,
Peristalsis, Absorption, Assimilation and defecation.
Temperature Regulation: Temperature classification of animals; Temperature
relation of ectotherms in freezing and cold and warm and hot environment; Costs
and benefits of ectothermy; Temperature relations of heterotherms and
endotherms; Dormancy: Sleep, Torpor, Hibernation and Estivation.
Practicals
1. Determination of haemoglobin content, haematocrit and cell counting.
Preparation of blood smears.
2. Nerve muscle preparation, Muscle twitch, Comparison of muscle and nerve
irritability, effect of stimulus strength, effect of stimulus frequency (tetany),
 effect of load or stretch, effect of prolonged activity (fatigue), neuromuscular
fatigue, stimulation of motor points in human.
3. Recording of action potential by oscilloscope and demonstration of its various
features. Experiments to demonstrate characteristic of reflex arc. Experiment in
human (students themselves) to demonstrate some aspect of sensory
physiology.
4. Normal cardiac activity, effect of temperature, effect of drug, heart block,
tetanization of heart. Measurement of blood pressure.
5. Oxygen consumption in fish and effect of temperature (by dissolved oxygen
meter) and terrestrial animal (mouse). Oxygen consumption (by respirometer),
heart rate, blood pressure glycemia altered by exercise.
6. Effect of insulin on glycemia, study of stages in estrous cycle.
Books Recommended
1. Guyton, A.C., Hall, J.E. 2013. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 10th Ed. W.B.
Saunders Company, Philadelphia.Sherwood 2013.
2. Tharp, G., Woodman, D. 2010. Experiments in Physiology, 10th Ed. Bejamin
Cummings.
3. Fox, S. 2010. Laboratory manual of human physiology. McGraw-Hill Sciences
4. Randall, D., Burggren, W., French, K., Fernald, R. 2002. Eckert Animal
5. Physiology: Mechanisms and Adaptations, 5th Ed. W.H. Freeman and
Company, New York
6. Bullock, J., Boyle, J., Wang, M.B. Physiology, 4th Ed. 2001. Lippincott,
Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia.
7. Berne, R.M., Levy, M.N. 2000.Principles of Physiology, 3rd Ed. St. Lious,
Mosby.
8. Withers, P.C. 1992. Comparative Animal Physiology. Saunders College
Publishing, Philadelphia.
 th
9. Schmidt-Nelsen, K. 1997. Animal Physiology, Adaptation and Environment, 5

Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

ZOO-352 Environmental Biology 4 (3+1)

Objectives
The main goal of this course is to:
 Enable students to develop strong expertise in contemporaneous themes in
ecological research
 Develop critical thinking and to discuss about advanced topics in population,
community and ecosystem ecology as well as in biodiversity research.
 Develop expertise to update their knowledge continuously, and to design their
own research in ecology.
Course Contents:
Energy: laws of thermodynamics, primary and secondary productions, trophic
levels and energy variation with increasing trophic levels, energy flow, food chains
and food webs. Biogeochemical cycle: nitrogen,
phosphorus, sulpher, water, carbon, nutrient. Limiting factors: basic concepts,
temperature, soil, water and humidity, light, fire.
Ecosystems: (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, ecosphere). An overview of
ecosystem with special reference to ecological niche: basic concepts and types.
Major ecosystem of world: Marine, Estuarine,
Freshwater, Wetlands, Tundra, Forest, Grassland, Desert and Agricultural
ecosystems.
Population ecology: basic population characters, growth and growth curves,
population dynamics and regulations. Community ecology: basic concepts,
community analysis, ecotones, inter-population interactions.
Applied Ecology: resources and their ecological management (mineral,
agricultural desalination and weather modification, forest and range management,
landscape and land use);
Pollution: (definition, types, cost, origin and management); water (sources,
domestic and industrial pollution, heavy metals); air (sulpher dioxide, nitrogen
oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, smog and PAN, MTBE & CFCs); land pollution
(pesticides, bacterial toxins, synthetic hormones); noise pollution.
Radiation ecology: global environmental changes (ozone depletion, acid rain,
greenhouse effect and global warming, Koyota protocol, desertification,
deforestation, exotic and invasive species, radioactivity
leakage, environmental laws).
Practicals
1. Measurement of environmental factors on land, water and air.
2. Study of different ecosystems: pond, agricultural or grassland, forest.
3. Community analysis through different sampling techniques (quadrat, Transect),
4. Population studies mark and recapture method, statistical analysis of field data.
5. Adaptive features of animals in relation to food and environment.
6. Food chain studies through analysis of gut contents.
7. Analysis of polluted and fresh water for biotic and abiotic variations.
8. Field visits for study of selected terrestrial habitat and writing notes.
9. Experimental design and approaches in ecological research; writing a research
project
10. Development of an ecological management plan of some selected area.
Books Recommended
1. Molles, M.C. 2005. Ecology: Concepts and Applications. 6th Ed., McGraw Hill,
New York, USA.
2. Cox, C.B., Morre, D. 2000. Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary
Approach, 6th Ed., Life Sciences King’s College, London, UK.

ZOO-353 Molecular Biology 3 (2+1)

Course Objectives:
 To impart knowledge about chemical, physical and biological properties of
nucleic acids.
 To understand different molecular mechanisms and their regulation in
prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. EXPLAIN how the structure and chemistry of nucleic acids relate to their
functions, relative stability and interactions with proteins.
2. UNDERSTAND the regulation of proteins and nucleic acids interaction
3. COMPARE & CONTRAST mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription,
translation, repair, recombination, gene regulation, RNA processing in prokaryotes
and eukaryotes.
4. APPLY molecular knowledge to identify human genetic disorders and to
understand underlying molecular mechanism
Course Outline:
1. Introduction
a. Introduction to nucleic acids
b. Chromosome structure, Chromatin,
c. DNA forms, structures and packaging
d. RNA types and structures
2. Replication
a. DNA replication in prokaryotes
b. DNA replication in eukaryotes
c. Enzymology of replication
d. DNA damage and repair
3. Transcription
a. Types of RNA polymerases in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
b. Synthesis of mRNA, rRNA and tRNA with special reference to enzymes
involved
c. RNA processing
d. Split genes, concept of ribozymes
c. Genetic Code
4. Translation
a. Role of Ribosomes
b. Mechanism of translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
c. Various factors, and posttranslational processing
5. Mutation
a. Types of Mutations
b. Base-Analogue Mutagens
c. Chemical Mutagens
6. Gene expression and control
a. Control of gene expression in Prokaryotes.
b. Inducible and repressible operons.
c. Control of gene expression in eukaryotes.
Practicals:
1. Preparation of different stock solutions used in molecular biology (solution used
in PCR, electrophoresis, DNA isolation, RNA isolation and Protein isolation.
2. Isolation of DNA from human blood.
3. Quantification of DNA and RNA through spectrophotometer.
4. DNA amplification through polymerase chain reaction.
5. Separation of different sized DNA fragments on agarose gel.
Text and Reference books:
1. Alberts, B., Bray, D., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Watson, J.D. 2017.
Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th Edition. Garland Publishing Inc., New York.
2. Harvey Lodish, Arnold Berk, Chris A. Kaiser, Monty Krieger, Anthony
Bretscher, Hidde Ploegh, Angelika Amon, Kelsey C. Martin. 2016. Molecular
Cell Biology. W. H. Freeman Publishers, Scientific American Inc.
3. Geoffrey M.C., Robert E.H. 2007. The cell: A Molecular Approach, Sinauer
Associates, INC.
4. Karp, J. 2005. Cell and Molecular Biology, Concepts and Experiments, Jhon
Wiley and Sons, INC.
5. De Robertis, E. D. P. 2017. Cell and Molecular Biology, 8th edition, Lea &
Febiger, New York.
ZOO-354 Conservation Biology 3 (3+0)
Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is
1. to enable the student to understand and investigate the diversity of living world,
2. to understand the effect of human activities on species, communities and
ecosystems; and
3. to develop a practical interdisciplinary approach to protect and restore biological
diversity.
Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. ACQUIRE theoretical knowledge about the phenomena that affect the
maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity.
2. UNDERSTANDthe ecological and evolutionary principles of biological
diversity which influence the conservation of wildlife at spatial and temporal scales
in Pakistan as well as abroad.
3. SOLVEthe conservation issue by applying the scientific principles and modern
technologies.
4. ANALYSE,interpreting and synthesize data and other information about the
determinants of the conservation problems.
5. EVALUATEthe conservation actions taken by the biologists for solving the
conservation problems across biological scales (genes to landscapes) and
geographical scales (local to global).
6. DEMONSTRATEsound research skills based on ecological and evolutionary
principles in investigating problems in conservation biology.
Course Outline:
1. Introduction to Conservation Biology:
a. Definition,
b. History and
c. Scope.
2. Biodiversity:
a. Species Diversity; Genetic Diversity; Ecosystem Diversity;
b. Measurement of Biological Diversity;
c. AnOverview of World’s Biodiversity;
d. The Value of Biodiversity
3. Threats to Biodiversity:
a. Human Population Growth;
b. Habitat Destruction; Habitat Fragmentation;
c. Environmental Degradation and Pollution;
d. Global Climate Change;
e. Overexploitation;
f. Invasive Species
4. Extinctions:
a. Extinction and Mass Extinctions;
b. Rates of Extinction; Island Biogeography;
c. Vulnerability to Extinction;
d. Problems of Small Populations; Minimum Viable Population (MVP);
e. Loss of Genetic Diversity; Effective Population Size;
f. Demographic and Environmental Stochasticity
5. Conserving Populations and Species:
a. Applied Population Biology; Monitoring populations; Population viability
analysis; Metapopulations,
b. International agreements for conservation of fauna and flora; Role of national
and International Laws in Protection of Species;
c. Ex Situ Conservation Strategies; Zoos; Aquariums; Botanical gardens; Seed
banks.
d. ProtectedAreas and theirEstablishment and categories;
e. Managing Protected Areas; Challenges to Protected Areas Management.
f. Unprotected Public and Private Lands
g. Ecosystem Management
h. Integration of Local Community in Conservation
i. Restoring Damaged Ecosystems
6. Sustainable Development:
a. Challenges Involve in Conservation and Sustainable Development at the Local
Level
b. International Approaches to SustainableDevelopment
c. Funding for Conservation by the World Bank and international NGOs;
d. Conservation Education and the Role of Conservation Biologists
Practicals:
1. Conservation issues in protected areas of Pakistan.
2. Study of the role of local community in protected areas of Pakistan.
3. Challenges to sustainable development and their solution in Pakistan.
Text and Reference Books:
1. Richard B. Primack, 2012. A Primer of Conservation Biology; 5th Edition:
Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers Sunderland, MA U.S.A.
2. Groom, M.J., G.K. Meffe and C.R. Carroll, 2006, Principles of Conservation
Biology, 3rd edition, Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.
3. Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr. 2001. Fundamentals of Conservation Biology, 2nd
Edition. Blackwell Science Inc.
4. Mills, L.S. 2007. Conservation of Wildlife Populations: Demography, Genetics
and Management. Blackwell Publishing, USA.
5. Richard B. Primack. 2002. Essentials of Conservation Biology. 3rd Edition.
Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers, Sunderland, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
 ZOO-355 Zoogeography and Palaeontology 3 (3+0)

Objectives:
The course aims to

 Provide information on the distribution of animals and their associations in the

past and to rationalize their relationship in the present time.
 Impart knowledge and concepts of evolution mainly on the basis of
fossil record.
 Give understanding that fossil record also provide information about
the distribution of animals in the past eras.

Course Contents

(i). Zoogeography Branches of zoogeography: descriptive, chorology, faunistics,

systematic, biocoenotic, causal, ecological, historical, experimental and applied
zoogeography.

Animal distribution: cosmopolitan distribution, discontinuous distribution,

isolation distribution, bipolar distribution and endemic distribution, barriers and
dispersal.

Zoogeographical regions: zoogeographic division and boundaries,

geographic ranges, physical features, climates, faunas and affinities of
Palaearctic, Nearctic regions, Oriental, Ethiopian, Australian, and
Neotropical Regions, insular fauna Palaeogeography: Theories of continental drift
and plate tectonics; Pangea.
Zoogeography of Pakistan:

(ii). Paleontology

The Planet Earth: History, age, shells of earth; atmosphere, hydrosphere,

biosphere and lithosphere.

Rocks: types; lgneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks.

Fossil types and uses of fossils, nature of fossils.

Fossilization: Geological time scale. Pre-Cambrian life. Post Cambrian life,

Palaeozoic life, Mesozoic life, Cenozoic life. Geochronometry: Uranium/Lead

dating, radiocarbon dating, methods, index

fossils; evolutionary history of man, elephant, horse and camel,

Paleoecology, Paleomagnetism.

Practicals

1. Study of fauna of various zoogeographical regions.

2. Study of mould, cast, pseudomorph, coprolite, petrified fossils of plants and
animals.
3. Study of invertebrate fossils of coelenterates, trilobites, ammonite,
brachiopods, molluscs and echinoderms.
4. Study of vertebrate fossils e.g. horse/elephant/camel/bovids.
5. Study and identification of Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic rocks.
6. Map work for identification of various zoogeographical regions of the
World.
Books Recommended

Zoogeography:

1. Beddard, F. E. 2008. A text book of zoogeography. Bibliobazar, LLC.

2. Tiwari, S.K. 2006. Fundamentals of world zoogeography. Wedams eBooks Ltd
(India) Sarup & Sons. Delhi.
3. Ali, S.S. 1999. Palaeontology, Zoogeography and Wildlife Management.
Nasim Book Depot, Hyderabad, India.
4. Darlington, P. J. Jr. 1963. Zoogeography, John Wiley and Sons.

Paleontology:

1. Michael, J. B. David, A and Haper, T. 2009. Paleobiology and the fossil

record. 3rd Ed. Wiley Black, UK.
2. Foote, M and Millar, A. I. 2007. Principles of paleontology. 3rd Ed. W. H.
Freeman & Co. USA.
3. Ali, S.S. 1999. Palaeontology, Zoogeography and Wildlife Management.
Nasim Book Depot, Hyderabad, India.
4. Brouwer, A. 1977. General Palaeontology, Oliver and Boyed, London.