Learning Objectives:
i. Understand the contributions of Muslim scholars to the field of biology.
ii. Explore the connection between the teachings of Islam and the study of the living world through verses from the Holy Quran.
Content:
I. Historical Context:
- Introduce the Golden Age of Islam and its emphasis on knowledge and scientific inquiry.
- Discuss the cultural and intellectual environment that allowed scientific thought to flourish in the Muslim world.
II. Jaber Bin Hayan (Geber):
- Recognized as the father of chemistry, Jaber Bin Hayan made significant contributions to the field of alchemy and laid the foundation for modern-day chemistry, which is integral to biology.
- Discuss his methods and discoveries, including the classification of substances and development of early pharmaceuticals.
III. Bu Ali Sina (Avicenna):
- Renowned for his works in medicine, particularly “The Canon of Medicine” which was a standard medical text in many medieval universities.
- Highlight his contributions to the understanding of physiology, contagious diseases, and pharmacotherapy.
IV. Abdul Malik Asmai:
- One of the first Muslim scholars to take a deep interest in the animal kingdom, he wrote the “Book of Animals,” detailing animal physiology and behavior.
- Explain his role in the development of zoology as a scientific discipline.
V. The Holy Quran and Biology:
- Introduce verses that encourage the study of nature and the contemplation of life as signs of divine creation.
- Discuss how these verses relate to the pursuit of knowledge in the field of biology and the study of life.
VI. Integration of Knowledge:
- Explore how these historical figures integrated empirical observation and religious philosophy in their scientific inquiries.
- Discuss the impact of their works on both the Islamic world and the Western scientific tradition.
Important Questions for Self-Study:
i. What were the key contributions of Jaber Bin Hayan to the field that would become modern chemistry and biology?
ii. How did Bu Ali Sina’s medical writings influence the understanding of human physiology?
iii. In what ways did Abdul Malik Asmai’s work lay the groundwork for later studies in zoology?
iv. Identify and reflect on a verse from the Holy Quran that encourages the study of the natural world.
v. How do the teachings of the Quran align with the empirical study of biology?
vi. Discuss the impact of Islamic scholars on the advancement of biology during the Middle Ages.
vii. How has the work of these scholars continued to influence contemporary biological sciences?
viii. What can modern biologists learn from the integration of religious context and scientific investigation practiced by Muslim scholars?
ix. Why is it important to recognize the contributions of scholars from different cultural and religious backgrounds in the history of science?
x. Reflect on how the historical interplay between Islamic teachings and scientific discovery has shaped the modern understanding of biology.
Class Sessions
1- Lesson 01: Foundations of Biology
2- Lesson 02: Exploring Biological Branches
3- Lesson 03: Biology and Other Sciences
4- Lesson 07: Bioelements - The Fundamentals of Life
5- Lesson 08: Biomolecules - The Chemical Basis of Life
6- Lesson 10: Cooperation in Life - Division of Labor
7- Lesson 09: The Hierarchy of Life
8- Lesson 04: Biology in Professional Practice
9- Lesson 01: The Biological Method - Recognition and Hypothesis Formation
10- Lesson 05: Classifying Life
11- Lesson 06: Biology and Islam
12- Lesson 04: Ratio and Proportion in Biological Problem-Solving
13- Lesson 05: Data Analysis in Biology
14- Lesson 02: Experimentation and Inference in Biology
15- Lesson 03: Study of Malaria through the Biological Method
16- Lesson 07: Biological Terminologies and Concepts Review
17- Lesson 06: Mathematics in Biological Sciences
18- Lesson 01: Biodiversity
19- Lesson 02: Aims and Principles of Classification in Biology
20- Lesson 03: History of Classification - Tracing the Evolution from Two to Five Kingdoms
21- Lesson 04: The Five Kingdom System of Classification
22- Lesson 05: Binomial Nomenclature - Naming the Diversity of Life
23- Lesson 06: Biodiversity and Its Conservation
24- Lesson 07: Human Impact on Biodiversity
25- Lesson 08: Pollution, Deforestation, and Their Effects on Biodiversity
26- Lesson 01: Microscopy and the Emergence of Cell Theory
27- Lesson 02: Unveiling the Microscopic World: Light and Electron Microscopy
28- Lesson 03: The Pillars of Cell Theory: Contributions of Hooke, Brown, and Pasteur
29- Lesson 04: Organelles of the Animal Cell - Nucleus and Cell Membrane
30- Lesson 05: The Cytoplasmic Matrix: Ribosomes and the Endoplasmic Reticulum
31- Lesson 06: The Cell's Processing Plants: Golgi Apparatus, Lysosomes, and Mitochondria
32- Lesson 07: The Support and Division Framework: Centrioles and Cytoskeleton
33- Lesson 08: Cilia and Flagella: The Cell's Movers and Shakers
34- Lesson 09: The Plant Cell: Cell Wall and Vacuoles
35- Lesson 10: The Plant Cell and Its Plastids
36- Lesson 01: The Rhythm of Life: The Cell Cycle
37- Lesson 02: Interphase: The Foundation of the Cell Cycle
38- Lesson 03: S-Phase: The Synthesis Core of Interphase
39- Lesson 04: The Stages of Mitosis - Cell Division Unveiled
40- Lesson 05: Mitosis: The Pathway to Genetic Fidelity and Organismal Growth
41- Lesson 07: Meiosis: The Process of Reduction Division
42- Lesson 06: Comparing Cell Division: Mitosis in Plant vs. Animal Cells
43- Lesson 08: Unraveling Meiosis I: The Prelude to Genetic Diversity
44- Lesson 09: Finalizing Division: The Stages of Meiosis II
45- Lesson 10: The Essence of Meiosis: Ensuring Diversity and Continuity
46- Lesson 01: The Dynamics of Life: Understanding Metabolism and Enzymes
47- Lesson 02: Enzymes: Accelerators of Biochemical Reactions
48- Lesson 03: The Influencers of Enzyme Activity: pH, Temperature, and Substrate Concentration
49- Lesson 05: The Specificity of Enzymes: A Study of Shape and Function
50- Lesson 04: Deciphering Enzyme Mechanisms: Lock and Key vs. Induced Fit
51- Lesson 01: Bioenergetics: The Energy Flow in Biological Systems
52- Lesson 02: Oxidation-Reduction Reactions: The Currency of Energy in Biology
53- Lesson 03: Energizing Life: Oxidation-Reduction Reactions and the ATP-ADP Cycle
54- Lesson 04: Photosynthesis: The Synthesis of Life
55- Lesson 05: Photosynthesis: The Foundation of Life's Energy Pyramid
56- Lesson 06: The Sustenance of Plants: Intake of Carbon Dioxide and Water
57- Lesson 07: Limiting Factors in Photosynthesis: Understanding Plant Productivity
58- Lesson 08: The Power Without Oxygen: Anaerobic Respiration
59- Lesson 09: Aerobic Respiration: Harnessing Energy from Oxygen
60- Lesson 10: Navigating Nutritional Challenges: PEM, MDD, and OIN
61- Lesson 01: Mineral Nutrition in Plants: From Soil to Cell
62- Lesson 02: The Essentials of Plant Nutrition: Nitrogen and Magnesium
63- Lesson 03: Fertilizers in Agriculture: Boon and Bane
64- Lesson 04: The Building Blocks of Nutrition: Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats
65- Lesson 05: Essential Vitamins: A, C, and D – Sources and Functions
66- Lesson 06: Nutritional Essentials: Calcium, Iron, and Vitamins A, C, D
67- Lesson 07: The Fundamentals of Hydration and Fiber
68- Lesson 08: Crafting Your Plate: A Guide to a Balanced Diet
69- Lesson 09: Understanding Nutritional Problems: The Protein-Energy Puzzle
70- Lesson 01: Plant Transport Systems: Roots and Nutrient Uptake
71- Lesson 02: Transpiration: The Vital Water Movement in Plants
72- Lesson 03: Transpiration: Plant Life's Balancing Act
73- Lesson 04: The Dynamics of Transpiration: Environmental Influences
74- Lesson 05: Life's Pathways: The Journey of Water and Food in Plants
75- Lesson 06: The Life-Sustaining Fluid: Blood and Its Components
76- Lesson 07: Blood Typing: Understanding ABO and Rh Systems
77- Lesson 08: The Matching Game: Blood Group Donors and Recipients
78- Lesson 09: Blood Disorders: Understanding Leukemia and Thalassemia
79- Lesson 11: Foundations of Biology - Summary of Terminologies
80- Lesson 11: The Cellular Tapestry of a Leaf
81- Lesson 12: Form Meets Function: Specialized Cells and Open Systems
82- Lesson 13: The World of Cells: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic
83- Lesson 14: The Geometry of Survival: Cell Size, Shape, and Surface Area to Volume Ratio
84- Lesson 15: The Balancing Act: Surface Area to Volume Ratio and Cell Size
85- Lesson 16: The Movement of Substances: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
86- Lesson 17: Crossing Borders: Passive vs. Active Transport in Cells
87- Lesson 18: Turgor Pressure: The Plant Cell's Balancing Act
88- Lesson 19: Plasmolysis: When Cells Shrink from Osmotic Pressure
89- Lesson 20: The Cell Membrane: Guardian of Cellular Equilibrium
90- Lesson 21: The Dynamic Cell: Endocytosis and Exocytosis
91- Lesson 22: Tissues: The Teamwork of Cells
92- Lesson 23: The Fabric of Life: Major Animal Tissue Types
93- Lesson 10: Comparing Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration: The Energy Yield
94- Lesson 24: The Architectural Wonders of Plant Tissues
95- Lesson 11: The Cycle of Life: Photosynthesis vs. Respiration
96- Lesson 11: Divergent Paths: Contrasting Mitosis and Meiosis
97- Lesson Title 11: The Impact of Malnutrition: From Starvation to Obesity
98- Lesson 12: Unraveling Famine: Causes and Consequences
99- Lesson 13: Nutrient's Voyage: The Digestive Process
100- Lesson 14: Mapping the Alimentary Canal: A Tour Through the Digestive Highway
101- Lesson 15: The Digestive Trail: From Ingestion to Egestion
102- Lesson 12: Life and Death of Cells: Necrosis vs. Apoptosis
103- Lesson 16: The Dynamics of Digestion: Swallowing, Peristalsis, and Enzymatic Action
104- Lesson 17: The Liver: The Body's Metabolic Powerhouse
105- Lesson 18: Gut Reactions: Understanding Digestive Disorders