This is the first part of the two-semester general biology course for science majors. It will cover introduction to the fundamental principles of life processes of organisms including chemical basis of life, cellular structure, function, division, metabolism and genetic basis of life. The structural and functional features as well as phylogenic and ecological adaptation of bacteria, protista, fungi and plants will also be covered. The laboratory component of this course will reinforce the biological principles by hands-on experiments. Students taking this course for the first time are required to take the lecture and the corresponding lab course concurrently. If the lab or lecture component of the course has been successfully completed previously with a passing and transferable grade or better, then the corresponding lab or lecture course that was not successfully completed previously may be retaken separately