本课程作为通识核心课程，通过向非生物学专业本科生系统介绍生命科学中的生物化学、细胞生物学、分子生物学、神经、生理、免疫等各主要领域的基础知识、理论与最新的发展，培养学生的生命科学素养，丰富学生多学科交叉背景，以适应二十一世纪工作、社会、经济发展以及日常生活。 课程内容涵盖生物大分子、细胞结构与功能、遗传理论与规律、人类遗传疾病与人类基因组计划、人体免疫系统机构与功能、人体神经与激素系统、生物多样性、生态环境保护等内容。教学内容组织时，兼顾生命科学的最新发展与学科发展历史；既包含生物化学和分子生物学等现代微观生物学，又涵盖生物多样性保护、生态环保等宏观生物学；既系统阐述细胞、遗传等重要生命科学基础理论，又详细介绍以基因重组技术为核心发展起来的生物技术与生物经济；此外，通过介绍生命科学著名学者的成长历程、学术成果取得经过等事例，引领学生的精神成长。 本课程的教学目标是：通过本课程的学习，学生不仅能够掌握生命科学的重要知识与理论，同时可以了解生命科学未来发展趋势以及生命科学对当今人类社会经济、文化等方面发挥的重要作用以及生命科学与其他学科交叉的新增长点。 Introduction of Life Science is a core curriculum in general education of Shanghai Jiao tong University. This course aims to delivery life sciences knowledge as well as enrich students multidisciplinary background for students meeting the challenge of 21st century work, social and economic development as well as everyday life by systematically introducing theory and the latest development in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, immunology and other key areas of life science to non-biology majors. This course covers wide range of content from biological macromolecules, cell structure and function, genetic theory, human genetic diseases and the human genome project, organization and function of the human immune system, the human nervous and hormonal systems to biodiversity, ecology and environmental protection. Course content covers form the latest developments in the life sciences to discipline development history; biochemistry and molecular biology to biodiversity conservation, environmental protection; from basic life sciences, i.e. cell biology, genetic theory and etc., to recombinant DNA technology based biotechnology and bio-economy. Meanwhile, this course aims to stir the spiritual growth of the students by introducing life experience and process of academic achievements of famous scholars in life sciences. The objective of this course is to help the students to comprehend the future developing trends of life sciences, its role in today's human society, economy, culture and other aspects; the cross integration with other disciplines besides mastering the importance of knowledge and theory.