Life on Earth presents us with an ongoing marvel of adaptation and responsiveness, a fundamental characteristic shared by all living organisms. This ability to react both at the behavioral level and through changes transmitted from generation to generation is often the decisive factor between continued existence and extinction. In the course "Life Shapes Life," we embark on a fascinating journey to explore the mechanisms that enable this flexibility, examining how it manifests in the structure and function of various organisms, as well as in the dynamics of ecological systems.

The course begins with the fundamentals of biology and ecology, where we will familiarize ourselves with key concepts such as cell, organism, population, and community, and delve into the principles of evolution and natural selection. We will then proceed to the world of taxonomy, the key to understanding biodiversity, where we will learn about classification principles, from kingdoms to species, and ask, "What do different organisms have in common, and how do they differ?" We will investigate structural and functional adaptations, such as the surprising similarity between unrelated ant-eaters, and how different birds cope with foraging in deep waters while reducing competition and conflicts. We will delve into survival strategies like camouflage, communication between animals, and the domestication story of dogs and fig trees alongside humans.

Finally, we will connect nature to technology through the lens of biomimicry, learning how solutions from nature inspire innovations in engineering, medicine, and economics. Throughout the course, students will develop scientific thinking, comparative skills, hypothesis formulation, and critical thinking. Teaching methods will include lectures rich in visual illustrations and discussions.

This course invites students on a fascinating journey into the heart of nature, where we will uncover the remarkable mechanisms that enable life on Earth. Through the lens of flexibility and responsiveness, we will examine how different organisms cope with environmental challenges and how their solutions impact the entire ecological system.

The course is designed not only to enrich biological knowledge but also to develop critical thinking, comparative abilities, and inspiration for applying insights from nature to various aspects of our lives.

* The course material will be tailored to the age of the learners.