BIO 340, Sec. 01, Genetics and Evolution (Class #3279)

Syllabus

BIO 340, Sec. 01, Genetics and Evolution (class #3279)

Building: Biology (21), Room 265, MWF 11:30- 12:20, Fall, 2006

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course: BIO 340 Genetics and Evolution

Hours: 3 clock hours, 3 credit hours

Instructor: Philip Service

Office: BS 426Laboratory: BS 415N

Office Hours: WF 2:00 – 3:30

E-mail: elephone: 523-7216

Course web page:

Instructor web page:

COURSE PREREQUISITES

BIO 181 and 182 or equivalent.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will present (1) fundamental concepts of inheritance, with emphasis on Mendelian (classical) transmission genetics; (2) an introduction to molecular genetics, and (3) basic concepts in evolution, including a description of the mechanisms of evolutionary change and a review of the evidence for evolution. In addition, students will also be introduced to concepts and methods of probability and statistical evaluation of scientific hypotheses.

Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes

1. To understand the mechanisms and “laws” underlying the transmission of heritable traits, including quantitative traits, from parents to offspring; and to understand the causes of variation in heritable traits

2. To understand basic concepts of molecular genetics, including structure and organization of DNA, transcription, and translation

3. To understand the genetic basis of evolutionary change; and to understand how natural selection, mutation, isolation, and random genetic drift interact to result in population differentiation and evolution.

4. To understand basic concepts of probability and statistical tests as applied to the analysis of experimental data.

COURSE STRUCTURE/APPROACH and HELPFUL ADVICE

1. Class meetings will consist of three hours lecture per week by the instructor. Lectures will be based on assigned textbook readings and, in addition, may include subject matter that is not in the textbook. Occasionally, outside reading material may be assigned. Video material may also be shown in class from time to time.

2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: No one becomes proficient at a sport or at playing a musical instrument without lots of practice. The same is true of academics. To become a proficient geneticist, you will need to practice, and the primary method of practicing is to work through genetics problems. These require you to apply the abstract concepts and methods of genetics to the solution of explicit, concrete problems. That is how most people really LEARN genetics.

You will be assigned several problem sets during the semester. Problem sets will NOT be graded. However, an answer key will be posted approximately 1 week after each problem set is assigned. The problem sets are intended to be a leaning/study aid for you. I also encourage you to work through other problems that I suggest from time to time. These can include problems at the end of each chapter in your text book, as well as problems that are available through the web site of the text book publisher — see below under Textbook and Required Materials. Working through problems will really help you to master the basic concepts of genetics. If you do not complete problems, the chances of your doing well on tests is very low.

3. Attend class regularly and take good notes. The importance of regular attendance cannot be overemphasized. The lectures are your guide to the subject matter that I consider important and that I expect you to know. Exam questions are based directly on lecture material and assigned problems.

4. Read the assignments in the textbook, preferably before the material is presented in lecture. Then use the textbooks to help clarify or amplify your lecture notes. Keep up with the textbook readings and problem sets. You should count on spending at least 2 hours outside of class for every hour of lecture.

5. Please feel free to ask questions during lecture or before or after class.

6. Come see me for help with material that you do not understand. I would prefer that you do this during regularly scheduled help sessions (see below) or during my regularly scheduled office hours (see above), but if that is not possible, then make an appointment with me for some other time. If you wait until just before a test, you will find that you must compete with other students for my time and attention.

7. Students who are having difficulty may also be able to receive some help from the Learning Assistance Centers ( Native American Student Services ( the Multicultural Student Center ( the University Counseling and Testing Center ( and other campus services.

STUDY/REVIEW SESSIONS

Provided that there is sufficient demand, I will hold help sessions on once or twice a week. The times and locations will be announced in class. Attendance at these sessions is optional. They are intended to provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and get assistance with course material/subject matter. If you want help but cannot attend these sessions, then please visit me during my office hours or make appointments to see me.

TEXTBOOKS AND REQUIRED MATERIALS

The following 2 items are sold as a single course pack:

1. Required text

Klug, W. S., and Cummings, M. R. 2005. Essentials of Genetics, 5th ed.

2. Required web-based material to accompany the text

OneKey CourseCompass Student Access Kit for Essentials of Genetics, 5th ed.

You will need the following course ID: service01283. The CourseCompass will provide you with solutions to chapter problems, self-assessment quizzes and other study aids. When you use your access kit to register, you will be asked for the NAU zip code: 86011

COURSE OUTLINE, SCHEDULE, AND ASSIGNED READINGS

This is a tentative outline that is subject to revision during the semester.

DateTopicText readings

Aug 27Introduction: the “problems”: variation,Ch 1

inheritance, and evolution of the phenotype

Aug 30-Sept. 15Mendelian inheritance: monohybrid and dihybridCh 3 (except.

inheritance; patterns of gene action; multiple alleles;Secs. 3.7-3.8)

gene interaction; Extranuclear inheritanceCh 4 (except pp. Secs. 4.10-4.11)

Sept 18Meiosis, the cytological basis of inheritanceCh 2

Sept 20MID-TERM 1

Sept 22Meiosis, the cytological basis of inheritanceCh 2

Sept. 22 (Deadline to DROP/DELETE)

Sept 25-27Probability and goodness of fit: statistical hypothesisSecs. 3.7-3.8

testing

Sept 29Sex-related inheritanceSecs. 4.10-4.11

Oct 2-9Linkage and genetic mapping in eukaryotesCh 8

Oct 11-13Changes in chromosome number and structureSecs. 5.2-5.5, Ch 7

Oct 16Identification and nature of the genetic materialCh 10

Oct 18MID-TERM 2

Oct 20-25DNA replication and synthesisCh 11

Oct 27Deadline to DROP with a "W"

Oct 27-Nov 3Genes, proteins, and the genetic codeChs 13-14

Nov. 6The molecular basis of mutation: point mutationsCh 15 to p. 334

Nov 8-13Transposable elements, repetitive DNA, polymeraseSecs. 15.10,

chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis, DNA fingerprinting12.5 – 12.6

17.2, 10.10;

pp. 390-392;

Sec. 17.5

Nov 15MID-TERM 3

Nov 17-20Quantitative inheritanceCh 6

Nov 22 & 27Genes in populations: allele and genotype frequencies;Ch 22 to p. 509

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Nov 29-Dec 1Adaptation and evolution by natural selection: argument

and evidence

Dec 4Evolution as a change in allele and genotypeSecs. 22.6, 22.9,

frequencies. Non-Darwinian evolution: genetic drift, 22.10

founder effects, bottlenecks, inbreeding

Dec 6-8Geographic variation and speciationCh 23 to p. 540

Dec 13FINAL EXAM, 10:00 am

Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

Examinations

There will be three mid-term examinations and a final exam. Assessment of learning outcomes and your course grade will be based entirely on your exam scores. Each exam, including the final, will be worth 100 points. The final exam will be partially cumulative: approximately 20 - 30 points will be on material covered before the last mid-term. Test format will be multiple choice.

Timeline for assessment

Dates for exams during the semester are: Sept. 20 (Wed.), Oct. 18 (Wed.), and Nov. 15 (Wed.). The first exam is one class meeting before the Drop/Delete deadline (Sept. 22). The final exam will be at 10:00 am on Dec. 13 (Wed.)

Grading system

Your course grade will be based on a maximum of 400 points. These are to be earned as follows: 3 mid-terms (100 pts each); and a final exam (100 pts).

Course letter grades will generally follow the scale below:

360 pts. and higher (90%)A

320 - 359 pts(80%)B

280 - 319 pts(70%)C

240 - 279 pts.(60%)D

less than 240 ptsF

After the final exams are graded and the averages for the course calculated, I may still determine that it is necessary to modify the grading scale. The grade scale will never, however, go above that given above, i.e., the above grades are guaranteed.

COURSE POLICY

Re-tests/Make-ups

Students will not be allowed to re-take examinations. Students who miss mid-terms for legitimate reasons will be permitted to take make-up exams. If you know in advance that you will miss a mid-term (e.g., for participation in a qualifying university-sponsored activity), please make arrangements with me to take the exam prior to the scheduled time.

Attendance

I cannot stress too strongly the importance of regular class attendance. Regular attendance will not directly contribute to your course grade, i.e., you will not receive any points simply for attending class. However, regular attendance will increase the likelihood that you will do well.

In the case of absence, it is your responsibility to make up all work by inquiring as to what was missed and taking the appropriate actions to catch up.

Statement on plagiarism and cheating

Cheating on examinations is a serious academic offense. Please see the attached statement on academic integrity (next page) for further information on definitions, policies and procedures relating to academic dishonesty.

Cell phones

Please silence your cell phone, and terminate any phone conversation promptly when class begins. (see CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT below)

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY

POLICY STATEMENTS

SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY

NAU's Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault, or retaliation by anyone at this university.

You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean's office. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, dean's office, the Office of Student Life (523-5181), the academic ombudsperson (523-9368), or NAU's Office of Affirmative Action (523-3312).

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you have a learning and/or physical disability, you are encouraged to make arrangements for class assignments/exams so your academic performance will not suffer because of a disability or handicap. If you have questions about special provisions for students with disabilities, contact the Counseling and Testing Center (523-2261).

It is your responsibility to register with the Counseling and Testing Center. Applications for services should be made at least eight weeks before the start of the semester.

If the Counseling and Testing Center verifies your eligibility for special services, you should consult with your instructor during the first week in the semester so appropriate arrangements can be made. Concerns related to noncompliance with appropriate provisions should be directed to the Disability Support Services coordinator in the Counseling and Testing Center.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community, NAU's administration, faculty, staff and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the educational process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in a academically honest manner.

Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonest. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU's Student Handbook.

MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR STUDENTS

The University's self-insurance plan does not provide medical coverage to students if injured while participating in University-related activities or academic programs. Students are strongly encourage to obtain medical/health insurance prior to participation through their parent's health insurance plan or by purchasing insurance (such as the Blue Cross/Blue Shield package offered through Fronske Health Center.)

ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE AND PRACTICE

No employee, agent, or institution under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents, shall discriminate against any student, employee, or other individual, because of such individual's religious belief or practice or any absence thereof. Furthermore, administrators and faculty members are responsible to reasonably accommodate individual religious practices. A refusal to accommodate is justified only when undue hardship would result from each available alternative of reasonable accommodation.

No administrator or faculty member shall retaliate or otherwise discriminate against any student, employee or prospective employee because that individual has sought a religious accommodation pursuant to this policy.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all members to preserve an atmosphere conducive to a safe and positive learning environment. Part of that obligation implies the responsibility of each member of the NAU community to maintain an environment in which the behavior of any individual is not disruptive.

It is the responsibility of each student to behave in a manner which does not interrupt or disrupt the delivery of education by faculty members or receipt of education by students, within or outside the classroom. The determination of whether such interruption or disruption has occurred has to be made by the faculty member at the time the behavior occurs. It becomes the responsibility of the individual faculty member to maintain and enforce the standards of behavior acceptable to preserving an atmosphere for teaching and learning in accordance with University regulations and the course syllabus.

At a minimum, students will be warned if their behavior is evaluated by the faculty member as disruptive. Serious disruptions, as determined by the faculty member, may result in immediate removal of the student from the instructional environment. Significant and/or continued violations may result in an administrative withdrawal from the class. Additional responses by the faculty member to disruptive behavior may include a range of actions from discussing the disruptive behavior with the student to referral to the appropriate academic unit and/or the Office of Student Life for administrative review, with a view to implement corrective action up to and including suspension or expulsion.

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD

Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU - including a course project, report, or research paper - must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and research-related activities.

The IRB meets once each month. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as no modifications in the exempted procedures.

A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department's administrative office and each college dean's office. If you have questions, contact Carey Conover, Office of Grant and Contract Services, at 523-4889.

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