BIOL 107- General Biology

Fall 2012

CRN # 49941/ 49953

Dr. Laura Waggoner Murphy

Office: S5-101G

Phone: 619-388-7539

E-mail:

Location/ Times-Lecture: M/W,S5-104, 8:00- 9:25 am

Lab: M or W (depending on CRN #), S5-100, 9:35- 12:40 pm

Office Hours-M/T/Th from 1-2 pm, W from 1-3 pm, and by appointment

Texts: Biology, Concepts and Connections, 7th edition by Campbell

Fall 2012 Laboratory Manual for General Biology 107

Supplies:Number 2 pencils , paper and Scantrons™ are needed.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course stresses the life processes common to all organisms: the chemical basis of life, cell organelles and their functions, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, mitosis, meiosis, genetics, evolution and ecology. In addition, by completing this course you will have accomplished the following student learning outcomes:

1. Apply the scientific method by stating a question; researching a topic; performing tests; collecting, analyzing, and presenting data.

2. Recognize science as a process of gaining and evaluating information that changes with time and is subject to continual revision.

3. Understand the basic and cellular processes that are common to all organisms.

4. Describe metabolic pathways in general terms and demonstrate an understanding of energy transformation to all levels of living systems.

5. Demonstrate the ability to analyze the genetic components of heredity. Apply basic genetic principles to analyze consequences of mutation and patterns of gene inheritance.

6. Demonstrate an understanding of evolution as the central organizing principle of biology. Compare and contrast the major evolutionary characteristics of living organisms.

7. Integrate concepts and assess scientific information to make decisions about issues of personal, public, and ethical relevance.

8. Compare and contrast the structure and function of the human organ systems.

Attendance and Absences

Required. If you miss more than 4 lecture classes, the instructor has the right to drop you from the class. If you miss more than 2 lab classes, the instructor has the right to drop you from the class. Arriving 15 minutes or more late and/or leaving 15 minutes or more early will constitute an absence. There are no make-up labs or lectures.

Dropping the class

It is your responsibility to officially drop the course if and when you decide to do so. Do not assume that by not showing up to class, the instructor will withdraw you from the official school roster (even if the instructor has “dropped” you from the class, you need to make sure your name is withdrawn from the official roster). Please be aware of all drop dates and let me know if you do decide to drop the course.

Accommodation of a Disability

A student with a verifiable disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodation. Please consult with me immediately if you have or suspect you may have a disability so that the appropriate arrangements can be made with the Disabled Student Services office. You may contact the Disability Support Program and Services (DSPS) office by phone at (619) 388-7312 or online at:

Cell phone/ PDA policy

This policy about cell phone/ personal digital assistant (PDA) usage applies to any device that makes or receives phone calls, leaves messages, sends text messages, surfs the Internet, or downloads and allows for the reading of and responding to email. Cell phones are to be turned off and not allowed in class for any of the above purposes. If you must receive a call, for emergency reasons, please have your phone on vibrate and leave the room before speaking on the phone. Failure to comply will result in points deducted from your grade.

Academic Honesty

Cheating and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. This includes, but is not limited to:

Unauthorized assistance on an examination

Falsification or invention of data

Unauthorized collaboration on an academic exercise, including plagiarism

Misappropriation of resource material

Any unauthorized access of an instructor’s files or computer account

Any other serious violation of academic integrity as established by the instructor

Any student caught cheating on any assignment will not receive credit for that assignment. The instructor also reserves the right to pursue further disciplinary action. All incidents of cheating will be reported to the Department Chair, School Dean, and Dean of Student Affairs. No exceptions will be made.

Important Deadlines

LAST DAY TO DROP (No W on record) AND PAY FOR CLASS: 8/31/2012

LAST DAY TO FILE A PETITION FOR PASS/NO PASS GRADE OPTION:9/21/2012

WITHDRAW DEADLINE, NO LATE DROPS ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE:10/26/2012

Assessments and assignments

Lecture:

Assessments

There will be 5exams (100 points each) throughout the semester. You must bring a Scantron and Number 2 pencil for each exam. There are no make-up exams. However, you may take an optional cumulative final exam in addition to Exam 5. This exam score can replace a lower score from a previous exam, including a missed exam. In general, students DO NOT do better on a cumulative final, so it is in your best interest to take each of the 5 exams as scheduled.

Homework assignments

There will be 5homework assignments (30 points each) during the semester. These assignments will be provided at the beginning of a unit of study and are designed to help you study, learn and apply the material covered in class. They make excellent study guides! Assignments turned in late will have a 10% grade penalty for EACH DAY they are overdue.

Laboratory:

Lab quizzes

Each quiz is valued at 10 points and covers information investigated in the previous week’s laboratory. The quizzes are multiple choice and you must have a Scantron and Number 2 pencil for each quiz. Arrive on time for lab- you will not be granted extra time for quizzes if you arrive late. There are no make-up quizzes but you may drop your lowest quiz score.

Field trips

Each field trip and completed worksheet is worth 25 points. The worksheets, which can be found in the BIOL 107 Laboratory Manual, are due the lab class immediately following the field trip.

Pre-labs

Beginning with Lab 2, you are required to hand in a weekly pre-lab, which is a brief, typed summary of the lab we will be doing that day (no less than ½ page). The pre-lab is due at the onset of class and is worth 4 points. Late pre-labs are not accepted for any reason. There are no pre-labs required for fieldtrip weeks. There are more than 10 opportunities for pre-labs, but I will only take the top 10 scores.

Lab check outs

At the end of each lab period, I will check out your lab notebook for completion and/or ask you to hand in data sets or graphs. You will not be able to leave prior to lab check out and each check out is worth 4 points. There are more than 10 opportunities for check-outs, but I will only take the top 10 scores.

Final exam

This examination is open book. You may use your lab manual but no other materials are allowed. For this reason, each student must have his or her own manual and I suggest taking all notes in the manual itself.

Grading:

Grading:

5 Assessments (100 points each) / 500 points
5 Homework Assignments (40 points each) / 150 points
Total / 650 points
12 Quizzes (10 points each) / 120 points
2 Field Trip Assignments (25 points each) / 50 points
Weekly Pre-lab write-ups (10 at 4 points each) / 40 points
Weekly lab check outs (10 at 4 points each) / 40 points
Final Exam / 100 points
Total / 350 points

Grade table:

I have prepared a grade table for you to use so that you can keep track of all of your grades as well as where you stand in the class. It is your responsibility to track all of your grades. Please see me if you score below a 70% on the first assignment in lecture or lab.

Lecture Grade Table

Lecture assessment / Score / Available points
Assessment 1 / 100
Assessment 2 / 100
Assessment 3 / 100
Assessment 4 / 100
Assessment 5 / 100
Homework / 150
TOTAL LECTURE POINTS / 650
Lab assessment / Score / Available points
12 quizzes / 120
Field trip 1 / 25
Field trip 2 / 25
Pre-labs / 40
Lab check outs / 40
Lab Final / 100
TOTAL LAB POINTS / 350

Lab Grade Table

Grading Scale: Grade is based on percentage of total possible (1000 points- combine

lecture and lab). Grading will be on a straight scale of total points available. Remember

that I do not give out grades- you earn you grade.

A = 90 - 100%

B = 80 - 89%

C = 70 - 79%

D = 60 - 69%

F < 60%

Tentative Lecture Topic Outline

Week of / Topic / Chapters
M, 8/20 / What is Biology?
Chemistry of Life / 1-2
W, 8/22
M, 8/27 / Biochemistry / 3
W,. 8/29
M, 9/3 / LABOR DAY
W, 9/5 /

ASSESSMENT 1

M, 9/10 /

Cell structure and physiology

/ 4-5
W, 9/12
M, 9/17 / How cells get energy… cellular respiration, fermentation and photosynthesis / 6-7
W, 9/19
M, 9/24
W, 9/26 / ASSESSMENT 2
M, 10/1 / DNA: the molecule of life / 10, 8
W, 10/3 / Sharing life: mitosis, meiosis and reproduction / 8 (27)
M, 10/8
W, 10/10 / Laws of genetic inheritance / 9
M, 10/15
W, 10/17 / What we can do with genetics… biotechnology / 12
M, 10/22 / ASSESSMENT 3
W, 10/24 / How did we end up here… evolution / 13
M, 10/29 / What defines a species? / 14
W, 10/31
M, 11/5 / Diversity / 16-19
W, 11/7 / Ecosystems and environmental impact / 36- 38
M, 11/12 / VETERANS DAY
W, 11/14 / ASSESSMENT 4
11/19- 11/23 / FALL BREAK
M, 11/26 / What is ananimal? / 20
W, 11/28 / A look inside Homo sapiens:
1. You are what you eat / 21
M, 12/3 / 2, Iron man / 22, 23
W, 12/5 / 3. When things go wrong / 24
M, 12/10 / 4. The Einstein in all of us / 28
W, 12/12 / Catch up and review
M, 12/17 / ASSESSMENT 5

Lab Exercise Outline

Week/DateEXPERIMENT

18/20-8/24Lab Orientation and Scientific Method

28/27-8/31Biochemistry and Macromolecules

39/3-9/7Microscopy and Cytology (Mon, Sept. 3Holiday)

49/10-9/14Microscopy and Cytology (Mon.) or Fieldtrip* (Tue-Fri)

59/17-9/21Diffusion and Osmosis

6 9/24-9/28Enzymes

710/1-10/5Photosynthesis

810/8-10/12Introduction to Biotechnology

910/15-10/19 Human Genetics and Inoculate Bacteria

1010/22-10/26 Bacteria, Protista and Fungi

1110/29-11/2Plants

1211/5-11/9Invertebrate Diversity

1311/12-11/16Field trip* or activity to be announced (Mon, Nov. 12 Holiday)

11/19-11/23Holiday – Thanksgiving Break

1411/26-11/30Vertebrate Anatomy

15 12/3-12/7 Circulation and EKG Monitoring

16 12/10-12/14 Lab final

12/17(Fieldtrip make-up)

* Instructor will give details for fieldtrips and locations