General Toxicology
Spring, 2017
I.General Information:
Instructor: / Amie K. Lund, Ph.D. / Course Number: / BIO 4370/5370Office: / EESAT 310D / Section Number: / 001
Office Phone: / 940-369-8946 / Semester/Year: / Spring, 2017
E-mail: / / Building/Room: / SAGE 230
Office Hours: / M, W 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. or by appt. / Meeting Time: / M, W 2:00 – 3:20 p.m.
II.Course Description:
This course will cover basic concepts of toxicology, including historical perspectives, the disposition and metabolism of toxic substances, pharmacokinetics, target organ toxicity, non-organ directed toxicity, toxic agents and risk assessment. Students will be exposed to historical case studies, as well as topics that are of current interest. In addition to formal coursework, students will be expected to participate in problem-based learning exercises (PBLs) and a team project entitled "Toxicology on Trial”, which will focus on current-event topics and the discussion of key toxicants and their use.
The overall objectives of this course are:
· To be able to identify key toxicological principles
· To know and understand the effects of toxicants on key tissues and organ systems, including the key mechanistic signaling pathways and/or receptors involved
· To have an increased awareness of toxicants in your everyday life
· To be able to evaluate the potential for toxic consequences
III.Textbooks/Materials/Resources:
Required Textbook: "Casarett & Doull's Essentials of Toxicology", 3rd Edition by C.D. Klaassen and J.B. Watkins (ISBN-13:978-0071847087; ISBN-10:0071847081)
Additionally, Research articles, case studies, and handouts pertaining to current class topics may be provided to supplement the text on an "as needed" basis.
IV.Course Requirements:
Attendance: Because information in this course builds with each successive class meeting, success in this course is heavily influenced by attendance. Thus, students are expected to regularly attend lecture. Attendance will be taken during randomly selected courses, and extra-credit points may be assigned and added to the final grade for attendance. As these points are extra-credit (and thus no penalty assigned for missing a class period), no excuses will be accepted to negate an absence that occurred during a class period in which attendance was taken.
Religious Holidays: In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code, UNT will allow a student who is absent from class for observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. Students are required to file a written request with the dates of the anticipated absence to qualify for an excused absence. A copy of the state rules and procedures regarding holy days and the form for notification of absence from each class under this provision are available from the Registrar’s Office.
Final Exam. The final exam schedule for this course is: Monday, May 8th, 2017 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
V. Grading:
The following scale will be used to assign final course grades. Letter grades reflect the level of understanding of environmental science principles, applications, and laboratory skills/techniques demonstrated:
For this class grade: / You need this percentage: / Level of understanding of material:A / 90 - 100% / Superior understanding
B / 80 – 89% / Above-average understanding
C / 70 - 79% / Average understanding
D / 60 - 69% / Below average understanding
F / < 60% / Does not demonstrate a fundamental understanding
The course grade will be calculated from an average of four (4) exams, one of which is a comprehensive final exam, quizzes, PBLs, in class work/participation, and your toxicant on trial (or graduate student) project. Your lowest exam score will be dropped, therefore no make-up exams will be given. If students miss the exam, a grade of zero (0) will be awarded for that particular examination. Question format may include a combination of short answer, fill-in-the-blank, diagramming/labeling, and/or short essay. Quizzes will be in the format of multiple-choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, diagramming/labeling, and/or short essay.
A. Graded written and home-work assignments will be introduced during the lecture period, throughout the semester, and the due-date will be assigned at that time. If you miss a class period when an assignment is given, you are still responsible for completion of the assignment by the assignment due date. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS will be graded.
B. Scheduled quiz dates will be announced in class at least 1 class period prior to the date of the quiz. Unscheduled quizzes may be given at the discretion of the instructor and used as bonus points on exam grades.
C. There will be in class polls (REEF)/discussions/exercises presented throughout the semester, which will be graded by the instructor and will count towards your final grade. If you are absent on a day when an in class assignment is given, you will receive a “0” for that assignment. No make-ups will be offered for in class work exercises.
D. Project: Toxicology on Trial. Students will be separated into teams, assigned a topic, and whether they are to be the defense or plaintiff. The team will need to research their topic and prepare a 2-3 page brief outlining their position. The position should provide data and rationale as to why the team is justified in their position. The plaintiff and defense teams will each have to make a 20 minute presentation of their position (40 minutes total per subject with 10 minutes for questions). The brief is DUE Monday, April 24th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Late projects will not be accepted!! Presentations will be given starting on Monday, April 24th.
E. Graduate Students will have an additional oral and written project due in order to satisfy the graduate level credit they will receive for this course. BIOL 5370 Students will be given the name of a toxicant and the student will give a 20 min presentation (+ 5 minutes for questions) on the toxicant. The student will also provide a 5-10 page monograph about the toxicant. Further information, instructions, and due dates will be provided to all graduate-level students.
Grading (point) distribution for the course grade is as follows:
Points / Total Point / Percentage of Course GradeExams (4)
- Lowest exam grade will be dropped / 50 pts each / 150 points total / Undergrad: ~63%
Grad: ~60%
In class exercises / PBLs / quizzes
REEF Polling / varied / ~ 65 points total / Undergrad: ~27%
Grad: ~26%
Toxicology on Trial student project / 25 pts / 25 points / Undergrad: ~10%
5370 Graduate-level project / 35 pts / 35 points total / Grad: ~14%
TOTAL / Undergrad: 240 possible points
Grad: 250 possible points
Other Requirements:
· Students are responsible for all materials covered in class and in the reading assignments. Some material that is not in the textbook, which is provided in class during the lecture, may appear on examinations.
· Students are expected to set up a REEF account to be able to access in class polls/exercises. Course name: SP17 BIOL 4370_5370.001-Lund
· Students are expected to do their readings before class.
· Students may be expected to seek out information on web sites or other books to further their understanding of the material covered in class.
· Students themselves are responsible for seeking information on any assignments that may have been given out during their absence. This can be accomplished by checking your syllabus for the topics/book chapters that will be covered during that class session. Please note make-up policies on quizzes and exams listed above.
· Students will need to access computer web sites on occasion. Computers are available to UNT students on all campuses.
VI. EXPECTATIONS
Disruptions and disrespectful behavior are damaging to the educational process. Therefore, all students are asked to meet the expectations listed below.
· Cell phones should be turned off before class.
· You will be expected to be in class, seated and ready to participate at the beginning of the class time.
· You will be expected to spend the entire period in class. Attend to restroom and other needs before class so that you will not have to leave during class time. Exceptions to this rule should be approved by the instructor prior to the class period.
· Talking during lectures is disrespectful to me and to your classmates. Offenders may be asked to leave the class.
· You are expected to do your own work for all graded material.
· You are expected to contribute to informal class discussions.
· Value differences in opinion. Keep an open mind and treat members of this class, guest speakers and me with respect.
EXAM POLICY / ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
· No student taking an exam may leave the classroom after the exam begins until the exam has been completed.
· No student may begin an exam after the first student has left the classroom.
· Students arriving after the first student has left will receive a zero for that exam.
· No electronic devices may be used during a testing event, unless approved by the Office of Disability Accommodations and me.
Exams (including scantrons) may be photocopied for record keeping. Alteration of scantron bubbles after the exam was graded is considered as cheating. (See “Academic Misconduct” statement for information on the consequences of cheating.)
Any and all grade questions or disputes must be brought to the attention of the instructor within three days of receiving the grade. After three days, grades will not be changed.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Students are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct as it appears in the UNT catalog. Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. No cheating will be tolerated. Anyone cheating (all forms) or exhibiting behaviors consistent with cheating, including, but not limited to, assisting other students with cheating: talking during a testing event, looking at another’s work, leaving an answer sheet uncovered, accepting credit for another’s work, etc., will receive as a minimum punishment a grade of zero for the graded item. More severe punishment, including receiving a “F” for a final course grade and/or being dropped from the course, will be taken depending upon the circumstances. Any and all incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The following scenarios are considered forms of cheating:
· Copying a fellow student’s work or copying a previous student’s work.
· Notes written on body parts, clothing, cheat sheets, etc... at the time of a test.
· Listening to headphones (regardless of what is being played) during an exam
· Any form of communication with your neighbor during a test.
· Talking to anyone but the instructor or proctor during a quiz or examination.
· Looking at and/or communicating via cell phones with other people during a test.
· Notes or books open during in-class exams and quizzes.
· Disclosing or soliciting examination questions to those who may have been absent from an exam.
· Plagiarism (copying entirely or whole phrases from books or websites).
· Any two students handing in assignments with word-for-word responses.
VII. Other Information:
POLICY ON INCOMPLETE GRADES:
An incomplete (I), is a non-punitive grade, given only during the last one-fourth of a semester and only if a student is (1) passing the course; (2) has a justifiable reason why the class cannot be completed on schedule; and (3) arranges with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements that the instructor must list on the grade sheet turned in at the end of the semester. All work must be completed within the time specified by the instructor (not to exceed one year after taking the course).
IMPORTANT WITHDRAWL DATES:
Ø Last day to drop without professor's approval: January 30, 2017
Ø Last day to drop (must have written approval of instructor) and automatically have W assigned: February 24, 2017
Ø Last day to drop (must have written approval of instructor) with W or WF assigned: April 4, 2017
Ø First date available to request an “Incomplete” grade: April 17, 2017
Ø Last day to withdraw from the semester (drop all courses): April 21, 2017
A list of the above dates, as well as other important date/deadline information can be found on the UNT Registrar’s webpage at: http://essc.unt.edu/registrar/schedule/spring/calendar.html
RELEASE OF GRADES
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (1974), does not permit faculty or staff to report grades by phone or email.
SPOT EVALUATIONS
SPOT evaluations for the course will be available through a direct link provided in an email and posted via announcements on Blackboard, typically the last 3 weeks of the semester. I welcome your comments and constructive criticism on course content, teaching methods, etc. Please let me know what worked for you and what didn’t – and the reasons why. Your opinions are valuable to me and assist me in adapting the course for future semesters.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.
Course Schedule for BIOL 4370/5370, Section 001 Spring, 2017:
WEEK / DATE / TOPICS / MATERIALS (Chapters)1 / 1/16 / No Classes – MLK Day
1/18 / Course Intro / Intro to Toxicology / 2
2 / 1/23 / Mechanisms of Toxicology / 3
1/25 / Absorption, Distribution, Elimination of Toxicants / 5
3 / 1/30 / Biotransformation / 6
2/1 / Toxicokinetics / 7
4 / 2/6 / Chemical Carcinogenesis / 8
2/8 / Genetic Toxicology
Developmental Toxicology / 9
10
5 / 2/13 / Exam #1
2/15 / Cardiovascular Toxicology / 18
6 / 2/20 / Respiratory Toxicology / 15
2/22 / Toxic Effects of Vapors
4370 Group project assignments / 5370 Topic assignments / 24
7 / 2/27 / Nervous System Toxicology
Toxic Effects of Metals / 16
23
3/1 / Toxic Effects of Pesticides / 22
8 / 3/6 / Exam #2
3/8 / TBA
9 / 3/13 / Spring Break – No Classes
3/15 / Spring Break – No Classes
10 / 3/20 / Endocrine Toxicology / 21
3/22 / Endocrine Toxicology (continued)
Reproductive Toxicology / 21
20
11 / 3/27 / Reproductive Toxicology / 20
3/29 / Forensic Toxicology / Clinical Toxicology / 32/33
12 / 4/3 / Venom/Poisons/Plant Toxicology / 26
4/5 / Environmental Toxicology / Nanotoxicology / 29/28
13 / 4/10 / Graduate Student (5370) Presentations
4/12 / Graduate Student (5370) Presentations
14 / 4/17 / Graduate Student (5370) Presentations
4/19 / Exam #3
15 / 4/24 / Student Presentations
4/26 / Student Presentations
16 / 5/1 / Student Presentations
5/3 / Student Presentations
17 / 5/8 / Final Exam 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
*Topics or assignments will change as needed. Announcements regarding such changes will be made during regular class hours. Students who are absent or tardy when such announcements are made will still be held liable for the changes.