BSC120 – Principles of Biology
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. N.J. LoCASCIO
e‐mail: locascio@marshall.edu
Office ‐ OM230 696‐3963.
Office Hours ‐ 10:00‐12:00. Mon. and Wed.; 12:00‐2:00. Tues. Or by appointment. I make every effort to keep my
scheduled office hours. Please be aware that sometimes I have conflicts with required meetings and cannot be present.
If you need to meet it is best to e‐mail me ahead of time. Please use above e‐mail account to contact me and
NOT the MUOnline site.
Classroom: Corbly 105 Lecture Time: MWF 9:00 ‐ 9:50 a.m.
Laboratory: S 210 Time: sec.101 ‐ M, 10‐11:50a.m.; sec.102 ‐ W, 10‐11:50a.m.; sec.103 W, 2 ‐ 3:50 p.m.; sec.104 M, 5
‐6:50p.m.; sec. 105 ‐ T, 5 ‐ 6:50p.m..
Texts: Biology, 8th Edition, 2005, Campbell and Reece (required)
Principles of Biology Laboratory Manual, Weinstein (required)
A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, Pechenik (recommended)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 4 credit hrs.
Study of basic principles common to all organisms through lecture and laboratory activities. Chemistry of life, cell
biology, metabolism, heredity, and evolution. Intended for science majors and pre‐professional students. (PR: 21 or
better on Math ACT, or C or better in MTH 121 or higher).Lecture notes and additional course supplements will be
posted on course website at http://www.marshall.edu/muonline . Students must access this site for additional
information and updates throughout the semester.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• know the methods of science used in scientific investigation
• know the structure, behavior, characteristics, and function of biological molecules
• understand the relationships between form and function at the levels of biological organization
• comprehend how energy transformations occur and how energy flows through physical environments and
living systems
• understand the unity and diversity of life at the molecular and cellular levels
• know how heredity is transmitted through generations making possible the continuity of life
• understand and interrelate knowledge in the biological areas of cell biology, genetics and evolution as they
apply to both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
GRADING SCALE: 100 ‐ 90 = A; 89 ‐ 80 = B; 79 ‐ 70 = C; 69 ‐ 60 = D, < 59= F
There will be five lecture exams (including a final), which constitute 75% of total course grade. The final exam will
include 40% content from previous exams. You will be tested on lecture notes and readings from text chapters. Format
for the exams will be objective and some short answer essays. Laboratory performance will contribute the remaining
25% of your course grade. Lab grades will consist of weekly data sheets, on‐line pre‐lab quizzes, and a formal laboratory
report. The laboratory report is mandatory for passing the laboratory portion of BSC120. Written instructions and
deadlines will be provided by your lab instructor. Students are expected to keep their finished papers on computer disk
until the graded copy is returned.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance in lectures is strongly encouraged. Attendance in laboratory exercises
is mandatory.
You are responsible for any material missed by being absent. Absences from exams due to illness, death in the
immediate family, or institutional activities will be excused with the appropriate written notification to the instructor.
See Marshall University Undergraduate Catalogue ‐ Academic Information for guidelines. Until final grades have been
submitted you are expected to keep copies of all submitted and graded work (quizzes, papers etc).No makeup exams
will be permitted without an official excuse sent by Dean of Students office. No excuses are accepted for missed
laboratory exercises. You are permitted two (2) drops in laboratory attendance for the semester to accommodate
unforeseen circumstances. This policy will be strictly enforced.
COMPUTER LITERACY: Course materials, practice quizzes, are located on course website at
http://www.marshall.edu/muonline. Log‐in using your MyMU user name and password. If BSC 120 is not listed on
homepage, notify instructor immediately.
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION: Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students,
including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. University policy states that it is the responsibility
of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone
304‐696‐2271 to provide documentation of their disability. Following this, the DSS Coordinator will send a letter to each
of the student’s instructors outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in classroom
experiences, outside assignment, testing and grading. The instructor and student will meet to discuss how the
accommodation(s) requested will be provided. For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled
or contact Disabled Student Services Office at Prichard Hall 117, phone 304‐696‐2271.
WITHDRAWAL: If you are not happy with your academic performance in this class please come see me. Students should
keep the W date for this semester, October 29, clearly in mind. Do not just stop attending. This will result in an F on your
transcripts. The Biology department does have graduate students available for tutoring.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IN ANY FORM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
All written assignments, quizzes, and exams are to be independent efforts of each student. If you have any questions
please ask.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Additional information, including inclement weather policies, can be found
in the Marshall Undergraduate Catalogue at http://www.marshall.edu/www/ugradcat/PDF/05_08.pdf
Tentative Class Schedule Fall 2010
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Dates
8/23‐8/27
Lecture Topics
Course overview ; Introduction to Biology; The Chemical
Context of Life
8/30‐9/3
Water and the Fitness of the Environment; Carbon and the
Molecular Diversity of Life
9/6 Labor Day Holiday No Class on Monday 9/7; No labs this week
9/8 ‐ 9/10
The Structure and Function of Macromolecules; A Tour of the
Cell
9/13
Exam I
9/15-9/17
Membrane Structure and Function
9/20 ‐9/22
An Introduction to Metabolism
9/24
Dr. Lyn Margulis
9/27 ‐ 10/1
Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy;
Photosynthesis
10/4
Cell Communication
10/6
Exam II
10/8
The Cell Cycle
10/11 ‐ 10/15
Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles; Mendel and the Gene Idea
10/18
Class cancelled
10/20 ‐ 10/22
The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
10/25
Exam III
10/27 ‐10/29
The Molecular Basis of Inheritance; From Gene to Protein
10/29
Last day to drop class
11/1 ‐ 11/5
The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria; Eukaryotic Genomes
11/8‐11/12
DNA Technology and Genomics; The Genetic Basis of
Development
11/15
Descent with Modification;
11/17
Exam IV
11/19
The Evolution of Populations;
11/22 ‐ 11/27
Fall Break
11/29
The Origin of Species; Phylogeny and Systematics
12/1 ‐ 12/7
Dead Week
8:00am 12/10
Final Exam
Text Chapters
Chapter 1; Chapter 2
Chapter 3; Chapter 4
Chapter 5; Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9; Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13; Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16; Chapter 17
Chapter 18; Chapter 19
Chapter 20; Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24; Chapter 25