Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 1
Human Biology
Biology 101G sections MO1 & MO2 (3 credits)
Biology Department, New Mexico State University, Spring 2012
Instructors
Dr. Kathryn Hanley
Office: Foster 479
Phone: 646-4583
Email: via Blackboard
Dr. Timothy Wright
Office: Foster 375
Phone: 646-1136
Email: via Blackboard
Teaching
Assistant
William Johnson
Email: via Blackboard
Phone: 646-4791
Lectures
Section MO1:
Section MO2:
MWF 9:30-10:20
MWF 10:30-11:20
Office Hours
Dr. Hanley
Dr. Wright
Mr. Johnson:
Friday 1:30-3 or by appointment
Tuesday 1-2:30 or by appointment
Thursday 10:30-11:30 or by appt.
Foster 231
Foster 231
Foster 479
Foster 375
Foster 204
Office hours are set aside to discuss course materials and other course-related
issues with students. Please don’t hesitate to come visit the instructors or the
teaching assistant during these times! We enjoy talking with you and are here to
help you learn.
Text The required texts are Biology for a Changing World and the Study
Guide for Biology for a Changing World, both by Shuster, Vigna, Sinha, and
Tontonoz (W. H. Freeman and Co., New York). They are available from the
NMSU bookstore. There is a very helpful, free website to accompany the book
at www.whfreeman.com/SABiologyPreview. This site (from the publisher) has
activities and simulations for the more challenging concepts, as well as selfquizzing (two for every chapter) to help you prepare for exams. The Study
Guide summarizes chapters and highlights common problem areas and study
strategies for the topics covered in the textbook. If you feel you need extra help
to do your best in this course, working through the Study Guide is a good
investment of your time.
Readings from the textbook will be supplemented with readings from the
scientific literature and from websites, which will be made available on the class
website through Blackboard.
Webpage
The BIOL101G web page is available in Blackboard at http://learn.nmsu.edu.
Course information, supplementary readings, lecture outlines, weekly
Blackboard reading quizzes and exam keys will be posted on this site. You will
need an NMSU Global LoginID and Password to access Blackboard. If you do
not already have an NMSU Global LoginID and password, you can obtain one
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 2
online at http://learn.nmsu.edu. Note there is a single combined site for Sections
M01 and M02.
Sections
Although sections MO1 and MO2 of this class will be co-taught by the
instructors, you are expected to attend the section for which you are enrolled. If
you attend a section for which you are not enrolled your clicker points will not
be counted and your homework assignments will not be accepted. Also, you
will NOT be permitted to take an exam in a section for which you are not
enrolled.
Messages
We will contact you regarding important class information through Blackboard
Mail on the Blackboard BIOL 101G site, and you may contact us using
Blackboard Mail as well. This mail is completely contained within the
Blackboard site, so please check there for replies to your messages. Note that
messages will not be automatically forwarded to your NMSU email account
though you can set up such forwarding on your own. For the most rapid reply to
your communication, please send your messages to BOTH Drs. Hanley and
Wright at the same time.
Official university communication to you will often come through your NMSU
e-mail box. Please access it regularly, or forward it to your current address;
your success in college may depend on your ability to respond quickly to such
messages.
Supplies
You will need to bring your own NMSU test score sheet (available at the
campus bookstore), a photo ID, and a No. 2 pencil to each exam. Please
purchase the full-page size blue and white test score sheet with 184 question
lines (92 on each side) and which is labeled “New Mexico State University Test
Score Sheet” on the top. You will need 5 score sheets in total.
Clicker
A i>Clicker is REQUIRED. You may use either the new i>Clicker2 (white) or
an old i>Clicker (light blue). The i>Clicker2 can be purchased at the NMSU
Bookstore. We suggest also buying a spare pair of AAA batteries to have with
you in case the originals run out.
To register your i>Clicker for this class, go to the BIOL101 class website in
Blackboard (learn.nmsu.edu) click on the link Register your i>clicker. Enter
your Remote ID found on the back of your clicker and then click Register. The
frequency code we will use in the class is the default code AA. To change the
frequency code on your i>clicker hold down the power button for 2 seconds then
use the A-E buttons to enter in this code.
Overview
This 3-credit lecture course is designed for students who do not plan to continue
in the sciences or the pre-nursing program. The aim is to introduce the central
principles of modern biology as well as general philosophies and principles of
science. By the end of this course you will understand current events in biology
of relevance to all people including such newsworthy items as genetic
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 3
sequencing, cloning, cancer, the origins of life, biodiversity and extinctions, and
human impacts on the environment.
Students are not expected to have any science background prior to taking this
course. For general education credit (the “G” in Biol 101G) you must take the
laboratory section (Biol 101L) as well as the lecture section. We do not check
that you are enrolled in both, and the two courses are evaluated and graded
separately. If you have any questions concerning Biol 101L please contact Dr.
Amy Marion (amarion@nmsu.edu) in the Biology Advising Center (Foster Hall
room 204). This course, in combination with Biol 101L, is designed to satisfy
the Basic Natural Sciences Component of NMSU’s general education program.
This course will NOT serve as a prerequisite for more advanced biology-related
courses, either in the Biology Department itself, or in most other departments.
Biology 111G and 211G serve this role.
This course also addresses the State of New Mexico General Education
Common Core Competencies in Area III: Laboratory Sciences. As mandated by
the State of New Mexico, these are:
• Describe the process of scientific inquiry
• Solve problems scientifically
• Communicate scientific information
• Apply quantitative analysis to scientific problems
• Apply scientific thinking to real world problems
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 4
EVALUATION AND GRADING
Evaluation
In-class Exams: There will be 4 in-class exams, each worth 45 points. Your top
3 exam scores will be used to calculate your final grade, but note that NO
MAKEUP EXAMS will be offered, so do not voluntarily skip an exam.
Final Exam: There will be a final exam on May 7, worth 45 points. The final
exam is MANDATORY and COMPREHENSIVE.
Homeworks: There will be 3 assignments worth 10 points each.
Class Participation: 30 possible points can be earned based on in-class
participation using your clicker. Participation points will begin to be earned
starting on Monday February 6 (this gives you until this date to purchase and
register your clicker).
Blackboard Reading Quizzes: You will have Blackboard reading quizzes each
week excluding the first and last weeks of class. There will be 12 quizzes total
worth 2.5 points per quiz for a total of 30 points. Blackboard reading quiz 1 will
open Monday January 30 and close Thursday February 2.
Grading
There are 270 possible graded points for the course
• 135 points will be based on your 3 best in-class exams
• 45 points will be based on your final exam
• 30 points will be based on your 3 homeworks
• 30 points will be based on class participation (clicker points)
• 30 points for weekly Blackboard reading quizzes
Grade Scale Your grade will be based on the number of points that you earn, according
to the scale below:
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Exams
Points
≥ 243
216 - 242.9
189 - 215.9
162 - 188.9
≤ 161.9
Remember to bring a test score sheet, a No. 2 pencil and photo ID to every
exam. Your ID, exam and score sheet will be checked and you will be asked to
initial your attendance at the exam beside your name on a class roster when you
hand in your answer sheet. Students arriving to the exam room after the first
exam has been completed and turned in will not be allowed to take the exam.
Exams are individual efforts- please keep your eyes on your own work, and keep
your exam and answers covered as much as possible as you work. You are
expected to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 5
(http://www.nmsu.edu/~vpsa/SCOC/), and to avoid all acts that can be classified
as cheating or plagiarism. Please note that the student code of conduct considers
“cheating or knowingly assisting another student in committing an act of
cheating” [Section III.B.1] to be one form of academic misconduct.
All cell phones, beepers and other electronic devices must be turned off and
placed in a closed bag or under your seat during exams. You will not need (or be
allowed to consult) any books or calculators during the exams, and you are
asked to leave your notes and books closed and under your chair during the
exam. All caps must be turned brim backwards during exams. You will be asked
to leave as much space between one another as possible during the exams.
Students who are found to be cheating on an exam will receive a minimum
penalty of a 0 score for that exam and the instructors reserve the right to impose
more severe penalties. Such penalties include failure (i.e. an automatic grade of
F) of the course, and referral to the Dean of the College and Student Judicial
Affairs.
Official University Business and Missed Exams:
Students who must miss class to participate in an official University function
must bring the documentation to Dr. Hanley or Wright at least 2 weeks in
advance and make the necessary arrangements to take any exams EARLY (i.e.
before your departure). Failure to schedule an alternative (early) exam time prior
to your departure will result in your earning a ZERO for the missed exam.
There will be no makeup exams for any other reasons whatsoever. Note that
your lowest midterm exam score will be dropped from your final course grade.
If you must miss a midterm exam for a medical or family emergency then you
will be able to drop the resulting zero grade.
Final Exam
You MUST take the final exam as scheduled (i.e. the final exam is not an
optional exam, and the points earned on the final exam will contribute to your
total course points-the final exam cannot be “dropped”). If an unavoidable
emergency results in your missing the final exam, you must contact Dr. Hanley
or Dr. Wright with written documentation immediately (for example physician
documentation of serious illness), and Dr. Hanley or Dr. Wright must be able to
verify the information. If you are making passing progress (i.e. an overall grade
of C (≥ 70%) or better in the course) prior to the emergency, then you will be
assigned an Incomplete (I). You will have to sign an I Grade Information Form
stating that you will take a make-up final with Dr. Hanley or Dr. Wright in order
to complete the course, and that failure to complete the make-up final within one
year will result in the assignment of a replacement grade (i.e. to replace the I)
based on the zero for the missed final. If you are not making passing progress
(i.e. do not have an overall grade of C or better in the course) then you are not
eligible for an Incomplete and will receive a zero for the missed final, and this
score will be used to calculate your final course grade. Complete information
regarding I grades can be found in the Undergraduate Catalogue (in the
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 6
Regulations section). Please note that the final exam date and time was set last
semester by the university (before registration for the current semester), and that
travel plans do NOT constitute unanticipated or unavoidable emergencies.
Please schedule (or re-schedule) any travel plans so that you are here to take the
final as scheduled by the university.
Homework Specific instructions for the 3 homework assignments will be handed out later in
Assignments the class, however some universal instructions apply. Hard copies must be
submitted in your assigned class on the designated day and must be SIGNED
with your name in ink; electronic submissions will not be accepted. You are
allowed to work with other people when formulating the answers to the
homework, but your assignment must be completed and turned in by you.
Late penalties will be applied for any assignments handed in after the end of the
class period on the due date. 2 points will be deducted for assignments handed
between the end of class and 5:00 pm on the due date. 4 points will be deducted
for assignments handed in on the following business day, 6 points for
assignments handed in on the 2nd business day after the due date and so on.
Participation/Clicker Points
As noted above, you can earn up to 30 points for class participation by using
your clicker to answer in-class questions. Having another student use your
clicker while you are absent is a form of cheating and will result in loss of all
clicker points for the course by you and the student who utilized your clicker. Be
prepared to replace the batteries when they run out—no points will be given to
students with non-functioning iclickers.
There will be MANY in-class clicker questions during the semester. For each
question that you answer correctly, you will earn one “daily point”. For each
question that you answer incorrectly, you will earn 0.5 “daily points”. There are
no points available for unanswered questions. Your final number of clicker
points (out of 30 possible) will be based on the proportion of daily points you
earn, based on the total number of questions asked during the semester. For
example, if 120 questions are asked during the semester, and you answer 100
correctly and 10 incorrectly (and fail to answer 10), you will earn 26.25 of the
possible 30 clicker points [(100x1) + (10 x0.5)]/120] x30 = 26.25. You are
encouraged to attend all lectures and answer the questions to the best of your
ability. Not only will you maximize your clicker points, but you also will get
practice with exam material since many of the clicker questions may reappear
(at least in a closely related form) on in-class exams.
Blackboard The weekly Blackboard reading quizzes are designed to encourage you to do the
Reading
assigned reading and to help you learn to identify and study the key concepts in
Quizzes
your readings. They will cover only material from the textbook readings. They
will be open from Monday 12:00 through Thursday 4:00 each week excluding
the first and last weeks of class. You should prepare for the quiz by completing
the reading for the previous Friday as well as the Monday and Wednesday of the
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 7
week of the quiz. The mechanics of taking a Blackboard quiz will be
demonstrated in class prior to the first quiz, which will open Monday Jan 30.
You are permitted to work with other students on Blackboard reading quizzes;
indeed we hope that you will form study groups that will meet regularly to
complete them.
You will have 1 hour for each quiz and are limited to one attempt per quiz. Be
sure to turn off “pop-up blockers” on your web browser before attempting a
quiz. Remember to hit SAVE ANSWER after each answer and to click on
FINISH when done. Please take your quizzes early so that if you run into a
computer problem you can contact Mr. Johnson or the instructors by email for
help before the quiz closes.
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 8
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic
Honesty
Academic honesty is a fundamental expectation of your participation in this
course and your academic life at New Mexico State University. Academic
misconduct reflects both personal and professional dishonesty. It hurts your
ability to learn the course material and your preparation for your future, no
matter your chosen profession. It also damages the reputation of our university
and diminishes the valuation of degrees from NMSU by your future employers.
For all of these reasons academic misconduct will not be tolerated in this
class and any cases of academic misconduct will be prosecuted fully
following NMSU procedures.
The student code of conduct outlines many of these expectations, and may be
found at (http://www.nmsu.edu/~vpsa/SCOC/). The student code of conduct
outlines various forms of academic misconduct in section III.B. Cheating
includes, but is not limited to possession and/or use of unauthorized materials
during exams; copying the work of another (e.g. another student, instructor or
other reference source); using the words or ideas of another (e.g. another
student, instructor or other reference source), especially without proper
acknowledgement and citation (but keep in mind that citing a source DOES
NOT allow you to use their words and/or organization and/or structure if these
are copied directly or substantially copied); providing another student the
opportunity to copy your work on exams or assignment, looking at the work of
another student during exams and quizzes and providing another student the
opportunity to earn participation points when they are not in class to earn them
themselves.
An additional note about plagiarism:
Be aware of plagiarism. Not only must you credit your source(s) for any ideas
that are not your own, but you MUST paraphrase in YOUR OWN WORDS.
Changing the occasional word in a sentence does not constitute expression of the
idea in your own words (i.e. if you submit an assignment in which you have
merely changed a few words from a source, &/or have retained the structure and
organization of your source, then you have submitted a plagiarized assignment,
even if you have cited that source).
Any act of plagiarism will result in a MINIMUM of a zero for ALL homework
assignments (i.e. a loss of all 30 possible assignment points), and more severe
penalties (including failure of the course) may be imposed at the discretion of
the instructor.
Attendance
Formal attendance will not be taken during lectures. However, it is strongly
recommended that you attend and participate in all lectures, as this is your
opportunity to both earn class participation points and to get the most out of the
class. Note also the University expectation regarding attendance, found in the
current Undergraduate Catalog: “Students are expected to attend regularly all
classes for which they are registered”. You are responsible for all the material
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 9
(including announcements of schedule or other syllabus changes) presented in
lecture. If you do miss a lecture, please be sure to obtain lecture outline from
Blackboard, review the notes from another student, review the reading
assignment and then, once you have completed this review process, attend office
hours with Drs. Hanley or Wright if you have any remaining questions.
Dropping
the
Course
Your instructor will not automatically drop students for poor performance or
attendance. It is your responsibility to do so (by completing the necessary
paperwork) prior to the March 12, 2012 deadline to drop with a “W”.
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 10
CONSIDERATION AND ACCOMODATION
Consideration If you have a question during the lecture, please feel free to raise your hand
(chances are that many of your classmates will also appreciate the clarification).
Active participation and discussion during in-class breakout discussions are
encouraged.
On the other hand, please be considerate of your classmates and their desire to
learn while in class. Please keep in mind that conversations with classmates
(even whispered ones) during lecture (as opposed to break-out discussions) can
interfere with the ability of others to hear and follow the lecture.
Cell phones and other electronic devices must be in silent mode and their use for
conversation or texting in lectures is strictly prohibited. Disruptive students will
be required to leave the classroom and will forfeit the opportunity for any
clicker points available that day. Students who are asked to leave the class more
than once will receive a grade of F for the course.
Dogs (with the exception of aid dogs), bikes and roller blades are not allowed in
the lecture room, for safety considerations.
Disabilities
and
Accommodations
If you have (or believe you have) a disability and would benefit
from classroom accommodation(s), please contact the Services for
Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office located in Corbett Center, Room
244 [Phone: 646-6840; TTY: 646-1918]. If you have a condition that
may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency
or that may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to
discuss any concerns with the instructors.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Register with SSD and obtain documents early in the semester
2. Deliver the completed accommodation and testing form(s) to the
instructor(s) within the first two weeks of beginning of classes (or
within one week of the date services are to commence).
3. Retrieve the signed form(s) from faculty and return to SSD
within five (5) days of receipt from faculty and at least one week
before any scheduled exam; and,
4. Contact the SSD Office if the services/accommodations
requested are not being provided, not meeting your needs, or if
additional accommodations are needed. Do not wait until you
receive a failing grade. Retroactive accommodations cannot be
considered.
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 11
SSD
Feel free to call Diana Quintana, Coordinator of Services for Students
with Disabilities, at 575-646-6840 with any questions you may have on
student issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Discrimination:
Feel free to call Jerry Nevarez, Director of Institutional Equity, at 575646-3635 with any questions you may have about NMSU’s NonDiscrimination Policy and complaints of discrimination, including sexual
harassment.
Emergency
Access
If you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit safely from
the premises in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during
class, you are encouraged to discuss any concerns with the instructors.
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 12
STUDENT SUCCESS
Study
Strategies
This course covers a great deal of material. You are responsible for the
lecture material as well as the reading assignments. It is not always possible for
your instructor to cover every topic in great depth, thus you will need to use the
reference materials to develop your OWN thorough understanding of the course
material. Use the lectures as a guide for your reading, and use the reference
materials to help you understand the material that we cover together in lecture.
Your exam grades will suffer if you don't come to class and actively participate
by taking thorough notes. Exams will include material presented in the text as
well as in lecture and in the workshops; simply studying someone else's notes is
not as effective as listening, taking notes, and then studying your own notes.
Studies have shown that attendance is THE single most important predictor of
success in classes such as this one. Exams are written on the assumption that
you attend all lectures and workshops, that you have listened carefully and
participated fully, and that you have studied the class readings and other
material on you own time outside of class. Students sometimes think that
skipping class and obtaining a copy of someone else’s notes is sufficient to do
well in the course. It is not. If you begin to miss class, you are on your way
toward failing the course.
It is highly recommended that you review your lecture notes as soon after each
lecture as possible. Use this time to supplement your lecture notes with
additional helpful information from the reference material. To be sure that you
understand the material, complete the additional review questions at the end of
each chapter of the book as well as the study guide. You will best test your
understanding by trying to do these questions as if they were actual exam
questions (i.e. by doing them with your notes and books closed). Form study
groups (help each other learn). Draw you own diagrams or flow charts, make
your own tables etc. Come to office hours to ask any questions and clarify any
information.
Grading
Errors
It is your responsibility to check your scores as they are posted on the
course website. If you have a question about a particular score, notify Drs.
Hanley or Wright in writing within two weeks of its posting so that any
questions can be promptly resolved. After two weeks, we will not amend grades.
Syllabus
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 13
CLASS SCHEDULE
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY
Jan 20
L1-Introduction to the Course
Jan 23
L2-The Scientific Method I
Ch. 1 pgs 1-11
Jan 25
L3-The Scientific Method II
Ch. 1 pgs 11-18
Jan 27
L4-The Scientific Method III
DNA: The Blueprint of Life I
Ch. 7 pgs 122-129 & pgs 139-142
Jan 30
L5-DNA: the Blueprint of Life
Ch. 8
Feb 1
L6-Mendelian Inheritance
Ch. 11 &
Mendel’s Garden (pgs 223-228)
Blackboard Reading Quiz
Demonstration
Feb 3
L7-Complex Inheritance
Ch. 12 pgs 223-234 & 240-246
Blackboard Reading Quiz 1 opens
Closes Thurs 2/2/12 at 4PM
Feb 6
L8-DNA Forensics
Ch. 7 pgs 129-139
Feb 8
L9-What is Life?
Ch. 2 pgs 20-31
Feb 10
Midterm I
Clicker Points Start
Feb 13
L10 - Personal Genome
Sequencing: Potential and Pitfalls
Feb 15
L11-Cell Structure
Ch. 3
Feb 17
L12-Nutrition
Ch. 4
Sequence Sprint (pgs 163-167) &
“How to Sequence a Human
Genome”*
Feb 20
L13-Diet, Energy, Obesity
Ch. 6
Feb 22
L14-Cell Division and Mitosis
Ch. 9
Feb 24
L15-Sex and Reproduction
Sperm production animation†
Egg production animation††
Ch. 12 pgs 246 - 248
Feb 27
L16-Cancer
Ch. 10
Mar 5
Midterm II
Clicker Practice: Bring Clickers!
Feb 29
L17-Recombinant DNA, Stem
Cells & Cloning
Ch. 13
Homework I due
Mar 7
L19-Artificial Selection of Modern
Dog Breeds
Homework I assigned
Mar 2
L18-Artificial Selection I:
Animal Domestication
Diamond 2002**
Mar 9
L20-Natural Selection &
Adaptation I
Ch. 14
Syllabus
Mar 12
L21-Natural Selection &
Adaptation II
Human Biology: BIOL 101
Page: 14
Mar 14
L22-Speciation
Ch. 15
Mar 16
L23-Evidence for Evolution
Ch. 16
Mar 19
SPRING BREAK
Mar 26
L24-Origin and Diversity of Life I
Ch 17 pp 339-351
Mar 21
SPRING BREAK
Mar 28
L25-Origin & Diversity of Life II
Ch 17 pp352-357
Mar 23
SPRING BREAK
Mar 30
L26-Immune Systems. I
Understanding the Immune
System**
Homework II assigned
Apr 2
L27-Immune Systems. II
Pathogens, Vaccines and Allergy
Apr 4
L28-Bacteria and Archaea
Ch. 18
Apr 6
SPRING HOLIDAY
Last Day to Drop with a “W”
Apr 9
Midterm III
Homework II due
Apr 11
L29- Plants, Animals, Fungi
Ch. 19
Apr 13
L30-Major Transitions in Life
Ch. 19
Apr 16
L31-Human Evolution & Diversity
Ch. 20
Apr 18
L32-Cultural Evolution
Human Culture and Evolution†††
Apr 20
L33-Animal Behavior
White 2010 Sections 1& 2.5-3**
Apr 23
L34-Population Ecology
Ch. 21
Apr 25
L35-Community Ecology
Ch. 22
Last Day to Withdraw from the
University
Apr 27
L36-Ecosystems
Ch. 23
Homework III assigned
Apr 30
L37-Sustainability
Ch. 24
May 2
Midterm IV
May 4
Review: Bring Your Questions
Homework III due
May 7
Section MO1 Final Exam
8:00-10:00
Section MO2 Final Exam
10:30 – 12:30
Both exams are in Foster 231
* http://www.genome.gov/19519278#al-4
** Posted on Blackboard
† http://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/male-reproductive-system/adam-200126.htm
†† http://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/female-reproductive-system/adam-200017.htm
††† http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/science/02evo.html?pagewanted=all#