Fall 2012
USC-Aiken
ABIO 121
Biology 121 Syllabus
Sections 1, 2, 3
PROFESSOR:
Dr. C. Nathan Hancock
OFFICE:
Room 205, Science Building
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
COURSE CREDIT:
4 Credit Hours
LECTURE: (327 SCI BLDG) M/W/F 8 to 8:50 am
LABS: (108 SCI BLDG) T 9:25am to 12:05 (SEC 1); TH 9:25am to 12:05 (SEC 2), W 1:00pm- 3:40 (Sec 3)
CONTACT: 803-641-3390 nathanh@usca.edu
TEXT: BIOLOGY, 9TH EDITION by RAVEN, JOHNSON, LOGOS, SINGER. Published by McGraw/Hill, 2010.
LAB MANUAL: BIOLOGY 121 Lab Manual by JACKSON and YATES.
Please read this syllabus carefully and refer to it when you have questions about the course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
This course is for Biology majors and non-majors and incorporates the study of biological principles and
concepts through the cellular level of organization. Upon completion of this course students will be
expected to:
- Define Biology and describe the characteristics that define life.
- Describe the major biological molecules and how they are utilized by cells.
- Describe the structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and how structure facilitates function.
- Describe how things get in and out of cells and how cells signal each other.
- Describe the flow of energy in biological systems.
- Define the importance of enzymes and how they work.
- Understand cellular reproduction (mitosis and meiosis).
- Understand the basics of heredity and pattern of inheritance.
- Describe the structure of DNA and RNA and define the Central Dogma of Life.
- Understand and use the “scientific method.”
- Think critically, be able to analyze data and present it scientifically.
GRADE COMPONENTS:
Three midterm exams
Lecture quizzes and assignments
Final exam (comprehensive)
Lab (notes/reports/quizzes)
150 pts each
150 pts
150 pts
250 pts
(45% total)
(15%)
(15%)
(25%)
GRADING SCALE:
100-90% = A; 89-85% = B+; 84-80% = B; 79-75% = C+; 74-70% = C; 69-65% = D+; 64-60% = D; 59-0% = F.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
“When students enroll in a particular course, they obligate themselves for all the work which may be
assigned. Punctual and regular attendance is vital to the discharge of this obligation.”
Though attendance will not be taken, you must be present to receive credit for in class assignments,
quizzes, and reports. Due to the nature of lab, make-up labs cannot be given!
Fall 2012
USC-Aiken
ABIO 121
There are no make-up exams. Should you miss an exam for a documented excusable reason (i.e.
sickness or required university event); an alternate exam may be arranged. Only one exam will be
treated in this manner; any other missed exams will be counted as a zero.
GRADING:
The exams, in class assignments, and laboratory notebooks will require hand written answers. Answers
will only be accepted if they are clearly legible.
Late assignments will receive an automatic reduction in score (up to 50% of the possible points).
Assignments due at the start of class are considered late 5 minutes after the indicated course time.
Assignments can be turned in early if needed.
Graded materials will be returned in a reasonable time period.
CLASSROOM BEHAVOIR AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
It is the instructor’s right to remove any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceedings of the class.
In extreme cases the professor can request assistance from the University police. If the student who has
been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied
admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of “F”.
The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, iPods, etc., during
class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student from the instructor
or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they must be
turned off and stowed away for the duration of the class period. If you use a portable electronic device
during a test, quiz, or other assessment, you are eligible to receive a failing grade on that assignment.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The
Office of Disability Services will determine appropriate accommodations based on documentation.
WRITING CENTER:
USCA provides a writing center located on room 201 of the H&SS building. If you need extra assistance
on any writing assignment for this or any other class that you are taking, please try the writing center.
WRITING PORTFOLIO:
Also remember that written work that you complete for this class can be included in your writing
portfolio requirement. For further information on the writing portfolio requirement, please consult your
current USCA bulletin.
HONOR CODE:
Students are expected to abide by the Academic Code of Conduct as described in the Student
Handbook. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if academic integrity is violated. The following
honor pledge is to be written, signed, and dated by the student on all exams and assignments turned
into the instructor.
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither
given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment/ examination. To the
best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic honesty.”
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Spring 2012 (Next Page)
Fall 2012
Date
24 Aug
27 Aug
29 Aug
31 Aug
3 Sept
5 Sept
7 Sept
10 Sept
12 Sept
14 Sept
17 Sept
19 Sept
21 Sept
24 Sept
26 Sept
28 Sept
1 Oct
3 Oct
5 Oct
8 Oct
10 Oct
12 Oct
15 Oct
17 Oct
22 Oct
24 Oct
26 Oct
29 Oct
31 Oct
2 Nov
5 Nov
7 Nov
9 Nov
12 Nov
14 Nov
16 Nov
19 Nov
21-23 Nov
26 Nov
28 Nov
30 Nov
3 Dec
5 Dec
7 Dec
10 Dec
Monday
USC-Aiken
ABIO 121
Topic
Introduction/The Science of Biology
The Science of Biology
The Nature of Molecules
The Nature of Molecules
Labor Day (No class)
The Chemical Building Blocks of Life
The Chemical Building Blocks of Life
Cell Structure
Cell Structure
Exam Review
1st Midterm Exam
DNA: the Genetic Material
DNA: the Genetic Material
Genes and How They Work
Genes and How They Work
Control of Gene Expression
Control of Gene Expression
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Exam Review
2nd Midterm Exam
Membranes (Last day to withdraw or drop without a "WF”)
Membranes
Energy and Metabolism
Energy and Metabolism
How Cells Harvest Energy
How Cells Harvest Energy
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Exam Review
3rd Midterm Exam
Cell Communication
Cell Communication
How Cells Divide
How Cells Divide
Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
Thanksgiving Break (no class)
Patterns of Inheritance
Patterns of Inheritance
Chromosomes
Chromosomes
Genomics
Genomics
Comprehensive Final Exam 8AM ( Emphasis on chapters 9-13, 18)
Chapter
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
1-4
14
14
15
15
16
16
17
17
14-17
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
5-8
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
18
18
1-18
Fall 2012
Proposed Laboratory Schedule Fall 2011 (Section 3 students see Dr. Stein’s Syllabus)
Date
Week
Topic
23 Aug
1
No Lab
28-30 Aug
2
Measurement Technique
4-6 Sept
3
Measurement Technique Write Up
11-13 Sept
4
Organic Molecules in Cells
18-20 Sept
5
Organic Molecules in Cells Write Up
25-28 Sept
6
Cell and Microscopy
2-4 Oct
7
Cell and Microscopy Write Up
9-11 Oct
8
Enzymes
16-18 Oct
9
No Lab (Fall Break)
23-25 Oct
10
Enzymes Write Up
30 Oct -1 Nov
11
Photosynthesis
6-8 Nov
12
No Lab (Election Day)
13-15 Nov
13
Photosynthesis Write Up
20-22 Nov
14
No Lab (Thanksgiving)
27-29 Nov
15
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics
4-6 Dec
16
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics Write Up
USC-Aiken
ABIO 121
Exercise
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
7+8
7+8
LABORATORY DETAILS:
In general, the first session is a "wet" laboratory exercise. Potentially hazardous materials are used in
this course. For this reason, students who do not follow instructions, use safety equipment, or conduct
themselves in a professional manner will be removed from the lab. The general procedure for each
exercise will be obtained from the laboratory manual and your instructor. During these labs, the student
will complete experiments that require development of a hypothesis, experimental design, hypothesis
testing, and drawing conclusions. The notes and results of these exercises must be maintained and
turned in with the laboratory report. Each student will be required to purchase letter size quad ruled
note paper to record their lab experiments.
Each “wet” laboratory exercise will be followed by a second laboratory period that will be used by
student groups to compose a report based on the data collected from the previous “wet” lab. Each
laboratory group will synthesize individual results into a single written report to be turned into the
instructor. The format of this report will be that of a scientific paper (abstract, introduction, results, and
discussion). The first hour of this period will be designated for discussion and quizzes as appropriate.
TEST PROCEDURES:
Students will not be allowed to sit in adjacent seats during the exams. If a student must leave during an
exam, they forfeit their right to finish the exam. Calculators will not be allowed.