Fall 2013
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Biology 121 Syllabus
Sections 1 & 2
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) M 9:00am to 11:40 (SEC 1); T 1:40am to 4:20 (SEC 2- Dr. DeLaurier)
CONTACT: 803-641-3390 nathanh@usca.edu
TEXT: Campbell Biology In Focus w/ Mastering Biology (w/ ebook) ISBN 0321813669
LAB MANUAL: BIOLOGY 121 Lab Manual 6th Edition by Jackson, Yates, and Hancock.
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:
Mastering Biology (MBHANCOCK16983)
Three midterm exams
Assignments
Final exam
Lab (prelabs/notes/reports)
100 pts
150 pts each
50 pts
150 pts
250 pts
(10%)
(45% total)
(5%)
(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 2013
USC-Aiken
BIOL 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
Disability Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical 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.
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.”
Fall 2013
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Fall 2013
Date
Topic
23 Aug
Introduction
26 Aug
Introduction
28 Aug
The Chemical Context of Life
30 Aug
The Chemical Context of Life
2 Sep
Labor Day (No class)
4 Sep
Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
6 Sep
Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
9 Sep
A Tour of the Cell
11 Sep
A Tour of the Cell
13 Sep
Exam Review
16 Sep
1st Midterm Exam
18 Sep
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
20 Sep
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
23 Sep
Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
25 Sep
Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
27 Sep
Regulation of Gene Expression
30 Sep
Regulation of Gene Expression
2 Oct
Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer
4 Oct
Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer
7 Oct
Exam Review
9 Oct
2nd Midterm Exam
11 Oct
Membrane Transport and Signaling
14 Oct
Membrane Transport and Signaling
16 Oct
Introduction to Metabolism
18 Oct
Fall Break
21 Oct
Introduction to Metabolism
23 Oct
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
25 Oct
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
28 Oct
Photosynthesis
30 Oct
Photosynthesis
1 Nov
Exam Review
4 Nov
3rd Midterm Exam
6 Nov
The Cell Cycle
8 Nov
The Cell Cycle
11 Nov
Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
13 Nov
Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
15 Nov
Mendel and the Gene Idea
18 Nov
Mendel and the Gene Idea
20 Nov
The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
22 Nov
The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
25 Nov
Viruses
27-29 Nov
Thanksgiving Break
2 Dec
Genomes and Their Evolution
4 Dec
Genomes and Their Evolution
6 Dec
Review
9 Dec 8am Comprehensive Final Exam ( Emphasis on chapters 9-12, 17-18)
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Chapter
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
1-4
13
13
14
14
15
15
16
16
13-16
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
5-8
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
17
17
18
18
1-18
Fall 2013
Proposed Laboratory Schedule Spring 2013
Date
Week
Topic
26-27 Aug
1
Introduction
2-3 Sep
2
No Lab (Labor Day)
9-10 Sep
3
Measurement Technique
16-17 Sep
4
Measurement Technique Write Up
23-24 Sep
5
Organic Molecules in Cells
30 Sep, 1 Oct
6
Organic Molecules in Cells Write Up
7-8 Oct
7
Cell and Microscopy
14-15 Oct
8
Cell and Microscopy Write Up
21-22 Oct
9
Enzymes
28-29 Oct
10
Enzymes Write Up
4-5 Nov
11
Photosynthesis
11-12 Nov
12
Photosynthesis Write Up
18-19 Nov
13
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics
25-26 Nov
15
No Lab (Thanksgiving)
2-3 Dec
16
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics Write Up
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Exercise
7
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
8
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 “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 calculations 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.