Fall 2014 USC-Aiken
BIOL A121
PROFESSOR: Dr. Jessica Leet
OFFICE: Room 111-D, Science Building
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:30 pm or by appointment
COURSE CREDIT: 4 Credit Hours
LECTURE/LABS: (108 SCI BLDG) T/R 4:30 to 7:15pm
CONTACT: (803) 641-3349 JessicaL@usca.edu
TEXT: Campbell Biology In Focus w/ Mastering Biology (w/ ebook) ISBN 0321813669
LAB MANUAL : BIOLOGY 121 Lab Manual 6 th 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 assignments
Three midterm exams
Assignments
Final Exam
Lab (prelabs/notes/reports)
GRADING SCALE:
100 pts (10%)
150 pts each (45% total)
50 pts (5%)
150 pts (15%)
250 pts (25%)
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.”
Attendance will be monitored via participation quizzes during the lecture periods. Participation points will be used as extra credit on your final grade. 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 2014 USC-Aiken
BIOL A121
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.
Mastering Biology assignments must be turned in on time. No late assignments will be accepted.
Assignments can be turned in early if needed.
Graded materials will be returned in a reasonable time period (Usually during lab).
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.
TUTORING:
Academic Success Center, Penland 108. Free one-on-one or group peer-tutoring services for Biology 121.
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 2014 USC-Aiken
BIOL A121
TENTATIVE LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULE Fall 2014
Date
Aug 21
Aug 26
Aug 28
Sept 2
Sept 4
Sept 9
Topic
Class Organization, Introduction
The Chemical Context of Life/ Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Wet Lab: Introduction
A Tour of the Cell
Wet Lab: Measurement Technique
1 st
Midterm Exam
Sept 11 Measurement Technique write up (and review of exam results)
Sept 16 Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Sept 18 Wet Lab: Organic Molecules in Cells
Sept 23 Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
Sept 25 Organic Molecules in Cells write up
Sept 30 Regulation of Gene Expression/ Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer
Oct 2
Oct 7
Wet Lab: Cell and Microscopy
2 nd
Midterm Exam
Oct 9* Cell and Microscopy write up (and review of exam results)
Oct 14
Oct 16
Oct 21
Oct 23
Oct 28
Membrane Transport and Signaling
Wet Lab: Enzymes
Introduction to Metabolism
Fall Break (No class)
Oct 30
Nov 4
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation/Photosynthesis
3 rd
Midterm Exam & Enzyme write up
General Election Day (No class)
Nov 7 Wet Lab: Photosynthesis
Nov 11 Photosynthesis write up (Dr. Leet will be out of town)
Nov 14 The Cell Cycle/ Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
Nov 18 Mendel and the Gene Idea
Nov 21 Wet Lab: Chi Squared and Maize Genetics
Nov 25 The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Nov 27 Thanksgiving (No class)
Dec 2
Dec 5
Viruses/ Genomes and Their Evolution
Comprehensive Final Exam review, Chi Squared and Maize Genetics write up
5PM Dec
9
Comprehensive Final Exam ( Emphasis on chapters 9-12, 17-18)
* 9 October – 2 nd midterm exam scores will be posted, Last day to Withdraw without an F, It is recommended that students with an overall score of less than 60% should drop the course.
13-16
Lab 3
5
Lab 4
6
7+8
5-8 , Lab 4
Lab 5
Lab 5
9+10
11
Lab 8
12
17+18
Lab 8
1-18
Chapter
1
2+3
Lab 7
4
Lab 1
1-4
Lab 1
13
Lab 2
14
Lab 2
15+16
Lab 3

Fall 2014 USC-Aiken
BIOL A121
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.