Spring 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 11 to 11:50 am LABS: (108 SCI BLDG) T 9:25am to 12:05 (SEC 3); TH 9:25am to 12:05 (SEC 4) 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 150 pts each (45% total) Lecture quizzes and assignments 150 pts (15%) Final exam (comprehensive) 150 pts (15%) Lab notes/reports/quizzes 250 pts (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! Spring 2012 USC‐Aiken ABIO 121 There are also 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. 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 which might affect your performance in this class, please contact the office of disability services, 126A B&E, (803) 641‐3609, 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. 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.” Spring 2012 TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Spring 2012 Date Topic 9 Jan Introduction/The Science of Biology 11 Jan The Science of Biology 13 Jan The Nature of Molecules 16 Jan Martin Luther King Holiday
18 Jan The Nature of Molecules 20 Jan The Chemical Building Blocks of Life
23 Jan The Chemical Building Blocks of Life 25 Jan Cell Structure 27 Jan Cell Structure 30 Jan Exam Review 1 Feb 1st Midterm Exam 3 Feb DNA: the Genetic Material
6 Feb DNA: the Genetic Material
8 Feb Genes and How They Work
10 Feb Genes and How They Work
13 Feb Control of Gene Expression
15 Feb Control of Gene Expression
17 Feb Biotechnology 20 Feb Biotechnology 22 Feb Exam Review 24 Feb 2nd Midterm Exam 27 Feb Membranes 29 Feb Membranes 2 Mar Energy and Metabolism (Last day to withdraw or drop without a "WF”) 5‐9 March Spring Break 12 Mar Energy and Metabolism 14 Mar How Cells Harvest Energy 16 Mar How Cells Harvest Energy 19 Mar Photosynthesis 21 Mar Photosynthesis 23 Mar Exam Review 26 Mar 3rd Midterm Exam 28 Mar Cell Communication 30 Mar How Cells Divide 2 Apr How Cells Divide 4 Apr Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
6 Apr Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
9 Apr Patterns of Inheritance 11 Apr Patterns of Inheritance 13 Apr Chromosomes 16 Apr Chromosomes 18 Apr Genomics 20 Apr Genomics 23 Apr Review (Last Class) 30 Apr Comprehensive Final Exam 11AM ( Emphasis on chapters 9‐13, 18) USC‐Aiken ABIO 121 Chapter
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Spring 2012 USC‐Aiken ABIO 121 Proposed Laboratory Schedule Fall 2011 Date Week Topic Exercise 10, 12 Jan 1 No Lab 17, 19 Jan 2 Measurement Technique 1 24,26 Jan 3 Measurement Technique Write Up 1 31 Jan, 2 Feb 4 Organic Molecules in Cells 2 7, 9 Feb 5 Organic Molecules in Cells Write Up 2 14, 16 Feb 6 Cell and Microscopy 3 21, 23 Feb 7 Cell and Microscopy Write Up 3 28 Feb, 1 Mar 8 No Lab 6, 8 Mar 9 Spring Break 13, 15 Mar 10 Enzymes 4 20, 21 Mar 11 Enzymes Write Up 4 27, 29 Mar 12 Photosynthesis 5 3, 5 Apr 13 Photosynthesis Write Up 5 10, 12 Apr 14 Chi Squared and Maize Genetics 7+8 17, 19 Apr 15 Chi Squared and Maize Genetics Write Up 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.