Spring 2014 Biology 121 Syllabus -­‐ Sections 1 & 2 USC-­‐Aiken ABIO 121 PROFESSOR: Dr. April DeLaurier OFFICE: Room 209, Science Building OFFICE HOURS: Monday 1:00-­‐3:00pm COURSE CREDIT: 4 Credit Hours LECTURE: (301 SCI BLDG) M/W/F 9:00 –9:50 am LABS: (108 SCI BLDG) Tues. 1:40-­‐ 4:20pm (SEC 1); Thurs: 1:40am-­‐4:20pm (SEC 2) CONTACT: 803-­‐641-­‐3503 E-­‐MAIL: aprild@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 assignments (MBDELAURIER93276) 100 pts (10% total) Three midterm exams 150 pts each (45%) Assignments 50 pts (5%) Final exam 150 pts (15%) Lab (notes/reports/quizzes) 250 pts (25%) TOTAL 1000pts (100%) 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 2014 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 BEHAVIOR 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 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.” Spring 2014 TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE SPRING 2014 Date Topic 13 Jan Introduction 15 Jan Introduction 17 Jan The Chemical Context of Life 20 Jan MLK Day (No class) 22 Jan The Chemical Context of Life 24 Jan Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life 27 Jan Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life 29 Jan A Tour of the Cell 31 Jan A Tour of the Cell 3 Feb Exam Review 5 Feb 1st Midterm Exam 7 Feb Molecular Basis of Inheritance 10 Feb Molecular Basis of Inheritance 12 Feb Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein 14 Feb Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein 17 Feb Regulation of Gene Expression 19 Feb Regulation of Gene Expression 21 Feb Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer 24 Feb Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer 26 Feb Exam Review 28 Feb 2nd Midterm Exam 3 Mar Membrane Transport and Signaling 5 Mar Membrane Transport and Signaling 7 Mar Introduction to Metabolism 10 Mar Spring Break (No class) 12 Mar Spring Break (No class) 14 Mar Spring Break (No class) 17 Mar Introduction to Metabolism 19 Mar Cellular Respiration and Fermentation 21 Mar Cellular Respiration and Fermentation 24 Mar Photosynthesis 26 Mar Photosynthesis 28 Mar Exam Review 31 3rd Midterm Exam Mar 2 Apr The Cell Cycle 4 The Cell Cycle Apr 7 Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle Apr 9 Apr Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle 11 Apr Mendel and the Gene Idea 14 Apr Mendel and the Gene Idea 16 Apr The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance 18 Apr The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance 21 Apr Viruses 23 Apr Genomes and Their Evolution 25 Apr Genomes and Their Evolution 28 Apr Comprehensive Final Exam review 7 May 9am Comprehensive Final Exam (Emphasis on chapters 9-­‐12, 17-­‐18) USC-­‐Aiken ABIO 121 Chapter 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 1-­‐4 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 18 18 1-­‐18 Spring 2014 USC-­‐Aiken ABIO 121 Proposed Laboratory Schedule Spring 2014 Date Week Topic Exercise 14-­‐16 Jan 1 No Lab 21-­‐23 Jan 2 Introduction 7 28-­‐30 Jan 3 Measurement Technique 1 4-­‐6 Feb 4 Measurement Technique Write Up 1 11-­‐13 Feb 5 Organic Molecules in Cells 2 18-­‐20 Feb 6 Organic Molecules in Cells Write Up 2 25-­‐27 Feb 7 Cell and Microscopy 3 4-­‐6 Mar 8 Cell and Microscopy Write Up 3 11-­‐13 Mar 9 No Lab (Spring Break) 18-­‐20 Mar 10 Enzymes 4 25-­‐27 Mar 11 Enzymes Write Up 4 1-­‐3 Apr 12 Photosynthesis 5 8-­‐10 Apr 13 Photosynthesis Write Up 5 15-­‐17 Apr 14 Chi Squared and Maize Genetics 8 22-­‐24 Apr 16 Chi Squared and Maize Genetics Write Up 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.