FIRST YEAR BIOLOGY - BO101
2014–2015
First Lecture:
Tuesday, 9th September at 11.00am
Venues:
*Group 1: O’Flaherty Theatre, Main Concourse
**Group 2: IT250, Information Technology Building
Groups:
*Group
1 includes all science (1BS1) students
**Group
2 includes students of all other programmes: Earth and Ocean Science (1EH1),
Environmental Science (1EV1), Marine Science (1MR1), Biomedical Science (1BO1),
Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (1BPC1), Biotechnology (1BY1), Health and Safety Systems (1HF1),
Mathematical Science (IBMS1), Physics (Applied, Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical) (1BPT1),
Foundation Year Medical Students (0MB3)
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Welcome to First Year Biology. Regardless of whether this is your first time studying Biology, or you are
returning to the subject as a successful Leaving Cert candidate, I am sure that you will enjoy the course, and
learn a lot over the next year. Don't be worried if you are new to Biology, we will be starting from scratch
and covering all the basics. However, the course will move quite quickly, so there is no time for
complacency from any students but, if you attend your lectures and keep up with course reading, you should
be fine —if you do find yourself falling behind, or are unable to keep up, please bring it to the attention of
your academic advisor (who will be assigned to you at registration), the individual lecturer, or the course
co-ordinator as soon as possible. We are very happy to help!
The First Year Biology BO101 course consists of two semesters of work, with each comprising half the
course: the first semester is taught by Biochemistry and Botany & Plant Science; the second semester is
taught by Zoology and Microbiology. Written examinations are held at the end of each Semester.
You have three lectures per week. It is very important that you attend these lectures. Evidence of
participation in lectures, through the use of your clicker, will be recorded. There is a close correlation
between students who miss lectures and those who fail their exams. Most lecturers also provide material on
Blackboard, and relevant chapters in the textbook "Campbell’s Biology – 9th Edition" by Reece et al. (the
recommended course text) should be read. Copies of this book are available for loan in the NUI Galway
Hardiman Library and for purchase in the university book shop. Make sure you take your own notes in
lectures as well, and copy any diagrams or notes when instructed to do so. The lecture courses are
examined in the Semester 1 and Semester 2 examinations and the results of these exams count for 60% of
the overall marks for the year.
You will also have practical biology classes. The first semester Biochemistry and Botany practicals are
assessed with Multiple Choice Questions at the conclusion of each section of the practical course in
Semester I. The second semester Zoology and Microbiology practicals are also assessed by Multiple Choice
Questions in the middle and at the end of Semester 2. The practical components, along with additional
continuous assessment exercises, which you will take at various points during the course, correspond to
40% of the overall marks for the year. Practical classes are compulsory, and attendance is taken each
week. They are held in the First Year Biology Lab (SC200), Concourse. You will be required to purchase a
practical manual for each semester. The manuals can be purchased at Print That, beside Smokies in the
Arts/Science Concourse.
First year biology is split into two groups (1 and 2). Group 1 includes the following class: Science (1BS1).
Group 2 includes the following classes: Earth and Ocean Science (1EH1), Environmental Science (1EV1),
Marine Science (1MR1), Biomedical Science (1BO1), Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (1BPC1),
Biotechnology (1BY1), Health and Safety Systems (1HF1), Mathematical Science (1BMS1) Physics
(Applied, Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical) (BPT1), Foundation Year Medical Students (0MB3).
Please pay attention to announcements in class, or on Blackboard, regarding changes to venues or
alterations of groups.
The BO101 Blackboard page contains a set of Frequently Asked Questions which you should consult if you
have any queries. If the FAQs do not answer your questions, you may contact your lecturer after your
lecture. Each lecturer will put aside 2 hours during the week they are lecturing, which they will advertise to
you on Blackboard, and at which time they will be available in their office to give personal help if required.
You must inform the College of Science if you are absent for a prolonged period likely to affect your
studies, or you miss a formal exam through illness. Medical certificates should be scanned and uploaded to
the Blackboard page for missed practicals and MCQs.
Best of luck throughout the year!
Professor Jim O’Gara and your 1st year Biology lecturer team
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FIRST YEAR BIOLOGY LECTURES 2014–2015
LECTURES - SEMESTER I
*Group 1
**Group 2
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
Kirwan Theatre
Tuesday
11–12 noon
O’Flaherty Theatre
Thursday
1–2 p.m.
O’Flaherty Theatre
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
Cairnes Theatre
Tuesday
11–12 noon
IT250, IT Building
Thursday
11–12 noon
Cairnes Theatre
*Group 1 includes all science (1BS1) students
**Group 2 includes students of all other programmes: Earth and Ocean Science (1EH1), Environmental Science
(1EV1), Marine Science (1MR1), Biomedical Science (1BO1), Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (1BPC1),
Biotechnology (1BY1), Health and Safety Systems (1HF1), Mathematical Science (IBMS1), Physics (Applied,
Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical) (1BPT1), Foundation Year Medical Students (0MB3)
LECTURES - SEMESTER II
*Group 1
**Group 2
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
O’Flaherty Theatre
Tuesday
11–12.noon
O’Flaherty Theatre
Thursday
11–12 noon
O’Flaherty Theatre
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
Cairnes Theatre
Tuesday
11–12 noon
AM250, O’hEocha Theatre
Thursday
1112 noon
AM250, O’hEocha Theatre
An additional lecture/tutorial slot on Friday morning at 9.00am will be utilised on occasion, as required, during the
year. Watch for Blackboard announcements and listen to announcements in class.
You will be assessed via a Blackboard-based MCQ held for the each of the blocks of lectures for each subject area i.e.
in the first semester at the end of week 6 (Biochemistry) and 12 (Botany & Plant Science) and in the second semester
at the end of week 6 (Zoology) and 12 (Microbiology).
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SEMESTER ONE LECTURES
Week beginning 8th September, 2014 – 24th November, 2014
Biochemistry Lectures (09/09/2014–16/10/2014)
WEEK 1
An Introduction to Biology.
WEEK 2
The chemistry of life; Proteins; Carbohydrates; Lipids.
WEEK 3
Nucleic Acids; Eukaryotic Cell Structure; Cell membranes.
WEEK 4
The Cell Cycle; Mitosis & Meiosis; Cellular Communication.
WEEK 5
An Introduction to Metabolism; Enzymes; Cellular Respiration.
WEEK 6
From Genes to Proteins;
Genetic Engineering/Biotechnology.
Botany Lectures (21/10/2014–27/11/2014)
Group 1
WEEK 7
Introduction – what is Botany and Plant Science? Diversity and evolution of the
green plant lineage; Fungi.
WEEK 8
Plant ecology, habitats and ecosystems (global and Ireland); Plants, humanity
and sustainable development. Plant interactions with the environment
(including climate change).
WEEK 9
Green, red, brown algae and microalgae.
WEEK 10
transport.
Plant metabolism; Plants, energy and photosynthesis; Plants and water
WEEK 11
Plant structure, growth and development; Plants, medicines and human health;
Plant genetics, crops and biotechnology.
WEEK 12
Plant interactions with the environment (including climate change); Plants and
the ‘underworld’; Plant-animal interactions, including carnivorous plants.
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Group 2
WEEK 7
Introduction — what is Botany and Plant Science? Plant metabolism; Plants,
energy and photosynthesis.
WEEK 8
Plant structure, growth and development; Plants and water transport; Plant
interactions with the environment (including climate change).
WEEK 9
Diversity and evolution of the green plant lineage; Plant ecology, habitats and
ecosystems (global and Ireland).
WEEK 10
Fungi; Plants and the ‘underworld’; Plant-animal interactions, including
carnivorous plants.
WEEK 11
Green, red, brown algae and microalgae.
WEEK 12
Plants, medicines and human health; Plant genetics, crops and biotechnology;
Plants, humanity and sustainable development.
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SEMESTER TWO LECTURES
Week beginning 12th January, 2015 – 3rd April, 2015
Zoology (12/1/2015–20/2/2015)
Group 1
WEEK 1
Introduction to animal diversity; Invertebrates; Vertebrates.
WEEK 2
Introduction to animal ecology.
WEEK 3
Reproduction and development
WEEK 4
Nutrition and excretion.
WEEK 5
Evolution
WEEK 6
The nervous and endocrine systems.
Group 2
WEEK 1
Introduction to animal ecology.
WEEK 2
Introduction to animal diversity; Invertebrates; Vertebrates.
WEEK 3
Nutrition and excretion.
WEEK 4
Reproduction and development
WEEK 5
The nervous and endocrine systems.
WEEK 6
Evolution
Microbiology (23/2/2015–3/4/2015)
WEEK 7
Meet the microbes; The microbial planet.
WEEK 8
How and why study microbes.
WEEK 9
Medical microbiology.
WEEK 10
Microbes and the food we eat.
WEEK 11
Environmental microbiology.
WEEK 12
Tutorials
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BIOLOGY PRACTICALS
The practicals are held in the 1st Year Biology Laboratory, (SC200) Concourse. Check the notice board for
your lab number, and which session you are to attend.
For each practical you must bring writing implements (pen, pencil, ruler, eraser), the first year
practical manual for the appropriate semester (available from Print That), and dissection
instruments. You must wear a lab coat.
Students attend one practical session per week and the times are as follows:
Wednesdays: 2–4 & 4.30–6.30, Thursdays: 2–4 & 4.30–6.30, Fridays: 9.30–11.30, 12–2 & 2.30–4.30
SEMESTER ONE - BIOCHEMISTRY PRACTICALS 2014-15
Week:
24th, 25th, 26th September:
Practical 1: Safety; Making Solutions; pH and Autopipettes
1st, 2nd, 3rd October:
Practical 2: Proteins and Nucleic acids
8th,9th, 10thOctober:
Practical 3: Lipids and Carbohydrates
15th, 16th, 17 October:
Tutorial and practical assessment
SEMESTER ONE - BOTANY PRACTICALS 2014-15
Week:
22nd , 23rd, 24th October:
Anthropogenic uses of plants
29th, 30th 31st October:
Floral structure and function
5th, 6th, 7th November:
Algae
12th, 13th, 14th November:
Chromosomes and DNA
19th, 20th, 21st November:
Fungi
26th, 27th, 28th November:
Botany practical assessment
The Practical assessments (one following Biochemistry practicals, the other following Botony
practicals) will be taken online through Blackboard.
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SEMESTER TWO - ZOOLOGY PRACTICALS 2014-15
For each practical you must bring writing implements (pen, pencil, ruler, eraser), the first year
practical manual for the appropriate semester and dissection instruments. You must wear a lab coat.
Week:
14th, 15th, 16th January:
Practical 1
Basal taxa: Choanoflagellata, Porifera, Cnidaria,
Lophotrochozoa: Platyhelminthes
21st, 22nd, 23rd January:
Practical 2
Lophotrochozoa: Annelida
28th, 29th, 30th January:
Practical 3
Lophotrohozoa: Mollusca
4th, 5th, 6th February:
Practical 4
Ecdysozoa: Arthropoda
Deuterostomia: Chordata
11th, 12th, 13th February:
Practical 5
Histology
SEMESTER TWO- MICROBIOLOGY PRACTICALS 2014-15
Each student must have a lab coat, hard cover notebook, practical manual and permanent
marker.
Week:
11th, 12th, 13th March:
Introduction & Practical 1
What’s living on your phone?
18th, 19th, 20th March:
Practical 2
Nasal swab experiment
25th, 26th, 27th March:
Practical 3
Bacterial growth & culture (microscope work)
1st, 2nd, 3rd April:
Tutorial
The Practical assessments (one following Zoology practicals, the other following Microbiology
practicals) will be taken online through Blackboard.
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FIRST YEAR BIOLOGY EXAMS
1. For all classes except Foundation Medicine (0MB3):
Each Semester is marked separately. The mark for a module is calculated by adding the marks for your
practical and continuous assessment (out of 20) and your written exam (out of 30) together to give a total
out of 50 for each Semester.
The overall result for your first year Biology exam is calculated by adding the results of the two Semesters,
1 and 2, together to give a mark out of 100.
Can I pass first year biology if I fail one of the two written exams?
Yes. You simply need to get more than 40% for the whole year combined.
Can I pass my first year biology exam if I fail the continuous assessment?
If you get less than 35% for Continuous Assessment in BO101 you will be deemed not to have completed
the course adequately. You will not pass first year Biology in this case, even if your overall mark is greater
than 40%.
So this means that to pass first year biology you must:
1.
Get over 35% in the Continuous Assessment
AND
2.
Get an overall mark of 40% or more
If you get over 35% in the Continuous Assessment but fail the module, you will be allowed to resit
both written examinations during the resit period. If get less than 35% in the Continuous Assessment,
you will have to resit the module next year.
Can I pass the First Science exam, even if I fail first year Biology or any other subject?
Yes. This is called the “Pass by Compensation” rule. This means that, if you fail Biology, but achieve a
mark of 35%+, you may still be deemed to have passed First Science if you score double the difference in at
least one of the other subjects (e.g. Chemistry, Physics, etc) and your average score for all subjects in the
year is 40%+.
E.g. Results for Bob: Biology= 35 (Sem. 1=30; Sem. 2=40); Chemistry = 50; Physics 40; Maths = 45.
Overall year average 42%. Bob can pass first year by compensation, based on his Chemistry mark, and does
not need to re-sit Sem. 1.
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2. For Foundation Medicine Students (OMB3)
The Pass mark is 50%.
Each Semester is marked separately. The mark for a module is calculated by adding the marks for your
practical assessment (out of 20) and your written exam (out of 30) together to give a total out of 50.
The overall result for your first year Biology exam is calculated by adding the results for Semester 1 and 2
together to give a mark out of 100%.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For general queries, see the FAQs available on Blackboard.
Enquires
Send all general queries to biology@nuigalway.ie
Questions related to lecture topics should be addressed to the individual lecturers after the lectures, during
their advertised office hours (see Blackboard), or by appointment.
Blackboard
All course information, lecture slides and announcements will be available on the BO101 Blackboard
module.
To access the Blackboard website, go to the web address below and login using your CASS username and
password provided by Computer Services.
https://nuigalway.blackboard.com/
http://www.nuigalway.ie/information-solutions-services/services-for-students/campusaccount/
You will be enrolled on the course, which will be identified by the code BO101 or BO106. If you have
difficulty enrolling, please contact user support in Computer Services (ISS).
http://www.nuigalway.ie/information-solutions-services/services-for-students/blackboard/
There are also useful Blackboard apps available for iOS and Android.
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