Department: Life Sciences
BIOL 1406: BIOLOGY I FOR
MAJORS – FALL 2013
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
A contemporary course including application of the scientific method, cellular and molecular
biology, classical and human genetics, virology.
Course Title:
Course Number
Credit Hours:
Prerequisites
Semester and Year
Instructor
Class Days and Times
Class Room Location
Office:
Office Hours:
E-mail
Phone
Biology I
1406 – CRN# 65195
4 Semester Credit Hours
College Level Reading
Fall 2013
Dr. William Palmer
Mon-Wed 2-5 PM
West Loop: Lecture Mon. in C222 and Lab. Wed 162
West Loop Campus F 11
Appointments arranged in advance
William.palmer@hccs.edu
713-718-8136
ADA STATEMENT:
The HCCS colleges are dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all
students. The college district promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of
reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V,
Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will enable students
with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational activities.
If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability,
please notify the instructor of this course as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the
first two weeks of class to arrange for reasonable accommodations.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A contemporary course including applications of the scientific method, cellular and molecular
biology, biochemistry, classical and human genetics, and virology. This course is intended for
BIOLOGY MAJORS. The coursework and readings will be geared toward students who intend
to pursue biology (or a related discipline) as a major. If you are not majoring in biology (or a
related science/health discipline), you may want to enroll in BIOL 1308, the first semester of our
biology for non-majors sequence.
BIOLOGY PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (PSLO):
PSLO#1 - Students will display an understanding of biological systems and evolutionary
processes spanning all ranges of biological complexity, including atoms, molecules, genes,
cells, and organisms.
PSLO#2 -Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and to integrate factual and
conceptual information into an understanding of scientific data by written, oral and/or visual
communication; this may include successful completion of a course-specific research project
or a case study module.
PSLO#3 - Students will apply principles of the scientific method to problems in biology and
apply basic laboratory safety procedures in the collection, recording, quantitative
measurement, analysis and reporting of scientific data.
COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO):
The following Course Student Learning Outcomes with their associated assessment criteria are
not meant to be all-inclusive, but are to be used along with all other course learning outcomes
and assessment devices, listed under Course Objectives, in the determination of the student's
final course grade. Completion of the specific Student Learning Outcomes listed below, at any
assessment grading level, does NOT and will NOT guarantee the student that final course grade
at the end of the semester!
CSLO#1 (PSLO#1): The student will be able to describe the characteristics of life: its unity
and diversity and the evidence for evolution through genetics, variation, and natural
selection.
CSLO#2 (PSLO#1): The student will be able to understand the basic requirements of life:
explain atomic structure, types of chemical bonding, properties of water, and the
structures/functions of the macromolecules of life: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
nucleic acids.
CSLO#3 (PSLO#1): The student will be able to compare and contrast the structures,
reproduction, and characteristics of viruses, prokaryotic cells, and eukaryotic cells.
CSLO#4 (PSLO#1): The student will be able to identify the substrates, products, and
important pathways in the metabolic processes of energy transformation, cell
communication, cellular respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis.
CSLO#5 (PSLO#1): The student will understand the cell cycle and be able to differentiate
between the processes and functions of mitosis and meiosis.
CSLO#6 (PSLO#1): The student will understand the principles of genetics/inheritance and be
able to quantitatively solve classical genetic problems.
CSLO#7 (PSLO#1): The student will demonstrate knowledge of DNA structure, its
replication, the flow of genetic information from gene to protein, gene expression, and
ultimately their methodologies and applications in biotechnology.
CSLO#8 (PSLO#1, PSLO#2, PSLO#3): The student will develop critical thinking skills and
habits of active collaborative learning by successfully participating in an INSPIRE
(Innovative Science Program Initiatives To Reform Education)-oriented case study
module(s).
CSLO#9 (PSLO#2 and PSLO#3): The student will utilize the scientific method, as well as
quantitative and empirical skills to collect, record, measure, analyze, and communicate
scientific data.
CSLO#10 (PSLO#3): The student will exhibit competence in the laboratory by appropriate
use of the light microscope and other laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data.
PREREQUISITES
College reading level as determined by SAT, ACT, TASP; or successfully passing ENGL 0305
with a “C” or better.
REQUIRED TEXTS
J.B. Reece, et al. Campbell Biology, 9th ed., Custom Edition for Houston Community College,
San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings Publishing, 2011
Loesch, T., et al. Biology 1406 Laboratory Manual Second edition, Houston Community
College, 2012.
Instructor Requirements: Basic requirements
Students should be on time for class and be prepared with required materials including
textbook and lab manual. Full class attendance is required including lecture and lab portions.
Full attention during lecture and lab is required. No use of any electronic devices during the
class period. Students are expected to conduct themselves as adults. This includes courteous
and respectful behavior towards the instructor and classmates. Disruptive behavior or any
behavior that interferes with any educational activity being performed by the instructor will not
be allowed. Additionally, no student may interfere with his/her fellow students‟ right to pursue
their academic goals to the fullest in an atmosphere appropriate to a community of scholars.
Disruptive behavior may result in removal from the class.
Other Operating Guidelines
(1) You are spending a good deal of time, energy and money on this course – please, make
the most of your investment! There is a school-mandated attendance requirement for this
course (please see the “Classroom Evaluation” section for a description). If you’re still
struggling with certain aspect of the course, please make an effort to see me and I will
gladly make time to help you work through the material.
(2) Make up tests are very difficult to schedule and may not be rescheduled for unauthorized
absences. I reserve the right to give students who miss a test an alternate version of the
appropriate test. Other assignments (e.g. lab exercises) not turned in on time will be
docked 10% of their final value for each class day that they are late. There will be NO
make up labs.
(3) My purpose in this class is to act as your guide through this subject material. I also
must make sure that your grade in this class indicates your mastery of the subject
material required by this college. I am not here to spoon-feed you. It takes
approximately 2-3 hours of study time for each hour of class time to master the material.
This class will have over 96 contact hours (4 hr. credit) compared to 48 contact hours
that comprise the normal class (3 hr. credit). The class and study time necessary to
succeed in this class will be close to 300 hours (20 hours per week)!
(4) Please do not talk during class. If you feel the need to discuss something with a
classmate, please do so outside. I will not be offended if you need to take an important
conversation outside briefly so as not to distract your classmates. No cell phones on in
class and pagers off or on vibrate.
EVALUATION:
The final course grade will be determined by the percentage of points earned in the following:
4 Tests @ 100 points each
=
400 points
20 Mastering Biology assignments =
100 points
Attendance
=
50 points
Total Lecture Points
=
550 points
1 Final Exam @ 200 points
=
200 points
2 Lab Tests @ 100 points each
200 points
Lab Notebook @ 100 points
=
100 points
------------------------------------------------------------------TOTAL
=
1150 points
Tests (100 points each, Final Exam = 200 points)
There will be 5 tests throughout the course (including the comprehensive final exam). Dates for
the tests are listed in the course calendar. The tests will cover material covered prior to the date
of each test. Tests will be given at the beginning of class on designated dates (see course
calendar) with lecture or lab following the test. The final exam will cover material from the
entire course, but about 1/2 of the exam will contain material from the chapters and labs not
covered in previous tests.
Homework Assignments - Students are required to read assigned chapters and to complete
chapter homework assignments and Quizzes on schedule.
Additional announced and unannounced quizzes during lecture or lab may be conducted
throughout the semester.
Attendance Policy: (50 points)
You will receive 50 points for your attendance in class. For each unexcused absence, you will
lose ten of these points. After five unexcused absences, the professor recommends the student
drop the class. In order for an absence to be considered “excused” the student must bring some
form of documentation as to the reason for the absence (e.g. doctor’s note, court record, etc.).
Partial unexcused absences from class will also be considered to be “absences”. The instructor
reserves the right to take attendance at any time, even several times, during class. If you wish to
drop the class you must use the proper drop form, have it signed, and turn it in to the
registration office before the deadline.
Reading Assignments & Possible Unannounced Quizzes:
It is expected that each student will read the pre-assigned section of the text BEFORE coming
to class each day. Reading assignments for each class will be given at the end of the previous
class. Use the class schedule to stay ahead of the lectures. The instructor may give pre-lecture
quizzes to make sure the students are prepared for class.
These quizzes MAY NOT BE ANNOUNCED in advance.
Class Participation:
While there is no “formal” assessment of your participation in class, it is appreciated and will no
doubt aid in your learning (and your classmates’ learning) of the material!
Make-UP Exam Policy:
Make up tests are very difficult to schedule and may not be rescheduled for unauthorized
absences. I reserve the right to give students who miss a test an alternate version of the
appropriate test. Other assignments (e.g. critiques) not turned in on time will be docked 10% of
their final value for each class day that they are late. There will be NO make up labs.
Warning: Students who are repeating this class for the third time will be charged an
additional fee per class hour.
Final Grade “Calculator”
Homework (Mastering Biology)
Attendance
(100 points)
(50 points max.)
Test #1
(100 points)
Test #2
(100 points)
Test #3
(100 points)
Test #4
(100 points)
Total Lecture Points
(550 points)
Lab Test # 1
(100 Points)
Lab Test # 2
(100 Points)
Lab Homework
(100 Points)
Total Laboratory Points
(300 points)
Final Exam
(200 points)
TOTAL
(1050 points, not including extra credit)
Divide your total by 1050 = Final Percentage = _________________ %
Letter Grade Assignment:
A = 90-100% (or higher)
B = 80-89 %
C = 70-79 %
D = 60-69 %
F = 0-59 %
GUARANTEED GRADUATE POLICY:
Houston Community College System guarantees that graduates of its Associate of Arts,
Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science and all Certificate programs, providing
under certain circumstances, additional education and training tuition free to students lacking
appropriate mastery of specified competencies. For additional information, refer to the HCCS
college catalog.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
Withdrawal from the course before the official day of record (see current catalog) will result in a
final grade of “W” on the student transcript and no credit will be awarded. Prior to the official
day of record, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a request for withdrawal
from any course.
International Students: Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student visa.
Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F for visa considerations. You
may contact the International Student Office at 713 718 8520 if you have any questions about
your student visa status or other transfer issues.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For
example, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. In the
Fall of 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting students to no more than SIX total
course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early
Alert process by which your professor will “alert” you and distance education (DE) counselors
that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance.
You should visit with your DE professor or a DE counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC
interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job
placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan on withdrawing from your DE class, you MUST contact a DE counselor or your DE
professor prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class and this must be done PRIOR to the
withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines vary
each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration calendars,
HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to
determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when
communicating via email and/or telephone with a DE professor and/or counselor. Do not
submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If you do
not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as
your final grade.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
HCCS is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In
becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and
independent effort. Failure to uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the
following: plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on exams or assignments, collusion on
an exam or project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites when registering for a
course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally
communicating or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an exam or
complete a project or assignment, using unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam,
and obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam or any part of an exam.
Plagiarism means passing off as his/her own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without
giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism includes submitting a paper, report or
project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is inappropriately
collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These definitions are not
exhaustive. When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or misrepresentation,
a faculty member will take disciplinary action including but not limited to: requiring the student
to retake or resubmit an exam or assignment, assigning a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or
assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for the course. Additional sanctions including being
withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school may be imposed on a student who
violates the standards of academic integrity.
SOFTWARE PIRACY:
Law strictly prohibits unauthorized copying of software purchased by Houston Community
College for use in laboratories. Houston Community College administration will take
appropriate disciplinary action against anyone violating copyright laws.
COMPUTER VIRUS PROTECTION:
Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using the data storage device on more than
one computer creates the possibility of infecting computers and storage devices with a computer
virus. This exposes the computers of the college, your personal computer, and any others you
may be using to potentially damaging viruses. The college has aggressive anti-virus procedures
in place to protect its computers, but cannot guarantee that a virus might not temporarily infect
one of its machines. It is your responsibility to protect all computers under your control and use
and ensure that each device you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been scanned with
anti-virus software. Since new viruses arise continually, your anti-virus software must be kept
current. And, since no anti-virus software will find every virus, keeping copies of data (backups)
is extremely important.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:
It is the policy of the Houston Community College System to provide equal employment,
admission and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, age, or disability.
HCCS Colleges strive to provide an excellent learning environment free from harassment or
intimidation directed at any person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Any form of harassment will not be tolerated.
Changes may be made to this syllabus when deemed appropriate by the professor. Students will
be notified of any changes in a timely manner.
My thanks to Dr. Loesch for allowing me to use his class syllabus as a guide.
For those of you who, after the first exam, wonder “How on earth can they expect me to
remember all of this stuff?” I have a couple of suggestions.
Do you know how to read a textbook? If you thought so and now have some doubts, go to
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/reading.html
Do you know how to take class notes? If you are beginning to wonder, go to
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssi.html
COURSE CALENDAR:
Week 1
Week 15
Course Introduction – Syllabus, Chapters 1 & 2
Lab. – Intro. To Lab. – Safety Issues, Scientific Method
Chapters 3 & 4
Lab – Basic Chemistry
Homework in Mastering Biology Chapters 1- 4
Exam on Chapters 1-4, Chapter 5 &6
Lab- Properties of Water
Homework on Chapters 5 & 6 in Mastering Biology
Lecture on Chapters 7 & 8
Lab – Biochemistry: Detection of Biological Molecules
Homework on Chapters 7 & 8 in Mastering Biology
2nd Exam on Chapters 5-8, Chapter 9, & 10
Lab – The Microscope
Homework on Chapter 9 in Mastering Biology
Chapters 11 & 12
Lab- Cell Structure
Homework on Chapter 8 in Mastering Biology
Lecture Chapters 12 & 13
Lab – Diffusion & Osmotic Relationships of Cells
Homework on Chapters 9 & 10 in Mastering Biology
3rd Exam on Chapters 9–12; Chapters 13 & 14
Lab – Enzymes
Homework on Chapter 11 in Mastering Biology
Chapters 14 & 15
Lab Test 1 on Exercises 1-6; L – Respiration
Homework on Chapter 12 in Mastering Biology
Lecture on Chapters 15 & 16
Lab - Photosynthesis & Spectrophotometry
Homework on Chapters 13 & 14 in Mastering Biology
Chapters 16 & 17
Lab –Cell Division
Homework on Chapters 14 & 15 in Mastering Biology
4th Exam on Chapters 13-16; Chapters 17 & 18
Lab – Genetics
Homework on Chapter 16 in Mastering Biology
Lecture on Chapters 18 & 19
Lab – DNA to Protein
Homework on Chapters 18 & 19 in Mastering Biology
Chapters 20 & 21
Lab Test 2
Lab – Biotechnology and DNA Extraction if possible
Homework on Chapters 20 & 20 in Mastering Biology
5th Exam on, Chapters 17-21
Week 16
*FINAL EXAM
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Dates
Fall 2012
8/26 – 8/30
9/2– 9/6 9/2 Labor Day Holiday
9/9 – 9/13
9/16 – 9/20
9/23 – 9/27
9/30 – 10/4
10/7 – 10/11
10/14 – 10/18
10/21 – 10/25
10/28 – 11/1; 11/1;Last Day for Admin./ Student Withdrawals; 4:30pm
11/4 – 11/8
11/11 – 11/15
11/18 – 11/22
11/25 – 11/29; 11/28 – 12/1 = (Thanksgiving holiday)
12/2 – 12/6
12/9 Lecture Final 8:00 - 10:00 AM; 12/11 Lab Final 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Biology 1406
Acknowledgement Page
I acknowledge that I have read the syllabus for Biology 1406 and understand
the effort and time commitment necessary to succeed in this Science Majors
Class.
(OVER 300 HOURS OF STUDY)
Name_____________________________________________________
Email Address _____________________________________________
Current Phone # ____________________________________________
Are You Going to Succeed in College?
Welcome to HCC
This is not the 13th grade!
Life Sciences Department Recommendations and Expectations
Guidelines to take Biology 1406(1st. year class): high school biology & chemistry with B or
better. If not-take Biology 1308 first.
Failure to meet these recommended guidelines can result in failing the class. Don’t be
impatient! Get the Tools you need so you can Succeed!
I. College Level Expectations/Responsibilities
 Be on time for your class. Do not sneak in late and interrupt the class. If you are late
wait until the next break to enter the classroom.
 You will be expected to behave as an adult. This includes not talking on cell phones
or any use of an electronic device not approved by your instructor during class.
 Do not expect multiple “changes”, such as being able to re-take exams or re-do
assignments. Do not ask your instructor for an “extra assignment” to alter your
grade.
 You must meet deadlines. Most professors do not accept late assignments or they
make significant grade reductions with late submittals.
 Read directions carefully and follow them. Review directions before turning in an
assignment to make sure they have all been met.
 Plan to spend about three hours studying outside the classroom for every one hour
in the classroom. Do not take too many classes if you are working or have heavy
family/personal responsibilities. DO NOT attempt to take more than one Biology
course per semester unless you already have a strong Biology/Science
background.
 Set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them.
 Stay organized. Use a binder to store your class notes, syllabus and handouts. If
your class utilizes the Blackboard classroom management system, make sure to
copy the syllabus, notes and other materials you might need on to your computer
desktop or an external storage device to use when an Internet connection is not
possible. If you have trouble accessing Blackboard contact the help desk number
listed at the bottom of the Blackboard home page. Your instructor cannot reset
passwords or register students in Blackboard.
 Contact your professor and/or a counselor when you first begin to experience a
problem in a class. Do not wait. Most professors want to help, but it is your
responsibility to ask for it. It is your academic career. If you decide to drop a class
make sure you go to the registrar and drop the course (official drop “withdrawal”
date is April 15, 4:30pm). DO NOT assume that your instructor will drop you if
you abandon the course; doing so may result in an “F”.

II.



III.





IV.



V.







Buy your textbook at the beginning of the semester and begin reading it. If you have
financial or other issues that keep you from doing so, talk with your professor
immediately. Also purchase your Scantrons early. They are sold at the college
bookstores, which may not open early enough for an 8:00am class. Make sure you
have them before your examinations.
Syllabi
You will receive a different syllabus for each class.
Read every syllabus carefully, as each professor has different policies and you are
responsible for following them. Make sure you do not have any personal or
professional appointments that conflict with test dates or times.
Learn your professor’s name and contact information. They are included in your
syllabus.
Attendance
Attend class beginning the first day. This is important for understanding
expectations and getting to know your professor and classmates. Lab rules and
safety procedures are covered during the first few days.
You must attend class regularly. You cannot receive credit for a class if more than
12 hours of instruction have been missed.
You are held responsible for content missed during an absence including
announcements, notes, handouts and assignments.
Get to know your classmates, exchange contact information from at least three
classmates at the beginning of the semester so that you have someone to contact if
you miss a class.
Get to class on time, allowing time for traffic, parking. Plan to be on campus at least
15 minutes before your scheduled class.
Tutoring
Online tutoring is available for free to all HCC Biology students at:
http://hccs.askonline.net/
In-person tutoring is provided at each of our campuses beginning during the third
week of the semester. Notices will specific locations and times will be posted in
Biology lecture and lab rooms.
Friday open labs, where students can review Biology models is typically held at the
Scarcella building at the Stafford campus, room S118 beginning on the third week of
the semester to the week before finals. Look for notices posted in Biology lecture
and lab rooms.
Building Codes
Scarcella Building –STF2
Stafford Building—STAF3
Building B—B
Temporary buildings – T
West Loop – WLOP
Alief – ALIF
Missouri City – MOCC

Green Briar Annex – GRNBR