Welcome Students
BIOL 1406: GENERAL BIOLOGY I
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A contemporary biology course, including applications of the scientific
method, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, classical and human genetics, virology and
mechanisms of evolution.
Course Title
General Biology I
Course Number
BIOL 1406 – section 32125
Credit Hours
4
Prerequisites
English
Semester and Year
Spring 2013
Instructor
Andrew C. Evans, MS
Class Days and Times
MON / WED 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Class Room Locations
HCC Katy rm 307 (lecture MON) and rm 308 (lab WED)
Office
n/a
Office Hours
by appointment
E-mail
balistes1@hotmail.com , Andrew.Evans@HCCS.edu
Phone
n/a
ADA Statement
Houston Community College is dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment
for all students. The college 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 Learning Outcomes: BIOL 1406

Apply the scientific method in a laboratory setting.

Demonstrate an understanding of basic organic chemistry and apply chemical concepts to living
systems, and examine cell structure, function, and reproduction utilizing cell theory as a unifying
theme in biology.

Examine the importance of energy flow by analyzing the interrelated processes of cellular
respiration and photosynthesis.

Analyze the genetic components responsible for heredity and examine current advances in
bioscience technologies.

Demonstrate basic knowledge of virology and the impact of viruses on living things.

Demonstrate an understanding of the components of Darwin's theory of evolution and contrast
microevolution with macroevolution.
Required Materials:
Lecture: Campbell Biology, 9th Ed., Reece et al.
Lab: Biology 1406 Laboratory Manual 2nd Ed., Loesch et al. (found only at the HCC bookstore).
Evaluation:

Lecture Grade: There will be 3 lecture exams in the course of the semester, as well as a
comprehensive final exam. In addition to the normal final exam, there will also be a departmental
final exam. Exams may consist of multiple-choice, fill in the blanks, matching, short essay, and
long essay, or may be in scantron format. Each exam will include extra credit. An optional paper
will also be assigned, for extra credit. Make-up exams will not be given. No exceptions.

Lab Grade: There will be 1 hands-on lab practical in the course of the semester. Make-up
practicals will not be given. No exceptions. You will be required to turn in your lab write-ups, as
they will make up a percentage of your lab grade.

Final Examination: The final is comprehensive and mandatory. There will be no make–up on
the final exam, period.
This is a credit course. Grades will be assigned using the following table. I do not curve grades,
period.
Grading Scale:
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
below 60
Homework:
There will be no graded homework. I will regularly hand out worksheets or review sheets to help you
prepare for exams and practicals. I will regularly assign readings from the textbook. The readings are
mandatory, and will be considered as fair game for test questions. You need to do the readings to
gain a full understanding of the material. If you do not do the readings, your grade will suffer;
trust me on this.
Class Participation and Attendance:
Class participation is a reflection of your daily preparation and daily appendance. Students should come
to class prepared, and able to participate in class discussions. Attendance to all classes is expected.
Class attendance records will be kept to satisfy veterans and work program needs. An excessive number
of absences will prohibit the successful completion of this course. If you should miss a class, it is the
student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes and assignments from a classmate. Also, if you aren’t
going to be here, contact me. If you are falling behind, I need to keep abreast of the situation, so we
can work it out, and get you back on track.
Make-up policy, repeated:
Make-up exams will not be given for lecture or lab. No exceptions.
Withdrawal Policy:
Withdrawal from the course after 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. It is the student’s responsibility to
initiate and complete a request for withdrawal from any course. I will counsel all students on their
grades prior to this deadline, but, I repeat, it is the student’s responsibility to drop. I keep a current
database of everyone’s grades, so you can come to me at any time, and I can give you your grades for
the semester.
Just as a note, a “W” has no bearing on your grade. If you are falling behind, or doing exceedingly poorly,
it is far better to withdraw, and retake the course, than it is to get a “D” or an “F.” No stigma is attached to
a withdrawal, but a failing grade is another matter.
Academic Integrity:
HCC 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 0 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 university, may be imposed on a student who violates the standards of academic integrity. It
is much better to fail a test, than it is to be expelled from school for cheating.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
It is the policy of the HCC to provide equal employment, admission and educational opportunities without
regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. HCC strives 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.
You need to feel comfortable coming to class, in order to learn effectively. If anyone is harassing you, I
need to know immediately, and I will take care of the problem.
Biol 1406 Grade Sheet
Test
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Lab Practical 1
Final Exam
Departmental Final Exam
Lab Manual Write-Ups
Optional Extra Credit Paper
% of Total
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
Extra credit
Variable (maybe test grade,
maybe extra credit)….
up to 20 pts. added to a test
Grade
This sheet is for you to keep track of your grades. You may check with me at any time to verify grades.
Please keep an ACCURATE accounting of your grades to know your standing.
Course Calendar:
Week of
Class Topic
Jan 14
Jan 21
Introduction
ch 1 - Introduction / 10 themes of biology
Jan 28
Lab - lab safety, lab 1 (basic chemistry)
ch 2 - Chemical context of life.
ch 3 - Water and the fitness of the environment.
Reference
Chapters / Notes
1
Feb 4
Feb 11
Feb 18
Feb 25
Mar 4
Mar 11
Mar 18
Lab - lab 2 (properties of water)
ch 4 - Carbon and molecular diversity of life.
ch 5 - The structure and function of macromolecules.
2, 3
4, 5
Lab - lab 3 (biochemistry)
Lecture Test 1 (Ch. 1-5)
Lab ch 6 - A tour of the cell.
ch 7 - Membrane structure and function.
Lab - lab 4 (the microscope)
ch 8 - An introduction to metabolism.
ch 9 - Cellular respiration and fermentation.
Lab - lab 5 (cell structure)
ch 10 - Photosynthesis.
ch 11 - Cellular communication.
6, 7
8, 9
10, 11
Lab - lab 6 (diffusion and osmosis)
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
Lecture Test 2 (Ch. 6-10)
ch 12 - The cell cycle and mitosis.
Lab - lab 7 (enzymes)
12
Mar 25
ch 13 - Sexual life cycles and meiosis.
ch 14 - Mendelian genetics.
Apr 1
Lab - lab 8 (cellular respiration and fermentation)
ch 15 - Chromosomal basis of inheritance.
Apr 8
Lab - lab 9 (photosynthesis and photospectrometry)
Lecture Test 3 (Ch. 11-15)
Apr 15
Lab - lab 10 (cellular division)
ch 16 - Molecular basis of inheritance, DNA supercoiling.
Apr 22
Lab - lab 11 (genetics)
ch 17 - From gene to protein.
13, 14
15
16
17
Apr 29
May 6
Lab – lab 12 (DNA synthesis) & REVIEW for LAB PRACTICAL 1
REVIEW for FINAL
ch 19 – Viruses and virus-like molecules.
ch 20 - DNA technology and genomics.
19, 20
LAB PRACTICAL 1
Final Exam 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. MON May 6
(over Ch. 16, 17, 19, 20, and comprehensive)
Departmental Final Exam (comprehensive) – same time as
normal final
All dates are subject to change with prior notice.
It is your responsibility to stay informed as to any changes announced in class. Absence from
class is not an excuse for failure to observe any announced changes. Good luck, and see you in
class. Call me with any questions.