Houston Community College: Fall 2011
Biology 1406 General Biology I: CRN # 54773
Town and Country Campus
Tue (Room 515) & Thr (Lab 528): 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Judith Solti
Telephone: Town and Country Square (713) 718-5415, leave voice mail
e-mail address: DocExo@AOL.com (personal) or judith.solti@hccs.edu (work)
Availability: M –Th 2 – 5 p.m.; by appointment on Fridays or Saturdays
Course Description & Objectives: This 4 credit course focuses on the principles of biology, including biological chemistry,
cellular morphology, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, genetics, and biotechnology. The objective of this course is to provide
an understanding of the basic concepts of biology. Refer to the student handbook for the HCCS mission statement.
Prerequisite: One year of high school biology is required (high school chemistry is recommended).
Required Textbooks: Campbell, N.A., Biology, 9th Edition, Vol. I, Benjamin/Cummings Publishers, 2011 (NOTE: It is to
your benefit to use the CD rom available with this textbook) and Merritt R.G. and Keating, R.J., Laboratory Exercises For
College General Biology 1, 3rd Ed.,2002.
Course Material: Studying your textbook, lab book, and any handouts IS required. Homework will be assigned from the
textbook and from handouts. You are expected to complete the assigned reading for each topic prior to class. Remember that
you are responsible for the reading material.
Optional Material: Class notes for this course may be purchased in the HCCS T&C Bookstore: Solti, Judith, Bios Means Life,
Vol. I, 3rd ed 2010. Supplementary material may be found on Dr. Solti’s Learning Web at hccs.edu
Attendance: Class attendance is MANDATORY and will be taken at the start of every class period. If you are absent, you are
responsible for all material covered. Attendance and participation will be graded....10 pts deducted from each unexcused absence.
Four absences (either excused or unexcused) may result in administrative withdrawal (W). Tardiness is disrespectful. If you
arrive late and have missed roll call, you must inform the Instructor or you will be marked absent. If you need to leave class
early, please discuss your departure with the Instructor prior to class or you will be marked absent. Late arrivals, early
departures, and excessive absences will affect your final grade.
Withdrawals: November 3, 2011 (4:30 p.m.) is the last day an instructor or counselor may withdraw from classes. After that
date, withdrawal is not permitted and students must receive a final grade other than “W”. Therefore, if you are unable to
complete the course, you must request that your instructor or counselor officially withdraw you by November 3rd or risk getting
an “F” in the course.
Student Conduct (refer to Student Handbook): HCC views college-level students as adults who subscribe to a basic standard
of conduct. Therefore, appropriate student conduct is expected in the classroom at all times.
Lecture Examinations: Students are expected to participate in all scheduled examinations. Make-up exams will be given only
for valid excuses (must substantiate/have a doctor’s note) or you will be given a “0” for that exam. If a student arrives late for a
scheduled exam, they will have only the time remaining from the official start of the exam. Students must take the final exam
during the scheduled time/date or a letter grade of “F” will be given for the final exam. No exam grades are dropped from a
student’s average.
Bonus Point Opportunities: Pop quizzes will be given throughout the semester to gauge progress as well as to earn bonus
points. There is NO make-up for a missed pop quiz since it also rewards attendance. Other bonus opportunities, such as service
learning, will be provided at a later date.
Laboratory Conduct and Examinations: Students are expected to abide by the rules of safety at all times during the lab
exercises and are required to read and sign the HCC "Biology Laboratory Safety Rules and Regulations." Although students
work in groups, individuals will complete their own lab reports (if not, the situation is treated as academic dishonesty). These lab
reports are to be stapled and turned in at the beginning of the next session or when requested. Lab reports turned in late will start
at 50% before being graded. All late lab reports are due before the scheduled Lab Practical Exam. There is no make-up for a
missed Lab Practical Exam – it is an automatic “0”.
Scholastic Dishonesty: A written warning will be issued for a first suspicion of dishonesty on a lab report. Further dishonesty
will result in a grade of “0” on those reports. In the case of dishonesty on an exam (refer to Student Handbook), a grade of “0”
-1-
Fall 2011
Biology 1406
CRN # 54773
Tue (Rm 515)&Th (Lab 528): 11 a.m.-2 pm
will be given for the exam and the student will not be allowed to complete the exam or stay in the classroom. If dishonesty should
become a chronic and persistent problem, the student may receive an “F” for the course.
Miscellaneous: Smoking is not allowed in the class or lab. Cellular phones must be turned off and remain out of sight,
especially during exams. Video recording is not allowed. Tape recorders or laptops may be allowed in class with special
permission. If you have ANY problem that you would like us to address, please inform the Instructor as soon as possible.
Students with disabilities (ADA) should inform their Instructor as soon as possible for a referral to the ADA counselor for
"reasonable accommodations". Students who repeat a course for a 3 rd or more times WILL face tuition/fee increases at HCCS
and other Texas colleges. Please ask your Instructor/Counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to
withdrawal or if you are not receiving a passing grade.
Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: EGLS3
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and
learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to
instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for continual
improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end
of the term.
GRADE COMPUTATION
4 Lecture Exams
1 Lab Practical Exam
Lab Reports/Hmwk.
Attendance/Participation
Final Exam(s)
Total
= 480 pts = 48%
= 100 pts = 10%
= 100 pts = 10%
=100 pts = 10%
= 220 pts = 22%
=1000 pts=100%
Keep ahead of the material!! Educators have suggested studying 2 - 3 hours for each hour of class time. For this class, that
equals about 12 to 18 hours/week of studying.
GRADING SCALE
1000 - 900 points = 100 - 90%= A
899 - 800 points = 89 - 80% = B
799 - 700 points = 79 - 70% = C
699 - 600 points = 69 - 60% = D
599 - 0 points = 59 - 0% = F
IMPORTANT DATES
August 30, 2011 Last day for drop/add/swap
September 5, 2011 School closed- Labor Day Holiday
September 9, 2011 Official date of record
November 3, 2011 Last day for withdrawals (4:30 p.m.)
November 24-27, 2011 School closed-Thanksgiving Holiday
December 12-18, 2011 Final exams
December 23, 2011 Grades available to students
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Fall 2011
Biology 1406
CRN # 54773
Tue (Rm 515)&Th (Lab 528): 11 a.m.-2 pm
COURSE SCHEDULE
DATE
Aug 30
Sept 1
TOPIC
Overview & Study of Life
Chemicals of Life
CHAPTER#
1
2
LAB#
---
Sept 6
Sept 8
Water
Carbon Molecules
3
4
2, 3
4
Sept 13
Sept 15
Macromolecules
Macromolecules/Review
5
5, Review
-1
Sept 20
Sept 22
1st EXAM (Ch 1-5)
Cell
EXAM
6
-6
Sept 27
Sept 29
Membranes
No Class: At Home Study Day
7
Assignment
---
Oct 4
Oct 6
Metabolism
Cellular Respiration
8
9
-8
Oct 11
Oct 13
Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis
9
10, Review
---
Oct 18
Oct 20
2nd EXAM (Ch 6-10)
Mitosis
EXAM
12
-11, Mitosis Models
Oct 25
Oct 27
Meiosis
Mendelian Genetics
13
14
12, Meiosis Models
--
Nov 1
Nov 3
Chromosomes
Review Ch 12- 15
15
Review
13, Genetics problems
13, Genetics problems
Nov 8
Nov 10
3rd EXAM (Ch 12-15)
DNA &DNA Replication
EXAM
16
-LAB EXAM
Nov 15
Nov 17
Gene to Protein
Bacteria & Gene Expression
17
18
---
Nov 22
Nov 24
Viruses
School closed—Thanksgiving Holiday
19
--
---
Nov 29
Dec 1
4th EXAM (Ch 16-19)
Biotechnology
EXAM
20
---
Dec 6
Dec 8
Final review (Ch 1-20)
No Class: Study Day
Cumulative Review
--
---
Dec 13, Tues
FINAL EXAM: 11am - 1 pm
Cumulative
Room 515
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