Houston Community College: Spring 2011
Biology 1406 General Biology I: CRN # 62672
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, 8th Edition, Vol. I, Benjamin/Cummings Publishers, 2008
Merritt R.G. and Keating, R.J., LABORATORY EXERCISES FOR COLLEGE GENERAL BIOLOGY 1, 3rd
Edition, 2002.
Course Material:
Studying your textbook, lab book, and any handouts is required. 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 Edition, 2010. Interesting supplementary material may be found on Dr. Solti’s Learning Web at hccs.edu
Attendance:
Class attendance is MANDATORY and is taken at the start of every class period. If you are absent, you are
responsible for all material covered. Four absences (either excused or unexcused) may result in administrative
withdrawal (W). It is your responsibility to provide proof of any excused/emergency absence. 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:
April 14, 2011 (4:30 p.m.) is the last day an instructor or counselor may withdraw you 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 April 14th 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.
Spring 2011
528):11 am-2pm
Biology 1406
CRN # 62672
Tue (Rm 515)&Th (Lab
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. Another bonus opportunity, service learning
(volunteering), 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 makeup 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”
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.
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 15 hours/week of studying.
GRADE COMPUTATION
4 Lecture Exams
= 480 pts
1 Lab Practical Exam
= 100 pts
Lab Reports/Hmwk.
= 200 pts
Partic/Attend.
= 20 pts
Final Exam
= 200 pts
Total
=1000 pts
IMPORTANT DATES
Jan 31, 2011
Feb 21, 2011
Mar 14-20, 2011
April 14, 2011
Apr 22-24, 2011
May 9-15, 2011
= 48%
= 10%
= 20%
= 2%
= 20%
=100%
GRADING SCALE
1000-900 pts = 100-90% =A
899-800 pts = 89-80% = B
799-700 pts = 79-70% = C
699-600 pts = 69-60% = D
599-0 pts = 59-0% = F
Official date of record
School closed- Presidents’ Day Holiday
Spring Break
Last day for withdrawals (4:30 p.m.)
School closed- Easter Holiday
Finals week
DATE
Jan 18
Jan 20
TOPIC
Overview & Study of Life
Chemicals of Life
Jan 25
Chemicals of Life
COURSE SCHEDULE
CHAPTER#
1
2
2
-Page 2 -
LAB#
--3
Spring 2011
528):11 am-2pm
Biology 1406
CRN # 62672
Tue (Rm 515)&Th (Lab
Jan 27
Water
3
2
Feb 1
Feb 3
Carbon Molecules/Macromolecules
Macromolecules/Review
4, 5
5, Review
4
1
Feb 8
Feb 10
1st EXAM (Ch 1-5)
Cell
EXAM
6
-6
Feb 15
Feb 17
Membranes
Metabolism
7
8
-5
Feb 22
Feb 24
Cellular Respiration
Cellular Respiration
9
9, Review
-8
Mar 1
Mar 3
2 EXAM (Ch 6-9)
Photosynthesis
EXAM
10
-10
Mar 8
Mar 10
Photosynthesis
Mitosis
10
12
-11, Mitosis Models
Mar 15
Mar 17
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
---
---
Mar 22
Mar 24
Meiosis
Review Chapters 10-13
13
Review
12, Meiosis Models
--
Mar 29
Mar 31
3rd EXAM (Ch 10-13)
Mendelian Genetics
EXAM
14
-13, Genetics probs.
Apr 5
Apr 7
Chromosomes
DNA &DNA Replication
15
16
13, Genetics probs.
--
Apr 12
Apr 14
Gene to Protein
Gene to Protein
17
17, Review
---
Apr 19
Apr 21
4th EXAM (Ch 14-17)
Gene Expression/Genomes
EXAM
18
---
Apr 26
Apr 28
Viruses
LAB PRACTICAL EXAM
19
--
-LAB EXAM
May 3
May 5
Biotechnology
No Class: Study Day
20
--
---
May 10, Tue
FINAL EXAM: 11 am – 1 pm
Cumulative Exam
Rm 515
nd
-Page 3 -