Houston Community College: Spring 2013
Biology 1406: General Biology I: CRN # 32053
Spring Branch; Tues (Room 515) & Thr (Lab 528); 8:00 - 11:00 am
Instructor: Dr. Judith Solti
Office: Spring Branch Campus (at the back of the main bldg); (713) 718-5415, T/Th 11am or M/W 2pm.
Computer access: judith.solti@hccs.edu (HCC-related business); Please check your HCCS email daily before class
for any Instructor notifications/absences/announcements; DocExo@AOL.com (personal); Facebook
Course Description & Objectives: This 4 credit course focuses on the principles of biology, including biological
chemistry, cellular morphology, cellular respiration, genetics, etc. 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 and Course Material: Campbell, N.A., BIOLOGY, 9th Ed;Vol. I, Benjamin/Cummings
Pub., 2011 and Schwartz, D. and Dikeocha, N., BIOLOGY 1406 LABORATORY MANUAL, HCC/Blue Door
Publishing, 2011. Reading your textbook, lab book and any handouts IS required. You are expected to complete the
assigned reading for each topic prior to class. An in-depth copy of the syllabus, as well as all handouts,
homeworks, and test reviews may be found on Dr. Solti’s Learning Web site at www.hccs.edu.
Optional Material: Class notes may be purchased in the Spring Branch HCCS Bookstore: Solti, Judith, BIOS
MEANS LIFE: Origins in Chemistry, Vol. I, 4th Ed.2012. This is an optional, but helpful purchase. Also helpful
is the website Biology Lab Study Pages written by HCCS faculty at hccs.edu/biologylabs. Online tutoring for all
HCC students, in all subjects, is available at www.hccs.askonline.net.
Attendance: Class attendance is MANDATORY. Attendance will be taken at some point during every class
period. By HCC District policy, more than four absences (for any reason) may result in administrative withdrawal
(W). There are no exceptions for veterans, international students, students on financial aid or on their parents'
insurance. If you are absent, you are responsible for all material covered and any homework/labs assigned.
Class will start on time; tardiness is disrespectful to the Instructor and other students. If you arrive 30 minutes or
more late, it will be counted as an absence. If you arrive late, it is your responsibility to inform the Instructor of your
attendance before you leave class that day and to catch up on any announcements given. If you must leave class
early for any reason, please discuss your departure with the Instructor as it may be counted as an absence. Late
arrivals, early departures, and excessive absences will affect your grade.
Withdrawals: Any time at 4 absences, your Instructor will discuss the option of withdrawing you from this course
as mandated by HCCS policy. April 1, 2013, however, is the last day a Counselor/Instructor may withdraw you
from classes. After that date, withdrawal is not permitted and students may 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 examinations. If a student arrives late, 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 grade of “F” will be given for the final exam. No exam grades will be dropped. Make up
exams will be given only for valid excuses (must provide medical, legal, or other substantial documentation) and
will be given at the HCCS Testing Center; the format for a make-up exam will be primarily essay.
Bonus Point Opportunities: Pop quizzes will be given throughout the semester to gauge progress as well as to
earn bonus points. There is absolutely NO make-up for a missed pop quiz since it also rewards attendance. Another
bonus point opportunity that may be offered is service learning, an HCCS volunteering program.
Laboratory Conduct and Examinations: Students are expected to abide by the rules of safety at all times during
the laboratory exercises and are required to read and sign the HCC "Safety Guidelines Acknowledgement”. Students
will work in groups in the lab, and may work within the group to complete lab reports. These lab reports are worked
in your own lab book (no Xeroxes allowed) and shown/turned in at the end of that class period or the beginning of
Spring 2013
Biology 1406
CRN # 32053
Tues (Rm515 ) & Thr (Lab528); 8-11am
the next. Late lab reports may be turned in for a starting grade of 50%, but must be turned in before the scheduled
Lab Practical Exam. There is no make-up for a missed Lab Practical Exam - it is an automatic “0”.
Scholastic Dishonesty During Examinations: 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
examination (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 room. If dishonesty becomes 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 out of sight,
especially during exams . Any student texting will be asked to step out of the class or lab. Video recording is not
permitted. Tape recorders or laptops may be allowed with permission (laptops may only be used for course
material). 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" recommendations. Students who repeat a course for a 3rd or more
times WILL face tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges. Please ask your Instructor/Counselor
about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering course withdrawal.
Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: (EGLS3): At HCC, 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, anonymous survey related to instruction, which will be made available to your professors and
department chairs for continual improvement of instruction.
GRADE COMPUTATION
4 Lecture Exams
= 400 pts
1 Lab Practical Exam
= 100 pts
1 Case Study Module
= 100 pts
Final Exams
= 200 pts
Lab Reports/Assignmts = 100 pts
Partic/Attendance
= 100 pts
Total
=1000 pts
= 40%
= 10%
= 10%
= 20% (Discipline Final and Dr. Solti's Final)
= 10%
= 10%
=100%
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
January 13
Last day for drop/add/swap/registration ends
January 14
Classes begin
January 21
School closed-Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
January 28
Official date of record
February 18
School closed-Presidents Day Holiday
March 11-17
School closed-Spring Break
March 29-31
School closed-Spring Holiday
April 1
Last day for administrative/student withdrawals-4:30 p.m.
May 5
Instruction ends
May 6-12
Final examinations
Keep ahead of the material! Educators suggest studying 2-3 hours for each hour of class time. For this class,
that equals 12-15 hours/week of studying. However, this is a course that requires a lot of memorization. So, if
you have trouble memorizing, you may need to spend more time for the grade you hope to achieve.
Page 2
Spring 2013
Biology 1406
CRN # 32053
Tues (Rm515 ) & Thr (Lab528); 8-11am
In General Biology I, the student is responsible for the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
 The student will be able to recognize the basic structure/ function of eukaryotic cellular organelles and cell
systems
 The student will be able to explain the synthesis/properties of: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
 The student will be able to devise/perform an experiment containing the proper experimental test points, as well
as positive and negative controls
 Given a DNA or RNA sequence, the student will be able to deduce:
 The sequence of the complementary DNA strand
 The sequence of the complementary mRNA strand
 Complementary codons and/or anticodons
 The proper amino acid sequence in the resulting polypeptide (using a supplied codon dictionary)
 The student will exhibit competence in bringing a light microscope into focus
 Learning Methods: Read course textbook, read laboratory manual, attend lectures
 Resources: Campbell and Reese Biology 9th ed, 2011; Mastering Biology; Lab Manual; The
Learning Web; Class Discussions
 The student will develop the habit of reliable attendance by being absent from class no more than 4
times/semester
 The student will demonstrate punctuality in the submission of class assignments on their due date.
 Learning Methods: Read HCC Student Manual
 Resources: HCC Student Manual; The Learning Web (syllabus); Student Counseling
COURSE SCHEDULE
DATE
Jan 15
Jan 17
TOPIC
Syllabus/Living Things
Chemicals of Life
CHAPTER#
1
2
LAB#
-Lab Safety
Jan 22
Jan 24
Chemicals of Life
Water
2
3
1
2
Jan 29
Jan 31
Organic Chem/Macromolecules
Macromolecules (cont’d)
4, 5
5, Review
-3
Feb 5
Feb 7
1st EXAM (Ch 1-5)
The Cell
EXAM
6
-4
Feb 12
Feb 14
Membranes
Metabolism
7
8
-4
Feb 19*
Feb 21*
Case Study/Cellular Respiration
Case Study/Cellular Respiration (cont’d)
9
9
Cell Models
5
Feb 26
Feb 28
Photosynthesis
Cell Communication
10, Review
11
-Cell Models
Mar 5
Mar 7
2nd EXAM (Ch 6-10)
Case Study Presentations
EXAM
Presentations
Cell Models
--
Mar 11
Mar 17
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
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* Mandatory Class Sessions
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Spring 2013
Biology 1406
CRN # 32053
Tues (Rm515 ) & Thr (Lab528); 8-11am
COURSE SCHEDULE (CONTINUED)
Mar 19
Mar 21
Mitosis
Meiosis
12
13
Mitosis Models
Meiosis Models
Mar 26
Mar 28
Mendelian Genetics
Mendelian Genetics
14
14
Genetics Probs
Genetics Probs.
Apr 2
Apr 4
Chromosomes
3rd EXAM (Ch 11-15)
15, Review
EXAM
-Review Models
Apr 9
Apr 11
DNA Replication
No Class: Study Day
16
Study
-Study
Apr 16
Apr 18
Protein Synthesis
Bacteria
17
18
12
Review for Lab Exam
Apr 23
Apr 25
Viruses
LAB PRACTICAL EXAM
19
--
-LAB EXAM
Apr 30
May 2
4th EXAM (Ch 16-19)
Biotechnology & Final Review
EXAM
1-20
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May 7
May 9, Thrs
No Class: Finals Week
FINAL EXAMS: Cumulative
--Discipline Final Exam and Dr. Solti’s Final Exam
Lab 528; 8-10 am
Page 4