Biological Principles: Unity (Biol 105)
Section C09C 
Lecturer:
E-mail:
Phone:
Dr. Thomas G. Lammers
lammers@uwosh.edu
424-1002
Fall 2010
Office:
Office Hours:
9C Halsey (The Herbarium)
MWF 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Tu
8:00 – 10:30 AM
This course consists of several lecture sections of ca. 200 students, each taught by a different professor. Aside from using the
same text and covering the same general topics, each lecturer conducts his or her section independently of the others, with
completely different syllabi and exams. Attend the section for which you enrolled! Do not attempt to skip from one section to
another; you’ll only get confused. Do not take another professor’s exam; it won’t count! If you have questions or concerns about
lecture material or course policies, please contact me (see above).
In addition to lecture, there are numerous laboratory sections of 30 students each. Labs are taught by someone other than me.
Your lab instructor will provide you with specific information on policies under his or her jurisdiction, e.g., attendance, grading,
office hours, etc. All concerns with lab work should be addressed to this lab instructor.
This course is a part of the liberal arts curriculum. The Association of American Colleges and Universities uses the term “liberal
education” to refer to a philosophy of education that empowers individuals with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and that
cultivates social responsibility and a strong sense of ethics and values. In pursuing that goal, our specific goal in this course is to
provide you with basic knowledge about life and how it operates. For some (majors in the sciences, nursing or kinesiology), this
is a precursor to further science coursework. For others, it is part of your general education and your sole contact with such
material. Biology is in the news every day: medicine, environmentalism, genetic engineering, evolution, wildlife biology, invasive
species, etc. To understand the implications of all this, you need to know the basics of biology. If studying life isn’t germane to
your life, what is?
Evaluation: Your final grade in this course will reflect your performance in three areas. A total of 400 points is assigned to these
three areas:
(1) Lecture exams (240 out of 400 points or 60% of the total). There are four, each consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions
worth one point each. They are machine-scored so you will need to bring sharpened #2 pencils. Though each exam emphasizes
a certain block of lectures and textbook chapters, the nature of the course (i.e., each new topic builds on prior knowledge) means
that each exam is in effect comprehensive. You must master material on one exam to do well on the next! Note that at the end
of each lecture, I will give you a list of questions in the textbook that are germane to the material covered that day; these will serve
as an example of what to expect on exams. If you answer these questions (the answers are in Appendix 3), you will be very glad
you did.
(2) Lab exams (100 out of 400 points or 25% of the total). There are two, each consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions worth
one point each. Like the last, these are machine-scored. If you truly understand why you are performing the lab exercises and if
you comprehend the principles illustrated by each, you will do well on these exams. If you just go through the motions or rely too
heavily on your lab partners, you will be very unhappy at exam time.
(3) Laboratory work (60 out of 400 points or 15% of your grade). I will ask your lab instructor to provide me with a total of 60 pts.
from work you perform under his or her jurisdiction. This may take the form of lab reports, quizzes, work sheets, etc., at his or her
discretion.
In addition, from time to time, unannounced and totally at my discretion, I will offer to all members of the class present on any
given day an opportunity to supplement your grade via bonus points, which will be added to your total score. Only students
actually present that day are eligible for this offer. Since this is optional work above and beyond course requirements, I am
not obligated to offer to those with an excused absence. This is the sole mechanism by which to supplement your class score.
Do not ask if there are any “extra credit” projects that may be performed to compensate for grade deficiencies; under no
circumstances do I permit this. Do the work assigned and your grade will be fine.
Your final letter grade will be based on the total number of points that you earn, according to the following scale. This
grade scale is absolutely rigid; it will not change, irrespective of class performance. Do not expect to be bumped up
a grade if you are “close,” as a cushion is already built into these grade spans, e.g., 239 points is actually only 59.75%
of the total points, not 60%.
0-238
0- 59%
F
311-318
78- 79%
BC
239-270
60- 67%
D
319-350
80- 87%
B
271-278
68- 69%
CD
351-358
88- 89%
AB
279-310
70- 77%
C
359-400
90- 100%
A
Keep track of your performance with the following “score card”:
Lecture Exam I
possible on
this item
60
cumulative
possible
60
Lecture Exam II
60
120
Lab Exam I
50
170
Lecture Exam III
60
230
Lecture Exam IV
60
290
Lab Exam II
50
340
Lab grade *
60
400
Points from:
(Bonus points) **
TOTAL
my score on
this item
my cumulative
400
400+
400
* Check with your lab instructor on how he or she plans to do this. They have been told to report to me at semester’s end your grade
based on 60 points. They might actually have you earn more points and then scale it down to a basis of 60 through division.
** Bonus points are added on to your total but do not increase the cumulative possible.
By dividing your cumulative points by the possible points to date, you will know how you are doing in class at any time.
If you are in a program or co-curricular activity that requires my signature confirming your current grade in the
course, you will have to bring the form to my office, as I do not carry my records to the lecture hall with me.
Contacting me. I want you to feel free to contact me about anything that concerns you about the lecture portion of this
course. Though I list my phone number and office hours above, let me say that my preferred way of dealing with
course business is via e-mail. For many common questions, the best answer I can offer you is found in some file I
have on my computer; obviously, this makes phone or personal queries less efficient for both of us. Similarly, right
after lecture is actually a bad time to see me about course business (other than for clarification of points made during
the lecture). I have no access to my files and records there, and will invariable forget what you have told or asked me
by the time I return to my office across campus. Most likely, I will end up asking you to e-mail me anyway. Some email tips: I get a huge amount of spam, virus attempts, offers for pharmaceuticals, Nigerian money scams, etc. Do not
send me e-mail with no subject line. Most get caught in my spam filter and deleted unread. Similarly, don’t send me
e-mail with a non-informative subject line like “hey” or “hi” or “wassup?” I delete all such things unread as most are
spam or viruses. Put something useful in the subject line, such as “Biol 105 question” or some such. Thank you.
DATE
NO.
08 Sep
01
10 Sep
Week 1
02
13 Sep
15 Sep
16 Sep
Week 2
02
03
04
Lab 1
Chemistry & Life I
Chemistry & Life II
Chemistry & Life III
20 Sep
22 Sep
24 Sep
Week 3
05
06
07
Lab 2
Cells
Energy
Enzymes
27 Sep
29 Sep
01 Oct
Week 4
08
01-08
Membranes
Lab 3
04 Oct
06 Oct
08 Oct
Week 5
09
10
11
Lab 4
Respiration I
Respiration II
Respiration III
11 Oct
13 Oct
15 Oct
Week 6
12
13
14
Lab 5
Photosynthesis I
Photosynthesis II
Photosynthesis III
18 Oct
20 Oct
22 Oct
Week 7
09-14
25 Oct
27 Oct
29 Oct
Week 8
TOPIC
READING
How to Be a College Student
1.1 – 1.10
Introduction
 no lab this week 
2.1 – 2.18
3.1 – 3.10
3.11 – 3.17
The Scientific Method
4.1 – 4.23
5.10 – 5.13
5.14 – 5.16
Manipulating Metabolism
Synthesis & Recapitulation
Lecture Exam I
Molecules
5.1 – 5.9
Ch. 1-5
6.1 – 6.5
6.6 – 6.14
6.15 – 6.16
Proteins and Enzymes
7.1 – 7.5
7.6 – 7.9
7.10 – 7.12
Osmosis
Synthesis & Recapitulation
Lecture Exam II
15
Lab 6
Cell Division I
16
17
18
Lab 7
Lab 8.1
Cell Division II
Genetics I
Genetics II
Ch. 6-7
8.1 – 8.11
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Mendelian Genetics
8.12 – 8.24
9.1 – 9.10
9.11 – 9.19
01 Nov
03 Nov
05 Nov
Week 9
19
Genetics III
Lab Exam I
20
Lab 8.2
Lab 9.1
Molecular Genetics I
08 Nov
10 Nov
12 Nov
Week 10
21
22
23
Lab 8.3
Lab 9.2
Molecular Genetics II
Molecular Genetics III
Gene Regulation
15 Nov
17 Nov
19 Nov
Week 11
15-23
24
Lab 8.4
Lab 9.3
Mendelian Genetics
Genetic Engineering
10.6 – 10.16
10.17 – 10.23
11.1 – 11.13
Mendelian Genetics
Genetic Engineering
Synthesis & Recapitulation
Lecture Exam III
Biotechnology
Ch. 8-11
12.1 – 12.21
Mendelian Genetics (cont.)
Genetic Engineering (cont.)
22 Nov
Week 12
25
29 Nov
01 Dec
03 Dec
Week 13
26
27
28
Lab 8.5
Lab 9.4
Evolution II
Evolution III
Evolution IV
06 Dec
08 Dec
10 Dec
Week 14
29
30
24-30
Lab 10
Evolution V
Evolution VI
13 Dec
15 Dec
17 Dec
Week 15
9.20 – 9.23
Labs 1-6
10.1 – 10.5
Evolution I
13.1 – 13.6
 no lab this week 
13.7 – 13.10
13.11 – 13.17
14.1 – 14.11
Mendelian Genetics (cont.)
Genetic Engineering (cont.)
Synthesis & Recapitulation
Evolution and Speciation
Lecture Exam IV
Lab Exam II
Omnibus Make-up Exam
 no lab this week 
15.1 – 15.19
16.1 – 16.10
Ch. 12-16
Labs 7-11
Need more help? The Reading Study Center in 201 Nursing Education (424-1031) is an all-university
service whose mission is to facilitate development of efficient college-level learning strategies in students of all abilities.
Strategies for improved textbook study, time management, note taking, and test taking are taught through both credit
courses and non-credit services. For more information, visit: www.uwosh.edu/programs/readingstudycenter.
Students with disabilities Students with disabilities are welcome in this course. Please contact your lab
instructor and me in the first week of class so that we may arrange all possible accommodation regarding classroom
attendance, testing, etc.
Formal Statement of Course Management Policies
On this page, I spell out what I expect of you as a course participant. These policies are
predicated on the assumption that you are an adult now and that you intend to comport yourself
as such. Once you have read this page and fully understand all its implications, make a copy of
it, sign and date the copy, and give it to me. Doing so is a requirement for the satisfactory
completion of the course and earns you 5 bonus points.
You will attend every lecture meeting. Because it is a large lecture, you will be tempted on occasion
to skip class. You will think your absence will not be noticed; you will think that because I don’t take
attendance, it won’t affect your grade. Wrong! It is extremely difficult for you to earn a good grade if you
are not here for each and every meeting. No matter how boring I am, no matter how little you think you
get out of lecture, you will get far less out of not attending. The assigned lecture period is your only
opportunity to get essential information. If you must miss class for a grievous illness, funeral, jury duty,
etc., it is your responsibility to get notes from a fellow student and to consult with me via e-mail or during
office hours to clarify anything you don’t understand.
You will be present for every scheduled exam. No one should even think about missing an exam
for any but the most extreme emergencies (e.g., grievous illness or injury, death of a loved one). If such
an emergency should arise, if you notify me of your intended absence before the start of the exam or
immediately thereafter, and if your excuse is documented (hospital paperwork, obituary, etc.), then and
only then will you be allowed to take the comprehensive make-up exam scheduled for the last Friday
afternoon before Christmas vacation. This is the only opportunity to make up a missed exam, and
will only be allowed if the above conditions are met. If you miss an exam and these conditions are
not met, you will receive a zero for that exam. The sole exception is that which I am required to
provide to athletes and others engaged in official university activities. Such students should identify
themselves to me immediately, and provide me with official documentation from the pertinent faculty
sponsor or coach, in order to make other arrangements.
You will evince high standards of personal integrity in all that you do. Cheating is defined as
any attempt, successful or otherwise, to pass off the work of another as your own. On an exam, it
explicitly includes any attempt to obtain information from anywhere other than your own mind. Speaking
during an exam is forbidden, as is looking about the room. Cheating is no joke. It is morally
indistinguishable from robbing a liquor store or embezzling company funds. It reflects shamefully on the
cheater, his/her family, and his/her high school. No grade is worth a black mark on your self-respect. Not
everyone can be an outstanding student, but everyone can maintain a high standard of dignity and
personal honor. I hereby serve legal notice that anyone determined to be in violation of this standard will
be prosecuted to the full extent permitted under the provisions of Chapter UWS14 of the Wisconsin
Administrative Code, and that I will in all cases seek the maximum penalty allowed, i.e., expulsion from
the university.
By my signature here affixed, I affirm that I have read the above policies,
understand them thoroughly, retained a copy, and agree to abide by them.
__________________________________________________________________
Print Name
Signature
Date