Biology 211
Summer 2011
M – Th 10:50 AM – 1:00PM
North Seattle Community College
Course Description
Welcome to Biology 211. This 5-credit course is the initial course in the majors biology series.
This quarter of the series will emphasize cellular biology including cell structure, organization, metabolism,
energetics and genetics. Prereq: one quarter college chemistry with 2.0 or better.
General Information and Materials
Instructor:
Valerie A. Mosser
Telephone/Voicemail
206 – 934 - 5665
E-mail:
VMosser@sccd.ctc.edu or vamosser@yahoo.com
Office Location
IB 2423C #14
Office Hours
M,W 10 – 10:45 or by appt
The text for the course is Biology Eight Edition by Campbell and Reece. We will cover material in the first 20
chapters.
Laboratory Information and Materials
Laboratory participation is required for the completion of this course. You will need to purchase safety goggles and
latex/nitrile gloves from the bookstore. These will not be needed until Lab 3 so you have some time.
All labs are available online for you to download as a Word or PDF document from my website.
http://facweb.northseattle.edu/vmosser/
Please make sure you download and print out a hard copy of the lab and the prelab worksheet to bring to the lab prep
discussion the day before each lab session.
Prelab worksheet and questions – each lab will have an associated prelab worksheet and questions that will be filled
out during the first 10 minutes of the lab. If you are present during the lab prep session and have prepared for the lab
there will be no problem completing these worksheets. The prelab worksheets and questions will be open book.
If you are not present for the prelab discussion you will not be able to perform the laboratory that week. Some of the
labs have safety concerns and some use specialized or expensive equipment. I drop the lowest lab score so that
should take care of any unforeseen absences. There are only seven labs in the term.
Lab Notebook: You are required for this course to write up all you labs in a lab notebook. See the Lab Notebook
Guidelines at the end of this syllabus.
Lab Notebooks will be due four times through the quarter and graded. In addition, lab notebooks can be handed in
for evaluation at any time. Handing in a notebook for evaluation will not result in a grade being assigned.
Evaluation and Grading
Learning Activity
Exams (best 3)
Quizzes (best 3)
Lab (Prelab Worksheets best 6)
Lab (Notebook best 6)
Poster
Points
450
150
150
150
100
Exams and quizzes will be multiple choice, true/false, circle correct answer, matching, short answer and fill in blank.
Quizzes will be strikingly similar to Concept Check and Self Quiz Material in your text. Quizzes are designed to
encourage you to keep up with the material and use the excellent study aids in the text. The questions may not be
exactly the same so don’t just copy down and memorize the answers. You need to understand them. The best way
to use this material is to answer the questions as you read through the chapter. Write down your answers and use
them to study for quizzes and exams. Bring your questions on this material to class!!! Exams and quizzes will be
closed book.
The Poster is explained on a separate sheet.
Course Rationale and Objectives
In order to be an informed citizen in a modern society, a basic understanding of Biology is essential. By the end of
this introductory course you should have an understanding of some of the principles which form the basis of modern
molecular and cellular biology. You should also be familiar with the manner in which scientists (and biologists in
particular) investigate the natural world, and have an appreciation of the relevance of biology in your everyday lives.
Final Grades
Based on the points that students achieve grades will be earned as follows:
Points
950
940
930
920
910
900
890
880
870
860
Grade
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
Points
850
840
830
820
810
800
790
780
770
760
Grade
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
Points
750
740
730
720
710
700
690
680
670
660
Grade
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
Points
650
640
630
620
610
600
<600
Grade
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.0
Schedule
Be sure to review the Course Schedule if you haven’t done so already. The schedule may be modified as needed as
the course progresses.
Classroom Policies
The following policies are in effect for this class:
Attendance. Participation in the class is an important part of your success in this course, and you are strongly
encouraged to attend at all times.
Safety. Because of the nature of the laboratory portion of this course safety is a concern of utmost importance. You
will be expected to observe the following practices:
 Notify the instructor immediately when a spill or injury occurs.
 Immediately discuss with the instructor any situation which you feel may be dangerous or cause you
discomfort.
 Use proper, safe techniques regarding personal safety.
 Use equipment for its intended purpose only, as directed by the instructor.
 Special Note: A student who is not present for the pre–lab discussions of an experiment will not be
permitted to remain in the laboratory while the rest of the class is conducting that experiment.
Late Policy. Students are expected to turn in lab notebooks at the start of class on the announced due date. All late
work will be assessed a ten percent (10%) loss of credit per day past the due date. Neither quizzes, unit tests nor the
final exam may be taken late under any circumstances. I drop the lowest quiz and exam for all classes so any missed
exam would be dropped.
Student Conduct. Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner just as they would outside
the academic environment. While enthusiastic participation is encouraged, the class will remain an academic
environment in which learning can take place. Inappropriate conduct will be addressed verbally as a first warning.
The second offense will be addressed in writing to the student and the Dean. The third offense may result in
permanent removal from class. (WAC 132J–125–210)
Academic Honesty. Students are expected to produce original work. Another person’s ideas, data, graphics, or text
may be used with permission of the creator of the work if the original source is given credit. Any unauthorized use of
another person’s intellectual work, or failure to give full attribution, constitutes academic dishonesty. Examples
include copying on exams, copying assignments, falsification of data or calculations, etc. Academic dishonesty will
not be tolerated and can result in failure of this course and a letter sent to the Dean. (WAC 132J–125–200)
Antidiscrimination. Discriminatory/derogatory language or actions regarding race, gender, ethnic/cultural
background, sexual orientation, and physical/mental abilities will not be tolerated
Special Needs/ American With Disabilities Act:
If you have already documented a disability or other condition which would qualify you for special accommodations,
or if you have emergency medical information or special needs I should know about, please notify me during the first
week of class. You can reach me at the phone number or e–mail address above, or you can schedule an office
appointment to meet me in the office listed above, either during my posted office hours or at another mutually
determined time. If this location is not convenient for you we will schedule an alternative place for the meeting. If
you use an alternative medium for communicating let me know in advance of the meeting (at least one week) so that
appropriate accommodations can be arranged.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Seattle Community College District is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its
students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on
the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, veteran status, political affiliation or belief,
citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any
physical, sensory or mental disability, except where a disability may impede performance at an acceptable level. In
addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise
qualified persons with disabilities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to
the college’s Title IX/RCW 28A.640 officer and/or Section 504/ADA coordinator.
Title IX/Chapter 28A.640 RCW Officer
Central & SVI
Kathryn Woodley
North
David Bittenbender
South
Kathy Vedvick
(206) 587-4125
(206) 526-7792
(206) 768-6415
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Central & SVI
Al Souma
Pam Aden
North
Rebecca Cory
South
Roxanne Tillman
(206) 587-4169
(206) 587-3855
(206) 526-7808
(206) 763-5137
Among resources available to students, faculty and staff is a Campus Alerts system that is used to send messages to
cell phones and personal email addresses in case of a campus emergency or unplanned closure. To register for the
system, go to https://alert.seattlecolleges.edu.
Tips for Success
Lecture/Text
1. Read the material to be covered in lecture before coming to class. The purpose of lecture is to supplement the
learning you do while reading the text. The lecture is not designed, nor is it intended to take the place of reading the
text.
2. Take notes from the text while reading – summarize material – write questions.
3. Work the problems at the end of the chapter when preparing for an exam. If you have any questions, bring them
to class during the exam review session.
Lab
1. Come to the lab prepared. It is not enough to have read through the lab.
2. For each lab we will spend time in class preparing an outline and answering any procedural questions, but most of
the preparatory work for the lab will take place outside of class.
Guidelines for Your Laboratory Notebook
Biology 211, 212 & 213
North Seattle Community College
Of all the costly items, which constitute a research lab, it is perhaps surprising that the most valuable is your research
notebook. If properly kept, it is a complete record of scientific activities in which you, no doubt, have invested
thousands (yes, thousands) of hours. The sound of a fire alarm has caused more than a few graduate students to grab
their research notebooks before fleeing a burning building. When it is time to carefully describe your scientific
activities in a report, you will rapidly discover that these notebooks are indispensable. The human mind simply
cannot remember every minute detail of so many experiments and observations. Additionally, it is not uncommon to
attempt to reinterpret experimental results years after the original observations were made. Without careful records,
we are all doomed to be constantly repeating our own work. This handout is designed to aid you in establishing an
efficient method of recording your experiments and their results.
Notebook logistics
1. You should use a notebook with bound pages. Our bookstore carries several types, along with some more
expensive versions with copy paper. (You do not need a notebook with carbon copies for this course!) You cannot
use spiral bound notebooks because the pages tend to rip loose.
2. Use non-water soluble ink ONLY. NO PENCIL!
3. Handwriting must be legible! If you make a mistake, cross it out ONCE. Do not use white out, or cover it with
black ink.
4. Use your notebook during lab. Do not write things elsewhere and then copy them into your notebook later. This
is very bad lab practice, and you tend to forget things. It’s OK if your lab notebook is sort of messy…That means
that you have been using it correctly. All experiments, regardless of whether they “worked” or not must be recorded.
Often the details of failures are the most informative.
5. Each bound notebook must have a Table of Contents at the beginning of the book, which should be kept up to date
throughout the quarter.
6. Page numbers. If you have a composition book you will need to write in the page numbers manually.
7. Date. Each new lab day should have a date at the top of the page.
For each lab your notebook should contain:
1. Title of the experiment.
2. Date.
3. Your name and your partner’s name.
4. Purpose/Objective. This should be a sentence or two explaining what you are trying to find and the technique that
you are using.
5. Materials and methods. Your notebook should contain detailed records of your procedures and methods. For this
course, you may cut out directions from your lab handouts and tape them into your book if you prefer.
Please note, however, that you’ll then need to make careful notes of any changes to these printed directions.
6. Data/Observations
a. Prepare your notebook data tables in advance. That way all you have to do is fill them in during lab.
b. Write down all qualitative observations as well as data.
7. Calculations. Do any calculations in your lab notebook.
8. Computer generated data tables, graphs, charts, etc.. should be carefully and neatly taped into your notebook
Your instructor will collect your notebook during the quarter for grading, and may occasionally check it
off as you finish your lab period. Keep it up to date!