WOLFSON CAMPUS
BSC 2010
FALL 2006-1
PRINCIPLES OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY I
This course surveys major concepts and mechanism in biological chemistry, cell organization,
cellular energy transformations, and molecular genetics and evolution. It is designed for biology
majors and students enrolled in pre-professional programs that require a rigorous and quantitative
Biology course that will provide an adequate foundation for more advance courses in Biology
and related sciences. Prior completion or concurrent enrollment in college Chemistry is required.
In addition, students should be familiar with the basic mathematical concepts required for the
quantitative study of Cellular and Molecular Biology (including fractions, percentages, rational
exponents, scientific notation, radicals, linear and fractional equations, logarithms, and
coordinate systems and graphing).
Note that course content is rigorous and requires a solid background in mathematics (through
intermediate algebra), regular class attendance, and a minimum of 14 hours per week of study
time outside regularly scheduled meeting sessions plus a strong commitment to succeed. This
course does not intent to remedy the deficiencies that students acquired in pre-requisite
coursework. Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to review such material and be prepared
for the fast-paced nature of this course.
PROFESSOR: Dr. Edwin Ginés-Candelaria
Sequence No: 357371 or 357372; Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9:50 – 11:05 A.M.; Room 2207
Office Hours: Students may contact me during my office hours (listed below), by e-mail or fax
(also listed below), or by appointment.
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
10:00 A.M.– 1:00 P.M. 12:40 – 2:00 P.M. 9:50 A.M.– 10:00 A.M.
3:00 – 5:00 P.M.
Office: 1605 or 1540
Office Phone: (305) 237-3396
Fax number: (305) 237-7835
E-mail: egines@mdc.edu
Pre/Co-requisite Course: Principles of Biology Laboratory-BSC 2010L. All co-requisite
courses are indicated in the "Wolfson Campus Schedule of Classes" with a "#" symbol. Students
are responsible for material covered in the Laboratory, which emphasizes the practical portion of
this course. Lecture and discussion sessions will emphasize the theoretical aspects of this course,
with the assumption that students are undergoing relevant technical training during lab sessions.
Chemistry CHM 1045 and CHM 1045L or equivalent courses taken at another academic
institution of higher education.
Texts:
Campbell, N. A., and J.B. Reece. Seventh Edition. 2005. Biology. The
Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. San Francisco, California.
You might want to bring the textbook to class because the professor will constantly refer to it
during lectures. The textbook is an essential component of your instruction in Biology. It is very
difficult to succeed in this course without it. Therefore, no one will be admitted to class after the
second week of classes without the required textbook for this class. Students will also be
responsible to enroll in Course Compass; an online course management system from which
students will be able to download course materials and classroom presentations, and also will be
able to assess themselves online.
Lectures: The lecture schedule indicates the chapter reading assignments in the text for each
lecture period. The student is expected to read the assigned material before the schedule date,
and should be prepared to discuss assigned material in class. Students should be aware that due
to the overwhelming amount of concepts to be learned; the professor will not lecture over all
topics covered in each chapter and it is the responsibility of each student to learn material that is
not even covered during lecture time. Presentation of lecture material will include traditional
methods as well as more contemporary media technological applications and animations of
different processes in Biology.
Attendance: Attendance to all learning activities is mandatory. You are responsible for all
deadlines, directions, discussions, materials, activities, assignments, or announcements covered
in class, regardless of your reason for being late to class or absent. Attendance will be checked
for every lecture session. The professor reserves the right to deny entry, require withdrawal or
fail students who are constantly late or have had four undocumented absences during the
semester. If the student has an undocumented absence after the withdrawal deadline, the
professor will assign a failing (F) grade regardless of the student's performance in the course at
the time. This will be enforced according to the rules and procedures established in the current
Miami-Dade community College catalog and the Student Handbook. Your performance in the
course depends on your attendance, so please make every effort to attend all classes as scheduled.
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Students missing lecture are not participating and therefore, not learning. Therefore, make every
effort to attend and participate in class because your performance in this course will be severely
affected otherwise.
Lecture Exams and Quizzes (400 points): Each exam is worth 100 points. Quizzes are worth
25 points each. All exams and quizzes will be administered during regular scheduled class
periods. Quizzes will be administered approximately every two-three weeks. At the end of the
semester, only your 4 best quizzes (out of 5 quizzes taken) and your best 3 exams (out of 4 taken)
will be counted towards your final grade. Quizzes will be administered during the first 10
minutes of the scheduled class period. Therefore, if you arrive late to class, you will not be
allowed to make up the quiz for that particular date. This grading system gives students the
opportunity to use the Final Exam as an optional exam, providing that they have excelled on the
other 3 exams and/or quiz assessments. However, any undocumented absences after the third
exam will automatically make the final exam count for students who disregard this course after
the third exam. No exceptions! Therefore, make sure that you complete the course even though
you have a satisfactory performance in it.
Please note: THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS OR QUIZZES. Therefore, attendance
to each exam or quiz (on time) is absolutely mandatory. Furthermore, if you leave the classroom
early or immediately after the quiz, the professor will consider you absent for that class period
and your quiz will be graded as 0. Extenuating situations that prevent students from attending a
particular exam will be dealt on an individual basis. Make sure you contact your professor
immediately in such circumstances.
The exams and quizzes consist of multiple choice and short answer questions and will cover
material discussed in lectures and textbook reading assignments. Questions that involve
applications of learned material, logical reasoning, and critical thinking will also be included in
lecture exams and quizzes. Any extra credit points will be earned through additional exam
questions added to each unit exam, quiz, or in other written assignments. The professor will
keep all exams, and assignments. Students are welcome to review his/her assignments/exams or
quizzes, however, the students will keep only the grade card, not the actual exam or assignment. .
For exams and quizzes, students will be evaluated only based on the responses they write on the
scantron sheet. Therefore, make sure you are very careful when transferring responses from the
exam sheet to the scantron sheet. Actual copies of each student’s exam will be kept for three
days, after which the professor will destroy the original copy of the student’s exam along with
any written marks placed on it.
Notice that receiving an exam or quiz and looking at it constitutes taking that exam/quiz. The
Last exam will be administered during the final examination week as scheduled. If you wish to
use a calculator (when necessary) for any exam/quiz, you must bring your own. You will not be
allowed to share calculators with your neighbor nor you will be allowed to use cell phones or cell
phone calculators during the quiz/exam. In addition, you might also want to bring a #2 pencil
and eraser for the exams and quizzes since the professor will not provide these materials.
Weekly Assignments: It is understood that working all questions/problems at the end of each
chapter or study guide will be excellent preparation for exams and quizzes. The professor
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encourages this active learning behavior and considers these as weekly assignments. Some of
these questions might be included in exams or quizzes.
Grading: The scores obtained in exams, quizzes and homework assignments will evaluate each
student’s performance. The final Grade for each student will be determined by the average of all
scores obtained in these learning activities. Grades will be assigned according to the following
scale:
A = 90-100,
B = 80-89,
C = 70-79,
D = 60-69,
F = 59 or below
However, the performance of the class will be monitored during the semester and a curve may be
applied to calculate the final grades if applicable and only at the discretion of the professor.
Incomplete Grades: Incomplete (I) grades will be given in consultation with the student and
upon agreement with the instructor only when extenuating circumstances have prevented the
student from completing the course. In order to be considered for an "I" grade, a student must
have successfully completed a minimum of one-half the work in the course with a minimum
grade of C or better. Note the Incomplete (I) grades must be completed at the time agreed upon
between the professor and the student. If not completed by the agreed time, the incomplete (I)
grade becomes an F.
Withdrawals: The professor is not required to withdraw/drop students from the course. It is the
student's responsibility to determine his/her status in the course at all times, and makes that
decision, if necessary. The last day to drop this course with a "W" is October 31, 2006.
Submission of assignments via email: Students will be allowed to submit assigned work via
email. Three requirements must be met for acceptance of such work. First, the student must
obtain a valid email account address and submit this to the professor in charge. Second, the
student must observe deadlines suggested for submission of such work. The assignment must be
written in Microsoft word version 5.1, 98, or 2000 for acceptance. Students who do not adhere
to these simple requirements will lose points from written assignments at the discretion of the
professor. Late written assignments submitted this way, will not be accepted. No exceptions!
Optional Service Learning Activity (Extra Credit): The purpose of this project is to give you,
the opportunity to learn course objectives while performing volunteer service within the local
community. You may select a service-learning organization or agency of your particular interest
as long as the services provided by the agency are congruent with the objectives of this course.
Get the Professor's approval in advance for locations where you will provide this service at the
MDCC Center for Community Involvement and Civic Literacy headed by Ms. Tamica Ramos
(Office 3410). Students may complete 10-20 hours of service learning to be eligible to earn a
maximum of 20 extra credit points. You may work these 20 hours well ahead of time before
submitting a 3-page narrative reflection/review paper about the experience that will link your
service learning experience to the course content. You must include a letter from your on-site
supervisor on their company letterhead paper documenting the completion of 10-20 hours of
community service learning. Your instructor will provide you with guidelines for this narrative.
The extra credit points obtained will be added to the total number of points accumulated by the
student during the semester. The deadline for submitting these materials is November 2, 2006.
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT
Professional Students are responsible for taking charge of their own education by being prepared
before every laboratory and conduct themselves appropriately during all learning activities. The
professor will not tolerate class disruptions that prevent other students to benefit from the
learning process. These include unwarranted noises, talking among students while the professor
explains important concepts or answers questions posed by another student, unacceptable
gestures, leaving class early and the operation of electronic artifacts (beepers and cellular phones)
during regular classroom periods. The professor reserves the right to expel disrupting students
from the classroom at any time, ask students to surrender their electronic devices and request
disciplinary action from the Dean for Academic Affairs and even assign a failing grade to those
who display such anti-pedagogic behavior.
STUDY TIPS AND GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS
MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SUCCEED:
Decide to do well in the course. Spend the time. This course requires at least a minimum
of 14 hours of study per week outside of class. Be responsible for your own learning.
Expect to learn more than what is covered in class or textbook.
GET HELP RIGHT AWAY:
Do not wait for someone to ask if you need help. Talk with your professor, lab assistants,
and your study group. The professor encourages frequent visits during office hours to
clarify material covered in class. If you cannot make it to the professor's office hours,
please make an appointment. Your success in this course depends on how well you
understand the concepts covered during the semester. Use the Study partner CD-ROM, and
the Study Guide that accompanies the textbook, and the computer courtyard. Review your
notes after each class.
WORK WITH A STUDY GROUP:
Meet regularly. Be sure everyone contributes and understands.
TIE IDEAS AND CONCEPTS TOGETHER:
Connect the material to what you already know. Look for the big picture, not just isolated
details. Be able to apply information in a new situation.
LEARN THE VOCABULARY:
Look up any words you do not know. Make and use flash cards, carry them everywhere.
Say the terms out loud. Use the new terms in sentences. Therefore, make every effort to
learn the vocabulary and use the dictionary appropriately.
PREPARE FOR LECTURE BEFORE CLASS:
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Read the text assignments. Read effectively. Use the study aids in the book. Answer the
questions at the end of the chapter. Highlight sparingly. Write down questions to ask
during the next lecture period. Make every effort to know the material before class begins.
UTILIZE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU
Additional help in form of sample exams and quizzes, lecture notes and other didactic
materials are available through the many links that could be accessed through the World
Wide Web for this class. Please, feel free to use the available the equipment at the
Computer Courtyards (Rooms 2201 and 2301) and the Science Resource Center (room
2221) for this purpose.
PREPARE FOR LABS BEFORE CLASS:
Read and highlight the handouts. Tie it to the lecture material. Write down questions to
ask. Make notes of what to look for.
COME TO CLASS:
Attend every class. Remember that attendance is mandatory. Be on time. Bring your
textbook and handouts. Be attentive and take notes.
STUDY EVERY DAY:
Follow a study schedule. Find times and places that allow you to concentrate. Review and
rewrite your notes after class. Outline the material. Draw concept maps and/or use
diagrams.
ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION:
Make outlines to summarize, organize, and relate key ideas. Know where your notes,
handouts, etc are.
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TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE*
Week Lecture
Date__
1
1
Aug. 24
2
2
29
3
31
3
4
Sept. 5
4
5
6
7
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Oct.
12
8
9
10
13
14
15
16
17
12
Nov.
Text Chapter__
1, handouts
"
22-26
"
7 Chemical Bonds
12 Chemical Bonds
2
"
14
19
21
26
Water and Functional Groups
Organic Molecules, Macromolecules
Organic Molecules, Macromolecules
3, 4
4, 5
4, 5
QUIZ II
Macromolecules; The Origin of Life
5, 26
28 EXAM I
Cell Structure and Function: Organelles
3 Cell Structure and Function: Organelles
26 EXAM II
DNA Structure and Replication, Enzymes
31 DNA Structure and Replication, Enzymes
20
21
22
QUIZ I
Evolutionary Mechanisms/Speciation
5 Organelles; Plasma Membrane Structure and
Function: Transport
10 Cell Communication: Receptors
12 QUIZ III
Introduction to Metabolism, Energy,
Reaction, Enzyme Activity, ATP
17 Cellular Respiration
19 Cellular Respiration
24 Photosynthesis
18
11
Topic________________
Introduction/Unity and Diversity of Life
The Scientific Method
Evolution/Evidence for Evolution
QUIZ IV
Last Day to Drop
2 RNA and Protein Synthesis
7 Cell Reproduction, Mitosis, Meiosis
7
6
6
7
11
8
9
9
10
16
“
17
12, 13
Week Lecture
Date__
Topic________________
12
23
Nov.
9 QUIZ V
Basic Genetics: Mendel
13
24
14 Non Mendelian Genetics
25
16 Microbial Genetics
14
26
21 Microbial Genetics: Mechanisms of Gene
Transfer in Bacteria; Viruses
23 Thanksgiving Day Holiday (no class)
15
Text Chapter__
14
15
18
"
27
28 EXAM III
"
Prokaryotic Gene Expression, Regulation
28
30 Regulation of Gene Expression: Eukaryotes
19
16
29
5 Recombinant DNA Technology
20
30
7 Recombinant DNA Technology
“
17**
12 FINAL EXAM (TR; 9:50 – 11:05 A.M.)
*Exact lecture topics are subject to change. In fact, all parts of this document (including
policies and procedures) are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
Final Grades available online by Mon., Dec. 18th, 11:00 P.M.
**The professor reserves the right to use week no. 17 to meet with the class and complete
discussion of concepts that were not covered during the 16th week period and review for
the final exam, if necessary.
RECORDING YOUR GRADES
Please, use the Table below to record your performance in each of the evaluations
administered during this semester. This will help you keep track of your performance at all
times.
STUDENT GRADE SHEET
Unit
Exams (Max.)
I
(100)
II
(100)
III
(100)
FINAL
(100)
QUIZZES
(100)
TOTAL/GRADE
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WOLFSON CAMPUS
BSC 2010H
Dr. Edwin Ginés-Candelaria
HONOR’S CONTRACT
FALL 2006-1
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I-HONORS
The biology, life cycle and genetics of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for genetic
analysis will be studied in this investigation.
Reading Assignment: Chs. 16, 17, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
Text: Campbell, N. A., and J. B. Reece. Seventh Edition. 2005. Biology. The
Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. San Francisco, California.
Scientific Project: The project assigned to a student group will be the construction of a double
mutant pure culture in Drosophila melanogaster. Students will have at their disposition the full
collection of single of Drosophila mutants and will design genetic crosses to achieve a pure
culture of this organism containing the mutations selected by the student group.
The Scientific Paper Proposal (25 points): Each student or group of students will submit a
well-thought and logically designed scheme of the intended scientific project. The proposal must
include the title of the project, and the scientific hypotheses and predictions made for the
proposed investigation. The student group will present the proposal to the professor in an oral
examination that will be schedule in agreement between the group members and the professor.
All group members must be present for this oral examination in order to receive credit for it. The
professor reserves the right to accept or reject any particular proposed project. Students with
rejected proposals will have to submit a separate proposal that will conform to guidelines or
suggestions given by the professor (Due September 14, 2006).
Literature Reviews and Scientific Literature (25 points): Each student or group of students
will be required to submit copies of all papers, journal articles, book chapters, periodicals, printouts from web sites, etc., used as references during the scientific investigation. These should be
appropriately cited in the scientific paper and collated in form of a student portfolio. Any other
reference obtained from this point until the submission of the scientific paper will be also
attached at the time of submission of the scientific paper (Due October 12, 2006).
The Scientific Paper and Seminar (100 points): Each student or group of students will be
required to write a paper based on a major research project performed during the semester. The
format of this paper will follow guidelines specified in a separate handout, should be wordprocessed and will be expected to observe scientific writing style. The results of your
investigation will be presented in a short seminar scheduled during the last weeks of the
semester. Use of audio-visual materials, media technology, and student interactive activities, as
9
well as the background material covered will pay great dividends for this learning experience
(Paper due November 9, 2006; Seminars to be schedule before the end of the semester).
By signing below, I will abide by these rules and required deadlines. I understand that inability
to complete the required deadlines will have profound consequences on the final grade I obtained
for this course.
Student name (print)_________________________________
Date: ____________________
Student Signature _______________________________ Professor _______________________
10
WOLFSON CAMPUS
BSC 2010H
Dr. Edwin Ginés-Candelaria
HONOR’S CONTRACT
FALL 2006-1
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I-HONORS
The biology, life cycle and genetics of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for genetic
analysis will be studied in this investigation.
Reading Assignment: Chs. 16, 17, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
Text: Campbell, N. A., and J. B. Reece. Seventh Edition. 2005. Biology. The
Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. San Francisco, California.
Scientific Project: The project assigned to a student group will be the construction of a double
mutant pure culture in Drosophila melanogaster. Students will have at their disposition the full
collection of single of Drosophila mutants and will design genetic crosses to achieve a pure
culture of this organism containing the mutations selected by the student group.
The Scientific Paper Proposal (25 points): Each student or group of students will submit a
well-thought and logically designed scheme of the intended scientific project. The proposal must
include the title of the project, and the scientific hypotheses and predictions made for the
proposed investigation. The student group will present the proposal to the professor in an oral
examination that will be schedule in agreement between the group members and the professor.
All group members must be present for this oral examination in order to receive credit for it. The
professor reserves the right to accept or reject any particular proposed project. Students with
rejected proposals will have to submit a separate proposal that will conform to guidelines or
suggestions given by the professor (Due September 14, 2006).
Literature Reviews and Scientific Literature (25 points): Each student or group of students
will be required to submit copies of all papers, journal articles, book chapters, periodicals, printouts from web sites, etc., used as references during the scientific investigation. These should be
appropriately cited in the scientific paper and collated in form of a student portfolio. Any other
reference obtained from this point until the submission of the scientific paper will be also
attached at the time of submission of the scientific paper (Due October 12, 2006).
The Scientific Paper and Seminar (100 points): Each student or group of students will be
required to write a paper based on a major research project performed during the semester. The
format of this paper will follow guidelines specified in a separate handout, should be wordprocessed and will be expected to observe scientific writing style. The results of your
investigation will be presented in a short seminar scheduled during the last weeks of the
semester. Use of audio-visual materials, media technology, and student interactive activities, as
11
well as the background material covered will pay great dividends for this learning experience
(Paper due November 9, 2006; Seminars to be schedule before the end of the semester).
By signing below, I will abide by these rules and required deadlines. I understand that inability
to complete the required deadlines will have profound consequences on the final grade I obtained
for this course.
Student name (print)_________________________________
Date: ____________________
Student Signature _______________________________ Professor _______________________
12