BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring 2013
Professor Tara Scully
Lisner Hall Rm 351: Office Hours Tuesday 1-2pm
202-994-7195; tscully@gwu.edu
Course Description:
This course delves into the evolution of life. The class will explore the evidence and mechanisms
of evolution. The course will use the structures of the human body as the main area of
concentration to explain evolution by comparing these structures to their counterparts in other
organisms. These concepts will be paired with the understanding of how genetics and the
environment influence the formation of new groups of organisms. Next, the context of human
life and its relationship and impact on other populations of organisms will be examined. Lastly,
the course examines the impact of the human population on other populations of organisms and
the biosphere.
Course Objectives:
The primary objectives of this course are to provide students with (1) an understanding of the
major physiological systems of the human body, (2) the underlying principles of life and the
evolution of life, (3) how the environment shapes life, (4) the human impact on the ecological
systems and (5) the value of the diversity of life.
Grading and Policies
Exams
Exam 1 (in lecture): 12 laboratory questions and 28 lecture questions = 100 points
Exam 2 (in lab): lab practical including 24 laboratory questions and 32 lecture questions = 140
points
Exam 3 (date of the final exam for lecture): 12 laboratory questions and 28 lecture questions = 100
points
 Both exams 1 and 3 are multiple choice questions. Exam 2 is a combined multiple choice exam
and laboratory practical based mainly on the fetal pig dissection.
 No makeups are given unless there is contact prior to the exam unless prohibited by the
situation. In the case of a makeup, a note confirming the situation such as a doctor’s note is
required.
Additional points for lecture
In-class questions = 45 pts (15 pts/exam)
Connections=
25 pts
 Clicker questions will be given during lecture to assess in-class points. You must answer all
questions during the lecture period to get credit for attending. You must attend 50% of lectures
to receive full attendance credit, only 2 points per lecture will be given otherwise.
 The connections assignment is a short one page assignment (there will be a template on
Blackboard for this assignment) to understand the purpose of learning the topics of this
semester. In this assignment you will describe 1. How one topic relates to your life, 2. One
problem humans have with that topic and 3. One potential way to solve that topic. This
assignment is posted on Blackboard and will be submitted in Blackboard.
Revised:
2/8/2016 6:22 PM
BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring 2013
Additional points for laboratory
Laboratory evaluation (9) =
10 pts/lab with the lowest lab evaluation dropped
Blackboard pre-quiz =
5 pts /lab
o Each pre-quiz covers any information within the chapter introduction or within the
lab activities assigned that week. The quizzes are posted 24 hours prior to the start of
your lab period and close at the start of your lab period. No excuses will be accepted
for not completing these quizzes. Please do not rely on wireless connections because
if they fail then it will stop the quiz and an error will occur. If there is an error with
the prequiz then a student may have one quiz/semester reset due to a connection
problem but you must email your instructor prior to lab in order to have this done.
In Class Evaluation =
5pts/lab
o The in-class evaluation will include on-time attendance of lab, attending the correct
lab section, possession of the lab manual for that day’s activities, participation during
lab activities, and completion of the manual questions for each assigned activity.
Grading of lab activity questions includes grammar, spelling, the accuracy of answers
and the use of one’s own wording. DO NOT copy answers from another student. If
answers are exactly the same for these questions, both students will receive a zero for
that assignment and be turned into the Academic Integrity Council.
Attendance policy, makeup labs, and grading
You are required to attend lab. No makeup is allowed unless a student has a documented excused
absence, this includes a doctor’s note, a death notice or some other written confirmation of
absence. In this case, you can only make up a lab during the same week. If a student
with a written excuse cannot attend another lab section within the same week, then this lab
will be there dropped lab for the semester. No student will be allowed to attend another lab
section unless they have contacted their instructor prior to missing lab and then the
instructor listed for the lab section you will attend. You are responsible for rescheduling a
lab you have missed. The schedule of other lab sections is on Blackboard. If there is a
legitimate excused absence because an emergency then the student is responsible for getting
their instructor a written confirmation of absence within one week of the absence. If it is not
received within that week then the lab will not be dropped. Once the grades are posted you
have 1 week to contact your instructor with any concerns. If you don’t the grades will be
submitted as is and no adjustments will be made.
Required Material
Lecture:
Lecture Textbook: Discover Biology, 5th Edition, Singh-Cundy and Cain
Laboratory:
Lab book: Discovering Biology in the Laboratory: second edition, Scully, Norton Publishing
Only the labs covered during this semester. Please review the lab chapter names to ensure you are
purchasing the correct lab manual.
Revised:
2/8/2016 6:22 PM
BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring 2013
Lecture Topic
Themes of
Biology
Evolution and
Phylogeny
Textbook
Chapter
Laboratory Topic
Date
Lab 1: Biodiversity and
Evolution Activities 1 and 2;
Common Ancestry and
Invertebrates Activities 1-3
Jan 14th – 18th
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 and 17
Lab 2: Common Ancestry and
Invertebrates Activities 4-9
Microevolution
Chapter 18
Lab 3: Evolution of
Resistance
Activities 1, 2 and 4
Macroevolution
Exam 1
Gas Exchange
and Circulation
Chapter 19
Covers 1, 2, 1719
Chapters 28
Feb. 5th and 7th
Feb. 12th
Covers Labs 1-3
Lab 4: General Mammalian
Anatomy Activities 1-6
Sensing and
Movement
Chapters 30 and
31
Lab 5: Blood and Circulation
Activities 2 and 3; The
Cardiovascular System
Activities 1 and 3
Defense
Chapter 32
Lab 6: Senses and Reflexes
Activities 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7
Reproduction
and Development
Jan. 15th and
17th
Jan. 22th and
24th
Jan. 28rd –
Feb.. 1st
Jan. 29th and
31st
Feb. 4th –8th
Chapter 33
Lab 7: Human Urinary and
Reproductive Systems
Activities 1, 2, and 3
Feb. 14th, 19th
and 21st
Feb. 25th –
Mar. 1st
Feb. 26th and
28th
Mar. 4th – 8th
Mar. 5th and
7th
Mar. 18th –
Mar 22nd
Mar. 19th and
21st
Mar. 25th –
Mar. 29th
Revised:
2/8/2016 6:22 PM
BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring 2013
Lecture Topic
Textbook
Chapter
Laboratory Topic
Date
Covers Labs 4-7
Mar. 26th and
28th
Apr. 1st -5th
Medical Issues
Exam 2 in the
lab
Biosphere
Covers 28, 30-33
Chapter 21
Apr. 2nd
Population
Ecology
Chapter 22
Apr. 4th and 9rd
Lab 8: Populations and
Communities of Organisms
Activities 1 and 4
Community
Ecology
Chapters 23
Lab 9: Populations and
Communities of Organisms
Activities 2 and 6
Ecosystems
Chapter 24
Lab 10: The Impacts of Global
Change on Ecosystems
Activities 2 and 5
Global Change
Chapter 25
Final Exam
Covers 21-25
Covers labs 8-10
Apr. 8th – 12th
Apr. 11th and
16th
Apr. 15th –
19th
Apr. 18th and
23th
Apr. 22nd –
26th
Apr. 25th and
30th
date of final
exam
Revised:
2/8/2016 6:22 PM