MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
BIOLOGY 171 – PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY
COURSE SYLLABUS – FALL 2013
COURSE: BIOL 171-003; 171-004; Principles of Biology (3-1-4); I, II, III.
TIME AND PLACE: Lecture 9:10-10:10 TTHF2 (171-004) or 12:40-1:40 TTHF2 (171-003) in Lappin 130;
Laboratory (once per week) in Lappin 332
LECTURE INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Allen C. Risk
OFFICE: 301 G Lappin Hall
RESEARCH LAB: 303 Lappin Hall (look for me during office hours and otherwise in this location)
PHONE: 783-2587
EMAIL: a.risk@moreheadstate.edu
OFFICE HOURS: 10:20-11:20 and 1:50-2:50 TTH (look for me in room 303 Lappin Hall)
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: BIOL 171. Principles of Biology (3-2-4); I, II, III. General biological principles,
emphasis on cell structure/function, energetics, homeostasis, genetics, evolution, and ecology.
Required Field Experience Hours: 0
PREREQUISITES: composite ACT of 20 or above, C or better in BIOL 105, BIOL 160, or equivalent.
LECTURE TEXT: Brooker, R. J., E. P. Widmaier, L. E. Graham, and P. D. Stiling. 2014. Biology, third
edition. McGraw-Hill. Boston, Massachusetts.
LABORATORY TEXT: Biology 171 Laboratory Manual, prepared by the Department of Biology and
Chemistry faculty.
GRADING: The grade for this class is based on 800 points of which 600 are from lecture and 200 are from
laboratory.
Lecture:
3 exams X 100
= 300
1 exam X 150
= 150
Quizzes
= 150
Lab:
3 exams X 50
= 150
Quizzes
= 25
Lab Report
= 25
Total
= 800
Grading Scale.
A
720-800 points (≥90%)
B
640-719 points (80-89%)
C
560-639 points (70-79%)
D
480-559 points (60-69%)
E
<480 points (<60%)
NOTE: NO FOOD, DRINK, OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THIS ROOM.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Use of laptop computers, cellular telephones, and other electronic devices designed
for communication and/or entertainment during this class (lecture and lab) is prohibited (this means no web
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surfing, using email, texting, instant messaging and so forth during lecture or lab). (If you normally take notes
via use of a laptop computer in your classes, then in-class use of the computer must be restricted to note taking.)
However, I do not mind if you record (audio only) the lectures. Please have your cellular telephone or other
similar device set so that if you receive a call, message, or alert during class the device will not make any noise.
During lecture and lab your cellular telephone or similar device should be put away (out of your sight and mine)
in a backpack, purse, or some other container. There may be periods during certain laboratory meetings when
use of a laptop computer is appropriate for the course, and you will be encouraged to use one at these times.
Use of a calculator, when necessary in lecture or laboratory, is certainly appropriate.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: There is a strong correlation between student attendance and student success in
Biology 171. Quizzes and exams can only be made up if a student has a valid excuse. Valid excuses are
documented evidence of illness/injury, death or serious illness in the family, or participation in a universitysponsored activity. If you should leaves class immediately or soon after taking a quiz, then you will receive a
zero on that quiz. Laboratory attendance is mandatory. The laboratories are designed to demonstrate important
concepts first introduced in the lecture. A student with a valid excuse should promptly notify the lab instructor
in order to make up the missed lab exercise. Missed labs can only be made up during the week of the missed
lab. Students failing to make up a missed lab will be penalized 15 points.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism or helping others to commit these acts will not be
tolerated. Academic dishonesty will result in severe disciplinary action including, but not limited to, failure of
the student assessment item or course, and/or dismissal from MSU. If you are not sure what constitutes
academic dishonesty, read The Eagle Student Handbook or ask your instructor. The policy is located at
http://www2.moreheadstate.edu/files/units/dsl/eaglehandbook/2012-13%20Handbook.pdf?n=9951
POLICY FOR ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Professional staff from MSU’s
Disability Services Office coordinates efforts to address accessibility needs and class accommodations with
instructors of students who have learning or physical disabilities. Faculty will cooperate with the Disability
Services Office staff to accommodate the needs of students taking departmental courses. The contact person is
Evangeline Day (783-5188), 204-E ADUC.
CAMPUS SAFETY STATEMENT: Emergency response information will be discussed in class. Students
should familiarize themselves with the nearest exit routes in the event evacuation becomes necessary. You
should notify your instructor at the beginning of the semester if you have special needs or will require assistance
during an emergency evacuation. Students should familiarize themselves with emergency response protocols
at: http://www.moreheadstate.edu/emergency.
Conceptual Framework for Educator Preparation Program:
“Community Engagement: A Light to and from the Mountains.” The Professional Education Unit at
Morehead State University delivers rigorous, high quality programs that prepare professionals informed by
best national and international scholarship, plus research, literature, and experiences specific to Appalachiapreparing professionals to improve the schools, quality of life, and the communities in which they live and
serve. This statement is not only the strategic mission for the Unit, but it also incorporates the conceptual
framework that guides all our activities.
Conceptual Framework Outcomes (CFO’s):
The Unit and the faculty within individual programs assess the degree to which its graduates:
1) Master the content knowledge, professional and the twenty – first century skills need to make an optimal
contribution to “whole” student learning in education settings.
2) Are competent in the collection and use of data to inform decision – making and to demonstrate
accountability for student learning.
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3) Demonstrate professional dispositions.
4) Are culturally competent and understand the regions from which they have come utilizing knowledge
and experiences to effectively “bridge the gaps” (economic, achievement, and geographic) ensuring
optimal learning for all students.
5) Engage in authentic field experiences in collaboration with committed school – based partners and are
empowered to improve the quality of education throughout this region and beyond.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. to develop a personal, well-structured, interconnected understanding of the principles of biology
2. to understand what science is as a “way of knowing”
3. to see science as a process where hypotheses are tested, and then either accepted or rejected on the basis of
evidence
4. to relate structure and function at the subcellular, cellular, and organismal levels
5. to develop a foundation of biological vocabulary, concepts, and principles related to structure of the cell,
energy flow, heredity, evolution, and ecology
6. to see the relevance of biological principles to everyday life
7. to participate in laboratory both as an individual and as part of a group
8. all of these objectives are geared toward generating a student experience that will establish a firm foundation
for other biology courses in the major
SUGGESTIONS FOR DOING YOUR BEST IN THIS CLASS:
 Attend each class and lab meeting.
 Bring your textbook to class.
 Ask questions in class.
 After class, carefully read the material as soon after lecture as possible.
 Examine the assigned readings. Then think about what you have read.
 Frequently review your notes from class.
 Take this class seriously.
 Take advantage of online resources at www.brookerbiology.com
 Attend review sessions, held Monday at 4:10 in Lappin 306
NCATE/ EPSB Accreditation Alignment of CFO’s and SLO’s:
Programs for which this course is required: Biology, Secondary Teaching
Kentucky
Teacher
Standards
(KTS)
Next Generation
Science Standards
(NGSS)
Lecture Exam 1 (100
pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
HS-LS1-1
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
Lecture Exam 2 (100
pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-6,
HS-LS1-7, HS-LS2-5
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
Aligned with
Assessment
(point values)
Education National Science NCATE
Professional
Teachers
Standards
Association
Board
(NSTA)
(EPSB)
3
Lecture Exam 3 (100
pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1,
HS-LS3-2,
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
Lecture Exam 4 (150
pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-6,
HS-LS1-7, HS-LS2-1,
HS-LS2-5, HS-LS3-1,
HS-LS3-2, HS-LS3-3,
HS-LS4-1, HS-LS4-2,
HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
uizz
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-6,
HS-LS1-7, HS-LS2-1,
HS-LS2-5, HS-LS3-1,
HS-LS3-2, HS-LS3-3,
HS-LS4-1, HS-LS4-2,
HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5
Lecture Quizzes (150
pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
Lab Exam 1 (50 pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
Lab Exam 2 (50 pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
HS-LS1-7
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
Lab Exam 3 (50 pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1,
HS-LS3-2
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
Lab Report (25 pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-3, 5, 8
1
Literacy
St1-A1, St1- A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
Lab Quizzes (25 pts.)
CFO:1
SLO: 1-6, 8
1
Literacy
St1-A1, St1-A2,
St1-B2, St2-C,
St3
1
HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-7,
HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-2
Assignment Descriptions:
Programs for which this course is required: Biology, Secondary Teaching
Assessment (point value)
Description
Lecture Exams (300)
Lecture exams will assess content knowledge and conceptual understanding of
the course material. Each lecture exam will assess a single unit of instruction.
Exams will be taken during scheduled class time.
Final Exam (150)
The final exam is comprehensive. It will assess content knowledge and
understanding from throughout the course. It will be administered during Finals
Week at the time scheduled for this course.
Lecture Quizzes (150)
Quizzes will be given regularly to motivate students to continually keep up with
the course material and concepts.
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Lab Exams (150)
These exams will assess laboratory course content in plant biodiversity, cell
biology, leaf anatomy, and plant growth.
Lab Report (25)
The report will develop the students’ technical writing abilities.
Lab Quizzes (25)
Lab quizzes will be given at each lab meeting. They will encourage students to
consistently be applying themselves to learn the course material.
COURSE CONTENT:
Lecture Topics:
Introduction, Chemistry, and the Building Blocks of Life
20 Aug - Introduction, syllabus, properties of life, two major principles of biology, Ch. 1.
22 Aug - Chemistry, atoms and bonds, Ch. 2
27 Aug - Chemistry, more atoms and bonds, water, Ch. 2
29 Aug – pH, Carbon chemistry, Chs. 2 and 3
30 Aug - Carbohydrates, and lipids, Ch. 3
3 Sep – Nucleic Acids, proteins, Ch. 3
Biology of the Cell
5 Sep – Cell Structure and Function, Ch. 4
10 Sep – Cell Structure and Membranes, Chs. 4 and 5
12 Sep – Membranes, Ch. 5
13 Sep- Exam 1
Energy and the Cell
17 Sep – Enzymes and Metabolism, Ch. 6
19 Sep – Photosynthesis, chloroplast structure, light, pigments, Ch. 8
24 Sep – Photosynthesis, the light-dependent reactions, Ch. 8
26 Sep – Photosynthesis, the light-independent reactions, Ch. 8
27 Sep – Cellular Respiration, Ch. 7
1 Oct – Cellular Respiration, Ch. 7
3 Oct – Cellular Respiration, Ch. 7
8 Oct - Exam 2
Reproduction and Heredity
15 Oct – Eukaryotic Chromosomes, Mitosis, Ch. 15
17 Oct – Eukaryotic Chromosomes, Meiosis, Ch. 15
22 Oct – Meiosis; Simple patterns of inheritance, Chs. 15, 16
24 Oct – Simple patterns of inheritance, Ch. 16
Genetics at the Molecular Level
25 Oct – Complex patterns of inheritance, Ch. 17
29 Oct – Nucleic acid structure and DNA replication, Ch. 11
31 Oct – Nucleic acid structure and DNA replication, Ch. 11
5 Nov – Gene expression at the molecular level, Ch. 12
7 Nov – Gene expression at the molecular level, Ch. 12
8 Nov – Gene regulation, Ch. 13
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12 Nov – Gene regulation, Ch. 13
14 Nov – Exam 3
Evolution and Ecology
19 Nov – population genetics, Ch. 24
21 Nov – origin of species, Ch. 25
22 Nov – more evolutionary thinking, Ch. 23
26 Nov – Taxonomy and systematics, Ch. 26
3 Dec – Population ecology, Ch. 56
5 Dec – Species interactions, Ch. 57
6 Dec – Community Ecology, Ch. 58
9 Dec 2013 (Monday) – Final Exam, 10:15-12:15
Laboratory Topics: a lab schedule will be discussed at the first laboratory meeting
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