BIOLOGY 40S COURSE OVERVIEW
Ms. Heidi Redfern, Instructor
September 2014 - January 2015
Text: Inquiry into Life© 2011 13th Edition • Active, In-Print • 832 Pages • Hardcover by Sylvia
S. Mader
Unit 1: Understanding Biological Inheritance
Textbook Readings:
Chapter 23 Patterns of Gene Inheritance
 23.1 Mendel’s Laws
 23.2 Pedigree Analysis and Genetic Disorders
 23.3 Beyond Simple Inheritance Patterns
 23.4 Environmental Influences
Chapter 24 Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance




24.1 Sex-Linked Inheritance
24.2 Gene Linkage
24.3 Changes in Chromosome Number
24.4 Changes in Chromosome Structure
Unit 2: Mechanisms of Inheritance
Chapter 25 DNA Structure and Control of Gene Expression





25.1 DNA Structure and Replication
25.2 RNA Structure and Replication
25.3 Gene Expression
25.4 Control of Gene Expression
25.5 Gene Mutations
Chapter 26 Biotechnology and Genomics




26.1 DNA cloning
26.2 Biotechnology Products
26.3 Gene Therapy
26.4 Genomics and Bioinformatics
Unit 3: Evolutionary Theory and Biodiversity
Chapter 27 Evolution of Life
 27.1 Origin of Life
 27.2 Evidence of Evolution
 27.3 The Process of Evolution
 27.4 Speciation

27.5 Systematics
Unit 4: Organizing and Conservation of Biodiversity
(We will likely do an overview of Ch.29-31 and 36 depending on time.)
Chapter 29 Plants
 29.1 Evolutionary History of Plants
 29.2 Nonvascular Plants
 29.3 Seedless Vascular Plants
 29.4 Seed Plants
Chapter 30 Animals I




30.1 Evolutionary Trends Among Animals
30.2 Introducing the Invertebrates
30.3 The Trochozoa
30.4 The Ecdysozoa
Chapter 31 Animals II




31.1 Echinoderms
31.2 Chordates
31.3 Vertebrates
31.4 Human Evolution
Chapter 36 Conservation Biology
 36.1 Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
 36.2 Value of Biodiversity
 36.3 Threats to Biodiversity
 36.4 Habitat Conservation and Restoration
 36.5 Working Toward a Sustainable Society
EVALUATION
1. Cumulative Term mark:
Lab work/assignments
~20%
Quizzes and tests
~ 60%
Class participation marks are earned on the basis of completion of assignments, (especially
reading assignments), having the necessary materials for class, involvement in discussion,
willingness to ask / answer questions, etc.
2.Term project / assignment
20%
You have two due date options. Term marks are cumulative, so your project will be worth 20% of
your final term grade (before the exam) whichever term you decide to complete it.
Due date:
Friday, Dec.5, 2014
3. Bonus: Five percent per term possible to be earned by submitting a weekly biology article
including:
a. Copy of article
b. On separate sheet of paper:
i.
title, source and date of article
ii.
date due
iii.
summary or critique / response
iv.
your name
These articles will be due by 2:40 on Fridays. Students participating will be expected to
remember the due dates and times and work submitted will reflect an attitude of going beyond the
minimum. Article review frames are available upon request.
Articles chosen should be those that arouse the student’s interest, rather than simply being the
minimum acceptable length. It is also important that the articles, for the most part, are
understood.
4. Final Exam
Worth a minimum of 30%, up to a maximum of 80%, students will determine the value on
an individual basis. Some restrictions may apply. See instructor for details.
Students achieving an average of 90% or better for work in both terms will be eligible for
an exemption from the final exam.
I firmly believe that every student enrolled in this class has the ability to succeed in this course. I
encourage every student to take the initiative to ask questions and, if needed, seek help often. It
is so much easier and more efficient to deal with questions as they turn up, than to try to solve
problems weeks after they arise. I also highly recommend doing assigned readings from your
textbook and regular review, especially to make sure that notes are organized and meaningful.
You can earn an “A” in this course.