Biology II Syllabus
Instructor: Mr. Matt Dornier
Email: mdornier@stjames.k12.la.us
Classroom: SMA SC 104
Phone No. (SMA)-225-258-4600
Text: Campbell Biology, 9e AP* (Student Edition) HS + Mastering Biology
with Pearson e Text
Other materials: Laptops, Moodle Access, Binder for keeping lab
reports, handouts, and notes. Pens and pencils are a must. A flash-drive
could be useful. New Gaggle accounts can be used to save information.
Catalog Course Description:
This course offers an overview of some fundamental concepts in biology:
cell biology, energy processes of organisms, genetics, ecology, and
evolution.
Course Objectives:
1. To improve your biological literacy and make you an informed citizen
2. To improve the understanding of biology as an inquiry process
dependent on the scientific method and requiring critical thinking.
3. To give you the tools to keep building your own biology knowledge and
expanding the learning experience beyond the time constraints of this
course
4. To help develop skills important for your success both academically and
in the work-force
5. Motivating you to be an active learner.
Course Policies:
1. Students will be expected to abide by the honor code and statement as
described in the student handbook. This also refers to homework
assignments. If copying/cheating/plagiarism is suspected you will be
given a zero for the assignment and referred to the principal.
2. Students will work in groups during lab assignments. It is important
that students learn to work cooperatively in lab groups. When
collecting and recording data from lab results, each member of the
group should have the same data, but data from different groups will
be different. Remember that it is your experiment. There is nothing
wrong with this. Again, it is your group’s experiment. If we compare
class data some numbers may be thrown out, but we can discuss why
this data might be odd and the possible causes. Labs assignments will
count as 25% of the grade.
Tentative Schedule for the semester; we may not get through all of
these:
Ch. 1-5 (2.5 weeks)
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Themes of Life
Basic Chemistry (Lab Activity: Castle Mendelev)
Water and the Fitness of the Environment
Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life ( Lab Activity: Molecules
of Life)
 Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Ch. 7 and 8 (2.5 weeks)
 A Tour of the Cell (Surface Area to Volume Ratio)
 Membrane Structure and Function
 AP Laboratory 1: Diffusion and Osmosis
Ch. 6, 9, and 10 (3.5 weeks)
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An Introduction to Metabolism
Laboratory 2: Enzymes
Cellular Respiration and Glycolysis
Laboratory 5: Cell Respiration (Cricket or Peas)
Photosynthesis
Laboratory 4: Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
Ch. 11-15 (5 weeks)
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Cell Communication
The Reproduction of Cells
Laboratory 3: Mitosis (part 1)
Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles(including Plants)
Laboratory 3: Meiosis (part 2) Beads
Mendel and the Gene Idea
Laboratory: Catlab
The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance (Karyotypes and Pedigree
Analysis)
Ch. 16-21 (5 weeks)
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The Molecular Basis of Inheritance ( Lab Activity: DNA Models)
From Gene to Protein ( Lab Activity: Codon Game)
The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
Biotechnology
Laboratory 6: DNA Transformation
Lab: DNA Fingerprinting-PCR
Population Genetics and Evolution
Laboratory 8: Population Genetics
Lab: Alu-PCR (Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium)
Evolution Evidence
Lab: Antibiotic Resistance
Laboratory 11: Animal Behavior
Assessment:
A. Tests will count as 45% of the overall grade.
B. Labs assignments will count as 25 % of grade.
C. Homework will count as 5% of grade.
D. Quarter Exams will count as 20% of grade.
E. Quizzes will count as 5% of grade.
** If you are absent for any in class activity, it is your responsibility to check
with me as to when to make up the work. No wet labs will be reset up. If
there is a virtual lab available, I may consider using this as a make-up. No
extra credit work will be given in this class. I may offer students to find
information on a subject discussed in class for which I may offer points.
Student Signature: _________________________________
Parent Signature: _________________________________