Salt Lake Community College
Biology Department
BIOL2020 - Cell Biology
Spring Semester 2014
Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Sperry
E-mail: Rebcca.Sperry@slcc.edu
Office: JHS 245 Taylorsville/Redwood Campus Phone: 957-6306
Consultation Hours: M/W 1-2pm T/Th 12:00pm to 1:00pm or by appointment
Required Course Materials:
1) Essential Cell Biology (Albert’s et al.) 3rd edition
2) Must have a computer capable of using appropriate course applications (e.g. Canvas) and word-processing
programs (e.g. Microsoft Word and Excel).
Course Supplements: Assignments, short videos, and web sites will be provided that correspond to and
compliments the reading and lecture material. Most materials will be posted on the course’s Canvas website.
Students are expected to read and view related supplements as they will be part of examination material. A
variety of scientific and popular literature will be covered and discussed. Students are expected to have a good
understanding of discussion material prior to class discussions.
Course Description: Prereq: BIOL 1610 w/C grade or better. Coreq: BIOL 2025. For biology/science
majors. Topics covered include cell division, organelle structure and function, gene expression, cytoskeleton, and
extracellular matrix. Three hours of lecture per week with additional lab component (BIOL 2025) required.
COLLEGE-WIDE LEARNING OUTCOMES
The Core Themes of SLCC’s Mission focuses on Access and Success, Transfer Education, Workforce Education
and Community Engagement. As such, all courses and programs address one or more of the below CollegeWide Learning Outcomes. Upon successful completion of any program at SLCC, students should:
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Acquire substantive knowledge in the discipline of their choice sufficient for further study, and/or
demonstrate competencies required by employers to be hired and succeed in the workplace.
Communicate effectively.
Develop quantitative literacies necessary for their chosen field of study.
Think Critically.
Develop the knowledge and skills to be civically engaged, and/or to work with others in a professional and
constructive manner
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
In order to full-fill the goals of the College-wide Learning Outcomes, the following course learning outcomes of
been established for this course. Upon completion of this course a person educated in Cell Biology should be able
to demonstrate a general understanding of the following essential learning outcomes
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Students will be able to compare and contrast the general structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Student will be able to describe the structure and functions of cellular macromolecules.
Students will be able to describe major metabolic pathways in cells and the basics of enzyme action in
cells.
Students will be able to describe the structure of eukaryotic chromosomes and the events of eukaryotic
gene expression.
Students will be able to describe cellular membranes and membrane trafficking.
Students will be able to describe intracellular compartments and transport.
Students will be able to describe the cell cycle; and compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis
Students will be able to describe the cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, and cell-cell junctions.
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Students will be able to describe cell signaling and signal transduction.
Students will be able to describe the relationship between cell regulatory mechanisms and transformation
of cells.
GENERAL POLICIES
Syllabus: This syllabus represents an “agreement” between you the student and the instructor. It is designed to
insure course integrity and fairness as well as provide students with a clear understanding of course expectations.
The instructor and students are expected to use the syllabus and schedule as a guide for the semester. Any
deviation from the syllabus or schedule will be discussed and agreed upon by the instructor and students.
Attendance: Attendance at one of the first two class meetings is MANDATORY! If you do NOT attend at least
one of the first two lectures, YOU RISK BEING DROPPED from the course by the end of the day on January
17. Daily roll will be taken and your attendance percent can result in extra credit points. (Half of your percent
attendance can be used to replace half of your lowest midterm %. For example, if you have 60% on a test, and
100% attendance you can raise that test score to 60/2 + 100/2 = 80%)
Americans with Disabilities Act: Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring
accommodations or services under ADA, must contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC
determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these accommodations and services for the college."
Please contact the DRC at the Student Center, Suite 244, Redwood Campus, 4600 So. Redwood Rd, 84123.
Phone: (801) 957-4659, TTY: 957-4646, Fax: 957- 4947 or by email: linda.bennett@slcc.edu"
Incomplete Grade and Withdraw from Class: A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is the instructor’s option and is not
given except only in the most extenuating of circumstances for which there is verifiable written documentation. In
order to receive an incomplete, nearly all course work must have been completed (e.g. ~75%) with a passing
grade. Last day to withdraw from class with refund is February 3, without refund is March 24. It is the
responsibility of the student to drop/withdraw from this class, not the instructors.
Academic Dishonesty: Absolutely NOT tolerated and includes all forms of cheating and plagiarism as outlined
in the Student Code. Penalty for first offense will be a grade of “0” on the assignment or exam; second
offense will be an “E” for the course.
Electronic Devices: Cell Phones, pagers are to be turned off during class. Computers can be used for notetaking and course-related purposes ONLY but should not be used during class for working on other tasks (e.g.
answer emails, Facebook, other classes etc.). You will be asked to leave if your electronic device disrupts the
class in anyway. Cell phones MUST be turned completely OFF during exams.
Classroom recordings: Students may not record or publish information from the class without written
authorization from the instructor. If used without authorization you have violated Privacy/Intellectual Property
Rights.
Student Code of Conduct:
The student is expected to follow the SLCC Student Code of Conduct found at
http://www.slcc.edu/policies/docs/Student_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
Missed Due Dates: All required assignments/discussions, quizzes, exams and their due dates are given at the
beginning of the semester. Due dates reflect the last possible date to turn in an item. All items may be turned in
prior to the due date, thus, there is no excuse for late assignments, quizzes or exams and therefore NO late
papers, makeup quizzes or exams will be permitted. Extra credit options will also have due dates and late
submissions WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. Due dates are established to enable student learning and to allow
faculty to grade and return items in a timely manner.
Other SLCC academic policies may be found in the SLCC 2013-2014 Catalog, the Spring Semester Class
Schedule and the Student Code of Conduct.
EVALUATION/GRADING
Examinations: All tests will be given in class on the day scheduled. Test may not be made up, but if you speak
with me ahead of time about a conflict I will try to accommodate you if possible and within reason. A rescheduled
test must be completed before I return tests to the class.
Lab: Class meets twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday. The 7 in class labs are scheduled on Tuesday
or Thursday (not just Thursdays). Lectures will be held on all days without a scheduled lab. Each lab is
worth 16 points: 8 points for doing the lab protocol and write up, and 8 points for the lab quiz. The
completed lab write up is due on the next class day after each lab, (unless that day is a test day). The quiz
will also be given on this day. (See schedule for due dates)
* Extra credit opportunities will arise and be announced by the instructors.
Distribution of Points:
Take-home Questions (8-10 questions that are 2 or 3 points each)
In Class Multiple Choice (40 questions that are 1 point each)
In Class Vocabulary Terms (15 terms that are 1 point each)
In Class Short Answer Questions (5 questions that are 4 points each)
In Class Multiple Choice Questions (50 questions that are 1.5 points each)
IN Class Vocabulary Terms (25 terms that are 1 point each)
TOTAL
Scoring
Midterm #1
Midterm #2
Midterm #3
Midterm #4
Laboratory
Final Exam
Points Percent
100
13.3
100
13.3
100
13.3
100
13.3
150
20.0
200
26.7
25 Points
40 Points
15 Points
20 Points
75 Points
25 Points
200 Points
Final %
Grade
93-100
A
90-92
A87-89
B+
83-86
B
80-82
B77-79
C+
73-76
C
70-72
C67-69
D+
63-66
D
60-62
DBelow 60
E
Take-home test portions will be done in groups of 2-3 students. Each person should first answer questions
individually, then get together as a group and decide on your final answers that will be turned in for grading.
Group members will score each other for participation. (1= full credit, 0.75= 75% credit, 0.5=50%, 0 = 0)
(Disclaimer: This test format may be changed slightly as necessary during the semester.)
NOTE: Use the above grading scale as a guideline during the semester. The final grading scale will be
determined after the final exam. Past experience has shown that the final grading scale will be very close to this
one.
Schedule:
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Week 13:
Week 14:
Week 15:
Week 16:
Week 17:
Chap 1: Introduction to Cells & Chap 2: Chemical components of cells
Chap 3: energy, catalysis and biosynthesis
Chap 4: protein structure and function
Test 1
Chap 5: DNA and Chromosomes & Chap 6: DNA Replication and Repair
Chap 7: DNA to proteins (transcription, translation: using the genome)
Chap 8: Control of Gene Expression & Test 2
Chap 11: Membrane Structure & chap 12: Membrane Transport
Chap 13: How Cells Obtain Energy from Food (Cell. Respiration intro) & Chap 14: Energy
Generation in Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
Test 3
Spring Break – no classes
Chap 15: Intracellular Compartments and Transport & Chap 16: cellular communication
Chap 17: cytoskeleton
Test 4 & Chap 18: the cell cycle (mitosis) (not covered on test 4)
Chap 19: Meiosis, sex and genetics
Chap 20: Cellular communities’ tissues stem cells & Review
Finals