Biol&160 General Biology
Walla Walla Community College, Fall 2012
Lecture: Tues 6:30 to 9:20 pm, Thurs 6:30 to 7:20 pm, room 241
Lab: Thurs 7:30 to 9:30 pm, room 226
Instructor: Michelle Shafer
E-mail: michelle.shafer@wwcc.edu or through ANGEL.
I do not have an office on campus. Email is the best way to contact me.
Required text:
WWCC Custom Edition of Biology, 10th Edition (Sylvia Mader)
Course Description
Introduction to the study of the cell, the basic component of all living organisms. This
class is intended to provide a solid background for students planning to enter Allied
Health programs. Emphasis is on cell chemistry, structure, metabolism, energetics, cell
division and genetic principles. The basics of DNA technology are also covered. Lab
work is required. This course does not satisfy the prerequisite for BIOL& 212 or BIOL&
213. Prerequisite: Appropriate placement score or grade of C or higher in ENGL 087; or
permission of the Science Division Chair or designee. Recommended: READ 088.
Formerly BIO 151, Cell Biology.
Student Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to…
1. Explain how the concept of homeostasis applies to cellular biology.
2. Explain basic principles of inorganic and organic chemistry as they apply to cellular
processes.
3. Describe basic cell structure.
4. Recognize the significance of the relationship between cellular structure and
function.
5. Describe basic metabolic processes that occur in cells.
6. Understand what genetic mutation is and how it ultimately impacts the cell.
7. Be able to solve problems using concepts of Mendelian genetics.
Lecture and Lab Content
Major topics discussed in the course description may be presented and reinforced through
lectures, group work, individual assignment, videos, homework, etc. The sequence of
topics may not exactly follow the sequence presented in the textbook, and you may have
to read all or part of several different chapters in the course of working on one major topic.
Although the lecture and the laboratory deal with different aspects of the major topics, the
material investigated in the laboratory is meant to support and clarify lecture topics. For
this reason, the lecture exams may contain material from both the lecture and the
laboratory.
THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS SYLLABUS AT ANY TIME
Grade
Your final grade will be calculated based on the percentage of the total points you have
earned out the total possible points applied to the grading scale below:
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
GPA
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
Percentage range
93
100 %
90
92 %
87
89 %
83
86 %
80
82 %
77
79 %
73
76 %
70
72 %
67
69 %
60
66 %
0
59 %
Percentages will be rounded to the nearest percentage point for assignment of grades.
Lecture: Approximately 70% of your overall grade and consists of….
Exams: They will cover all topics discussed in class since the previous exam. Questions
may take the form of fill in the blank, matching, true or false, multiple choice, short
answer or essay. Material in chapters we cover may be on the test regardless of
whether we discussed it in class, so be sure to read the book.
Homework: Details will be given in class.
Lab: Approximately 30% of your overall grade and consists of….
Assignments: Details will be given in lab.
Quizzes: There will be two lab quizzes.
Final Exam: The lab final will be a comprehensive exam.
Lab attendance and participation are required to pass the class.
Note for students regarding disabilities: To request accommodations related to a
disability, contact Claudia Angus, Ph.D., Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at
527-4262 or email claudia.angus@wwcc.edu. Make requests as early as possible in
the quarter. I cannot give you accommodations until you do so.
EXAM CHALLENGE PROCEDURE
You may resubmit each unit exam for re-grade if corrections are needed due to grading
errors. If you feel you have been graded unfairly, you may challenge individual test
questions. The procedures for doing so are written below. Challenges are due one week
THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS SYLLABUS AT ANY TIME
after the exam in question is handed back. Challenges turned in after that will not be
considered. I WILL NOT VERBALLY ARGUE POINTS WITH YOU UNLESS YOU BRING
IN A WRITTEN CHALLENGE FIRST.
1. Check the correct answer. Make sure you are convinced that the
answer you selected is the best answer.
2. Write out a challenge. In this challenge, you should indicate why you
think you should be given credit for something that I counted wrong or did
not give you points for. Be precise, and back up your assertions with
references from the text book or some other valid source. If you want me to
give you credit for your answer, you need to convince me that it is a better
answer than the one I put (or at least that it is equally as good an answer).
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. If you are caught cheating
or plagiarizing, reactions on my part can range from giving you an F for the assignment or
exam in question to recommending expulsion from the Community College. Refer to the
“Code of Conduct” in the Student Handbook for information on cheating/plagiarism and
consequences.
Class Conduct
Please be courteous to those around during class. DO NOT let your cell phone ring in
class, please either do not bring it or put it on silent. Questions or comments about the
material are welcome as long as you raise your hand. I reserve the right to ask anyone to
leave if I deem their behavior disruptive or inappropriate.
LATE WORK POLICY
Late assignments will be penalized 20% of the total possible points for the assignment.
Assignments turned in more than 1 class day after the designated due date WILL NOT
BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT. (Example: If an assignment is due on a Tuesday, you
have until Thursday to turn it in for partial credit. If you turn it in after that, you will be given
a “0” for the assignment.)
THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS SYLLABUS AT ANY TIME
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Biol&160, Fall 2012, Instructor: Michelle Shafer
Date
Tuesdays – Lecture Material
Week 1
9/25, 9/27
Chapt. 1
Week 2
10/2, 10/4
Chapt. 2/3
Week 3
10/9, 10/11
Week 4
10/16,
10/18
Week 5
10/23,
10/25
Week 6
10/30, 11/1
Week 7
11/6, 11/8
Week 8
11/13,
11/15
Week 9
11/20,
11/22
Week 10
11/27,
11/29
Week 11
12/4, 12/6
Week 12
Final
Lab assignment due
Exam 1 (Ch. 1-3)
Chapt. 4
Lab assignment due
Chapt. 5
Lab assignment due
Chapt. 6
Lab assignment due
Exam 2 (Ch. 4-6)
Chapt. 8
Lab assignment due
Chapt. 9
Lab assignment due
Chapt. 10
Lab assignment due
Thanksgiving Break, no classes
Exam 3 (Ch. 8-10)
Chapt. 11
Lab assignment due
Chapt. 12
Thursdays – Lab and Lecture
Material
Chapt. 2
Lab: Lab safety / Techniques for
measuring liquids
Chapt. 3
Lab: Standard curve determination
/ analysis
Chapt. 4
Lab: Microscopy
Chapt. 5
Lab: Quiz 1
Survey of Kingdoms / Cell types
Chapt. 6
Lab: Organelles
Chapt. 8
Lab: Enzymes
Chapt. 9
Lab: Quiz 2
Fermentation
Chapt. 10
Lab: Heritable Traits
No lab
Chapt. 11
Lab: Forensic DNA
Chapt. 12
Lab Final
Lab assignment due
Final – Dec 11 (Tuesday)
comprehensive
(includes Ch. 11 & 12)
THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS SYLLABUS AT ANY TIME