quantitative & theoretical biology syllabus - 1
Syllabus for Q & T
Course title: Quantitative & Theoretical Biology
Course number: 05.3492/3-001
Instructor: Scott Forbes
Office: 3L23
Telephone: 786-9441
email: s.forbes@uwinnipeg.ca
Course website: http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~forbes/Biol_3492.htm
Lecture hours: TR 830-945
Lecture room: 2C11
Labs: Monday 14:30-17:15 in 3C15
Office hours: 2:30-3:30 W-TR
Midterm exam: 19 October 2005
Final exam: 13 December 2005 @ 13:30
Voluntary withdrawal date: 4 November 2005
Course Text: This is Biology, Ernst Mayr
Laboratory text: Spreadsheet Exercises in Ecology and Evolution, Therese Donovan,
Charles W. Welden.
Course description – Models are tools that biologists use to understand a complex
world. This course introduces students to quantitative and theoretical models in biology
with emphasis on computer-based techniques. The topics include the design and
evaluation of models, simulation modeling, optimization techniques, randomization
methods, stochastic modeling and computer-intensive methods of hypothesis testing.
Prerequisites – 18 credit hours in Biology. Enrolment may be limited by the
availability of microcomputers in the Department of Biology.
Office hours -- I shall keep regular office hours on Wednesday and Thursday from
2:30-3:30. Feel free to see me at other times. The easiest way is simply to set up an
appointment. If you see my office door open you are welcome to drop in. A good way
of getting hold of me for a quick question is by email.
Lectures and labs -- The following is an outline of the material to be covered in
lecture and lab. You will be provided with copies of the PowerPoint lectures for which,
again, there will be a modest charge. Read over the lab carefully before coming
to lab! What you get out of this course will be directly proportional to the effort you
put into it.
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Course grading – Laboratory assignments will comprise 40% of the course grade.
The midterm and final exams will comprise the remaining 60% of the course grade.
Assessment
Marks
Midterm exam
Final exam
Laboratory assignments
Total
20
40
40
100
Grade distribution
A+
A
AB+
B
C+
C
D
F
90 to 100%
85 to 89%
80 to 84%
75 to 79%
70 to 74%
65 to 69%
58 to 64%
50 to 57%
0 to 49%
Important Dates
Sep 6
Sep 13
Oct 10
Oct 19
Nov 4
Nov 29
Dec 13
Lectures begin
laboratory classes begin
Thanksgiving Day – university closed
midterm lecture exam
last date for voluntary withdrawal without academic penalty
rescheduled lab from Oct 10
final lecture exam – 13:30
The midterm and final exams will cover material presented in both lectures and labs.
Late assignments -- Assignments are due in class on the date given in the course
outline. Assignments not turned in during class (or before) are late. Lab assignments
will be due at the beginning of the Thursday class following the lab. You are aware of
the deadlines for these assignments well in advance and I will hold you to them. If
there are exceptional circumstances – e.g., being called to Stockholm to receive a
Nobel Prize [economics prizes don’t count], called up to play goal in the Stanley Cup
playoffs – for missing a deadline, extensions may be arranged with my prior
approval. Assignments that are one day late will be subject to a 10% penalty.
Assignments that are two to seven days late will be subject to a 25% penalty. This
course is not graded on a curve -- your mark will be your mark.
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Format for assignments – take home assignments must be typed.
The fine print -- Please refer to Chapter VII of the University of Winnipeg Calendar for information on
University of Winnipeg academic regulations and policies. Here you will find information on Classroom
regulations, Grading, Transcripts, Challenge for Credit, Academic Standing and Status Evaluation, Student
Discipline, Appeal, University Policies and Codes, and Graduation. Please refer to Chapter III of the
Calendar for information on withdrawals.
Lecture summary
Nb. Not all topics may be covered due to time constraints.
1. The role of theory in biology
What is science?
Theory and data
Testing theories
2. Models and theory
What are models?
Types of models
Developing models from theory
3. Model building
Basic math concepts
Statistical distributions
Central limit theorem
Hypothesis testing
Statistical power
4. Using models
Computer intensive statistics
Optimization modeling
Simulation modeling
Lab summary
Nb. Not all topics may be covered due to time constraints
Introduction: Spreadsheet Hints and Tips
Mathematical Functions and Graphs
Spreadsheet Functions and Macros
Statistical Distributions
Central Limit Theorem
Hypothesis Testing: Alpha, Beta, and Power
Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium
Life History Trade-Offs
Heritability
Evolutionarily Stable Strategies and Group versus Individual Selection
Mating Systems and Parental Care
Genetic Drift