Heartland Community College
Math/Science Division
Student Syllabus for BIOL 114
Contemporary Biology
Fall 2009
Meeting times:
 BIOL 114-06: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 PM – 3:50 PM [ICB 1405]
 BIOL 114-08: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 PM – 6:20 PM [ ICB 1405]
Catalog Description:
“An introduction to biological principles, including organization, function, heredity, evolution,
and ecology, with emphasis on the importance of biology to the individual and society”. The
laboratory component will emphasize scientific inquiry and use of knowledge in problem
solving. This course is not intended for students planning a science major, nor will it fulfill the
prerequisite for BIOL 181 or BIOL 191. Students will not receive science credit toward their
graduation requirements for both BIOL 114 and BIOL 161.
Instructor Information:
Manjushri kishore
Adjunct Faculty
Phone: 309 807 0357; Cell 713 834 2495; Office: ICB 2402
E-mail: manju.kishore@heartland.edu
If you wanted to speak with the Division Secretary, June Hargitt, or to leave a message
with her, please call 268-8640.
Office hours: By appointment .
Lab Assistants: Jisha Thomas
Required Materials:
Starr, C., et al .Biology Today and Tomorrow. 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.,
2007.
Jongky, T., and E. Wallace. BIOL 114 Laboratory Manual. The new edition!
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course counts as a four-credit lab science course for partial completion of the IAI (Illinois
Articulation Initiative) requirements for either the A.A. or A.S. Degree. However, it may not
count toward biology major.
Course Objective:
Upon successful completion of this course the student will:
 Understand chemistry involved around us. Also chemical nature of life.
 Demonstrate understanding of scientific method and how it is used to solve scientific as
well as everyday problems.
 Develop knowledge and understanding for level of organization of life.
 Demonstrate knowledge of structure and function of cell and its organelles.
 Construct structure of DNA and identify its importance during reproduction.
 Differentiate between the structure of DNA and RNA and their functions.
 Differentiate between the process of mitosis and meiosis and their importance in the
process of cell growth and reproduction.
 Understand and solve genetic problems.
 Outline how major body systems work, including reproductive, circulatory, digestive,
nervous and skeletal systems.
 Differentiate between mechanisms of microevolution and macroevolution.
 Examine biodiversity, including bacteria, virus, fungi, protists, animals, and plants.
 Relate how all living things are interconnected with each other.
 Apply all information learned to medical, environmental, or bioethical issues.
 Apply research skills and data collection techniques to complete laboratory exercises.
 Criticize scientific articles and news for content and scientific validity.
 Research and write a paper pertaining to an abnormality related to any system of our body
and prepare a presentation.
Classroom Objective and Expectations:
 Each day of class will begin with lecture and will be finished by completing lab exercise
related to the topic.
 Students are expected to read the topic before the class as individual participation is
necessary part of the grade.
 Students must be prepared and should have every thing required for the class.
 Students are expected to be calm, courteous and respectful.
 Every student will criticize a Biological news article related to topics covered in each unit
these articles are due at the end of each unit.
 At the end of the Genetics unit each student will research on a topic assigned, and prepare
a presentation to be presented to the class.
 Every day while lecture students are going to use clickers to pick answers to the question
that is put by the instructor, even though these answers will not be graded but
participation is necessary for on going evaluation of learning of the topic.
 Students will be participating in various group activities related to the topic being covered
in the class.
 While working on labs during class it is important that we follow all safety rules for safety
of self and whole class. It is also very important to listen and follow direction when
handling glass, sharp, pointed and biohazardous material.
 Attendance is important part of the grade, if student misses 3 classes during the semester
will lose all the attendance points.
 In order to receive credit for any in-class, non-lab assignment, the student must be present
in class on the date the assignment is done. There will be no make-ups.
 In case of documented illness or death in the family, accident, or military duties when a
student must miss class for more than one week, student must contact the instructor as
soon as possible to discuss the situation.
Objectives of News Journal Article:
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Students become aware of new research and discoveries going on the field of Biological
science. They will gain insight to the process of scientific inquiries.
Students learn about the new content presented in the article and evaluate the authenticity of
the content.
The student sees the interdisciplinary relationship because information about biology may
also include information about society, politics, and religion, physical, geological and
chemical science.
The student relates news information with concepts covered in class.
The student becomes more aware of the validity or non-validity of scientific research.
Criteria of News Journal Article:
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All news must be CURRENT nothing older than January of 2008 onward. You can use any
science magazine, newspaper or news from TV channel; BBC, animal planet, Discovery etc.
Do not use internet clips or You Tube clips.
All news must be related to Biology.
How you choose your topic depends on the unit we are covering.
The critic of the article must include the source and date of the article and must relate to the
topics that are covered in each unit.
Typed at least one page about the news item. Make sure the source and date of the news is
typed and referenced somewhere
If you plagiarize any news articles, you will receive a zero for the entire news journal.
Objective of in class presentation:
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To develop research and communication skills.
To become a proactive learner.
It helps to diversify the learning process and develop critical thinking and problem solving
skills.
Developing thoughtfulness and awareness towards people suffering from those diseases and
also self so that you are not prone towards getting those diseases.
Criteria for in class presentation:
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Pick a genetic disorder
Research on the disorder
Write a paper (2-3 pages), also prepare an at least 5-10 minute presentation to be presented to
the class using choice of visual aids like PowerPoint, poster, pictures etc.
Information needed:
1. Type of disorder.
2. What causes the problem?
3. Symptoms of the problem.
4. Problem for the person with this condition.
5. Treatment of this problem.
6. Problem for family members.
7. How common is this problem.
Assessment:
Students will be continuously assessed on their performance during in class activities and
assignments, their final grade will be based on the total number of points earned.
Components of final grade:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Quizzes
Biological news journals
In Class assignments (homework, projects)
Lab exercises and projects
In class presentation
Group discussions
Grade Calculation:
Quizzes = 50 points
Total points possible = 300 points
Journal Club presentation = 100 points (20 points for each article)
During the semester you have to read and write critic of 5 DIFFERENT articles related to the
topics covered in each unit.
In class activities and group discussions = 10 points
Total possible points = 150
In class presentation = 50 points (25 points for paper and 25 points for presentation)
Each lab report = 10 points
Total points possible for the lab part = 160 points
Attendance = 20 points
Total points possible = 780 points
Grading scale:
90%-100%
80%-89%
70%-79%
60%-69%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Make-up policies:
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No make up for the quizzes.
The student will complete most labs before leaving class. If a lab assignment has to be finished
outside of class, the lab assignment is due the next class day.
If student misses any lab they can make up for only one lab.
There will be no make up for the Biological news journal article.
There will be no makeup for in class activities.
There will be no make up for in class presentation.
In order to get points for in class group discussion student must be present.
Incomplete Grade
An Incomplete grade may be justified to a student if the student encounters extreme
circumstances (e.g., serious illness, accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family)
toward the end of the semester and is unable to complete the semester. The student must be in a
position to pass the class if the Incomplete is given. The student must sign a form requiring
him/her to finish the class by next semester.
Required Writing and Reading
Students must read the textbook to prepare for classroom activities. Students will write about
biological news and answer questions on quizzes and labs.
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1. Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2. Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3. Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4. Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5. Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were
your own.
6. Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were
your own.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for plagiarism
may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in the course or expulsion
from school in extreme cases.
Academic Support Center Services
http://www.heartland.edu/asc/
1.
Library
The Library, located in the Student Commons Building at the Raab Road campus, provides
Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases,
videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to
assist in locating information.
For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292.
http://www.heartland.edu/LIBRARY/index.html
2.
Tutoring Services
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland
students at the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln
Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups are also
available by request. For more information about services available at each location, please
call the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal at (309) 268-8231, the Pontiac Center at
(815) 842-6777, or the Lincoln Center (217) 735-1731.
http://www.heartland.edu/asc/tutor.html
3.
Testing Services
The Tutoring and Testing Center provides a secure testing environment for students who are
enrolled in online, hybrid, and other distance learning courses; have a documented disability;
or need to take a make-up exam. Testing accommodations for students having documented
disabilities must be arranged by the student through the Office of Disability Services, and
Testing Services will only administer make-up exams at the request of the instructor.
Contact Testing Services at (309) 268-8231 for more information.
http://www.heartland.edu/asc/testing.html
4.
Open Computing Lab
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times
throughout the week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the
use of approximately 70 computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
http://www.heartland.edu/asc/computerlab.html
Documented disability
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please
contact Anita Moore at 268-8249 or anita.moore@heartland.edu
**Notice of Cancelled Class Sessions**
Cancelled class sessions, for all HCC classes, will be listed under Cancelled Class Meetings in
the A-Z Index and under Academic Information in the Current Students page on the HCC Web
site. Go to http://www.heartland.edu/classCancellations/ to learn what classes have been
cancelled for that day and the upcoming week. Be sure to check the last column, which might
contain a message from the instructor.
**The schedule, especially the lab dates, can only be tentative sometimes and
subject to change
Week 1, August 18 and 20
Unit 1 – Basic chemistry and Scientific methods
Lab 1: Scientific Method
(8/20)
Week 2, August 25 and 27
Basic unit of life - the cell Structure of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell
Lab 2: Microscope
(8/27)
Week 3, September 1 and 3
Unit 1 journal due on 9/3at the beginning of the class
Structure and function of cell organelle
Lab 3: Observing Life
Structure and function of cell organelle
Lab 4: Cells
(9/1)
(9/3)
Week 4, September8 and 10
Quiz 1 on Basic chemistry and Cell 9/10
Unit 2 - Genetics:
Mitosis and meiosis; simulation of mitosis and meiosis
Cell cycle and regulation
Lab 5: Mitosis and Meiosis
(9/10)
Week 5, September 15 and 17
Unit 2 journal 1 due on 9/17 at the beginning of the class
Human genetics - problems and pedigree
Lab 6: Human Sexual Reproduction
(9/ 17)
Week 6, September 22 and 24
Quiz for unit 2 Cell cycle and reproduction 9/24
Molecular genetics: DNA replication, restriction analysis, sequencing, DNA
fingerprint, the genome and ethic implications
Lab 7: Genetics
(9/24)
Week 7, September 29 and October 1
Molecular genetics: Gene expression, functional genome
Lab 8: Extracting DNA
(10/1)
Week 8, October 6 and 8
Quiz for unit 2 DNA and Genetics – (10/8)
Gene Expression: Transcription and translation - Synthesis of RNA and protein
Lab 9: Protein synthesis
(10/8)
Mid Term: There is NO separate midterm exam
Week 9, October 13 and 15
Unit 2 journal 2 due on 10/13 at the beginning of the class
Genetic disorder presentations
Week 10, October 20 and 22
Unit 3 – Human Anatomy and Physiology:
The Skeletal System
Lab 10: Skeletal system
The Digestive System
Lab 12: Nutrition
(10/20)
(10/22)
Week 11, October 27 and 29
The Immune System
Lab 12.1: Enzymes
(10/27)
The circulatory system
Lab 11: Circulatory system
(10/29)
Week 12, November 3 and 5
Quiz for unit 3 – (11/5)
The Nervous System
Lab 13: Senses and Reflexes
(11/5)
Week 13, November 10 and 12
Unit 3 journal due on 11/12 at the beginning of the class
Unit 4 - Evolution
Lab 14: Natural Selection
(11/12)
Week 14, November 17 and 19
Quiz for Unit 4 – (11/19)
Unit 5 Microbiology, Ecology
Lab 16: Bacteria
(11/17)
Observe results of Lab 16
(11/19)
Week 15, November 24
Unit 4 or Unit 5 journal due on 11/24 at the beginning of the class
Unit 5 - Microbiology, Ecology continued
Lab 17: Protists and Fungi
Week 16, December 1
Quiz for Unit 5 – (12/1)
Final Exam:
BIOL 114-06 2 PM- 3:50 PM Tuesday 12/8
BIOL 114-08 4 PM- 5:50 PM Tuesday 12/8
.
(11/24)