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https://my.heartland.edu/portal/main.html
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myHeartland, at https://my.heartland.edu .
BIOL 116
GENES: THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE (Lecture only)
Course Syllabus Spring 2008
Sections 04



This course is an introduction to biological principles, biotechnology, and
applications related to genetics. Ethical analyses are included due to the farreaching effects on the individual and society. Online reading is required due
to the frequent changes that occur in this type of subject matter. There is NO
traditional textbook.
BIOL 116 is a 3 credit hour lecture only course. Life science lab credit can be
obtained by concurrent or subsequent enrollment in BIOL 117. The BIOL 117
lab is offered as 1) a traditional fall and spring laboratory course, 2) a two week
mini-mester between the spring and summer semesters, or 3) a hybrid online/oncampus laboratory course.
If absent, students may attend any of the scheduled times for BIOL 116 Sections
02, 03, or 04 http://www.heartland.edu/schedule/display.asp
Check with the instructor for the other sections’ scheduled activities.
Instructor: Stacie Rose
 Phone: (309) 268-8644

Office: ICB 2406
Office Hours
Mon. 9:30am-10:00am, 4:30pm-5:00pm
Tue. 11:00am-2:00pm
Wed. 9:30ma-10:00am
Friday 11:00am-11:30am
Only my.heartland emails will be opened.
ALL email subject lines MUST read BIOL116.
Note: If you are having problems opening attachments or other documents when
using the Explorer browser, you may want to consider downloading the free
Firefox browser and using it instead of Explorer. The website to obtain the free
download for Firefox is http://www.mozilla.com/firefox.
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BIOL 116 Website: http://www.heartland.edu/staff/StacieC/BIOL116.htm OR
Go the HCC homepage <http://www.heartland.edu/>
Scroll down to Quick Links – Select Academic Departments – Click Go
Click on <Biology>
Click on <BIOL 116 Genes: Foundation of Life>
Click on <Click here for general information concerning the BIOL116 course.>
Click on <The TRADITIONAL Fall and Spring Semester On-campus only format>
The Website contains:
Online Genetics Dictionary
Contacting the Instructor
Syllabus
Printing Documents in the HCC Printing Lab
Video Signature Sheet Link
Lecture Guides and Online Materials
Course Materials:
*

BIOL 116 Lecture Guides: Students are REQUIRED to BRING ‘Lecture Guides’
to the lectures. Lecture Guides can be obtained by printing them directly from the
website. A three-ring binder should be used to organize these documents.

Course Readings* are located on the above BIOL 116 website under in the righthand ‘Supplements’ column. Instructions and Questions for these online readings
also are located here.

CDs: CDs contain course lectures and information that the student will
independently use to obtain notes.
Other course readings may include journal articles, and online readings linked from the Lecture Guides.
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Student Responsibilities:
1. Students must review the syllabus periodically to refresh their memory concerning
information provided therein. Bring the syllabus to each class.
2. Attendance is critical. Always remember to bring Lecture Guides to class.
3. Take thorough notes in lecture and from the CDs; write down everything the instructor
writes and says. It is the student’s responsibility to ask the instructor for clarification. If
absent, students must obtain copies of the notes from another student or hand copy the
instructor’s notes during office hours. The instructor will not give out xeroxed lecture
notes.
FIVE Student Contacts:
4. Students must read and spend enough time in independent study to master the
material. Complete assignments, Self-Tests, and online reading questions. If the student
is having difficulty with a particular topic, he or she should contact the instructor. Tutors
may be available at the Academic Support Center (ASC) in the library area.
5. Do not procrastinate. Study often and early for quizzes/exams, and take them as
scheduled. Students should follow the instructions in the Self-Tests found at the end of
the Lecture Guides. They are an invaluable resource for exams. Write down questions to
ask before the lectures and exams.
6. Students must exhibit courtesy and respect for their fellow students and the instructor.
Turn off your cell phones or set them on vibrate. The instructor reserves the right to
answer all cell phone calls!
7. Students are responsible for recording their grades and determining their final course
grade.
Course Policies
1. FLEXIBLE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EMERGENCIES AND DIFFERING PRIORITIES ARE
AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE POLICIES. These accommodations will not be altered. This
assures that all receive fair and equal treatment. Students are required to read the
syllabus and sign a contract stating that they understand and will abide by the syllabus
policies. If for some reason a student cannot abide by these policies, he/she should not
sign the contract and must contact the instructor immediately.
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Contract due date:
2. EXAMS: FOUR REGULAR EXAMS
Accommodations for emergencies:
 1) The student may take any exam with another SECTION (02, 03, or 04)- but
check with the instructor as soon as possible for the scheduled exam dates of the
other sections.
 2) An exam make-up day (TBA) will be given near the end of the semester (only
one exam may be made up). Make-up exams will not be given on any other dates.
 3) With the exception of exam 4, one missed exam grade will be dropped without
penalty. ONLY USE THIS OPTION IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. If exams
1, 2, and 3 all are taken, the lowest of these will be dropped.
 EXAM 4 CANNOT BE DROPPED! If you miss exam 4 and make it up on the
exam make up date, 10 points will be deducted from the score. Students must
contact the instructor by email one week before the announced makeup date if
they wish to take any makeup exam.
Exam grades are returned at the following lecture session. Grades will NOT be
emailed to students.
3. DNA TYPING QUIZZES: TWO 15PT. QUIZZES
Attendance is mandatory for the quizzes. 7pt. out of the 15pt. of one missed quiz can be
made up by turning in the completed Self-Test(s) before the ‘exam’. Incomplete SelfTests will not be receive any points. One point will be deducted from the 7 possible
points for each incorrect Self-Test answer. If a student misses a second quiz, a grade of
zero will be recorded for that quiz.
4. PERIODIC QUIZZES:
There will be 8-10 quizzes given over the course of the semester on lecture material
supplied from the CDs.
5. DEBATE ASSIGNMENT:
The group debate assignment requires class attendance and participation. This
assignment will involve several lecture periods. Attendance is mandatory for the debate
sessions. You may attend another section’s debates (ALL sessions must be attended with
the other section). If a student misses even one of the debate lecture periods, a 10 page
paper can make up a maximum of 15pt. out of the 20pts. possible for the debate.
6. Extra Credit VIDEOS-The only extra credit in the course are videos on reserve in the
HCC library.Take the Video Signature Sheet and have the librarian sign the sheet. It is
your responsibility to be sure that the sheet is signed and dated.
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7. ATTENDANCE: Other than those days described above, attendance it is not included as
part of your grade. College students are adults with priorities, and these may involve
missing class. However, your grade in the course will reflect the priority given it.
8. TARDIES: If you are late: TAKE A SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR WITHOUT
DISRUPTING THE LECTURE. Please let the instructor know if there are extenuating
circumstances that may cause tardies.
Course Objectives
1. To examine prevailing philosophical concepts applied in the study of science.
2. To associate relationships between cells, cellular organelles, their functions, and
biological organization.
3. To relate the structure and functions of proteins and nucleic acids.
4. To understand scientific principles of DNA typing and examine case studies.
5. To correlate human traits with the dynamic relationship between genes and
environment.
6. To attain knowledge of selected genetic disorders and relate this information to
genetic principles.
7. To understand the scientific basis of genetic engineering, gene therapy and cloningwhile evaluating concerns and goals.
8. To gain knowledge of the Human Genome Project and related programs- including
their implications concerning ethics and public policy.
Student Evaluation
Grading scale:
90-100 %
80-89
70-79
60-69
<60
A
B
C
D
F
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Record all of your scores here.
Exam 1
Exam 2
Drop lowest exam score 1, 2, or 3.
Exam 3
Exam 4
Debate
DNA Typing Quiz 1
DNA Typing Quiz 2
Periodic Quizzes
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Total Pt. Earned=
/ Total pt. poss.
(Drop lowest of exams 1-3)
Assignments, Exams, Quizzes
Total Points Possible
4 Exams
(100pt. each, lowest of 1-3 dropped)
2 DNA Typingquizzes (15pt. Each)
Debate
Periodic Quizzes
300
30
20
?
Total possible pt.
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Services and Support
Academic Support
Center Services
Library
The Library, located in the Student Commons Buildings 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
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 (309) at 268-8231, the Pontiac
Center at (815) 842-6777, or the Lincoln Center at (217) 735-1731.
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.
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.
Important! Click here for HCC Computer lab Rules concerning Printing.
Notice of 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/
(or my.heartland.edu) 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.
SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER
This syllabus is subject to change. Students must attend lectures or, if absent,
communicate with student contacts or the instructor for any verbal or written changes.
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Tentative Lecture Outline
The following schedule is only an approximation of the dates when material is covered
during the semester. Depending on student needs, section pace, class cancellations, and
college closings, course sections may proceed through the material at different rates.
Therefore, lecture topics/exams/quizzes/group project dates are not definite until the
instructor has made a final announcement.
Jan. 14
Syllabus/Policies/Evaluation/Schedule/Contract
Website- Lecture Guides/Self-Tests/Online Readings
Video: Huntington disease
Lecture Guide: The Cell
- Jan. 22
On campus classes cancelled Mon. Jan. 21- Martin Luther King Day.
Students are required to use the CDs to obtain notes as determined by the
instructor.
– Jan. 28
Lecture Guide: The Cell
Go to the library and watch the video “The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off” following the
discussion of “epithelial tissue” during the cell lecture. Take the Video Signature
Sheet and have the librarian sign AND date the sheet. Due dates are announced by
instructor and are FINAL.
Lecture Guide: Structure of DNA
Go to the library and watch the video “Basic Chemistry for Biology Students” before
the first class next week. Take the Video Signature Sheet and have the librarian sign
AND date the sheet. Due dates are announced by instructor and are FINAL.
Feb. 4
Lecture Guide: Structure of DNA
Lecture Guide: Functions of DNA
Feb. 11
Lecture Guide: Functions of DNA
Tentative Exam 1 date (The Cell, Structure of DNA, Functions of DNA)
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Feb. 18
Human Genome-Introductory lecture
Human Genome Project Debate
Feb. 25
Human Genome Project Debate
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing: Introduction and Procedures
Mar. 3
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing: Introduction and Procedures
Tentative date Quiz 1
Mar. 10: NO CLASS, MIDTERM BREAK
Mar.17
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing: Introduction and Procedures
Tentative date: Quiz 2
Go to the library and watch the video “Murder, Rape and DNA” before the first class
next week. Take the Video Signature Sheet and have the librarian sign the sheet. Due
dates are announced by instructor and are FINAL.
Mar. 24
Tentative date Exam 2 (Human Genome and related programs, DNA Typing:
Introduction and Procedures)
Mar. 31
Lecture Guide: Interpreting DNA Typing Data
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing Applications
Lecture Guide: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
Apr. 7
Lecture Guide: Genetics and Race
Go to the library and watch the video “Race Power of an Illusion Part I” before the
first class next week. Take the Video Signature Sheet and have the librarian sign the
sheet. Due dates are announced by instructor and are FINAL.
Apr. 14
Lecture Guide: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
Lecture Guide: Complex Traits
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Student Evaluations
In the last 3-4 weeks of class, all students are expected to complete a course evaluation
form online, at www.studentevals.com/heartland .
Apr. 21
Tentative date Exam 3 (Interpreting DNA Typing Data, DNA Typing
Applications, Meiosis & Sexual Reproduction, Complex Traits, Genetics and
Race)
Lecture Guide: Genetics of Sex
Makeup exams - You MUST email the instructor the week prior to the makeup date stating your name, the BIOL 116 section you are enrolled in, and the exam you need to
makeup during the week of April 28-May 2. Exact dates and times to make up the exam
will be determined through email. Remember, you MUST use the my.heartland email.
Apr. 28
Go to the library and watch the video “Sex and the Single Gene” before the next class
next week. Take the Video Signature Sheet and have the librarian sign the sheet. Due
dates are announced by instructor and are FINAL.
Lecture Guide: Genetic Engineering
Lecture Guide: Gene Therapy
May 5
Lecture Guide: Cloning
Final Exam dates: (Genetics of Sex, Genetic Engineering, Gene Therapy, Cloning)
The Final Exam (4) is not cumulative.
BIOL 116-02 Wed., May 14 10:00am
BIOL 116-03 Tue., May 13 2:00pm
BIOL 116-04 Mon., May 12 5:00pm
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Video Signature Sheet
Name:
Course and Section:
Please have the Librarian sign their full name and the date you watched the video. Turn
this sheet into the instructor.
Video Title
Library Staff Full Signature
11
Date Video was
Viewed
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BIOL 116 Genes: The Foundations of Life
Student Contract
116 Section
Date:
You must sign this form before the instructor will record any grades.
I, (print your name)
,
read, understand, and will abide by the policies listed below as stated in the lecture
syllabi.
Signature:
Date:
1.
Course Materials
2.
Student Responsibilities and Conduct
3.
Course Policies Concerning: a. Exams/Quizzes and Accommodations for Missed
Exams & Quizzes, b. Attendance, & Debate Participation, and c. Tardies
4.
BIOL 116 Course Website- Lecture Guides, Self-Tests, Online Readings &
Study Questions
5.
HCC Computer Printing Policies
6.
Syllabus Disclaimer
7.
Course Objectives
8.
Grade Reporting, Grade Calculations & Student Evaluation
9.
Support Services: HCC Computing and Tutoring
10.
Tentative Lecture Schedule
11.
Video extra credit
Disruptive behavior will result in dismissal from the course and possible further
disciplinary action by the college.
Cheating will automatically result in an F in the course and possible further disciplinary
action by the college.
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