BIOL L100 Humans and the Biological World
Fall 2007, Class #: 9238 and 9242
Dr. Peter Avis
Course Objectives: Biology is the study of life. It is a massive field of inquiry and
covers topics from the molecules that make up cells to the physiology of organisms and
to the ecosystems that make up the earth. Together we will take a journey through this
field with special reference to how we humans fit in. We’ll ask simple questions like
“What’s life?” and then see how science gives an answer. The objectives of the course
are to provide you an opportunity to learn and appreciate science; cells, the fundamental
units of life; the information of life contained in these cells; how this information of life
is inherited; and the evolution and ecology of life. You should also learn major skills like
“doing” science, critical thinking, lifetime learning, observation, evaluation and group
learning.
Lecture: Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45 p.m. in Marram Hall 119.
Lecture Text: Biology Concepts and Applications, sixth edition, by Cecie Starr
Online: Oncourse will be utilized in this class for access to the syllabus, assignments,
grades, messages, forums, announcements, chats and other resources. See it for lecture
notes and slides, supplemental materials, grades, email. Check it often!
Office hours: Monday and Wednesdays from 4:15-5:15 p.m. and 6:50-8 p.m. If you
want to meet at another time, please feel free to make an appointment.
Who am I: Call me Dr. Avis. I am a biologist in general, but more specifically I wear
the following hats: molecular ecologist, botanist, mycologist, environmental scientist. I
spent the last three years studying fungi and air pollution at the Field Museum in
Chicago. Before that, I taught for a year at the University of Wisconsin-Stout after I
finished my PhD at the University of Minnesota. I grew up in southwest Michigan and
traveled from near Kalamazoo to Chicago many times, and admired the juxtaposition of
Lake Michigan, the woods, fields, dunes, and the steel mills of northwest Indiana, and big
city life in Chicago.
Office Location: Marram Hall 308
Office Phone: 980-6717
Email: pavis@iun.edu, but it will be better to send me messages thru Oncourse.
Communication: In addition to instructions and assignments provided in lecture, I
expect you to use your “…@iun.edu” email account via Oncourse to receive messages
from me.
Grades: 510 total points are available in this course. Your performance will be
evaluated in a variety of formats: 1) Exams and quizzes that may include multiple choice,
short answer, matching, and/or essay type questions. These will be administered usually
in person and on paper but “take home” quizzes and/or online quizzes may also be
utilized 2) Laboratory with Kevin Kennedy. Each opportunity to earn points will be
explained in detail beforehand. Here is the point breakdown:
Weekly quizzes: 100 (Eleven ten point quizzes with the lowest score dropped)
Exams: 300 (Four exams: three 70 point exams, one 90 point final)
Lab: 110 (to be explained by KK in lab)
Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as a percentage of 510 total points.
A = 93-100%; A- = 90-92%; B+ = 87-89%; B = 83-86%; B- = 80-82%; C+ = 77-79%; C
= 73-76%; C- = 70-72%; D+ = 67-69%; D = 63-66%; D- = 60-62%; F = 0-59%
Academic misconduct including any form of cheating or plagiarism/copying (from
others, printed or Internet resources) will not be tolerated and will result in procedures
described in the code of student rights, responsibilities, and conduct (http://
dsa.indiana.edu/Code/)!
My Philosophy: My responsibility is to provide students opportunities to learn. I
emphasize that the key is to learn rather than to focus on the grade received in a course or
the job offered after graduation. I believe learning happens in different ways and most
often and most efficiently while actively engaged with a subject that has grasped the
student’s passion. My objectives are to motivate students to venture independently down
paths of learning and to ensure excellence once they commit to a path. This outcome
serves an individual in any situation encountered and produces thoughtful citizens and
productive professionals.
Attendance: Come to every class. If you choose not to, you may not know what you
missed. If you feel you have to miss a scheduled exam, at least 24 hours notice must be
given. A valid excuse must be provided and documentation may be required. Valid will
be determined by Dr. Avis. Make up exams will be different from original exams.
Excuses provided under 24 hours must be fully documented by a doctor’s note or by
other authorities. Scheduling to take an exam early can be arranged. Withdraws from the
course must be made via the Registrar’s office before November 2, 2007. Incomplete
grades (“I”) will only be issued by strictly following University policy.
Some keys to success: Attend lecture, get excited, take lots of notes, read everything
assigned, copy notes, form study groups, cover everything again, look for connections,
repetition, repetition, repetition, flashcards, ask questions, quiz yourself, challenge
yourself to learn, do the work to grow, face the challenge and succeed. Read Chiras’
“Essential Study Skills for Science Students.”
Electronics policy
Cell phones: Turn it off while in lecture or during quizzes and exams. Any incoming
calls that I hear or that you make while in class will result in a loss of 10 points. Please
excuse yourself from lecture if you need to take or receive calls. Any calls or texting
during quizzes or exams will be considered academic misconduct (see above).
Laptops, PDAs, Blackberries, other: During lecture, feel free to use these to take notes,
gather info. None allowed during quizzes or exams.
Audio and/or video recording: Please feel free to record audio. If you want to video, do
it so that others are not disturbed. Making available audio or video or images to others is
like sharing notes and can help you learn, but won’t substitute attending lectures – you
get to take part in lecture. If you post anything on the internet, please let me know.
BIOL L100 Humans and the Biological World, Fall 2007
Tentative lecture and reading schedule. See KK for laboratory schedule.
Date
August 27-29
September 5
September 10-12-17
September 19
September 24-26October 1
October 3
October 8
October 10
October 15-17
October 22-24
October 29-31
November 5-7
November 12
November 14
November 19-21
Noveber 26-28
December 3-5
Topic
The Science and Simple
Units of Life
What is biology and
science?
What’s life made of?
Chemistry basics
Cells, what they do, and
how cells make more
cells
EXAM #1
The “Big Things” in Life
Air and Food: Respiration
and Photosynthesis
Fermentation, fungi and
us: The biology of bread,
wine and beer
Carbon cycle and fossil
fuels
EXAM #2
Life’s Instructions and
Destructions
Who owns your DNA?
Information and Power,
DNA to Phenotypes
Variation and Inheritance:
Mendel
Human Genetics and
Genome
What’s Cancer?
Who’s Using DNA?
Biotechnology
EXAM #3
The Spice of Life:
Diversity
Evolution and Darwin
The Tree of Life
Populations to
Ecosystems
Reading, other
Quiz
Chapter 1
1
Chapters 2 and 3
2
Chapters 4 and 8
3
Chapters 5, 6, and
7
Pgs. 72-73, 116117, Oncourse
4
5
Pgs. 739, 742-744,
Oncourse
Chapters 12, 13,
Oncourse
6
Chapters 9, 10
7
Chapter 11
8
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
9
Chapter 16, 17, 18
Oncourse
Chapters 39, 40,
41, 42
10
11
December 10-15
Exam Week – EXAM #4