Heartland Community College
Math/Science Division
Student Syllabus for BIOL 117
Contemporary Biology
Fall 2007
Meeting times:
 BIOL 117: Wednesdays, 5:00 am – 7:50 pm [ICB 1409]
Catalog Description:
Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent enrollment in BIOL 116. A laboratory course designed to
enhance the student's understanding of concepts covered in BIOL 116.
Instructor Information:
Hong Fei
Adjunct Faculty
Phone: 212-0455; Office: ICB 2402; e-mail: hong.fei@heartland.edu
Please email with BIOL 117 in the subject line.
If you wanted to speak with the Division Secretary (Melanie Gray) and leave a message with her,
call 268-8640.
Office hours:
Tuesday: 9:00 - 11:00 am
Wednesday: 7:50 - 9:30 pm
Thursday: 9:00 - 11:00 am
Any other day and time by phone appointment
Web site for this course's information and THE PLACE WHERE YOU WILL PRINT OUT ALL
OF YOUR LAB MANUALS:
http://www.heartland.edu/divisions/ms/biol/biol117/index.html
Then click on "1. The
TRADITIONAL Fall and Spring Semester On-campus Laboratory Format", for information on
classes. Please call 268-8380 for computer help.
Lab Assistant:
Mark Geiger
Phone: 268-8514
Required Materials:
1. Students will need to print off the actual student exercises themselves from the online website
and bring them to the lab
2. Classroom hand outs
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course counts as a 2.5 credit lab science course for partial completion of the IAI (Illinois
Articulation Initiative) requirements for either the A.A. or A.S. Degree.
Fall 2007
BIOL 117 – 02
Traditional Format
Lab Exercise Schedule
DATE
August
22
Aug. 29
TOPICS AND LABS
OBJECTIVES
Points possible for
each lab report:
LAB CANCELLED.
Introduction to the course.
Discussion of syllabus, course website,
lab schedule, student evaluation.
Sept. 5
Students will prepare cells and 100
stain chromosomes.
The
Preparation of
chromosome spreads will then
Human Chromosome be observed under the
Spreads
microscope.
Sept. 12
Video:
Basic
Chemistry for Biology Students obtain a general 100
Students.
overview concerning chemical
concepts important to the
study of life.
Isolation of DNA.
Sept. 19
Students remove DNA from
cells
and
observe
its
properties.
Day 1 DNA Model.
Students
enhance
their
knowledge of the structure of
DNA.
Students begin
building a DNA model
representative of the double
helix dimensions. This also
enhances
students'
understanding of the functions
of DNA.
Sept. 26
Day 2 DNA Model.
Students complete the DNA 200
model.
Oct. 3
Video: Double Helix.
Oct. 10
Genetic Disorders.
Students learn of the historical
significance concerning the
race to determine the structure 100
of the hereditary material,
DNA.
Students obtain knowledge of
specific classes of genetic 100
disorders.
Oct. 17
Human
Genome Students discuss and analyze
Project: The Individual 1) possible effects of 100
and Society.
individuals
obtaining
a
complete genetic profile and
2) public policy issues
concerning the results of
genetic tests.
DNA
Typing:
Introduction
to Students prepare materials for 100
Electrophoresis.
the RFLP technique. Students
practice using the equipment.
DNA Typing:
Students
perform
gel
Crime Scene and
electrophoresis
100
Paternity Testing.
Oct. 24
Oct. 31
Nov. 7
DNA Typing:
Crime Scene and
Paternity Testing.
Students analyze the gels from
the previous lab.
DNA Typing:
Students study DNA typing 100
Dot blot/ DQA1 procedures, perform the Dot
Analysis.
blot/DQA1 technique, and
solve a hypothetical criminal
case.
Nov. 14
DNA Typing:
Cancer
Detection.
Students will determine a
Gene pedigree for a family
suspected to be carriers of
mutations in their p53 gene.
Students perform a diagnostic 100
agarose gel separation of DNA
fragments to confirm the state
of p53 in individual family
members.
Nov. 21
LAB CANCELLED. THANKSGIVING BREAK.
Nov. 28
DNA Typing:
Students analyze gels from the
Cancer Gene Detection previous lab.
completed.
100
Genetic engineering.
Part 1:
Bacterial
Transformation.
Dec. 5
Students discuss genetic
engineering procedures.
Students transfer foreign DNA
to bacterial cells.
Genetic engineering. Students observe transformed
Part 2:
bacterial cells.
Bacterial
100
Transformation
complete
Video: Twilight of the
Golds.
*The schedule will have to be tentative. Changes in some dates and contents will be unavoidable
due to various reasons such as the pace of the accompanying lectures in BIOL 116.
Grading criteria for the lab reports will include the following.
1)
Whether or not the report is handed in on time. (10%)
2)
Whether or not the experiments are performed satisfactorily. This will in turn include
correct experimental procedures, well controlled results and the attention paid to the
safety procedures. (50%)
3)
Discussion of results. This part will include answers to questions in the lab report, as well
as explanations to unexpected results. (40%)
Total points possible = 1300 Final score: (points earned/ 1300) x 100%
Example:
If you got an accumulated total points of 1200 over the semester, your score = (1200/1300) x
100% = 92
Final Grades:
A = 90+
B = 80+
C = 70+
D = 60+
F = 60-
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
Make-up policies
There is no lab make up for logistical reasons. If you have extreme circumstances, please see the
instructor.
Safety Rules for Biology Lab
1. Emergency shower and emergency eye wash are located at the side of classroom.
2. Fire extinguisher is located in the classroom. Familiar yourself with the location.
3. Safety information about chemicals used in labs, including chemical storage, poison control
and treatment, is on file and available on my desk in binder. These papers are called Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that are required by law to be available for inspection by users.
4. Eye protection, gloves, aprons will be provided when exercise necessities; however, they are
available at all times upon request.
5. Always ware gloves when handling chemicals.
6. Dispose hazardous material in special containers.
7. Dispose sharps (needles, blades) in sharp container.
8. Dispose bacteria culture in biohazard bags.
9. Rinse with copious amount of water when chemicals spilled on skin.
10. Handling vaporous material in fume hood.
11. Clean up work area so next time or next person will not touch chemicals or microbes.
12. Report accident immediately.