BIOL 116
GENES: THE FOUNDATIONS OF LIFE (Lecture only)
Course Syllabus Fall 2004
This course is an introduction to biological principles, biotechnology, and applications
related to genetics. Ethical analyses are included due to the far-reaching effects on the
individual and society. Online reading is required due to the contemporary nature of
the material. There is NO traditional textbook.
BIOL 116 is a 3 credit hour lecture only course. Life science lab credit can be obtained
by current or subsequent enrollment in BIOL 117. BIOL 117 is offered as 1) a traditional
fall and spring laboratory course, 2) a two week mini-mester between the spring and
summer semesters (officially in the Spring schedule), or 3) a hybrid online/on-campus
laboratory course.
Instructor: Stacie Chismark Stacie.Chismark@heartland.edu
Phone: (309) 268-8644
Office: ICB 2406 (in the hall behind the ICB 2400 glass doors)
BIOL 116 Website: http://www.heartland.edu/staff/StacieC/BIOL116.htm.
Or access the HCC main website http://www.heartland.edu and
click on ‘Employees’ – ‘Stacie R. Chismark’ – ‘BIOL 116’.
Course Materials:
1. 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.
2. Course Readings are located on the above BIOL 116 website under Supplements.
Instructions and questions concerning the online readings also are provided online.
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Student Responsibilities:
1. Students must review the syllabus periodically to refresh their memory concerning
information provided therein.
2. Students must attend and actively participate in all lecture and group sessions. Bring
appropriate materials to class (Lecture Guides). Complete assignments, using the required
format, and turn them in on time. Take exams/quizzes as scheduled.
3. Students must read and spend enough time in independent study to master the
material. 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.
4. Take thorough notes in lecture; write down everything the instructor writes and says.
It is the student’s responsibility to ask the instructor for clarification or, if absent, to
obtain copies of the notes from another student. The instructor will not provide lecture
notes.
Student Contacts:
5. Study often and early for exams. Do not procrastinate. Students should follow the
instructions in the Self-Tests found at the end of the Lecture Guides. They are an
invaluable resource for exams. Answer the online reading questions. Write down
questions to ask before the lectures and exams.
6. Students must exhibit courtesy and respect for their fellow students. TURN OFF CELL
PHONES. ONE WARNING WILL BE ISSUED FOR INAPPROPRIATE TALKING OR BEHAVIOR
DURING CLASS. A SECOND OFFENSE WILL RESULT IN DISMISSMISAL FROM THE COURSENO EXCEPTIONS.
7. Students are responsible for recording their grades (Syllabus, Page 7) and determining
their final course grade.
Course Policies
1. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EMERGENCIES AND DIFFERING PRIORITIES ARE PROVIDED IN THE
COURSE POLICIES. These accommodations will not be altered. Special privileges will not
be secretly given to any student. This assures that all will 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.
Contract due date:
2
2. EXAMS: FIVE REGULAR EXAMS AND TWO QUIZZES.
Accommodations for emergencies: If you miss one of the first four exams because you
are sick, attending a funeral, in a coma, have been kidnapped, going on a trip, miss your
bus, your car breaks down, etc., the exam grade will be dropped without penalty. ONLY
USE THIS OPTION IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. A poor grade on a previous
exam is not an excuse to make up a missed exam. If all of the first four exams are taken,
the lowest of these will be dropped (Exam 5 is NOT dropped).
Comprehensive Final Exam: See page 7 of the syllabus.
Cheating will result in an automatic “F” in the course.
Exam grades are returned at the following lecture session. In addition, students are
responsible for recording and calculating their own grades. Grades will NOT be
emailed to students.
3. ASSIGNMENTS
One assignment is a group project requiring attendance and participation. This
assignment will involve several lecture periods. If a student misses one of these lecture
periods, 75% of the project grade will be deducted. The remaining 25% only will be
awarded if the appropriate material is turned in correctly, completely, and on time.
4. ATTENDANCE
Although attendance may be taken, 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 you give it.
5. TARDIES: Tardies are disruptive. Scheduled class times reflect the start of the lecture,
not when students should walk through the door. Please let the instructor know if there
are extenuating circumstances that may cause tardies.
6. SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER
This syllabus is subject to change. It is your responsibility to attend lectures or, if absent,
communicate with student contacts or the instructor for any verbal or written changes.
Course Objectives
1. To deduce relationships between cellular organelles, their functions, and biological
organization.
2. To relate the structure and functions of proteins and nucleic acids.
3. To understand scientific principles of DNA typing and case studies.
4. To correlate human traits with the dynamic relationship between genes and
environment.
5. To attain knowledge of selected genetic disorders and relate this information to genetic
principles.
6. To understand the scientific basis of genetic engineering, gene therapy and cloningwhile evaluating concerns and goals.
7. To gain knowledge of the Human Genome Project and related programs- including
their implications concerning ethics and public policy.
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Student Evaluation
Grading scale:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
Below 60%
Assignments and Exams
A
B
C
D
F
Total Points Possible
5 Exams
(100pt. each, lowest of first 4 dropped)
400pt.
2 quizzes
(15pt. Each)
30pt.
HGP Debate
20pt.
Total: 450pt.
Academic Integrity
The College views any act of academic dishonest as a serious offense requiring
disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion from the
College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of
data, falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to
computerized academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these
violations may be found in the college catalog.
Heartland Library Information
www.hcc.cc.il.us/library
The Library, located in the Students 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 Center
http://www.hcc.cc.il.us/asc/tutor.html
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to
Heartland students at the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac
and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week.
Study groups, group tutoring facilitated by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by
request. For more information about services available at each location, please call the
ASC in Normal (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center
(217)735-1731.
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Tentative Lecture Outline
All dates are approximate.
The following schedule is only an approximation of the dates when material is covered
during the semester. Depending on student needs and college closings, course sections
may proceed through the course at different rates. Therefore, lecture
topic/exams/quizzes/group project dates are not definite until the instructor has made a
final announcement.
Aug. 19 (Thurs.) – Aug. 20 (Fri.)
Video: Testing Fate
Week 1- Aug. 23-26
Syllabus/Website/Lecture Guides/Self-tests/Contract
Lecture Guide: Strong Inference The Way of Science
Lecture Guide: The Cell.
Week 2- Aug. 30-Sept. 2
Lecture Guide: The Cell.
Week 3- Sept. 7-9 (Labor Day 8/6/04 No class)
Lecture Guide: The Cell.
Lecture Guide: Structure of DNA
Week 4- Sept. 13-16
Exam 1 (The Cell, Strong Inference The Way of Science, Structure of DNA)
Lecture Guide: Functions of DNA
Week 5- Sept. 20-23
Lecture Guide: Functions of DNA
Human Genome Project and Debate (two lecture periods)
Week 6- Sept 27-30
Human Genome Project Debate
Week 7- Oct. 4-7
Exam 2 (Functions of DNA, Human Genome Project)
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing Introduction and Procedures: RFLP
Week 8- Oct. 11-14
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing Introduction and Procedures: RFLP
Quiz 1
5
Week 9- Oct. 18-21
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing Introduction and Procedures: PCR/STRs
Quiz 2 (DNA Typing PCR/STRs)
Week 10- Oct. 25-28
Exam 3 (DNA Typing Introduction and Procedures)
Lecture Guide: DNA Typing Applications
Lecture Guide: Interpreting DNA Typing Data
Lecture Guide: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
Week 11- Nov. 1-4
Lecture Guide: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
Week 12- Nov. 8-12
Lecture Guide: Complex Traits
Exam 4 (DNA Typing Applications, Interpreting DNA Typing Data, Meiosis &
Sexual Reproduction, Complex Traits)
Week 13- Nov. 15-18
Lecture Guide: Genetics and Race
Lecture Guide: Genetics of Sex
Week 14- Nov. 22-23 (Nov. 24-26 No classes, Thanksgiving break)
Lecture Guide: Genetics of Sex
Lecture Guide: Genetic Engineering
Week 15- Nov. 29-Dec. 2
Lecture Guide: Genetic Engineering
Lecture Guide: Gene Therapy
Lecture Guide: Cloning
Week 16- Dec. 6-9
Lecture Guide: Cloning
Exam 5 (Genetics and Race, Genetics of Sex, Genetic Engineering, Gene
Therapy, Cloning)
Exam 5 is NOT dropped! The instructor will announce the schedule for Exam 5. This
schedule will NOT be altered. It is the student’s responsibility to determine conflicts
WELL in advance. Students in any section may attend any of the scheduled times for
Sections 01, 03 or 04. No other times will be available.
Section 01 (TR 9:30am-10:45) Exam 5 Date
Section 03 (TR 12:30pm-1:45) Exam 5 Date
Section 04 (M 5:00pm-7:50) Exam 5 Date
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Comprehensive Final Exam Policies and Schedules
The Comprehensive Final Exam will be given only if a student misses two of the first
four regular exams or Exam 5. If Exam 5 is missed, it MUST be replaced with the
comprehensive final exam.
Comprehensive final exam dates will NOT be altered.
It is the student’s responsibility to determine conflicts well in advance. Students in all
sections may attend any of the scheduled Final Exam times below; no other times will be
available.
BIOL 116 Section 01, Final Exam
Thurs. Dec. 16, 2004, 8:00am
ICB 1302
BIOL 116 Section 03, Final Exam
Thurs. Dec. 16, 2004, 12:00 noon
ICB 1302
BIOL 116 Section 04, Final Exam
Mon. Dec. 13, 2004, 5:00pm
ICB 1302
Record and Calculate Your Grades
Exam 1
Exam 2
Drop lowest score or a missed exam from the first 4 exams.
Exam 3
Exam 4
Exam 5
(Do NOT drop Exam 5)
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
To calculate your final grade, first drop the lowest score
from the first 4 exams (a missed exam is the lowest score).
Add all of the scores together from the remaining exams
with the scores for both quizzes and the HGP debate.
Divide this number by 450 (total points possible).
This is your final score.
HGP Debate
7
/450 =
Final Course Score
8
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BIOL 116 Genes: The Foundations of Life
Student Contract
116 Section
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.
Student Responsibilities
2.
Course Policies Concerning…
a.
Exam Schedules and Accommodations for Missed Exams
b.
Cheating and Academic Integrity
c.
Attendance & Participation with Group Projects
d.
Inappropriate Behavior
3.
BIOL 116 Course Website
4.
Lecture Guides, Self-tests, Online Readings & Questions
5.
Syllabus Disclaimer
6.
Course Objectives
7.
Grade Reporting, Grade Calculations & Student Evaluation
8.
Support Services: HCC Computing and Tutoring
9.
Tentative Lecture Schedule
10.
Policies Concerning the Last Regular Exam and Final Exam Scheduled Dates
10