FIRST YEAR BIOLOGY BO101 2013–2014 First Lecture:
Tuesday, 10th September at 11.00am
Venues:
*Group 1: O’Flaherty Theatre, Main Concourse
**Group 2: IT250, Information Technology Building
Groups:
*Group
**Group
1 includes all science (1BS1) students
2 includes students of all other programmes: Earth and Ocean Science (1EH1),
Environmental Science (1EV1), Marine Science (1MR1), Biomedical Science (1BO1),
Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (1BPC1), Biotechnology (1BY1), Health and Safety Systems (1HF1),
Mathematical Science (IBMS1), Physics (Applied, Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical) (1BPT1),
Foundation Year Medical Students (0MB3)
Welcome to First Year Biology. Regardless of whether this is your first time studying
Biology, or you are returning to the subject as a successful Leaving Cert candidate, I am sure that you will
enjoy the course, and learn a lot over the next year. Don't be worried if you are new to Biology, we will be
starting from scratch and covering all the basics. However, the course will move quite quickly, so there is
no time for complacency from any students but, if you attend your lectures and keep up with course
reading, you should be fine —if you do find yourself falling behind, or are unable to keep up, please bring it
to the attention of your academic advisor (who will be assigned to you at registration), the individual
lecturer, or the course co-ordinator as soon as possible. We are very happy to help!
The First Year Biology BO101 course consists of two semesters of work, with each
comprising half the course: the first semester is taught by Biochemistry and Botany; the second semester is
taught by Zoology and Microbiology. Written examinations are held at the end of each Semester.
You have three lectures per week. It is very important that you attend these lectures.
Evidence of participation in lectures, through the use of your clicker, will be recorded. There is a close
correlation between students who miss lectures and those who fail their exams. Most lecturers also provide
material on Blackboard, and relevant chapters in the textbook "Biology — 9th Edition" by Campbell and
Reece (the recommended course text) should be read. Make sure you take your own notes in lectures as
well, and copy any diagrams or notes when instructed to do so. The lecture courses are examined in the
Semester 1 and Semester 2 examinations and the results of these exams count for 60% of the overall marks
for the year.
You will also have practical biology classes. The first semester Biochemistry and Botany
practicals are assessed with Multiple Choice Questions at the conclusion of each section of the practical
course in Semester I. The second semester Zoology and Microbiology practicals are also assessed by
Multiple Choice Questions in the middle and at the end of Semester 2. The practical components, along
with additional continuous assessment exercises, which you will take at various points during the course,
correspond to 40% of the overall marks for the year. Practical classes are compulsory, and attendance is
taken each week. They are held in the First Year Biology Lab (SC200), Concourse. You will be required to
purchase a practical manual for each semester. The manuals can be purchased at Print That, beside
Smokies in the Arts/Science Concourse.
First year biology is split into two groups (1 and 2). Group 1 includes the following class: Science
(1BS1). Group 2 includes the following classes: Earth and Ocean Science (1EH1), Environmental Science
(1EV1), Marine Science (1MR1), Biomedical Science (1BO1), Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (1BPC1),
Biotechnology (1BY1), Health and Safety Systems (1HF1), Mathematical Science (1BMS1) Physics
(Applied, Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical) (BPT1), Foundation Year Medical Students (0MB3).
Please pay attention to announcements in class, or on Blackboard, regarding changes to venues or
alterations of groups.
Once again, if you have any problems or queries please contact your lecturer after your lecture or
by email: biology@nuigalway.ie. Each lecturer will put aside 2 hours during the week they are lecturing,
which they will advertise to you on Blackboard, and at which time they will be available in their office to
give personal help if required. You must inform the College of Science if you are absent from University
and miss lectures or practicals. Medical certificates/absence notes should be provided to the College Office,
Room 211, Arts/Science Building (beside Bank of Ireland).
Best of luck throughout the year!
Professor Jim O’Gara and your 1st year Biology lecturer team
FIRST YEAR BIOLOGY LECTURES 2013–2014
LECTURES - SEMESTER I
*Group 1
**Group 2
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
Kirwan Theatre
Tuesday
11–12 noon
O’Flaherty Theatre
Thursday
1–2 p.m.
O’Flaherty Theatre
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
Cairnes Theatre
Tuesday
11–12 noon
IT250, IT Building
Thursday
11–12 noon
Cairnes Theatre
*Group 1 includes all science (1BS1) students
**Group 2 includes students of all other programmes: Earth and Ocean Science (1EH1), Environmental Science
(1EV1), Marine Science (1MR1), Biomedical Science (1BO1), Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (1BPC1),
Biotechnology (1BY1), Health and Safety Systems (1HF1), Mathematical Science (IBMS1), Physics (Applied,
Astrophysics, Biomedical, Theoretical) (1BPT1), Foundation Year Medical Students (0MB3)
LECTURES - SEMESTER II
*Group 1
**Group 2
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
O’Flaherty Theatre
Tuesday
11–12.noon
O’Flaherty Theatre
Thursday
11–12 noon
O’Flaherty Theatre
Tuesday
9–10 a.m.
Cairnes Theatre
Tuesday
11–12 noon
AM250, O’hEocha Theatre
Thursday
1112 noon
AM250, O’hEocha Theatre
An additional lecture/tutorial slot on Friday morning at 9.00am will be utilised on occasion, as required, during the
year. Watch for Blackboard announcements and listen to announcements in class.
You will be assessed via a Blackboard-based MCQ held at the end of each of the blocks of lectures for each subject
area i.e. in the first semester at the end of week 6 (Biochemistry) and 12 (Botany) and in the second semester at the
end of week 6 (Zoology) and 12 (Microbiology).
SEMESTER ONE LECTURES
Week beginning 9th September, 2013 – 29th November, 2013
Biochemistry Lectures (10/9/2013–17/10/2013)
Groups 1 and 2
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
An Introduction to Biology.
The chemistry of life; Proteins; Carbohydrates; Lipids.
Nucleic Acids; Eukaryotic cell structure; Cell membranes.
An introduction to metabolism; Enzymes; Cellular Respiration.
The cell cycle; Mitosis & Meiosis; Cellular communication.
From gene to protein; Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression;
Genetic engineering/biotechnology.
Botany Lectures (22/10/2013–28/11/2013)
Group 1
WEEK 7
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
WEEK 12
Group 2
WEEK 7
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
WEEK 12
Introduction — what is Botany and Plant Science?
Diversity (and evolution) — the green plant lineage; Plant Ecology, Habitats and
Ecosystems (Global and Ireland).
Green, red, brown algae and microalgae.
Fungi; Plants, Medicines and Human Health; Plant Genetics, Crops and
Biotechnology.
Plants and the underworld; Plants and the city (plants in and around Galway,
identification and survival); Transport — water transport.
Living on the edge — Plant-animal interactions, including carnivorous plants;
Climate change, fire, UV, etc.; Plant Metabolism.
Plants, Energy and Photosynthesis; Plant Structure, Growth and Development;
Plants, Humanity and Sustainable Development.
Introduction — what is Botany and Plant Science? Plants, Humanity and
Sustainable Development; Plants, Medicines and Human Health.
Plant Ecology, Habitats and Ecosystems (Global and Ireland); Fungi; Diversity (and
evolution) — the green plant lineage.
Green, red, brown algae and microalgae.
Plant Metabolism; Plants, Energy and Photosynthesis; Plant Structure, Growth and
Development.
Plant Genetics, Crops and Biotechnology; Climate change, fire, UV, etc; Plants and
the underworld.
Plants and the city (plants in and around Galway, identification and survival);
Transport — water transport; Living on the edge — Plant-animal interactions,
including carnivorous plants.
SEMESTER TWO LECTURES
Week beginning 13th January, 2014 – 3rd April, 2014
Zoology (14/1/2014–20/2/2014)
Group 1
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
Introduction to animal diversity; Invertebrates; Vertebrates.
Introduction to animal ecology.
Reproduction and development
Nutrition and excretion.
Evolution
The nervous and endocrine systems.
Group 2
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
Introduction to animal ecology.
Introduction to animal diversity; Invertebrates; Vertebrates.
Nutrition and excretion.
Reproduction and development
The nervous and endocrine systems.
Evolution
Microbiology (25/2/2014–3/4/2014)
Groups 1 & 2
WEEK 7
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
WEEK 12
Meet the microbes; The microbial planet.
How and why study microbes.
Medical microbiology.
Microbes and the food we eat.
Environmental microbiology.
Tutorials
BIOLOGY PRACTICALS
The practicals are held in the 1st Year Biology Laboratory, (SC200) Concourse. Check the notice board for
your lab number, and which session you are to attend.
For each practical you must bring writing implements (pen, pencil, ruler, eraser), the first year
practical manual for the appropriate semester (available from Print That), and dissection
instruments. You must wear a lab coat.
Students attend one practical session per week and the times are as follows:
Wednesdays: 2–4 & 4.30–6.30, Thursdays: 2–4 & 4.30–6.30, Fridays: 9.30–11.30, 12–2 & 2.30–4.30
SEMESTER ONE - BIOCHEMISTRY PRACTICALS 2013
Week:
25th, 26th, 27th September:
Introduction
2nd, 3rd, 4th October:
Practical No. 1
9th, 10th, 11th October:
Practical No. 2
16th, 17th, 18th October:
Tutorial and practical assessment
SEMESTER ONE - BOTANY PRACTICALS 2013
Week:
23rd , 24th, 25th October:
Anthropogenic uses of plants
30th, 31st October, 1st November:
Floral structure and function
6th, 7th, 8th November:
Algae
13th, 14th, 15th November:
Chromosomes and DNA
20th, 21st, 22nd November:
Fungi
27th, 28th, 29th November:
Botany practical assessment
The Practical assessment is via a 40 question MCQ in Biochemistry in the tutorial session and a 40
question MCQ in Botany in the week beginning November 27th. Each of these will be held during your
normal timetabled practical session in the week indicated.
SEMESTER TWO - ZOOLOGY PRACTICALS 2014
For each practical you must bring writing implements (pen, pencil, ruler, eraser), the first year
practical manual for the appropriate semester (available from Print That), and dissection
instruments. You must wear a lab coat.
Week:
15th, 16th, 17th January:
Practical 1
Basal taxa: Choanoflagellata, Porifera, Cnidaria,
Lophotrochozoa: Platyhelminthes
22nd, 23rd, 24th January:
Practical 2
Lophotrochozoa: Annelida
29th, 30th, 31st January:
Practical 3
Lophotrohozoa: Mollusca
5th, 6th, 7th February:
Practical 4
Ecdysozoa: Arthropoda
Deuterostomia: Chordata
12th, 13th, 14th February:
Practical 5
Histology
MCQ Practical test
SEMESTER TWO- MICROBIOLOGY PRACTICALS 2014
Each student must have a lab coat, hard cover notebook, practical manual and permanent
marker.
Week:
12th, 13th, 14th March:
Introduction & Practical 1
What’s living on your phone?
19th, 20th, 21st March:
Practical 2
Nasal swab experiment
26th, 27th, 28th March:
Practical 3
Bacterial growth & culture (microscope work)
2nd, 3rd, 4th April:
Practical 4
Practical assessment/Tutorial
The Practical assessment exam is via continuous assessment in your usual practical session on February
12th, 13th, or 14th (Zoology) and April 2nd, 3rd, or 4th (Microbiology) as indicated above.
FIRST YEAR BIOLOGY EXAMS
This section is an attempt to make clear what exactly is required to pass first year biology and what the
consequences are of failing any particular component.
1. For all classes except Foundation Medicine (0MB3):
The First Class Honours mark is 70%, the Second Class Honours mark is 50%. The Pass mark is 40%.
Each Semester is marked separately. The mark for a module is calculated by adding the marks for your
practical and continuous assessment (out of 20) and your written exam (out of 30) together to give a total
out of 50 for each Semester.
The overall result for your first year Biology exam is calculated by adding the results of the two Semesters,
1 and 2, together to give a mark/100.
Can I pass first year biology if I fail one of the two written exams?
Yes. You simply need to get more than 40% for the whole year combined.
Can I pass my first year biology exam if I fail the continuous assessment?
If you get less than 35% for Continuous Assessment in BO101 you will be deemed not to have completed
the course adequately. You will not pass first year Biology in this case, even if your overall mark is greater
than 40%.
So – to pass first year biology you must:
1. Get over 35% in the Continuous Assessment
and
2. Get an overall mark of 40% or more
If you get over 35% in the Continuous Assessment but fail the module, you will be allowed to re-sit
both written examinations during the re-sit period. If you did well in one paper, you may be advised
just to re-sit the paper in which you did poorly.
If you get less than 35% in the Continuous Assessment, you will have to re-sit the module next year.
Can I pass the First Science exam, even if I fail first year Biology or any other subject?
Yes. This is called the “Pass by Compensation” rule. This means that, if you fail Biology, but achieve a
mark of 35%+, you may still be deemed to have passed First Science if you score double the difference in at
least one of the other subjects (e.g. Chemistry, Physics, etc) and your average score for all subjects in the
year is 40%+.
E.g. Results for Bob: Biology= 35 (Sem. 1=30; Sem. 2=40); Chemistry = 50; Physics 40; Maths = 45.
Overall year average 42%. Bob can pass first year by compensation, based on his Chemistry mark, and does
not need to re-sit Sem. 1.
2. For Foundation Medicine Students (OMB3)
The Pass mark is 50%.
Each Semester is marked separately. The mark for a module is calculated by adding the marks for your
practical assessment (out of 20) and your written exam (out of 30) together to give a total out of 50.
The overall result for your first year Biology exam is calculated by adding the results for Semester 1 and 2
together to give a mark/100.
ABSENCE PROCEDURE
You must inform the College of Science if you are absent from University and miss lectures or practicals.
Medical certificates/absence notes should be provided to the College Office, Room 211, Arts/Science
Building (beside Bank of Ireland).
FURTHER INFORMATION
General queries to: Biology@nuigalway.ie
Queries on academic issues should be addressed to the individual lecturers after the lectures, during
advertised office hours (see Blackboard) or by appointment.
Blackboard: To access the Blackboard website, type in https://nuigalway.blackboard.com/and login using
your username and password as provided by Computer Services. You will be enrolled on the course, which
will be identified by the code BO101. If you have difficulty enrolling, please contact user support in
Computer Services.