BIO202 Fundamentals of Biology:
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Profs. Vitaly Citovsky/J. Souza
Summer 2012 – Extended Session
Stony Brook University
Course Contact Information
Also see our Biology online website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/biologyonline
Online resource management
(Including blackboard and any discussion
board related questions:
Prof. Joanne Souza
LSB Room 380
Email: monastra@aol.com
Content Lecturer:
(Including exam content)
Prof. Vitaly Citovsky
LSB Rm 414, Phone: 631-632-9534
Email: vitaly.citovsky@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: For Phone or Adobe
Connect access: by appointment
Administrative Staff
(Adding/dropping course, etc)
Ms. Lynette Giordano, G05 CMM/BLL, 631-632-8530, Email:
lygiordano@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Ms. Diane Pauciullo, G05 CMM/Biology Learning Labs, 631-632-8171
GENERAL INFORMATION: BIO202 together with BIO201 and BIO203, make up a three-semester set of
courses on Principles of Biology. These courses may be taken in any order. In BIO202, living systems are
treated from a molecular, cellular, and genetic point of view, with a focus on the relationship between
structure and function. These fundamental insights are vital to the understanding of all of biology.
Prerequisites: Level 3 or higher on the mathematics placement examination or BME 100 (for Stony
Brook Students):
Pre- or Co-requisites: Basic chemistry (CHE 129 or 131 or 141); basic calculus (MAT 125 or higher or
AMS 151 for Stony Brook Students).
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Welcome to the fundamentals of cell biology, biochemistry and genetics!
This course covers the biochemical and molecular bases of cell structure, energy metabolism, gene
regulation, heredity, and development in living organisms from bacteria to humans. Our goal is to give
you a strong foundation in the principles you need to understand and solve problems in the areas of
molecular and cellular biology. Whether your career goal is medicine, basic research, clinical research,
or teaching, a sound, rigorous understanding of these basic principles is crucial. This online course is
structured to support your efficient mastery of the extensive course material, including content
exploration in small asynchronous discussion groups. You will find the problem solving skills you learn
here to be crucial throughout the rest of your career, including in the laboratory segments of your
academic degree program.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course is organized in thirds with a live, in-person evening exam given at
the end of each third to assess your mastery of the content presented. The cumulative final exam is
given concurrently with the exam for the last third of the course (for a total of three live exam sessions).
These exams may be taken at either the Stony Brook or Manhattan campuses. All other features of the
course are online and delivered through Blackboard. The content of the course is accessible to you via
video lectures, lecture Power Points for note taking, and through readings in the 9th Edition of the
Campbell Biology textbook.
Multiple choice sample questions covering challenging content will be the basis of your discussions with
peers in the asynchronous discussion groups. Three posts per week discussing these questions with
your colleagues are required. This portion of your work will also serve as a powerful study aid for
mastery of key concepts and performing well on the exams as well as to increase your critical thinking
and communication skills. Grading for this portion of the course will consist of the assessment of your
critical thinking and application skills as guided by the discussion board rubric (below).
COURSE ORGANIZATION:
In the first third of the course, we will begin our journey by exploring how the properties of
biological organisms emerge with surprising orderliness from the fundamentals of elementary chemistry
and physics. These insights, in turn, will allow us explore how the several different classes of biological
macromolecules collaborate to build the various levels of structures making up biological organisms,
including molecular machines, subcellular organelles, cells, tissues and organisms. Moreover, we will
study features of the fundamental chemical process of catalysis, allowing us to begin to understand how
biological macromolecules create and control the fundamental chemistry of life.
In the second third of the course, we will continue to build our understanding of the molecular
and biochemical nature of all living organisms, from viruses and bacteria to human beings. This portion
of our exploration will include investigation of how the massive amounts of energy biological organisms
require is ultimately captured from solar radiation by photosynthesis. We will go on to explore the
biochemical processes that allow organisms to use this energy to function and to incorporate matter
during growth and reproduction, the fundamental processes characteristic of all organisms. Finally, we
will examine how cells control their growth and division, followed by an investigation of how the
macromolecules encoding genetic information (DNA) are distributed when cells divide during growth or
are redistributed when organisms reproduce sexually, producing offspring with genetic information
from each of two parents. This last topic will lead us to an initial understanding of the pivotal science of
genetics.
In the final third of the course, we will extend our investigation of the central process of all
biological organisms, the functioning of their genetic information. We will explore how genetic
information stored in DNA expresses itself to create and control the structure and behavior of viruses,
cells and multicellular organisms. These molecular processes, through which DNA sequences are
transcribed into RNA sequences, which are then translated into protein sequences, are remarkably
elegant in their power and simplicity. Next will explore how these processes of expressing genetic
information are controlled so that the same set of genes can build all the different cell types in a
complex organism like a woman or a man. Further, we will investigate how chemical accidents and other
processes randomly change DNA sequence, creating the variation in design information filtered by
natural selection to produce evolutionary change. Finally, we will capitalize on all we have learned to
better understand disease processes, such as cancer, and the spectacular new capabilities for
biotechnology allowed by the dramatic scientific progress of the last 40 years.
Required Textbook: (Available in the University Bookstore)
Textbook: Biology by Campbell, Reece. The 9th edition is the most recent, but earlier editions are also
acceptable. You may purchase either the entire textbook or a custom edition, which contains only the
chapters that are required for BIO 202. New textbooks also contain an access code, which is required to
access online resources of the textbook. This is not mandatory for the course.
EXAMINATIONS AND GRADES
Grades are a combination of three in-person midterm exams, an in-person cumulative final (given
concurrently with the third midterm) and three weekly discussion posts. Your lowest midterm exam
grade (of the three) will be dropped; therefore, NO MAKEUPS of midterms are permitted.
EXAMS: All exams will be given in the evening. See schedule below for dates, times and places or see
the Biology ONLINE website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/biologyonline>courses>BIO202 for details.
The third midterm will be given along with the cumulative final. Be sure NOT TO register for any other
courses that conflict with the exam schedule.
Please let Prof. Souza know by email if you will be taking the exam in other than the campus in
which you have registered. Do not bring pagers, beepers, or receivers to the exam. Cell phones must be
TURNED OFF before entering the room and stowed with your bags/book. Based on university policy, a
ringing cell phone during an exam represents academic dishonesty. If you are caught cheating, you will
receive an F for the course and be reported to the academic judiciary committee.
DISCUSSION BOARD POSTS:
THERE ARE 22 DISCUSSION POSTS DUE on Blackboard throughout the course. (See the
Assignments tab on Blackboard each week for details). Requirements are a minimum of three
substantial and documented posts per week. Grading is on a scale of 0 to 5 and post will be graded
according to the critical thinking rubric provided. We drop the 2 lowest scoring posts for a total of
20 posts worth a potential 100 points for this section of the course.
The first post is due by Thursday each week, and the second and third by Sunday at midnight EST.
The discussion portion of your grading cannot be dropped.
Student discussion and engagement in the course material is a valuable tool both for you (in studying for
exams and achieving long-term retention and mastery) and for us as instructors to assist you in areas of
confusion.
OBJECTIVES of the group discussions are as follows:
You will be given questions and correct answers from prior exams and/or concept questions that have
been identified as challenging areas of important content. You will be asked to discuss the following:
1. Why the correct answer is the most correct answer
2. If someone has already posted a comment – respond to them and tell us why you either agree or
disagree with their explanation. ALSO INCLUDE IN YOUR POST:
3. Note the place in the textbook, Power point slide, lecture, or other outside sources (reference source)
where you found your information. If responding to previous post, give us a different reference source.
4. Tell us why knowing the answer to this question is useful to either researchers or medical practitioners.
If responding to a previous post, give us a different application for this information.
This critical exploration and debate is the essence of the scientific method – and of achieving mastery and
personal ownership of a body of knowledge. You will have the opportunity herein to sharpen your
scientific and intellectual-critical skills as well as providing context and engagement in the fundamentals
you are learning.
Posts are graded on a scale of 0 to 5 points according to the discussion rubric at the end of this syllabus
and posted on Blackboard. ALL DISCUSSION POSTS will be monitored by plagiarism check
software.
RULES OF THE GAME FOR DISCUSSIONS
Please be aware that the information provided by other students in your group is not necessarily correct
information. The purpose of discussion groups is to give you the chance to clarify your understanding and
sharpen your intellectual skills. Authoritative factual information for EXAM purposes comes from lecture,
the textbook, lecture Power Points, and faculty responses to discussions, which will be provided the week
after your discussion with your colleagues is over. This is important to remember when studying for
exams.
The following behaviors during Group Discussion are unacceptable and will result in your being excluded
from Discussion Group and forfeiting that portion of your grade that week.
- Using abusive, disrespectful or foul language.
- Using sexually suggestive language (either explicit or implicit) that could be perceived as offensive or
harassing.
- Threatening others.
- Insulting others or denigrating the opinions of others. Of course, you may respectfully, even strongly,
disagree or challenge the opinions of others, but we attack positions, NEVER individuals in scientific
debate.
- If any inappropriate behavior of the sort listed above should occur, the offender will be issued one and
only one warning. A second offense will be grounds for excluding the offender from Discussion Group
and forfeiting all his/her credit for this course requirement.
- Plagiarism of any sort – either copied work from other sources or from other student’s posts – will not
be tolerated. There is zero tolerance for plagiarism of any sort. All quoted material must reference the
source. Discussion posts should be in your own words. If any quotes are used they must be in quotes and
referenced appropriately. Also see our Academic Honesty statement at the end of this syllabus.
Any academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary and can result in an F in the course.
COURSE GRADE AND FINAL LETTER GRADE CALCULATION:
The lowest of the three‐midterm grades will be dropped. If you miss one of the midterm exams, the
missed exam will count as your dropped grade. NO MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN.
The two lowest scoring of the 22 discussion posts will be dropped resulting in 20 graded posts for a total
of 100 potential points. Discussion board grading in Toto cannot be dropped. The final exam grade
cannot be dropped. Since both the discussions and the final exam cannot be dropped, rigorous
engagement in all three thirds of the course is required for a passing grade.
Your course grade will be determined as follows:
Average of 2 highest midterm exams plus the discussion grading: 65 %
Cumulative final: 35 %
Final course grades will be assigned on a curve.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BIO202:
WATCH THE ORIENTATION VIDEO: The orientation video will take you through how the course is
managed and set up on Blackboard so you can spend your time learning content during the term.
WATCH ALL ECHO CONTENT LECTURES: The lectures show you which topics to emphasize, how much
detail you need to know, and how the topics fit together. Chapters from the book listed in the Course
Schedule will help you to find the relevant material for each lecture. Use the textbook to supplement
material presented in the lectures. The exams are based on the lectures, which may contain some
material that is not found in the textbook; so do not miss any lectures.
COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME! Weekly assignments with due dates are posted under
assignments on the Blackboard site with the assignment at the top being the one due for the week. You
may wish to print out lecture PowerPoints given in the assignments prior to watching lectures for note
taking. Put your best foot forward during the discussion board portion of the course and do not miss
any due dates.
TAKE ALL EXAMS OFFERED: Though one mid-term is dropped, try not to miss any so that you maintain
the option of the dropping your lowest score.
BIO 202.03 ONLINE BLACKBOARD SITE: The course is managed completely through the Blackboard site
at http://blackboard.sunysb.edu. All syllabus and grading information is posted along with assignments
and lecture videos. Discussion board forums are provided. Pay attention to all announcements.
If you have used Stony Brook's Blackboard system previously, your login information (Username
and Password) has not changed. If you have never used Stony Brook's Blackboard system, your initial
password is your SOLAR ID# and your username is the same as your Stony Brook (sparky) username,
which is generally your first initial and the first 7 letters of your last name. For help or more information
see http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/helpdesk/docs/blackboard/bbstudent.php. For problems logging in, go
to the helpdesk in the Main Library SINC Site or the Union SINC Site, you can also call 631-632-9602 or
email helpme@ic.sunysb.edu.
SOURCES OF HELP:
1. Administrative Questions Forum: There is a forum under your discussion board for all administrative
questions – all questions placed here will be answered within 24 hours.
2. TA’s: Undergraduate TA’s will monitor your discussion boards and assist you in critical thinking skills
as applied to content.
3. Prof. Citovsky is available for live or web office hours, for any content-related questions.
4. Prof. Souza will answer any Blackboard-related and grading concerns regarding the discussion posts.
5. The access code, inside the textbook, provides access to the “mastering biology” website.
which has chapter reviews, study guides, and interactive practice quizzes. If you do not have an
access code, you can purchase one online from the website www.masteringbio.com
Americans with Disabilities Act: If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that
may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC (Educational
Communications Center) Building, Room 128, (631) 632- 6748. They will determine with you what
accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation are
confidential.
Critical Incident Management: Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges,
and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of University Community
Standards any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the
learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of
Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. Further information about most
academic matters can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Undergraduate Class Schedule, and
the Faculty-Employee Handbook.
Academic Integrity: Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally
accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong.
Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic
Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing,
Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific
procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of
academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at
http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/
ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING CELL PHONES ETC., SHOULD BE TURNED OFF AND PUT AWAY
BEFORE ENTERING THE EXAM ROOM.
BASED ON THE UNIVERSITY POLICY, A RINGING CELL PHONE DURING AN EXAM REPRESENTS ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT CHEATING, YOU WILL BE REPORTED TO THE ACADEMIC JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE AN “F”FOR THE COURSE.
COURSE SCHEDULE
BIO 202 –ONLINE SUMMER EXTENDED SESSION
(Weekly Assignments referred to below are available through the Blackboard site under the ASSIGMENTS
Button on the left menu)
WEEK 1: May 29-June 3rd
Assignment 1: Post for Orientation video and Lectures 1 or 2 by Thursday
Second and Third Posts for Lectures 3, 4, 5 by Sunday
1A. Orientation Video
1. Echo Lecture 1: Atoms and Molecules in Biology
Campbell Text: Chapter 2
2. Echo Lecture 2: Chemical Bonds, Functional Groups/Acids, Bases, pH and buffers
Campbell Text: Chapters 3 and 4
3. Echo Lecture 3: Macromolecules 1: Lipids and Carbohydrates
Campbell Text: Chapter 5
4. Echo Lecture 4: Macromolecules 2: Nucleic Acids
Campbell Text: Chapter 5
5. Echo Lecture 5: Macromolecules 3: Protein
Campbell Text: Chapter 5
WEEK 2: June 4 -10th
Assignment 2: Post for Lectures 6, 7, or 8 by Thursday
Second and Third Posts for Lectures 9, 10, or 11 by Sunday
6. Echo Lecture 6: Protein structure, enzymes and catalysis
Campbell Text: Chapter 8
7. Echo Lecture 7: Enzymes and regulation of enzymes
Campbell Text: Chapter 8
8. Echo Lecture 8: Energy in Biology, ATP
Campbell Text: Chapter 8
9. Echo Lecture 9: Cell Structure, organelles 1
Campbell Text: Chapter 6
10. Echo Lecture 10: Organelles 2
Campbell Text: Chapter 6
11. Echo Lecture 11: Cytoskeleton 1
Campbell Text: Chapter 6
WEEK 3: June 11-17th
Assignment 3: Post for Lectures 12, 13, or 14 by Thursday
Second and Third Posts for Lectures 15, 16, or 17 by Sunday
12. Echo Lecture 12: Cytoskeleton 2, intercellular connections
Campbell Text: Chapter 6
13. Echo Lecture 13: Membrane Structure
Campbell Text: Chapter 6, 7
14. Echo Lecture 14: Osmosis, transport across membranes
Campbell Text: Chapter 7
15. Echo Lecture 15: Cell communication and signaling 1
Campbell Text: Chapter 11
16. Echo Lecture 16: Cell communication and signaling 2
Campbell Text: Chapter 11
17. Echo Lecture 17: Cell communication and signaling 3
Campbell Text: Chapter 11
WEEK 4: June 18-24th
Midterm Exam 1: June 19th, 6:30-8:30 pm, Javits 110
Covering Lectures 1-14
Assignment 4: Post for Lecture 18 or 19 by Thursday
Second and Third Posts for Lectures 20, 21, or 22 by Sunday
Study for Exam!
18. Echo Lecture 18: Cellular respiration, glycolysis
Campbell Text: Chapter 9
19. Echo Lecture 19: Krebs cycle, fermentation, control of respiration
Campbell Text: Chapter 9
20. Echo Lecture 20: Photosynthesis 1
Campbell Text: Chapter 10
21. Echo Lecture 21: Photosynthesis 2
Campbell Text: Chapter 10
22. Echo Lecture 22: Chromosomes and cell division. Mitosis
Campbell Text: Chapter 12
WEEK 5: June 25-July 1st
Assignment 5: Post for Lectures 23 or 24 by Thursday
Post for Lectures 25, 26, or 27 by Sunday
23. Echo Lecture 23: Cell cycle. Introduction to cancer
Campbell Text: Chapter 12
24. Echo Lecture 24: Meiosis
Campbell Text: Chapter 13
25. Echo Lecture 25: Mendel and the gene idea
Campbell Text: Chapter 14
26. Echo Lecture 26: Mendelian patterns in human inheritance
Campbell Text: Chapter 14
27. Echo Lecture 27: Chromosomal basis of inheritance
Campbell Text: Chapter 15
WEEK 6: July 2-July 8th
Assignment 6: Post for Lectures 28 or 29 by Thursday
Post for Lectures 30, 31, or 32 by Sunday
28. Echo Lecture 28: Genetic variation: exceptions to Mendel’s law
Campbell Text: Chapter 15
29. Echo Lecture 29: DNA: the genetic material
Campbell Text: Chapter 16
30. Echo Lecture 30: DNA replication
Campbell Text: Chapter 16
31. Echo Lecture 31: Transcription and RNA processing
Campbell Text: Chapter 17
32. Echo Lecture 32: Translation
Campbell Text: Chapter 17
WEEK 7: July 9-July 15th
Midterm Exam 2: July 10th, 6:30-8:30 pm, Javits 110
Covering Lectures 15-30
Assignment 7: Post for Lecture 33 or 34 by Thursday
Second and Third Post for Lectures 35, 36 or 37 by Sunday
Study for Exam!
33. Echo Lecture 33: Mutations, Bacterial Genetics
Campbell Text: Chapter 17 & 18
34. Echo Lecture 34: Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression
Campbell Text: Chapter 18
35. Echo Lecture 35: Introduction to protein structure
Campbell Text: Chapter 18
36. Echo Lecture 36: Eukaryotic genomes
Campbell Text: Chapter 21
37. Echo Lecture 37: Bacteria, viruses
Campbell Text: Chapter 19
WEEK 8: July 16-July 22nd
Midterm Exam 3: July 20th, 6:30-9:30 pm, Javits 110
Covering Lectures 31-42
CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM (Lectures 1-42): concurrent with above Midterm 3
Assignment 8: Post for Lectures 38, 39, 40 or 41 by Thursday
Post for Lectures 42 and Farewell by Sunday
38. Echo Lecture 38: Biotechnology 1
Campbell Text: Chapter 20
39. Echo Lecture 39: Biotechnology 2
Campbell Text: Chapter 20
40. Echo Lecture 40: Fertilization and early development
Campbell Text: Chapter 21, 47
41. Echo Lecture 41: Mechanisms of Development 1
Campbell Text: Chapter 18, 47
42. Echo Lecture 42: Mechanisms of Development 2
Campbell Text: Chapter 20, 47