Fall 2015
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Biology 121 Syllabus
Sections 2 & 3
PROFESSOR:
Dr. C. Nathan Hancock
OFFICE:
Room 205, Science Building
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment or just drop by (can check my lab, room 217)
COURSE CREDIT:
4 Credit Hours
LECTURE: (200 SCI BLDG) M/W 1:00 to 2:15 pm
LABS: (108 SCI BLDG) T 1:40 pm - 4:20 pm (SEC 2 w/Dr. DeLaurier); R 9:25 am – 12:05 pm (SEC3)
CONTACT: 803-641-3390 nathanh@usca.edu
TEXT: Campbell Biology In Focus w/ Mastering Biology (w/ ebook) ISBN 0321813669
Online versions of the text are also available. If you rent or buy a used text, you will need to purchase
access to Mastering Biology (about $60)
LAB MANUAL: BIOLOGY 121 Lab Manual 7th Edition by Jackson, Yates, and Hancock.
Mastering Biology Course ID: MBHANCOCK99530
Please read this syllabus carefully and refer to it when you have questions about the course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
This course is for Biology majors and non-majors and incorporates the study of biological principles and
concepts through the cellular level of organization. Upon completion of this course students will be
expected to:
- Define Biology and describe the characteristics that define life.
- Describe the major biological molecules and how they are utilized by cells.
- Describe the structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and how structure facilitates function.
- Describe how things get in and out of cells and how cells signal each other.
- Describe the flow of energy in biological systems.
- Define the importance of enzymes and how they work.
- Understand cellular reproduction (mitosis and meiosis).
- Understand the basics of heredity and pattern of inheritance.
- Describe the structure of DNA and RNA and define the Central Dogma of Life.
- Understand and use the “scientific method.”
- Think critically, be able to analyze data and present it scientifically.
GRADE COMPONENTS:
Four exams
Mastering Biology
In-Class Assignments/Quizzes
Lab (notes/reports/quizzes)
150 pts each
75 pts
75 pts
250 pts
(60% total)
(7.5%)
(7.5%)
(25%)
You must work hard on all portions of the course to pass. The lab and assignment scores often serve to
improve a student’s grade, but you also have to do well on the exams. For example, a student that gets
80% of the lab and assignment points (320) but only gets 50% on each test (300) would earn a D
(640/1000). While a student that gets only 50% of the lab and assignment points (200) but gets 80% on
each test (480) would earn a D+ (680/1000).
Fall 2015
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
EXAMS:
Although study guides for the test are provided, you are responsible for all of the material covered in
the text book. All exams will include both multiple choice and long answer questions. Students need to
bring a scantron and pencil to each exam. Students will not be allowed to sit in adjacent seats during
the exams. If a student must leave during an exam, they forfeit their right to finish the exam.
Calculators will not be allowed.
GRADING SCALE:
100-90% = A; 89-85% = B+; 84-80% = B; 79-75% = C+; 74-70% = C; 69-65% = D+; 64-60% = D; 59-0% = F.
An “A” grade in this course indicates that you have achieved mastery of the material. This means that
you have more than a basic understanding of the vocabulary words. You must show that you
understand the concepts and how to apply them to get a grade of “C” or better.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
You must be present in class to receive credit for in-class assignments, quizzes, and lab reports. The only
exception to this is when students inform the instructor of an excused absence before class. Students
that need to attend a different section of lab or class must receive prior approval from the instructor.
Students must bring their books to class to be able to participate in the in-class assignments.
Due to the nature of lab, make-up labs cannot be given!
There are no make-up exams. Should you miss an exam for a documented excusable reason (i.e.
sickness or required university event); an alternate exam date will be arranged. Only one exam will be
treated in this manner; any other missed exams will be counted as a zero.
“When students enroll in a particular course, they obligate themselves for all the work which may be
assigned. Punctual and regular attendance is vital to the discharge of this obligation.”
GRADING:
The exams, in-class assignments, and laboratory notebooks will require hand written answers. Answers
will only be accepted if they are clearly legible.
Quizzes will occur at the beginning of class. Students that arrive late will not be given extra time to
complete the quiz. Students that arrive after the quiz will receive a zero for that quiz. No make-up
quizzes will be given.
The prelab assignments are due at the start of lab. Assignments turned in late (more than 5 minutes
after class starts) will receive an automatic loss of 50% of the points.
Mastering Biology assignments must be turned in on time. No late assignments will be accepted.
Assignments can be turned in early if needed.
Graded materials will be returned in a reasonable time period (Usually during lab).
Fall 2015
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Spring 2014
Date
Topic
24Aug
Class Organization, Introduction
26 Aug
Syllabus Quiz, The Chemical Context of Life
31 Aug
Ch 1+2 Quiz, Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
2 Sept
Chapter 3 Quiz, A Tour of the Cell
7 Sept
Labor Day (No class)
9 Sept
Chapter 4 Quiz, Review
14 Sept
1st Midterm Exam
16 Sept
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
21 Sept
Chapter 13 Quiz, Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
23 Sept
No Class
28 Sep
Chapter 14 Quiz, Regulation of Gene Expression
30 Sept
No Class
5 Oct
Chapter 15 Quiz, Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer
7 Oct
Chapter 16 Quiz, Review
12 Oct
2nd Midterm Exam
14 Oct
Membrane Transport and Signaling
19 Oct
Chapter 5 Quiz, Introduction to Metabolism
21 Oct
Chapter 6 Quiz, Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
26 Oct
No class
28 Oct
Chapter 7 Quiz, Photosynthesis
2 Nov
No class
4 Nov
Chapter 8 Quiz, Review
9 Nov
3rd Midterm Exam
11 Nov
The Cell Cycle/ Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
16 Nov
Chapter 9+10 Quiz, Mendel and the Gene Idea
18 Nov
Chapter 11 Quiz, The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
23 Nov
No class
25 Nov
Thanksgiving Break
30 Nov
Chapter 12 Quiz, Viruses/ Genomes and Their Evolution
2 Dec
Chapter 17 Quiz, Review
2pm 9 Dec Comprehensive Final Exam ( Emphasis on chapters 9-12, 17-18)
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Chapter
1
2
3
4
1-4
13
14
15
16
13-16
5
6
7
8
5-8
9/10
11
12
17+18
1-18
31 October - Last day to withdraw without an F. 2nd midterm exam scores will be posted prior to
this date. It is recommended that students with an overall score of less than 60% should drop the
course.
Fall 2015
Proposed Laboratory Schedule Spring 2014
Date
Week
Topic
25, 27 Aug
1
Introduction
1, 3 Sept
2
Measurement Technique
8, 10 Sept
3
Measurement Technique Write Up
15, 17 Sept
4
Organic Molecules in Cells
22, 24 Sept
5
Organic Molecules in Cells Write Up
29 Sept, 1 Oct
6
Cell and Microscopy
6, 8 Oct
7
Cell and Microscopy Write Up
13, 15 Oct
8
Enzymes
20, 22 Oct
9
Fall Break
27, 29 Oct
10
Enzymes Write Up
3, 5 Nov
11
Photosynthesis
10, 12 Nov
12
Photosynthesis Write Up
17, 19 Nov
13
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics
24, 26 Nov
14
No class Thanksgiving Break
1, 3 Dec
15
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics Write Up
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Exercise
7
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
8
8
LABORATORY DETAILS:
In general, the first session is a "wet" laboratory exercise. Potentially hazardous materials are used in
this course. For this reason, students who do not follow instructions, use safety equipment, or conduct
themselves in a professional manner will be removed from the lab. The general procedure for each
exercise will be obtained from the laboratory manual and your instructor. During these labs, the student
will complete experiments that require development of a hypothesis, experimental design, hypothesis
testing, and drawing conclusions. The notes and results of these exercises must be maintained and
turned in with the laboratory report.
Each “wet” laboratory exercise will be followed by a second laboratory period that will be used by
student groups to compose a report based on the data collected from the previous “wet” lab. Each
laboratory group will synthesize individual results into a single written report to be turned into the
instructor. The format of this report will be that of a scientific paper (abstract, introduction, results, and
discussion). The first hour of this period will be designated for discussion and calculations as
appropriate.
CLASSROOM BEHAVOIR AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
It is the instructor’s right to remove any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceedings of the class.
In extreme cases the professor can request assistance from the University police. If the student who has
been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied
admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of “F”.
The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, iPods, etc., during
class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student from the instructor
or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they must be
turned off and stowed away for the duration of the class period. If you use a portable electronic device
during a test, quiz, or other assessment, you are eligible to receive a failing grade on that assignment.
Fall 2015
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The
Disability Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical documentation.
WRITING CENTER:
USCA provides a writing center located on room 201 of the H&SS building. If you need extra assistance
on any writing assignment for this or any other class that you are taking, please try the writing center.
HONOR CODE:
Students are expected to abide by the Academic Code of Conduct as described in the Student
Handbook. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if academic integrity is violated. The following
honor pledge is to be written, signed, and dated by the student on all exams and assignments turned
into the instructor.
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither
given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment/ examination. To the
best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic honesty.”