Spring 2014
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Biology 121 Syllabus
Sections 3 & 4
PROFESSOR:
Dr. C. Nathan Hancock
OFFICE:
Room 205, Science Building
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
COURSE CREDIT:
4 Credit Hours
LECTURE: (200 SCI BLDG) M/W/F 12:00 to 12:50 pm
LABS: (108 SCI BLDG) T 9:25am to 12:05 (SEC 3); R 9:25am to 12:05 (SEC 4)
CONTACT: 803-641-3390 nathanh@usca.edu
TEXT: Campbell Biology In Focus w/ Mastering Biology (w/ ebook) ISBN 0321813669
LAB MANUAL: BIOLOGY 121 Lab Manual 6th Edition by Jackson, Yates, and Hancock.
Mastering Biology Course ID: MBHANCOCK75263
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:
Mastering Biology
Three midterm exams
In-Class Assignments
Final Exam
Lab (notes/reports/quizzes)
100 pts
150 pts each
50 pts
150 pts
250 pts
(10%)
(45% total)
(5%)
(15%)
(25%)
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.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
“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.”
Though attendance will not be taken, you must be present to receive credit for in class assignments,
quizzes, and reports. Due to the nature of lab, make-up labs cannot be given!
Spring 2014
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
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 may be arranged. Only one exam will be
treated in this manner; any other missed exams will be counted as a zero.
GRADING:
The exams, in class assignments, and laboratory notebooks will require hand written answers. Answers
will only be accepted if they are clearly legible.
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).
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.
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.”
Spring 2014
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Spring 2014
Date
Topic
13 Jan
(Sec 3) Class Organization, Introduction
15 Jan
(Sec 4) Class Organization, Introduction
20 Jan
MLK Day (No class)
22 Jan
(Sec 3) The Chemical Context of Life, Carbon and the Molecular Diversity
24 Jan
(Sec 4) The Chemical Context of Life, Carbon and the Molecular Diversity
27 Jan
(Sec 3) A Tour of the Cell
29 Jan
(Sec 4 )A Tour of the Cell
3 Feb
5 Feb
(Sec 3+4) 1st Midterm Exam
10 Feb
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
12 Feb
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
17 Feb
Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
19 Feb
Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
24 Feb
Regulation of Gene Expression/ Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer
26 Feb
Regulation of Gene Expression/ Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer
3 Mar
5 Mar
2nd Midterm Exam
10 Mar
Spring Break (No class)
12 Mar
Spring Break (No class)
17 Mar
Membrane Transport and Signaling/Introduction to Metabolism
19 Mar
Membrane Transport and Signaling/Introduction to Metabolism
24 Mar
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation/Photosynthesis
26 Mar
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation/Photosynthesis
31 Mar
2 Apr
3rd Midterm Exam
7 Apr
The Cell Cycle/ Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
9 Apr
The Cell Cycle/ Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
14 Apr
Mendel and the Gene Idea/ The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
16 Apr
Mendel and the Gene Idea/ The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
21 Apr
Viruses/ Genomes and Their Evolution
23 Apr
Viruses/ Genomes and Their Evolution
28 Apr
2 May 11am Comprehensive Final Exam ( Emphasis on chapters 9-12, 17-18)
USC-Aiken
BIOL 121
Chapter
1
1
2+3
2+3
4
4
1-4
13
13
14
14
15 +16
15+16
13-16
5+6
5+6
7+8
7+8
5-8
9+10
9+10
11+12
11+12
17+18
17+18
1-18
Spring 2014
Proposed Laboratory Schedule Spring 2014
Date
Week
Topic
14, 16 Jan
1
No Lab
21, 23 Jan
2
Introduction
28, 30 Jan
3
Measurement Technique
4, 6 Feb
4
Measurement Technique Write Up
11, 13 Feb
5
Organic Molecules in Cells
18, 20 Feb
6
Organic Molecules in Cells Write Up
25, 27 Feb
7
Cell and Microscopy
4, 5 Mar
8
Cell and Microscopy Write Up
11, 13 Mar
9
No Lab (Spring Break)
18, 20 Mar
10
Enzymes
25, 27 Mar
11
Enzymes Write Up
1, 3 Apr
12
Photosynthesis
8, 10 Apr
13
Photosynthesis Write Up
15, 17 Apr
15
Chi Squared and Maize Genetics
22, 24 Apr
16
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.
TEST PROCEDURES:
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.