General Biology I (BIOL 1406 A5) Course Syllabus Sumer II 2011
1. Course Title, Number, and Section
Biol 1406 A5
Class times: MWTThF
Lecture: 3:50 to 5:45 PM in S225 & 5:55 to 7:50 PM Lab in S224
2. Instructor Information
Instructor: Yuhua Farnell, Ph.D e-mail: yuhua.farnell@blinn.edu Office hours:
Office: S -117
Tel: 209-7571(7)
MWTThF 7:50 – 8:50 pm or by appointment
3. Course Description:
An introductory survey of contemporary biology that includes the chemical basis of life, structure and function of cells, energy transformation, and
genetics.
4. Course Prerequisites
Exemption from or passing score on the reading section of the state test or completion of READ 0306 with a “C” or higher score.
5. Core Curriculum Course:
This is a course in the 42-hour Core Curriculum of Blinn College. As such, students will develop proficiency in appropriate intellectual competencies,
exemplary educational objectives and general perspectives. The URL of the Blinn College core curriculum web site is:
http://www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum/42hourcore.htm
6. Student Learning Outcomes
· Interpret the process by which scientific knowledge is acquired and evaluated.
· Evaluate the characteristics of cells.
· Recognize the molecular basis of evolutionary change.
· Evaluate the composition of biological macromolecules and the role they play in the structure and function of cells.
· Interpret selected metabolic processes carried out by cells and their essential role in sustaining life.
· Compare and contrast the methods by which cells divide.
· Set-up and evaluate basic Mendelian genetics problems.
· Demonstrate the ability to use the compound light microscope and technological applications utilized in modern biology.
7. Required Textbook and Materials:
Required Textbook: Biology 2ed copyright 2011. Brooker, Windmaier, Graham, Stiling. ISBN 9780077896713
Required Laboratory Manual: Blinn College Biology 1406 Lab Manual, 4th ed., Richardson et. al., Spring 2011. Copy Stop Print & Postal.
8. Outline of the Course Content and Schedule:
The tentative order of coverage of lecture topics is shown below. (Note that the test dates shown below will not be changed, although dates for quizzes
and worksheets assignments will be announced in class or in lab throughout the semester):
Biology 1406 Summer II 2011
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
5-July
Ch. 1 – Intro to Biology
Labs 1 & 2 – Safety &
Process of Science
6-July
Ch. 2 – Atoms,
Molecules, Water
Labs 3 & 4 – Scientific
Method & Exp. Design
11-July
Ch. 4 – Cells
Lab 7 – Microscopy
12-July
Ch. 5 – Membranes
Lab 8 – Observing Cells
in Action
13-July
Ch. 10 – Multicellularity
Lab 9 – Prokaryotic &
Eukaryotic Cells
18-July
Exam 2 (Ch. 4-6, 10)
Review for Lab Exam
19-July
Ch. 7 – Cellular
Respiration
Lab Exam 1
25-July
Ch. 12 – Gene Expression
Lab 13 – Photosynthesis
26-July*
Ch. 13/14 – Gene
Regulation/Mutation
Gene Expression Concept
Map
1-Aug
Ch. 16 – Simple Patterns
of Inheritance
Lab 17 – Mendelian
Genetics
2-Aug
Ch. 17 – Complex
Patterns of Inheritance
Review for Lab Exam
Thursday
Friday
7-July
Ch. 3 – Organic
Molecules
Organic Molecule
Activity
Lab 5 – Metric Meas.
14-July
Ch. 6 – Energy, Enzymes,
Metabolism
Lab 10 – Membrane
Transport
8-July
Exam 1 (Ch. 1-3)
Lab 5 cont. &
Lab 6 – Testing for
Organic Molecules
20-July
Ch. 8 – Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Concept Map
21-July
Ch. 11 – Nucleic Acid
Structure
Lab 11 –
Spectrophotometer
22-July
Exam 3 (Ch. 7, 8, 11)
Lab 12 – Chromatography
27-July
Ch. 15 – Eukaryotic Cell
Cycle
Labs 14 & 15 – DNA
Isolation & Restriction
Endonucleases
3-Aug
Review
Lab Exam 2
28-July
Exam 4 (Ch. 12-15)
Lab 16 – Mitosis
29-July
15-July
No Friday Class
No Friday Class
4-Aug
Final Exam
*July 26th is the last day to drop with a “W” for Summer II
9. Civility Statement:
Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, staff and students, are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of
campus life. Blinn College holds all members accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in
a manner that recognizes personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms of every member of the College
community, including respect for College property and the physical and intellectual property of others. Civility applies to attire as well as language and
behavior. Please dress appropriately for the academic classroom and laboratory.
10. Civility Notification Statement:
If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the student may not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference
with the instructor. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for this conference.
11. Course Requirements and Criteria for Grading:
Grading: (tentative breakdown of assignments and scores)
• 4 Lecture and 2 Lab Exams: 600 points
• Daily Lecture Quizzes & Activities: 100 points
• Lab Assignments: 100 points
• Comprehensive Final Exam: 200 points
Exams:
Lecture Exams: There will be four lecture exams each worth 100 points. Lecture exams may consist of a combination of true/false, multiple choice, fill
in the blank and short answer questions. Make-up exams will only be offered to those with excused absences, no exceptions. Excused absences
include: Illness with Dr's note, official Blinn College activity, Religious Holiday (see attendance policy) or death of a close family member with
appropriate documentation. Students must contact me during the following class period or via e-mail to be able to schedule a make-up. If you know
that you will need to miss an exam prior to the test date, contact me ASAP so that I may plan accordingly.
Laboratory Exams: There will be two lab exams worth 100 points each. Laboratory exams will test student’s ability to carryout specific tasks or
techniques that relate to lab activities performed and/or the overall student learning outcomes for the laboratory. Additional short answer, problem
solving, or fill-in-the-blank questions may also be administered. There will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS for the lab.
Final Exam: The final is a common comprehensive final worth 200 points. If you miss the final exam, contact your instructor immediately. Otherwise,
a final exam grade of zero will be recorded for any student who has missed the final exam and has not contacted me by 5:00 pm of the examination
day. The final exam is comprehensive and will consist of approx. 100 questions. All students must take the final exam.
Quizzes:
In Lecture: Daily quizzes or activities will be given to help students gauge their progress in learning the material. These quizzes and activities worth a
total of 100 points will cover material from the previous lecture, the textbook, or assigned outside readings
Lab Assignments/ Write-Ups: Most lab exercises must be completed during the lab period and turned in at the end of the period. Late work turned in
within one week of the assignment will be accepted for half credit.
Bonus Quizzes: Each week, I will release a 10 question multiple-choice quiz covering that week’s material (lecture or lab) in http://connect.mcgrawhill.com which is an assignment site for the text, with links to LearnSmart, another review tool.
These quizzes are worth a total of 5 points and will be used to generate bonus points that will be added to your point total at the end of the semester.
You will have one week to complete them. Since I do not curve individual exam scores, these quizzes will help generate a curve. No additional bonus
assignments will be offered so take advantage of these from the start.
12. Exam Calendar:
Date
Lecture Exams
July 8 Exam 1
July 19 Lab Exam 1
July 28 Exam 4
Aug. 4
Date
Lab Exams
July 18 Exam 2
July 22 Exam 3
Aug. 3 Lab Exam 2
Final Exam
13. Points Allocation and Grading Scale
Point Distribution:
Lecture exams
Lab Exams
Comprehensive final exam
Lecture Quizzes & Activities
Lab Assignments
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
400 points
200 points
200 points
100 points
100 points
1000 points
*Because you will have the opportunity to earn extra credit points on some exams and quizzes, it is possible to earn more than 1000 points.
Your final course (%) average = (your total points earned/1000) X 100
Final course grades are calculated as:
A: 895 or more points, B: 795 to 894 points, C: 695 to 794 points,
D: 595 to 694 points, F: 594 or less points.
13. Blinn College Policies
Attendance: The College District believes that class attendance is essential for student success; therefore, students are required to promptly and
regularly attend all their classes. Each class meeting builds the foundation for subsequent class meetings. Without full participation and regular class
attendance, students shall find themselves at a severe disadvantage for achieving success in college. Class participation shall constitute at least ten
percent of the final course grade. It is the responsibility of each faculty member, in consultation with the division chair, to determine how participation
is achieved in his or her class. Faculty will require students to regularly attend class and will keep a record of attendance from the first day of class
and/or the first day the student’s name appears on the roster through final examinations. During a Summer Session, if a student accumulates three (3)
absences (= 3 class and/or lab meetings for Biology 1406), he/she may be administratively withdrawn from class. There are three forms of excused
absence officially designated by Blinn College: (1) Observance of religious holy days: The student should notify his/her instructor(s) not later than the
15th day of the semester concerning the specific date(s) that the student will be absent for any religious holy day(s); and (2) Representing Blinn
College at an official institutional function and (3) official involvement in a high school activity for “dual credit” students. Other excuses will be
considered and may be considered excusable at the instructor’s discretion, with documentation. Missing lecture or lab or both will count as one
absence.
Dropping If a student chooses to drop the course, it is that student’s responsibility to complete a drop order at the Office of Enrollment Services. Failure
to do so could result in a grade of F in the course. The last day to withdraw with a “W” is Wednesday, July 26th.
Eating and drinking are not allowed in classrooms or laboratories.
Dishonesty Statement
Blinn College does not tolerate cheating, plagiarism or other acts of dishonesty. Definitions of these acts and procedures for dealing with them are
described in “Scholastic Dishonesty” in the Blinn College Student Handbook, copies of which are available at the information desk in the administration
building.
ADA Statement:
Students with physical or learning disabilities must present documentation from the Office of Disability Services (room 157, Science Bldg) to receive
accommodation on exams and assignments. Accommodation is not retroactive. The above requirements and policies are discussed more fully in the
Blinn College Student Handbook which, by reference, is incorporated into this information. Please obtain and read.
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