Instructor Contact Information:
Ashley Ozelski McKelvy
Email: aozelski@gc.cuny.edu
Office: 6S-117 Office hours by appointment
Website: www.library.csi.cuny.edu/~aozelski
REQUIRED TEXTS:
(Editions and prices are subject to change.)
Biology Laboratory Manual by Sylvia S. Mader, 10 th or 11 th edition;
ISBN # 9780077479718 (11 th ed.)
This course is designed to illustrate the principles taught in Bio 106 while teaching laboratory skills and scientific thinking. You will be working in lab groups of four to solve problems and perform scientific experiments and dissections in order to learn basic biological principles and a range of laboratory techniques first hand.
You will be expected to:
 Play an active role in your learning.
This is a laboratory course and not a lecture; you are expected to play an active role in your learning. Science is an active process, and you will be expected to think and not simply memorize facts and follow “recipes”.
 Prepare for class by doing the assigned readings.
Since we will have several activities to complete during the lab period, it is expected that you prepare for class so that the lab period runs quickly and efficiently. To get the most out of this course, read the material before coming to class so you are familiar with the procedures and can apply your knowledge to the lab activities. If you have questions on the reading, email me and I will be more than happy to help you. In addition to the required readings for each week, you may find it helpful to read the corresponding chapter in the lecture textbook. Unfortunately, due to the different paces set by individual lecture professors, this class will not always correspond with your lecture.
 Bring your lab manual to class every week. You may also make a photocopy of the pages and bring that in; just have the lab for that week with you.
 Complete each laboratory activity.
During laboratory activities, you are expected to follow the given protocol and answer any questions given in the manual. These questions may or may not be collected, but will help you determine if you are meeting your learning objectives.
 Participate in laboratory activities.
You will work in groups of up to six people, and I expect all members of the group to contribute and be involved. Sitting and staring at your phone/tablet while your group does the lab is not acceptable.
 Clean up properly before leaving.
This means everything should be as you found it. No garbage on the benches
 Maintain academic integrity.
Cheating and plagiarism are absolutely not tolerated and will be dealt with disciplinary action, including failure of the course. For more information about what constitutes cheating and plagiarism, see the academic integrity section at the end of the syllabus.
You can expect me:
 To reply to emails within 24 hours (provided the answer to your question is not found on the syllabus!)
 To be available to meet with you outside of class to discuss topics you are having difficulty understanding
 To provide helpful feedback on your work

Absence Policy: According to CUNY policy, more than two unexcused absences (15% of credit hours) results in an automatic failure of the course. Absences may be excused ONLY if you contact me about your absence BEFORE class and make up the lab, either by attending another class or completing a detailed make-up assignment. If you do plan on attending another lab, you MUST notify both the other professor AND me (if it is not one of my labs) beforehand. I must stress, however, how important it is to come to class. Abuse of excused absences will result in a change of policy.
Food/Drink Policy: As with any laboratory, there is no eating or drinking allowed in the lab for safety reasons. If you need a snack, please step out of the room at an appropriate time (not during a quiz or while I am talking).
Your grade breakdown will be as follows:
Weekly Quizzes, Labs, & Participation: 67%
Final Exam: 33%
Weekly Quizzes: There will be a quiz every week for the first 15 minutes of class. Quizzes will be worth 10 points total: 2 points will cover reading comprehension and ensure that you did the assigned reading; the other 8 points will test how well you learned the material from the previous week. These questions will require an understanding of the material, critical thinking skills, and competent writing. This ensures that (a) you are prepared for class and the lab period runs smoothly and efficiently (we can’t sit around reading the lab manual in class for an hour before starting the lab!) and (b) you understood the concepts learned the previous week.
Quizzes will be collected after the quiz period regardless of when you showed up; therefore, if you want the full amount of time to take your quiz, show up on time when quizzes are handed out. Showing up late (after the quizzes are collected) will result in a missing quiz score; however, you can schedule a time to make up the second part of the quiz only ; thus, you will lose a number of points. Full quiz make-ups are not allowed without previous arrangements with me (contact me BEFORE you miss class). Please try to speak with me in advance about any conflicts. If you miss the quiz period, you will receive a 0 (zero) for that quiz.
Quiz Corrections: Since the goal in this class is for you to learn the material and improve your reasoning and writing skills, everyone will be allowed up to TEN quiz question corrections. Corrections on the reading comprehension questions will not be allowed. One quiz correction can be used on a question worth more than one quiz point.
Quiz corrections MUST include the following: a) Your original quiz or a copy/scan of your original quiz, b) A sentence or two stating why your original answer was incorrect, c) Your new answer.
I have the right to refuse any quiz corrections without all three of these components included.
Assuming your new answer is correct, you will receive full points back for that question. If your new answer is incorrect, you will receive no additional points. If you submit your quiz corrections to me during the semester (not during the last week of class), I may hand them back to you and ask you to fix that question at no additional penalty to your remaining quiz corrections. The exception to this is if the answer is obviously plagiarized. Plagiarized answers will be given a zero and you will lose that quiz correction opportunity and face possible disciplinary action. THE FINAL DEADLINE TO SUBMIT QUIZ CORRECTIONS IS AT THE FINAL EXAM. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Behavior and Participation Points: Your behavior and participation grade will be based on my observation of your participation in the lab exercises and adherence to the rules. Some examples of behaviors I will deduct points for:
 Missing class (unless made up in another instructor’s lab)
 Non-cooperative behavior (towards me or other students)
 Leaving before finishing the lab (unless you speak with me first)
 Excessive/annoying use of cell phones/tablets not related to biology
 Not participating in lab activities (for example, just sitting there while your group does everything)
 Not cleaning your lab bench before leaving (this goes for the whole group or table)
Final Exam: A cumulative lab practical to be held on the last day of class. For

each station, you will have 1.5 minutes to answer 1-3 questions using the given set-up.
Free Tutoring : Biology Tutoring Center at College of Staten Island: Building 1A, Room 108A
Bring your book, notes, and syllabus with you to the tutoring center. Please have specific questions ready.
Week
Sept 8
Topic
Scientific Method, Metric Measurement, and Microscopy
Sept 15
Sept 22
Sept 29
Oct 6
Oct 13
Cell Structure and Function
Models and prepared slides; Elodea wet mounts
Chemical Composition of Cells
Tests for protein, starch, sugars, lipids
Diffusion, Osmosis, and Dialysis; pH
Tonicity in potato, Elodea and red blood cells
Enzymes
Catalase activity
NO CLASS
Reading:
Activity 1.1, 2 p 2-3, 8; 9-26
Activity 4, part p 41-46, 56
Activity 3
p 27-39
Activity 4, part p 47-56
Activity 5
p 57-66
Learning Objectives
-Understand the logic of the scientific method, and experimental design.
-Understand hypotheses and know how to write a testable hypothesis.
-Know the metric units used to measure length, volume, mass, and temperature
-Know how to convert one metric unit to another.
-Identify and explain the functions of the primary parts of the compound microscope.
-Be able to properly carry and focus a compound microscope.
-Be able to prepare a wet mount; find and examine biological specimens.
-Understand the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; identify structures of each.
-Understand the basic function of eukaryotic organelles.
-Determine whether a eukaryotic cell is plant or animal by examining its structure.
-Explain the importance of positive and negative controls in biochemical tests.
-Recognize the structures and functions of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
-Understand the relationship between observed Brownian movement and molecular movement.
-Explain the factors controlling a substance’s direction and rate of diffusion.
-Determine the direction and rate of osmosis into and out of simulated cells in hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic environments.
-Understand how hypo/hyper/isotonic solutions affect the volume and integrity of plant and animal cells.
-Understand the structure and properties of cellular membranes.
-Understand the structure and function of enzymes.
-Predict how changes in environmental conditions may affect enzymatic reaction rates.
Oct 20
Oct 27
Nov 3
Nov 10
Nov 17
Nov 24
Dec 1
Dec 8
Dec 15
Cellular Metabolism I: Respiration and Fermentation
Cellular Metabolism II: Photosynthesis
Lab procedure follows handout
Animal Organization
Prepared slides
Cardiovascular System
Sheep heart dissection
Models & prepared slides
Stethoscopes
Urinary System
Sheep kidney dissection & urinalysis
Models & prepared slides
Nervous System
Sheep brain dissection
Models & prepared slides
Sense Organs
Cow eye dissection
Reproductive System
Review for Final Exam
FINAL PRACTICAL EXAM – COVERS ENTIRE SEMESTER
Activity 7 p 77-83
Activity 6 p 67-76, handout
Activity 25 p 353 – 368
Activities 25, part; 27 part; 29 part p 361 – 363;
384 – 387; 398;
410 - 414
Activities: 27, part; 29 part p 390 – 391;
418 - 424
Activity 30, part p 425 – 432;
443
Activity 30, part p 432 - 443
Activity 27, part p 391 - 398
-Understand the processes and conditions of aerobic respiration.
-Describe how fermentation is used to produce products such as bread, wine, and kimchee.
-Describe the overall equation for photosynthesis, including reactants and products.
-Describe the differences between the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions involved in photosynthesis.
-Describe the role of pigments in photosynthesis.
-Describe the distribution of starch in leaves resulting from photosynthesis relative to the amount of light they receive and the distribution of pigments.
-Understand the classification scheme of vertebrate tissues.
-List the functions and examples of each tissue type.
-Associate structure with function for each tissue type.
-Know the two major circular pathways of the circulatory system
(pulmonary and systemic) – what are they and where do they go?
-Know main parts of the heart and major veins/arteries.
-Be able to trace the path of blood through the heart, body, and lungs; know where it becomes oxygenated/deoxygenated.
-Understand different methods of respiration and the importance of surface area:volume ratios in which method a species uses.
-Understand how the circulatory and respiratory systems work together.
-Be able to trace the pathway of urine through the body from the organ of production to its excretion from the body.
-Be able to identify the main structures of the kidney.
-Understand how urinalysis helps identify health problems.
-Know and understand the three main steps of urine production.
-Know the main components of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord, nerves
-Know the types of neurons, their parts, and where they deliver impulses.
-Identify parts of the brain and their basic functions
-Understand the function of the spinal cord and its location.
-How might the relative sizes of different parts of the brain indicate the adaptations of a species?
-Be able to locate parts of the eye and their functions (see the handout from this lab)
-Understand the functions of the male and female urogenital systems and how they differ.
-Know the gonads and gametes of both males and females; trace the pathway of the gametes through the body.

 Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work.
 Unauthorized collaboration on a take home assignment or examination.
 Using notes during a closed book examination.
 Taking an examination for another student, or asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you.
 Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination. Allowing others to research and write assigned papers or do assigned projects, including use of commercial term paper services.
 Giving assistance to acts of academic misconduct/dishonesty.
 Fabricating data (all or in part).
 Submitting someone else’s work as your own.
 Unauthorized use during an examination of any electronic devices such as cell phones, palm pilots, computer or other technologies to retrieve or send information.
 Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.
 Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
 Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source
 Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.