Genetics, Evolution & Ecology
BIOL 122 – Spring 2007 – Sonoma State University
Instructors:
Offices:
Office Hours:
Telephones:
Emails:
WebPages:
Dr. Hall Cushman
Darwin 238
Tues 9:30-10:30 & Wed 1-3
664-2142
cushman@sonoma.edu
www.sonoma.edu/users/c/cushman/
Dr. Nathan Rank
Darwin 223
Tues 10-11 & Wed 1-3
664-3053
rank@sonoma.edu
www.sonoma.edu/users/r/rank/
Graduate TAs:
Office:
Office Hours:
Telephone:
Email:
Natalie MacCallum
Darwin 244
Fri 12-1
799-1022
grahamn@sonoma.edu
Frederique Lavoipierre
Darwin 224
Mon 11-12
664-2241
lavoipie@sonoma.edu
Graduate TAs:
Office:
Office Hours:
Telephone:
Email:
Steve Johnston
Darwin 224
Monday 8-10
664-2241
johnstos@sonoma.edu
Rebecca Gordon
Darwin 244
Wed 12-1 & Thurs 12-1
664-4075
forbath@sonoma.edu
Lecture: 8:00 –
Lab Section 1:
Lab Section 2:
Lab Section 3:
Lab Section 4:
Lab Section 5:
Lab Section 6:
Lab Section 7:
Required Texts:
Laura Saunders
Darwin 237
Thurs 9:30-10:30
664-2512
saundela@sonoma.edu
9:15, Tuesday & Thursday (Ives 101)
9:25 – 12:15, Tuesday (Lavoipierre; D230)
2:25 – 5:15, Tuesday (Johnston; D230)
9:00 – 11:50, Wednesday (Saunders; D230)
2:25 – 5:15, Wednesday (Gordon; D230)
9:25 – 12:15, Thursday (Johnston; D230)
2:25 – 5:15, Thursday (Gordon; D230)
9:00 – 11:50, Friday (McCallum; D230)
N. A. Campbell and J.B. Reece. Biology, 2005. 7th Edition.
Benjamin/Cummings Publishers, San Francisco, CA.
Biology Labs On-Line. 2000. FlyLab. Benjamin/Cummings
Obtainable at http://www.biologylab.awlonline.com for $7.00.
Students must log onto the site and register for FlyLab.
Objectives: In this course, students will learn about mechanisms of inheritance (genetics), how these
mechanisms interact with the environment to produce evolutionary change (evolution), and how
individuals and species interact with each other and their physical environment (ecology). These
three disciplines are inseparable and represent fundamental areas of inquiry within biology.
Relationship to other courses: This is one of two first year Biology courses. The other course
(BIOL 121) will be offered in Fall 2007. BIOL 121 and 122 are prerequisites, along with two
semesters of introductory chemistry, for the second year Biology course, BIOL 123. You should apply
BIOL 122 to your B2 or B3 GE requirement, if you must take Biology upper-division courses for your
major. Otherwise, you should not use this course to fulfill the B2 or B3 GE requirement. Most
students who are not Biology majors or minors should enroll in BIOL 110. If you plan to major or
minor in Biology, but have not declared your major, you should do so right away!
BIOL 122 – Spring 07
Assigned Readings: The lecture syllabus lists the text chapters that must be read for each class.
Students will be expected to download handouts before each laboratory exercise. In both cases,
students are expected to complete assigned readings BEFORE coming to lecture/lab.
Office Hours: We encourage students to sign up for office hours to discuss course material. Please
sign up in advance for the time slot you want. If you cannot make scheduled office hours, arrange an
alternative appointment with the staff member in question. Be sure to contact the appropriate staff
member regarding your questions about lecture and laboratory material. Short questions can also be
dealt with by email. Email is the best way to reach us outside of office hours. Please put ‘BIOL 122’
in the subject heading of emails you send us.
Participation: Students must attend lectures and laboratories, as well as actively participate in all
aspects of the course. Arrive on time and do not leave early. Late arrivals and early departures are
disruptive and will affect your final grade.
Class Notes: Lecture notes will be made available to students in this class. Notes for lectures can be
downloaded from each instructor’s web page (see above).
Assignments:
1) Lecture Exams: There will be 4 midterm exams each worth 100 points. These exams will be
multiple-choice. All exams focus on material covered in lecture, readings and study guides. No
make-up exams will be given without a well-documented excuse (e.g. signed note from doctor). If
you cannot make it to an exam because of a legitimate emergency, notify us before the exam. We
cannot offer make-up exams due to students’ travel plans or scheduling difficulties.
2) Lecture Quizzes: There will be 4 lecture quizzes scheduled throughout the semester, each worth
25 points. All quizzes will be multiple choice and require no more than 15 minutes to complete.
Arrive in lecture on time for each quiz. There will be no make-up quizzes, and you will not be able
to take a quiz if you arrive late. An absence counts as a zero.
3) Pop Quizzes: There will be 5 unannounced quizzes during lab. These brief quizzes are designed
to ensure that students come to class prepared to participate actively in the lab exercise. Students
should carefully read lab handouts prior to class (your lab instructor will give you further details on
pop quizzes).
4) Problem Sets: You will complete 4 problem sets based material covered in lecture. Each problem
set is worth 10 points.
5) Research Paper: Students will be required to write a research paper (40 points) in journal format
that summarizes the results of the plant competition experiments conducted in the greenhouse
during the semester.
6) Lab Notebook: You will keep a notebook recording your activities in laboratory. You can use this
notebook to help you study, and you will submit your notebook to your laboratory instructor at the
end of the semester. Notebooks will be graded on completeness and adherence to guidelines.
7) Lab Exam: There will be a single lab exam (50 points) that focuses exclusively on the lab material
covered in the ecology component of this class (the exam will not focus on the genetics of evolution
labs). Many questions will emphasize the scientific process. There will be no make-up lab exams.
8) Colloquium Seminars: Students are required to attend 2 seminars in Biology Colloquium (Tuesday,
12:00-12:50; Darwin 103). In lecture or lab, you will be told which specific seminar dates can be
used to meet this requirement. In order to receive credit for attending a seminar (10
points/seminar), you must sign the BIOL 122 attendance sheet at the end of the seminar.
9) Lab Attendance & Participation: You must participate in lab actively. We will take attendance
during each lab session and award points for participation. You should plan on remaining in lab for
the full 3-hour lab period. Directions for each exercise will be contained in handouts for this course.
There will be no make-up laboratories. Under exceptional circumstances, you may be able to
attend an alternate laboratory session, if seats are available and you obtain advance permission
from your laboratory instructor and the instructor for the laboratory that you wish to attend. Be
aware that most lab sections are full and there are often no seats available in other lab sections.
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BIOL 122 – Spring 07
Policies about student behavior during lecture and examinations: In a large class like this, we
must minimize disruption during lecture. Arrive on time, do not leave early, and turn your cell phone
off before entering lecture. You may not use cell phones or other electronic device during an
examination or quiz. If one of us observes you using an unauthorized electronic device during an
examination, we will collect the examination and you will receive a zero for it. In addition, you may not
use the restroom or leave the room for any reason during an examination or quiz. Use the restroom
before the test.
Important University policies: These include the add/drop policy, cheating and plagiarism policy,
grade appeal procedures, accommodations for students with disabilities, and diversity vision
statement (http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/studentinfo.shtml). Students violating the policy
on plagiarism and cheating may receive a zero for the course and the violation will be recorded at the
Student Affairs Office.
Grading: Final grades will be based on the percentage of total points earned on the exams and
assignments listed below.
• 4 midterm exams (100 points each)
• 4 lecture quizzes (25 points each)
• 5 pop quizzes (unannounced; 10 points each)
• 4 problem sets (10 points each)
• attendance at 2 biology colloquium seminars (10 points each)
• lab exam
• research paper
• lab notebook
• lab attendance
• laboratory participation
Total Possible Points
400
100
50
40
20
50
40
56
28
28
812
Problem Set Assignments - You will turn in your answers to problem sets at the beginning of your
laboratory section during the week noted below. Show your work in solving the problems. We will
grade problem sets according to the following criteria: 10 points for correct answers and complete
work shown; 3-9 points for partially completed and partially correct work; 2 points for correct answers
that do not show work. If you come to see an instructor or teaching assistant during office hours to
discuss problems that confuse you, you will receive 2 points (up to the maximum of 10) for consulting
us. Late problem sets will receive a maximum of 6 points.
1. Ch. 14: 1; 2 (all); 3; 4 (all); 5, 7 (all) - Due Week 3
2. Ch. 14: 14; 17; Ch. 15: 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 13 - Due Week 5
3. Ch. 16: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, - Due Week 7
4. Ch. 17*: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, - Due Week 8
For multiple choice problems, explain why the answer is correct, in one or two sentences.
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