General Biology Syllabus
Fall 2015
Course:
Semester Credit Hours:
Class Day and Time:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Text:
Laboratory Manual:
Course Structure:
Prerequisites:
Course Objectives:
BSCC 1010-05C
CRN 40012
4
Tu, Th 8:00 AM-10:15 AM
James Bottesch
97G, Building 7, Cocoa Campus
(321) 433-7705 (If you need to talk to me, please call during office
hours; otherwise kindly leave a message)
botteschj@easternflorida.edu
M,W,
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Tu, Th
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Campbell’s Biology, 10th ed. Reece, Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky, and Jackson.
2013. ISBN 9780321775658
BSCC 1010 General Biology Lab Manual, 3rd ed.; Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2014.
This course encompasses complementary lecture and laboratory components. Exams
cover materials from both. There is no separate laboratory grade from lecture grade.
None
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of cellular activities which are basic to the
existence of life. These include cellular structure, reproduction, metabolism and its
regulation. The continuity of life as demonstrated by the current understandings of the
principles of inheritance is explored. The evolutionary process is used to explain the
resultant diversity of life forms on earth which are presented from a taxonomical
viewpoint.
Instructional Methods:
Lecture and hands-on activities to aid in:
1. Explaining the steps of the scientific method.
2. Describing the chemical basis of life and identify the
structures and functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
3. Explaining the relationship between thermodynamics and chemical reactions and
describe the role of enzymes in cell reactions.
4. Outlining the main steps in cellular respiration and photosynthesis and identify the
sites for these processes within cells.
5. Describing the structure and function of DNA and RNA and describe the processes
of DNA replication, RNA transcription, and translation.
6. Identifying the goals for recombinant DNA technology and describe modern
biotechnical procedures.
7. Explaining the genetic basis of inheritance and solve Mendelian genetics problems.
8. Describing the theories for the origin of life and for evolution.
Method of Evaluation:
Assignments
Labs
Lab Exam (total)
4 Exams (each)
Final
15%
15%
15%
10%
15%
Assignments:
given in class and include worksheets/handouts and written summaries located on CANVAS.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor and to make up any missed
assignments. Assignments will be due the following class period. Late assignments WILL
NOT be accepted. Please keep a list of assignments and due dates.
Labs: in general, lab data completed in class the day the lab is assigned and is topic relevant. Come prepared
for the activity as well as abide by all safety rules. If you are absent, it is the student’s responsibility to
contact the instructor. Please realize that labs cannot be made up due to complexity of set-up and/or
materials/logistics. Additionally, cleanliness constitutes 10% of this grade.
Exams: based upon discussed principles and key vocabulary terms. They will consist of matching, multiple
choice, and short answer. Exams are closed book/notes. All exam grades count toward the final
average and no exam grades will be dropped! Exam dates will be announced.
**Any exam that is missed MUST be made up within 7 days or one will receive a zero for that
exam. It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to make these arrangements……the instructor will not
remind the student that an exam was missed – you know it! Make-up exams will be different than
those taken by the rest of the class. Make-up exams will only be given for valid reasons – being
unprepared is not of those reasons!
Lab Exam:
will be derived from 2 smaller exams given throughout the semester (each accounting for 50% of
the overall lab exam grade). Each smaller exam will have 5-10 questions per lab activity being
tested.
Final: objective, cumulative test. It will be 100 points and consist of multiple choice questions.
Grading Scale:
Attendance:
90% - 100%
70% - 79.99%
A
C
0% - 59.99%
80% - 89.99%
60% - 69.99%
F
B
D
EFSC students are expected to attend all classes and laboratory periods for which they are enrolled.
Attendance is for your benefit and it is your responsibility to make-up lecture notes missed. In short, if you
miss a class, you will miss something important! Students are directly responsible to instructors for class
attendance and for work missed for absence for any cause. Any student absent for greater than 15% of class
meetings will receive a final grade of “F”, as per EFSC attendance policy!
If you fall behind in the work for whatever reason, DO NOT SIMPLY STOP ATTENDING CLASS! IT
IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO WITHDRAW FROM CLASS by 10-22-15, otherwise you will
receive a grade of F. Students receiving veteran benefits who miss more than 3 classes will be withdrawn
by the last date for withdrawal or an F if after. Students who receive financial aid and withdraw from
classes or stop attending without withdrawing themselves are liable for repayment of the Federal Funds they
received.
Classroom Courtesy: The use of cellular phones is prohibited in the classroom. Please be sure these devices are turned
off during class time. It is expected that students will come to class on time and return to the
classroom promptly at the end of break times. Failure to return to class after break will be
recorded as an absence.
Academic Honesty:
Each student must fulfill his or her academic obligation by an honest, independent effort.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students who engage in academic dishonesty will be
penalized as per EFSC policy.
Student Conduct:
Students must conduct themselves so others will not be distracted from the pursuit of learning.
Students may be disciplined for any conduct which constitutes a hazard to the health, safety, or well
being of members of the college community or which is deemed detrimental to the college’s interest
Additional Information / Instructions from the Instructor:
** Course requirements are subject to change by the instructor as deemed appropriate to meet the needs of the
program and the students.
Course Outline: Biology
I. The Unity of Life
A. Properties of life
B. Organizational levels of life
II. The Scientific Method
A. Formulation of a scientific hypothesis
B. Dynamics of scientific inquiry
III. The Composition of Life
A. Chemical components of living things
1. Atoms and molecules
a) Atomic structure and bonding
b) Chemistry of water
2. Biological Compounds
a) Carbohydrates
b) Lipids
c) Proteins
d) Nucleic acids
1) DNA/RNA structure and function
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2, 3
Chapters 4, 5
Chapters 16, 17
EXAM 1
IV. The Origin of Life and Its Diversity
A. Early Earth
B. Chemical Evolution
C. Development of theories on the origin of life; earliest cells
D. The theory of evolution and process of evolution
V. The Organization of Life
A. Cell structure
1. The structure and function of the plasma membrane
2. The structure and function of cellular organelles
Chapters 1, 22, 23, 24, 25
VI. Energy Transformations
A. Enzyme mechanics
B. Glucose metabolism
C. Photosynthesis
Chapters 8, 10, 9
VII. The Reproduction of Life
A. Mitosis, asexual reproduction
B. Meiosis, sexual reproduction
C. Human reproduction
VIII. The Continuity of Life: Genetics
A. Genetic basis of inheritance
B. Mendelian patterns of inheritance
C. Genetic anomalies
D. Biotechnology overview
IX.
The Diversity of Life
A. Systematics and Taxonomy
B. Survey of the Kingdoms of Life
Chapters 6, 7
EXAM 2; LAB EXAM 1
EXAM 3
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 46
Chapters 14, 15
Chapter 20
Chapter 26
EXAM 4; LAB EXAM II
Course:
Instructor:
Semester:
General Biology, BSCC 1010
J. Bottesch
Fall 2015
Tu, Th 8:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Phone:
433-7705
E-MAIL:
botteschj@brevardcc.edu
Lab Manual: BSCC 1010 General Biology Lab Manual, 3rd ed.; Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2014.
Laboratory Sequence with TENTATIVE Projected Time Frame:
1.
Observations and Measurements: Measuring Techniques
8/20
No Lab Scheduled
8/27
2.
Acids, Bases, and pH
9/3
3.
Observations and Measurements: The Microscope
9/10
4.
Organic Molecules
9/17
Exam 1
9/24
4.
Cell Structure and Function
10/1
5.
Osmosis
10/8
Exam 2 and Lab Exam I
10/15
6.
Enzymes
10/22
7.
Spectrophotometry
10/29
Exam 3
11/5
8.
Mitosis: Cells Arise from Pre-Existing Cells
11/12
9.
Genetics: Examining Inheritance Patterns through Punnett Squares
11/24
Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class
10.
Forensic Genetics
12/1
Exam 4 and Lab Exam II
FINAL EXAMINATION
11/26
12/3
12/8
(8-10 AM)