Organisms and their Environment II
BIOL 1123 B2
Winter 2014
Dr. Soren Bondrup-Nielsen
Biology 332
e-mail address: bondrup@acadiau.ca
Grading:
Quizzes
Midterms
Presentation
7.5%
25%
7.5%
Office Hours: by appointment
Final Exam
35%
Lab
25%
Total
100%
Instructor:
Lec. Time:
Text:
M, W, F - 11:30-12:30 - Elliott 221
Biology (Canadian Edition) Brooker et al.
All course related information including Course outline, lectures, assignments, midterm
dates etc. can be found at:
http://www.bondrup.com/401/login.php?redirect=/intro-biology.html
the pass word is “Darwin”
Note: If you are a student with a documented disability who anticipates needing
accommodations in this course, please inform me after you meet Jill Davies (902-5851127) or Kathy O’Rourke (902-585-1823) in Disability Access Services, Student
Resource Centre, lower floor of the Old SUB (Old Student Union Building).
The theme for the winter term of Intro Biology is Molecular Genetics and Evolution.
The section of the course that deals with Molecular genetics examines the science behind
the discovery of DNA and the mechanism of how DNA works. The section on evolution
examines how life has changed over time and the evidence that Darwin’s theory of
Natural Selection is the mechanism by which this adaptive change takes place.
Molecular Genetics (approx. 4 weeks)
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Introduction to the course
Science as a way of knowing
Where does the genetic information reside?
What are genes made of?
The structure of DNA
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Genes and how they work
Gene Technology
Evolution (approx. 8 weeks)
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Genes in populations
The rise of evolutionary thought
Evidence for evolution
The origin of species
How we classify organisms
Evolutionary history of organisms
The evolution of humans
The last two weeks – student presentations
Quizzes: There will be approximately 10 quizzes held at the end of Friday lectures
(except on Fridays of the week of midterms).
Midterms: Feb. 5 (10%) and March 12 (15%).
You will be divided in into groups of four for the duration of term. Groups
will work together in class on assigned discussion topics from the lecture material.
The intention is that by having you discuss topics together you to achieve a deeper
level of understanding of the course material.
Friday quizzes consist of a single question based on the lectures during that
week. You will be given approximately 10 minutes where you will have 5 minutes to
write down your answer. You will then get a chance to discuss your answers within
groups and you will hand in one answer per group. In this way the four students per
group will receive the same grade per quiz. At the end of the course you will be
asked to grade each other within groups as to perceived individual inputs.
Presentations: each group will be given a taxon, which they will have to
research and give a presentation on to the rest of the class. You are responsible for
all material presented on the various taxons.