MESA COLLEGE, SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107); Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
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Spring Semester 2007
Course Title: General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107)
Course Description
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This General Biology 107 laboratory is part of the Biology program at San Diego
Mesa College, which serves three areas of study. It is together with the General
Biology 107 lecture course required for the Major in the Applied Biology Track as
well as the Allied Health Track career to receive an Associate in Science degree.
This introductory, 1-UNIT Biology laboratory (together with the concurrent BIOL
107 lecture class) also fulfills the student’s general education and principal science
requirements.
Laboratory Meeting
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Spring semester 2007, February 5 – June, 04
Monday Lab:
1:00 – 3:50 PM
Room # I-101
Wednesday Lab:
7:00 – 9:50 PM
Room # I-121
Office Hours
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Office Hours are on Monday 10:00 - 12:00 AM and Wednesday from 1:00 - 4:00
PM; so if you have any problems with this lab, questions regarding lab reports,
grading, etc., use these days and times to get in touch with me; you also have the
opportunity to get a hold of me throughout this semester via the email box
accessible on my posted website:
http://classroom.sdmesa.edu/eschmid/
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Also don’t hesitate to contact me before the regular class meetings!
Laboratory Assignments
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This course requires the completion of 8 lab reports during this semester. Each
turned in lab report consists of the results/findings of the individually completed lab
exercises (as announced in the class room by your instructor), e.g. drawings,
tables, graphics, questionnaires, related to the weekly lab assignments and as
shown in your lab textbook and/or handouts.
Each lab report is due at the following lab meeting at the beginning of class. It is
the responsibility of the student to make up all missed laboratory material. Make up
material must be completed and turned in within the same week, since new
material will be covered the following session.
Generally, the lab reports will be graded on the completeness and quality of the
presentation, e.g. accuracy, neatness, and level of understanding of the lab
concepts. Later completed assignments will be penalized by point subtraction;
missing lab reports will be “F” graded.
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MESA COLLEGE, SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107); Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
Laboratory Safety & Other Information
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Safety glasses must be worn while mixing or heating all lab chemicals including
acids, bases, water or working with an open flame.
Due to hands-on work with chemicals and biological material, no food or drinks
are allowed in the laboratory throughout the lab exercises!
Due to glass handling and danger of breaking glass, shoes must be worn during
the lab period. No shoes, no admittance
Report any accidents, e.g. cuts, burns, falls, etc., immediately to your instructor. If
the instructor is not available then report to the lab technician(s) in the stock room
Learn the locations of the safety equipment: emergency eye wash, fire blanket, fire
extinguisher, emergency shower and first aid kit in the laboratory.
Biology 107 Lab Schedule (see separate document on my website!)
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Even though a brief introduction to the individual lab topics will be given by the
instructor before each session, the exercises to the individual topics are expected
to be read before class to be well prepared for the exercises and lab activities of
each lab session!
Special needs
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San Diego Mesa College recommends that students with disabilities discuss
academic accommodations with their professors during the first two weeks of
class.
Please talk with me if you have, e.g. vision or hearing problems, so that I can
arrange a favorable classroom seating for you.
In case of other disabilities you should contact the Disability Support Services
(DSS) on campus during the first two weeks of class and then let me know how I
may assist you.
Attendance
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Be sure to initial the attendance sheet each day in the lab. In the event that you
cannot attend the lab course please inform the instructor in writing as to the
reason.
You may miss two lab sessions during the semester without being dropped.
College policy states that you may be dropped from a course for excessive
absences if they equal an amount greater than one week of classes.
Leaving early before your lab assignments are done, or not participating in your
group activities, counts towards your accumulated absences.
Keep in mind, that for a lab course, it is not only the lab reports/material that is
important, but also the skills and learned techniques that count!
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MESA COLLEGE, SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107); Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
Field Trip
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One or two field trips may be planned for this semester, either in form of a
botanical excursion to a location in SD county (t.b.a.) and/or a visit to the Steven
Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. More details and info about this field trip will be
announced by your instructor and posted on his website ahead of time.
Positive attendance on any of these field trips and the completion of a lab report
are mandatory to receive full credit for this activity.
Attention: active participation of each student on these field trips requires the prior
signing of a field trip waiver form by the student; the waiver document/form will be
handed out in the lab by your instructor 2-3 weeks before the announced date of
the field trip.
Dropping this laboratory
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The most common cause for students dropping a class is a too high workload. If
you work 20 hours per week, your class load should not be over 12 Units; if you
work 30 hours, your class load should not be over 8 Units. In order to achieve or
keep a good grade, I advice you to cut back class load, drop out in time and go for
fewer units.
Final Exam
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The Lab final exam is given in the last week of the semester (date and time see
your schedule). It will contain 60 - 75 questions related to the lab topics covered
throughout the semester.
Since the questions of this lab finals exam will be multiple choice and true-false
based, be reminded to bring a Scantron card (and a soft pencil) with you on the
day of the scheduled exam.
Scantron cards can be purchased at the San Diego Mesa College campus
bookstore!
Cheating
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While cooperative learning (especially in a lab class) is encouraged, all
assignments must be done in your own words and writing to receive credits.
Cheating on any assignment (in form of copying or pasting information) will result
in a grade of zero for this lab report and (and if repeatedly the case) possible
dismissal from the lab.
Remember: cheating and plagiarism are violations of academic honesty, whether
perpetrated actively or passively. All violations and suspected violations of
academic honesty can result in action taken against the parties involved, and will
be reported in writing with the Dean of the School of Mathematics, Sciences and
Engineering. Sanctions may include no-credit on the assignment in question,
course failure or formal charges of student misconduct.
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MESA COLLEGE, SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107); Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
Grades
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Your final grade will be based on an accumulated percentage of earned points
from your completed lab reports and other lab assignments (where announced).
Each completed and (on time) turned in lab report will be awarded with 30 points.
Your maximum lab report score will be around 240 points to which your total score
from your finals exam with a maximum score of at least 130 points will be added.
For this lab course your maximum possible Total Score in points will be around
370.
The total lab points account for 30% of your final course grade and will be added to
your total earned lecture points; the grand total points consisting of 30% lab points
and 70% lecture-gained points will be set as 100%.
Based on your earned percentage, your final course grade will be calculated as
follows:
A = 100 – 91%
B = 90 – 81%
F = < 60%
C = 80 – 71%
D = 70 – 61%
Please be reminded that it is your responsibility to take care of any administrative
procedure involved in withdrawing from this class
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MESA COLLEGE, SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107); Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
Course Objectives
Week No.
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Lab Assignment & Objectives
You will be introduced to the scientific method, its terminology
and rules.
You will learn to use simple scientific measuring equipment; you
will be introduced to the standard reference units of the Metric
system and do calculations on the basis of its units
You will identify microscope parts and explain their function;
demonstrate proper slide preparation and use of the microscope.
You will identify basic eukaryotic organelles and distinguish
various unicellular prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms
You will learn the importance of diffusion and osmosis to
important processes of life. You will conduct experiments
demonstrating the principles and mechanisms of both processes.
You will describe and explain the causes of Brownian movement,
diffusion and osmosis and determine the effects of temperature,
molecular weight and concentration on these parameters.
You will conduct simple experiments and enzyme assays to
study the characteristics and hall mark features of enzymes, the
molecular “working horses” of all living cells;
You will learn how to use a spectrophotometer to measure
enzyme activity
You will perform and interpret various experiments related to
photosynthesis in green plants, including raw materials, end
products, light intensity, temperature and the separation and role
of various photosynthetic pigments.
You will perform and interpret various experiments related to
cellular respiration, including raw materials, end products,
temperature, a comparison of anaerobic and aerobic respiration;
you will compare regulators and non-regulators of body
temperature
You will understand the importance of mitosis and meiosis to
growth and sexual reproduction of life.
You will identify, explain and compare the different phases and
outcomes of mitosis and meiosis of eukaryotic cells with the help
of simple models
SPRING BREAK
You will be introduced to the basic laws connected with dominant
–recessive inheritance patterns.
You will understand Mendel’s principles of allele segregation by
studying the outcomes of Monohybrid cross experiments in
plants and animals.
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MESA COLLEGE, SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES
General Biology Laboratory (BIOL 107); Instructor: Elmar Schmid, Ph.D.
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You will be introduced to variations of Mendel’s laws of genetics.
You will understand Mendel’s law of independent assortment by
studying the outcomes of dihybrid cross experiments.
You will further solve genetic problems involving incomplete
dominance, co-dominance, sex-linkage and polygenic
inheritance
You will be introduced to the basic working principles and tools
of a molecular genetics and forensic science lab.
You will perform simple simulated cloning experiments and try to
solve a simulated murder case with the help of genetic tools.
In this lab you will be introduced to members of the three
different domains of life on planet Earth.
You will identify the general features of eukaryotic and
prokaryotic forms of life.
You will further identify examples of Monera, Protista and Fungi,
and distinguish the key characteristics of each group.
Field trip
(to some announced location in San Diego)
 active participation requires signing of a waiver form as well
as of a participation list!
During this lab you will explore the eukaryotic, multi-cellular and
heterotrophic organisms of the kingdom Animalia.
You will investigate some of the defining characteristics and
evolutionary relationships of the most prominent animal phyla.
You will be introduced to the basic anatomy of the mammalian
body.
You will dissect a white rat and identify important body
structures, organs and their physiological function(s).
You will identify examples of the four major classes of land
plants, including bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms and
angiosperms.
You will examine, describe and compare their unique structural,
adaptive and reproductive mechanisms and features.
Final Exam
(60 – 75 questions; Time: 120 minutes)
A Scantron card is mandatory for this exam
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