Biology 111: Biological Exploration II
Fall 2011, second quarter
Dr. Tamara L. Davis
Course Description
Biology 110-113 are introductory-level courses, designed to encourage students to explore the field of
biology at multiple levels of organization: molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological. Each course
will explore these areas of biology through a unifying theme. This year, Biology 111 will investigate
the molecular and cellular basis of cystic fibrosis, its inheritance in families and populations, and
associated epidemiological and public policy implications. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours
a week. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Learning Goals:
 Students will gain foundational knowledge in biology, with an emphasis in the sub-disciplines
of genetics and molecular biology, by learning basic principles of the field and how these basic
principles were derived.
 Students will become familiar with various methodological approaches used to investigate
biological questions.
 Students will develop skills required to synthesize information and apply their knowledge
to new situations.
 Students will make connections among the different sub-disciplines of biology, as well as
to disciplines outside of biology.
Important information for students
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Instructors:
o lectures - Prof. Tamara Davis
 office: Park Science, room 222
 e-mail: tdavis@brynmawr.edu
o laboratory - Prof. Wilfred Franklin
 office: Park Science, room 210
 e-mail: wfrankli@brynmawr.edu
This course meets in Park Science, room 20; students attend one lecture section and one
laboratory section each week.
o lecture section 1: 10:10 am - 11:00 am, MWF
o lecture section 2: 11:10 am - noon, MWF
o laboratory sections: 1:10 - 4 pm, Monday; 1:40 - 4:30 pm, Tuesday; 1:10 - 4 pm,
Wednesday; 1:10 – 4 pm Friday
Office hours for Dr. Davis: Tuesdays, 9-10 am; Wednesdays, noon-1 pm; Thursdays, 1-2 pm;
by appointment.
This page is maintained by Tamara L. Davis/revised 10-12-2011.
Biology 111: Biological Exploration II
Fall 2011
Dr. Tamara L. Davis
Lecture Schedule
date
topic
directed readings &
activities to be completed
BEFORE CLASS
homework
Welsh & Smith (1995)
Cystic Fibrosis wiki
Scientific American article on
due 5 pm, 11/4/11
cystic fibrosis
Andersen & Hodges (1946)
Genetics of Cystic Fibrosis;
Characterizing transmission
Wed,
Richards & Hawley (2005)
patterns I: pedigrees and
Oct 26
different patterns of transmission Absent Essentials and
Monkey Wrenches
Mon, Course introduction: cystic
Oct 24 fibrosis as our model
Characterizing transmission
Fri,
patterns II: probability and
Oct 28
problem solving
textbook readings on
Mendelian genetics &
Quiz #1
Mendel's law of segregation; due 8 am, 10/31/11
web site resources
Population Genetics I:
Mon,
transmission of traits in
Oct 31
populations
textbook readings on
population genetics & HardyWeinberg equilibrium;
web site resources
Population Genetics II: factors
Wed,
that influence allele frequencies
Nov 2
in populations
textbook readings on
population genetics &
microevolution;
web site resources
Quiz #2
due 8 am, 11/4/11
Population Genetics III: why are
Fri,
deleterious traits maintained in
Nov 4
populations?
textbook readings on
population genetics &
microevolution
use resources to learn
about/review mitosis &
meiosis; then... take
Quiz #3
due 8 am, 11/7/11
Gene identification I: the
Mon,
relationship between genes and
Nov 7
chromosomes; meiosis
textbook readings on meiosis
& the chromosome theory of
inheritance;
web site resources
Gene identification II:
Wed,
independent assortment vs.
Nov 9
linkage
textbook readings on
Mendel's law of independent Quiz #4
assortment & gene linkage; due 8 am 11/11/11
web site resources
Fri,
Nov
11
Gene identification III: cloning the Meneely (2009) Positional
gene responsible for cystic
cloning of the cystic fibrosis
fibrosis
gene in humans
Mon,
Nov
14
Midterm
Wed,
Nov
16
From gene to protein I: the
relationship between genotype
and phenotype
textbook reading on the
central dogma of molecular
biology;
web site resources
Fri,
Nov
18
From gene to protein II:
transcription
textbook reading on
transcription;
web site resources
Mon,
Nov
21
From gene to protein III:
translation
textbook reading on
translation;
web site resources
Wed,
Nov
23
Protein structure/function I:
protein structure and its
relationship to function; ion
channels
Ashcroft (2000) Cystic
Fibrosis Transmembrane
Conductance Regulator
Fri,
Nov
25
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Mon,
Nov
28
Protein structure/function II:
mutations and their
consequences
Wed,
Nov
30
Identifying and analyzing
textbook reading on DNA
mutations I: PCR as a method for replication and PCR;
detecting mutations
web site resources
textbook reading on
mutations;
web site resources
Quiz #5
due 8 am, 11/23/11
Quiz #6
due 8 am, 11/30/11
Fri,
Identifying and analyzing
Dec 2 mutations II: analyzing variation
textbook reading on gel
electrophoresis
Mon, Ethics of genetic testing I: case
Dec 5 studies
Reilly (2000) Cystic Fibrosis:
ethics written
Should Everyone Be Tested?;
assignment
Editorial on the benefit of
due in class,12/7/11
genetic screening (2010)
Wed, Ethics of genetic testing II:
Dec 7 discussion
finals
week
there will be a SCHEDULED final
exam, date TBA
Quiz #7
due 8 am, 12/5/11
Biology 111: Biological Exploration II
Course Policies
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The educational
goal for Biology 111 is to explore the field of biology at
multiple levels of organization: molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological. In-class instruction is
accomplished via a combination of lectures, group activities, discussion and laboratory sessions. Many
of the regularly scheduled class meetings will not be conducted as traditional lectures. Rather,
throughout the semester classes have been designed to encourage the active participation of students.
Therefore, class time may be spent engaged in student research projects, group activities, problem
solving, discussion of readings, etc. In addition, students are expected to take considerable responsibility
for their own learning. To guide you in your studies, the Course Documents page of the Bio111 Moodle
site contains links to a variety of resources, including on-line Introductory Biology textbooks, on-line
learning modules, and animations. Under Course Documents, students will also find readings referred to
in the Syllabus and a variety of other resources.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance at every lecture is essential to your success in this course. Students are
required to participate during class activities and discussion. If you miss lecture for any reason, it is your
responsibility to acquire the notes from one of your classmates.
GRADES:
Your grade for this course will be based on your performance on the midterm and final,
pre/post-class quizzes, participation in two class blogs, a group assignment on ethics and the laboratory
activities. All work submitted for a grade must be your own; groups must confirm the participation of all
group members.
There are 100 points possible in this course, and points will be distributed in the following way:
-one in-class midterm (20 points)
-one scheduled final exam (25 points)
-seven pre/post-class quizzes (2.5 points each; lowest score dropped)
-cystic fibrosis wiki (2 points)
-ethics assignment (8 points)
-laboratory component (30 points)
If you have any questions about the way the course or an individual assignment is graded, please speak
to the relevant instructor.
TEXTBOOK, ON-LINE RESOURCES AND SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS: This
course does not use a
required textbook. However, textbooks are an excellent reference, and you are strongly encouraged to
use one as a resource throughout the semester. If you choose to do this, you should keep in mind that we
will not cover every subject discussed in a textbook; rather, you should use the table of contents and
index to direct your reading. There are also a variety of different on-line resources listed under Course
Documents, including on-line textbooks, on-line learning modules, etc. You will be held responsible for
ALL material covered in lecture and laboratory sessions. You are strongly encouraged to use your all of
the available resources to gain additional perspective on the course material, to practice problem solving,
and to learn more about a topic that interests you.
If you are interested in purchasing a textbook, there are several good ones available, and relatively
recent editions (from the past 5 years or so) can be purchased inexpensively on amazon.com or via other
on-line booksellers. Textbooks I can recommend include: Campbell and Reece, Biology, published by
Benjamin Cummings and Raven and Johnson, Biology, published by McGraw-Hill. There are a few
copies of Intro Bio textbooks on reserve at Collier Library, but it is strongly recommended that you buy
your own copy.
Supplemental readings covering material not well addressed by textbooks or to be used in class
discussion will be posted on the course Moodle site.
QUIZZES:
Seven open note, open book quizzes will be given throughout the seven weeks of this course.
The purpose of these quizzes is to reinforce concepts communicated in class and to assess your level of
comprehension. The quizzes will be posted on Moodle. Each quiz will be available for approximately 48
hours, and students can take the quiz at any time during this period (see the lecture syllabus for specific
dates). You are responsible for taking the quiz during the available period; if you choose to be off
campus during this time, please ensure that you will have internet access to Moodle in order to complete
your quiz. If you have any problems with Moodle while attempting to take a quiz, it is your
responsibility to contact the instructor via e-mail immediately; this way, your problem will be timestamped and the instructor can take appropriate action to remedy the problem.
EXAMS:
There will be two closed-book exams for this course: one in-class midterm exam and a
scheduled cumulative final exam during finals week (date TBA). The final exam must be scheduled by
the Registrar; therefore, the date will not be announced until mid-semester. Please do not finalize your
December travel plans until after the date of the final exam has been announced. We do not schedule
make-up exams for this course, and failure to take the final exam results in an automatic 0 in the course.
MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS:
Because of the number of students enrolled in this course, it is not
possible to make individual arrangements for make-up examinations. In the case of unforeseen
circumstances that are out of your control, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.
EXAMINATION REVIEW POLICY:
When each exam is returned to you, please take time to examine it
immediately for mathematical accuracy. Also, read the comments provided by your instructor. If you
have any questions about how your answers were graded, consult the posted answer key. If you still
have questions, or if you have detected a mathematical error, you will have ONE WEEK from the time
the examination is returned to request adjustments. After that week, the score is considered final. Please
keep in mind that if you request a review of your exam, the entire exam will be re-graded.
HONOR CODE:
All students in Bryn Mawr classes are bound by the Bryn Mawr College Honor Code. If
you witness cheating by another student, you are expected to confront that person politely but promptly.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES:
Bryn Mawr students with learning differences who need
accommodations should speak with Stephanie Bell, the Accessibility Coordinator, to arrange for and
complete the necessary documentation. Ms. Bell's telephone number is x7351 and her office is in
Canwyll House. Haverford students with learning differences should contact Richard Webb (610-8961290). Requests for accommodations for examinations or for other course work should be made directly
to the appropriate instructor at least one week prior to the scheduled date so that appropriate
arrangements can be made.
CONCERNS ABOUT THE COURSE:
If you have a concern about the course, you are encouraged to speak
directly to the lecturer or laboratory instructor most directly related to your concern.
Page last updated 10/11/2011.