BIO111 Biology I – Science
Fall 2013
Professor Jill Carroll, MS
jcarroll@faculty.camdencc.edu
BIO111-17 Class Meeting Time: Tuesday & Thursday
2:30 – 3:20pm lecture Halpern 225
3:30 – 5:10pm lab Halpern 217
Pre-requisites
ENG013, ENG023, MTH029
Course Description
This introduction to biology covers in detail the basic biological concepts of scientific method, cell structure and
function, metabolism, evolution, genetics, and ecology, accompanied by appropriate illustrations. The principles
are then discussed in relation to viruses, bacteria, protozoa, plants and fungi. Laboratory exercises are chosen to
complement the material presented during lecture hours.
Required Materials
Biology (9th edition) Campbell, Reece, et al 2010 ISBN 0-321-55823-5
Exploring Biology in the Lab edited by Rita Connolly
Laboratory drawing paper (8 ½” x 11” unlined, white paper – no holes or perforations)
Hard lead pencils
http://carrollcccbio111.wikispaces.com/ Wikipage contains lecture powerpoints, exam review sheets,
announcements, etc
Attendance Policy
1. Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. Essential components of attendance are arriving on time,
staying for the entire class, and NOT SLEEPING – sleeping through class does not count as being here.
Attending lab but missing lecture, or vice versa are equal to ½ an absence. Attendance will be the
determining factor for borderline grades.
2. All assignments must be turned in on time, regardless of attendance. All assignments are to be turned in at
the beginning of class. Assignments may be handed into the Biology Department if you know in advance
you will miss class. Assignments sent by email must be dated and timed before class in order to be
considered on time. You must bring an identical hard copy to the next class as I will not print out any sent
assignments.
3. You are responsible for all assignments, even if you are not in attendance when the assignment is given.
4. If you miss a due date for either a lab report or the article assignment, you may turn it in no later than the
next class meeting. There will be an automatic grade reduction for late assignments. Any assignment not
handed in at that point will receive a zero. Late take-home quizzes are not accepted.
5. Attendance for laboratory sessions is required in order to get credit for laboratory work (drawings, reports,
informal write-ups). No laboratories can be made up.
6. Anyone who misses a total of 8 classes for the semester will receive a “NA” for their final grade, regardless
of their class average. “NA”, which stands for “not attending”, can adversely affect your status for financial
aid, student visas, etc. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Quizzes
1. Quizzes are usually given during the first 10 minutes of class. You will not be given any additional time to
complete the quiz if you are late to class.
2. Your lowest 2 quiz scores are dropped, which includes any missed quizzes due to lateness or absence.
3. No late take-home quizzes will be accepted.
1
Exams
1. There will be 3 exams and a cumulative final. Consult the lecture schedule for exam dates and their covered
chapters.
2. All regular exams are in a multiple choice, matching, and True/False format.
3. Exams will use Scantron sheets – it is your responsibility to bring #2 pencils to class on test days.
4. If an emergency occurs and you miss an exam, you must notify me (by email) within 24 hours. You must
provide documentation of your emergency event. All makeup exams will be given on the last day of class
after the final exam. Makeup exams have a short answer and essay format. Only one exam can be made up.
Laboratory Work
1. Laboratory Safety – You must read the safety policy found in your lab book, and sign the agreement
provided. If you have purchased your book used and there is no enclosed agreement you can access the
agreement by going onto the Biology homepage of the College. This agreement must be handed in
before you will be allowed to participate in any laboratory – no signed safety agreement, no lab. This
means that you will receive a zero for any missed work.
2. You will not be allowed to participate in lab if you are not wearing the proper attire as discussed in
class!!
3. Consult the laboratory schedule for the due dates of formal lab reports.
4. Informal lab write-ups and drawings are to be completed in class and must be handed in before leaving in
order to get credit. Two grades will be dropped.
Laboratory Drawings
1. Consult the laboratory schedule for when lab drawings are to be done. Drawings must be on unlined white
paper with no hole/perforations. All drawings are to be done in pencil.
2. Proper heading set up:
Lab Exercise number
Name
Lab Exercise name
Date
BIO111-D51
All lines should be single line drawings. A darker structure should be indicated as such by “stippling” – do
not color in, shade, or otherwise darken in the structure. Simple leader lines should be used – no arrows. All
writing should be printed. Drawings should be labeled with organism name, important visible structures,
and magnification, when applicable.
3. NEVER enclose your drawing in a circle that represents your field of view – this would mean that you are
drawing EVERYTHING within that field, which you are not.
4. Lab drawings will be done in class and handed in that day. No late drawings will be accepted.
Formal Laboratory Reports
1. You will have 2 formal laboratory reports to do – consult the laboratory schedule for the specific labs and
due dates. If you choose to do all three reports, your lowest score will be dropped.
2. All reports should be typed and double spaced.
3. Use past tense and impersonal language – no “we, I, etc”
Example: don’t say “Next, I placed 5ml of water in a test tube”, write “5ml of water was placed in a test
tube”.
4. Reports should have the following labeled headings:
Purpose – reason for performing the experiment
Materials – in list form, everything used – chemicals, glassware, equipment
Methods – concise, step by step instructions on what was done
Results – raw data only, usually in table form
Discussion – interpretation of data, answers to any assigned questions
2
Scientific Article Assignment
Obtain four articles from peer-reviewed journals on the same biology-related topic. Two articles must be original
(primary) articles from the scientist; the remaining two must be secondary articles/reviews. A library orientation
will explain these differences. Do not choice case studies or papers that are just statistical analyses of research. If
you happen to miss the orientation day, see any reference librarian for help with finding articles.
Include in your paper:
1. A three-to-four paragraph summary of each article (each summary should be approx. one page in length –
typed, double-spaced). Include reason for study, what was done, results and their significance.
2. A discussion section (YOUR opinion) (minimum 2 {FULL} pages – double-spaced)
a. How do the different articles support/refute each other? In the case of articles presenting opposing
views/evidence, include in your opinion which has a stronger validity and why.
b. Question their techniques/study design, and include anything that you think could have been done to
improve the validity of the experiment/observation.
c. Offer some further studies that would be needed to confirm outcomes.
d. Your general opinion on the subject; what you learned from the articles.
Include a complete bibliography of your articles (author names, article title, journal title, journal number/edition,
pages which article appears, date of publication). When quoting directly from the article or indirectly with ideas
from the article, make sure to reference appropriately. Either place in parentheses the author’s name, or number
your articles in your bibliography and place the corresponding number in parentheses. Articles should be in the
order that they are first used in your paper.
While this is not an English class, it is expected that you will use proper spelling and punctuation, and demonstrate
appropriate sentence and paragraph structure. Your grade may be lowered for extreme cases of substandard
writing.
Class Preparedness
1. Assigned reading – there is not enough time to cover all of the material completely, and reading the
assigned chapters is essential to success. I suggest that you skim the chapter before class in order to
familiarize yourself with concepts/vocabulary, and then go back and read the chapter carefully after lecture.
2. Consult the laboratory schedule and read the day’s experiment before lab to avoid making errors in
experimental methods. Days when lab drawings are done are indicated on the lab schedule – make sure you
remember your paper and pencils.
3. All typed assignments should be printed out (single-sided), stapled, etc before handing in. Do not wait until
the last minute to print work out. Please note that your printer running out of ink is not an acceptable
excuse to hand in late assignments.
Technology Policy
1. Use of any electronic device is subject to my approval. No text messaging or camera phones are allowed in
class. Electronic translators are prohibiting during testing.
2. Phones and pagers should be set to silent. These should be answered only in case of emergency – leave the
room quietly and take care of the matter in the hall as to not disturb other students. It is not acceptable to
continually leave class for these situations.
3. When sending an email, put some reference to class in the subject line, especially if you are using an
account other than your Camden County College one – otherwise I may not open an email from an address
that I do not recognize. Use proper English – spelling, punctuation and grammar – in all emails.
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Classroom Behavior
1. Come to class on time. If you must come in late or leave early, do so quietly as to not disturb class
activities.
2. During class I expect you to be quiet and attentive. Side conversations are extremely rude and will not be
tolerated. No text messaging!!!!
3. Any student who disrupts the class will be removed from the classroom.
4. I encourage questions and class discussions, but please be aware that I may not be able to break
immediately from lecture. I will acknowledge you as soon as I am able.
5. After class your chairs should be placed back under the desk, all supplies put back onto the cart,
microscopes in their cabinet, trash thrown out, and lab counters wiped clean.
6. You can expect me to respect you as a student, and treat you fairly. I expect students to be courteous and
respectful to me and other students at all times.
Exam Etiquette
1. Come prepared with several pencils and an eraser.
2. Be on time! Once someone has completed their test and left the room, no late arrival will be allowed to take
the test – you will have to take a makeup.
3. All books and other materials must be out of sight; all hats must be off.
4. Turn off everything that makes noise. You may NOT leave the room to use the phone or answer a page.
No electronic devices, including anything with headphones, is allowed during any testing.
5. Use the bathroom before the exam starts. If there is a reason why you need to make frequent bathroom
trips, let me know beforehand and you will be given the test one page at a time, which must be handed in
before leaving the room.
6. You can not leave the room during an exam.
7. Keep your eyes on your own paper, and guard your own. You may not talk to other students after the exam
has been handed out. If I suspect cheating, the exam will be taken and you will be reported to the
Administration.
8. Academic Honesty – Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. This includes cheating,
copying another student’s work, use of unauthorized aids during exams, and plagiarism. Any assignment
which is compromised by academic dishonesty will receive an automatic zero. The student will receive an
“F” for the course and may be subject to further action from the Administration.
4
Suggestions For Success in this Course/Tutoring
1. Attend class faithfully and on time.
2. Make accurate and detailed notes during lecture. (you may record lectures if you choose)
3. Complete all readings. I suggest skimming the chapter prior to lecture, and then carefully read the
appropriate material after lecture. Annotate (add new comments to) your notes as you review them.
4. Participate! Ask questions or share your thought in class. Learning is active, and not just what you can
“soak in”. Forcing yourself to formulate a question is as important to learning as the answer (science is not
just answers; it’s also how to ask questions).
5. Most learning occurs outside of the classroom, so expect to spend more time on the course outside class
meetings than in them. The recommendation for college courses is two hours outside of class for every
hour in class. For this course, that means 12 hours of outside time PER WEEK (adjust accordingly for
shortened summer classes in which you have less time to learn the same amount of material as a regular’
semester).
6. Turn in professional quality written work, as if you are applying for a job or promotion. For example,
proofread carefully, staple neatly, and follow instructions. These sorts of details may seem insignificant,
but in the real world of unemployment – and this course – they are difference makers.
7. Try to synthesize the material (be comparative) and ask yourself questions that require more than just
memorization. You should regularly spend some time reviewing earlier material, and the rest of your time
relating it to and working with new material.
8. Balance your study time between time alone and time with others. Going solo may seem easier, but it lacks
some of the benefits of group work.
9. If you are having trouble in the course, resist the temptation of blaming your environment, course policies,
or me. It just isn’t productive use of your time, and won’t in the end help you do any better. The most
successful students avoid this mindtrap when a course becomes difficult, and focus their energy on
changing their study habits.
10. Walk in tutoring for Biology I is available as a free service in the library. Consult the library for the hours
of this free, walk-in service.
11. Program for Academically Challenged Student Policy Statement – Camden County College is
committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. If you have a
specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disability that requires special accommodations, please
contact the PACS Office (Disability Support Services Office) at (856) 227, 7200 ext 4430 as soon as
possible to ensure that such accommodations can be implemented in a timely fashion.
Learning Styles (adapted from Getting Ready for Microbiology Lori K. Garrett and Judy Meier Penn)
There are three main types of learners – visual, auditory, and tactile:
1. Visual learners – you tend to think in pictures, and learn well from visual aids such as pictures, diagrams,
and tables. Suggestions:
a. Draw pictures; make flowcharts and concept maps
b. Use flashcards
2. Auditory learners – you learn well from traditional lectures and discussion, and may have difficulty with
read material until you hear it explained. Suggestions:
a. Read the textbook and your notes out loud
b. Record lectures and listen to them later
c. Discuss the material with others
3. Tactile learners – you learn best by active, hand-on participation and activities. You tend to become bored
easily from sitting too long. Suggestions:
a. Rewrite your notes
b. Make your own flashcards
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Grading
Written work (75%)
Quizzes – 10% (lowest 2 dropped)
Exam #1 – 10%
Exam #2 – 10%
Exam #3 – 10%
Final exam – 20%
Article Assignment – 15%
Laboratory (20%)
Lab Reports (two - 5% each) – 10%
Informal write-ups and drawings – 10%
Participation 5%
This includes attendance (arriving on time, staying the entire time), ACTIVE participation in lab and its
cleanup, etc
Grade conversion
Lab Reports and Article Assignments
5 = 100
4 = 90
3 = 80
2 = 70
1 = 60
Drawings
+ = 100
√ = 80
- = 60
I = incomplete/no credit
Any lab drawing, lab report/write-up not done will receive a zero. Missed labs can not be made up.
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
below 60
I
Incomplete (see student handbook/college catalog for more details)
W
(must turn in an official withdrawal form by the cut off date)
NA
Not Attending (has missed 8 or more classes – regardless of class average)
You are expected to keep all returned assignments until the end of the semester. Since this is the case, you are fully
expected to be able to accurately keep track of your progress in the course and to calculate your own grade to date,
using the assignment values provided above. I do not keep “running tabs” of grades, and will NOT do the math for
you (see pre-requisites).
6
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (subject to change as needed)
Date
9/5
Topics
Lecture:class policies; Introduction
Lab: (lecture) Themes in the Study of Life
Chapter
1
9/10
Lecture: The Chemical Context of Life
Lab: Exercise #1 – Methods of Science
2
9/12
Lecture: Water and Life
Lab: Exercise #4 – Laboratory Measurements
3
9/17
Lecture: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Lab: (lecture) The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules
4
5
9/19
Lecture: The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules cont
Lab: Exercise #7 – Food Nutrient Analysis – lab report due 9/26
9/24
Lecture: A Tour of the Cell
Lab: library orientation for scientific article assignment
9/26
Lecture: A Tour of the Cell cont
Lab: Exercise #8 – Using the Microscope
Exercise #9 – Microscopic Techniques
Exercise #10 – Plant Cells – lab drawing
10/1
Exam #1 (chapters 1 – 6)
10/3
Lecture: Membrane Structure and Function
Lab: Exercise #12 – Diffusion: Osmosis and Dialysis
7
10/8
Lecture: An Introduction to Metabolism
Lab: Exercise #6 – Enzyme Activity – lab report due 10/15
8
10/10 Lecture: Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
Lab: (lecture)
6
9
10/15 Lecture: Photosynthesis
10
Lab: Exercise #16 – Cell Respiration
Exercise #14 – Separation of Leaf Pigments by Paper Chromatography – lab drawing
10/17 Lecture: The Cell Cycle
Lab: (lecture)
12
10/22 Lecture: Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle
Lab: Exercise #17 – Cell Division – lab drawing
13
10/24 Lecture: (movie) “Why Sex?”
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Date
Topics
Chapter
10/29 Exam #2 (chapters 7-10, 12-13)
10/31 Lecture: Mendel and the Gene Idea
Lab: (lecture)
14
11/5
Lecture: The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Lab: Exercise #24 – Genetic Problems
Exercise #22 – ABO Blood Typing – lab report due 11/12
15
11/7
Lecture: The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Lab: (lecture)
16
11/12 Lecture: From Gene to Protein
Lab: Exercise #18 - Student Worksheet DNA, RNA, and Protein
17
11/14 Lecture: Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life
Lab: movie “Ghost in Your Genes”
22
11/19 Lecture: The Evolution of Populations
Lab: Exercise #25 – A Simulation of Natural Selection
23
11/21 Lecture: The Origin of Species
Lab: movie “Evolutionary Arms Race”
24
11/26 Exam #3 (chapters 14 – 17, 22 – 24)
Scientific article paper due
12/3
Lecture: The History of Life on Earth
Lab: (lecture) Viruses
Exercise #27 – A Simulated Epidemic
25
19
12/5
Lecture: Phylogeny and the Tree of Life
Lab: (lecture) Bacteria and Archae
movie “Witches Curse”
26
27
12/10 Lecture: Protists
Lab: Exercise #28 – Kingdom Protista – drawing
28
12/12 Lecture: Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land
Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants
Lab: Exercise #31 – Kingdom Plantae – drawing
29
30
12/17 Lecture: Fungi
Lab: Exercise #29 – Kingdom Fungi – drawing
31
12/19 Cumulative Final Exam
8