Syllabus for BIOL 190 – Intro. to Cell and Molecular Biology Lab
College Information: Great Basin College, 1500 College Parkway, Elko Nevada, 89801,
Phone:775.753.8493,
http://www.gbcnv.edu
Instructor: Brian Kelly
Office:West Wendover High e-17
Phone: 406-546-0825
Email: bkelly@ecsdnv.net
Office hours: (all at anna smith elementray gym) Tuesday
5:00-8:00, Wednesday 5:00-9:00, Friday 5:00-8:00 or by appointment
These office hours will change after the end of February
Lab Meets: Thursday. 4:30-7:15 pm – Meet in e-17 at the high school.
Course description:
Structure and function of cells. Major molecules of life; composition and physiology of cellular
organelles; cell metabolism, reproduction, motility, and gene function of both plant and animal
cells. Required for biology majors.
Prerequisite:
Must have completed MATH 096, MATH 097, MATH 120 or higher, or attained satisfactory score
for placement into MATH 120 in ACT, SAT or placement tests.
Texts: Lab manual – Perry, Laboratory Manual for General Biology, 6th edition. ISBN 0-53438025-5 (required).
Method of instruction: Laboratory, with online enhancements. Important course announcements
and documents will be made available to you via WebCampus, available at
http://gbcnv.instructure.com/login. Please contact GBC Helpdesk for WebCampus accessibility
issues. You bear the responsibility for getting the technical aspects of the course to function
properly so that you can participate fully.
Goals of this course: Students taking this course will have an understanding of cells, biomolecules,
composition and physiology of cellular organelles, cell metabolism, reproduction, motility, and
gene function in both plants and animals. The GBC General Education Objectives are addressed at
the end of this syllabus.
Grading system: The grade for the lab portion of the class will be based on two practical exams
worth 50 points each, two writing assignments worth 25 points each, and ten weekly pre- lab
quizzes worth 10 points each.
At the end of the semester, after receiving your lab grade from your lab instructor, your
lecture instructor will incorporate the lab grade into your final grade for the course. Your final grade
for the course will be weighted so that it is 75% from lecture and 25% from lab.
Extra Credit: There is no extra credit given in this course.
BIOL 190 – Intro. To Cell and Mol. Biology Lab – Kara Coates – GBC – Spring 2015
Attendance policy: Attendance is not mandatory, however attendance correlates positively with
passing the course.
Lab practical exam makeup policy: Makeup exams will only be given in exceptional
circumstances with an approved written excuse, at the instructor’s discretion.
Pre-Lab quizzes: A pre-lab quiz will be given via WebCampus each week. Quizzes will be based
on upcoming topics being covered that week. This will require you to read the lab manual and or
any other supplemental information given in order to complete the quiz. The first quiz is due Feb.
1st by 11:00pm. Remaining quizzes will become available on Monday mornings at 6:00am and are
due the following Sunday (1 week) at 11:00pm. Late work will not be accepted.
Lab report: Effect of Solute Concentration on Osmosis will be written up as a report and turned
in via WebCampus to the appropriate drop box. It is due the next lab class period (1 week) in Word
Format. Assignments will not accepted via snail mail, email, fax, or other means. Technical
problems with WebCampus need to be addressed to the GBC Helpdesk. The report should follow
the following outline:
Introduction Give the background to the topic. Why is it important? Briefly tell what you are
going to do in the experiment.
Procedures Explain what organisms, materials and methods were used in the experiments. How
did you do it?
Results Present the results. Point out key or unexpected results.
Conclusion What was the significance of your results? Explain the importance of the experiment,
and whether or not your outcome was consistent or inconsistent with what was expected.
Tables, graphs, etc. may be helpful. Grading criteria for the report are identical to those used by the
English department:
1. Focuses and develops ideas effectively, showing creativity and insight.
2. Organizes ideas in a purposeful and logical manner, moving the reader (listener) smoothly
through the text (subject).
3. Uses sentence structure and word choice effectively with a sense of control.
4. Commits few, if any, errors in grammar/usage and mechanics.
Video Response Paper: Each student will be required to write a response to a video: Intelligent
Design on Trial (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/intelligent-design-trial.html) Your
response to the video will use the format given below. In the paper I will be looking for evidence
that you understand the subject and controversy, and can clearly communicate your understanding.
Your demonstration of knowledge of natural selection and the evidence and issues surrounding it
will be subject to grading, not your personal opinion. The paper must be typed, and double spaced.
BIOL 190 – Intro. To Cell and Mol. Biology Lab – Kara Coates – GBC – Spring 2015
The paper should follow the following outline:
Introduction: Give the background to the topic or problem. Briefly explain why it is important.
Discussion: Explain the details of the situation, show that you understand what is being described.
What do you recommend doing in this situation?
Conclusion: Briefly reiterate both the problem and your conclusion.
Grading criteria for the report are similar to those used by the English department:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Focuses and develops ideas effectively, showing creativity and insight.
Organizes ideas in a purposeful and logical manner, moving the reader (listener) smoothly
through the text (subject).
Uses sentence structure and word choice effectively with a sense of control.
Commits few, if any, errors in grammar usage and mechanics.
Other policies: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may result in a failing grade and/or
reporting to GBC Administration. The students conduct policy in the current GBC catalog will be
enforced. This syllabus is not a contract and is subject to change, without warning or notification, at
any time.
Lab Schedule: This is a preliminary schedule. I reserve the right to change any part of it.
Week of
(Date)
1/29
Lab we are doing this week
2/5
Evolution movie and discussion
2/12
…continuing Macromolecules lab
2/19
#8 Enzymes
2/26
#7 Diffusion and Osmosis
Lab report will be done on this lab. Due at the beginning of your
next lab period!
3/5
#14 DNA
Watson and Crick’s original papers as an illustration of scientific
method (Download these articles from WebCampus and read them
before you come to class)
3/12
#10 Respiration
Lab safety introduction
Macromolecules and functional groups lab (this handout will be given
to you in class)
BIOL 190 – Intro. To Cell and Mol. Biology Lab – Kara Coates – GBC – Spring 2015
3/19
Lab Midterm Exam
3/26
SPRING BREAK
4/2
Photosynthesis Lab
Download this lab from WebCampus and read it before coming to
class.
4/9
#3 Microscopy and #6 Cells
4/16
#11 Mitosis and #12 Meiosis
4/23
#13 Heredity
4/30
#16 Evolutionary agents
5/7
Lab Practical Final
finals week
NO LAB THIS WEEK
Student Outcomes (Some of this is for lecture and lab)
Communications Skills Objective
Students will have several opportunities to exercise written and oral communication skills
throughout this course. They will complete laboratory reports and written assignments accessing
scientific information as well as written exams. Oral communication skills will also be utilized
during discussions involved in completing laboratory assignments.
Measurement of this objective: lab practical exams (students will read and answer exam questions
in written form), written lab report (students will clearly communicate scientific information in
written form, see “lab reports” above for grading rubric), class discussions (students will be able to
communicate scientific ideas orally, ungraded).
Critical Thinking Objective
Quantitative Ability- Students will use mathematical principles and quantitative methods to
complete the laboratory assignments. They will also learn how to quantitatively measure molecularbiological and cellular characteristics.
Reasoning and Independent Thought- Students will use reasoning and independent
thought to complete laboratory experiments and answer exam questions.
Scientific Understanding- Students will comprehend workings of molecular-biological and
cellular systems and the process by which the scientific knowledge is discovered. They will also
develop the ability to understand molecular-biological and cellular information and how it relates to
them.
Measurement of this objective: lab practical exams (students will be able to answer quantitative
questions related to cell and molecular biology on exams), written lab report (students will calculate
and present quantitative results clearly in the lab reports), class discussions (ungraded).
BIOL 190 – Intro. To Cell and Mol. Biology Lab – Kara Coates – GBC – Spring 2015
Personal and Cultural Awareness Objective
Sense of the Individual in Society- Students will gain an understanding of molecular and
cellular biology and how this affects them and society.
Sense of the Past- Students will gain an understanding of how biological knowledge was
discovered and how this knowledge has changed society and their lives.
Sense of Accountability- Students will comprehend the consequences of human discoveries
in molecular and cellular biology and their implications.
Appreciation of Fine Arts- Students will develop an understanding of the value of
biological diversity and individual curiosity and creative thought.
Measurement of this objective: lab practical exams (students will be able to answer lab practical
exam questions on the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society, on the history
of biological research, and how their actions affect them and their environment), class discussions
(students will be able to discuss the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society
and how their actions affect them and their environment ungraded).
Personal Wellness Objective
Students will develop skills in determining the consequences of their actions in relation to
the environment and their personal health. They will gain knowledge needed to make important
decisions involving personal health.
Measurement of this objective: lab practical exams (students will be able to answer lab practical
exam questions on the molecular basis of human health), class discussions (students will discuss the
molecular basis of human health, ungraded).
Technological Understanding
Students will gain knowledge of how advancing technology in the field of biology will
affect their lives and their personal health.
Measurement of this objective: lab practical exams (students will demonstrate the ability to use
technological lab equipment used in biology and relate the use of this equipment to cell and
molecular biology and human health), written lab report (students will present, in written form, the
use of technology to discover knowledge in the area of cell and molecular biology – the
“procedures” section of their lab reports).
Summary of the Assessment of Objectives:
Learning and general education objectives will be assessed with two distinct tools.
Laboratory practicals will emphasize recall of the various manipulative and study objects used in
the exercises, as well as testing that the students understand the concepts and principles that were
generated with these devices. The written laboratory report will assess their written communication
skills, as well as their conceptual understanding of a critical lab experiment. This last experiment
has been chosen for its mix of conceptual, numeric, and technical skills.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA Services for Students with Disabilities
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students
with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student
BIOL 190 – Intro. To Cell and Mol. Biology Lab – Kara Coates – GBC – Spring 2015
must furnish current verification of disability. The Students with Disabilities Office, located in Berg
Hall, will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable
accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please
call 775.753.2271.
From the 2009-2010 GBC Catalog, page 37
BIOL 190 – Intro. To Cell and Mol. Biology Lab – Kara Coates – GBC – Spring 2015