BSC120 – Principles of Biology
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. N.J. LoCASCIO
e‐mail: locascio@marshall.edu
Office ‐ OM230 696‐3963.
Office Hours ‐ 10:00‐12:00. Mon. and Wed.; 3:00‐5:00. Tues. Or by appointment. I make every effort to keep my
scheduled office hours. Please be aware that sometimes I have conflicts with required meetings and cannot be present.
If you need to meet it is best to e‐mail me ahead of time. Please use above e‐mail account to contact me and
NOT the MUOnline site.
Classroom: Corbly 105 Lecture Time: MWF 9:00 ‐ 9:50 a.m.
Laboratory: S 210 Time: sec.101 ‐ M, 10‐11:50a.m.; sec.102 ‐ M, 5‐6:50p.m.; sec.103 T, 5 ‐ 6:50 p.m.; sec.104 W, 10 ‐
11:50a.m.; sec. 105 ‐ W, 2 ‐ 3:50p.m.
Texts: Biology, 2nd Edition, 2011, Brooker et al. (required)
BSC120 Laboratory Manual, Weinstein (required)
Response Card RFC-03 (LCD) Turning Technologies (required)
A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, Pechenik (recommended)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 4 credit hrs.
Study of basic principles common to all organisms through lecture and laboratory activities. Chemistry of life, cell
biology, metabolism, heredity, and evolution. Intended for science majors and pre‐professional students. (PR: 21 or
better on Math ACT, or C or better in MTH 121 or higher).Lecture notes and additional course supplements will be
posted on course website at http://www.marshall.edu/muonline . Students must access this site for additional
information and updates throughout the semester.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• know the methods of science used in scientific investigation
• know the structure, behavior, characteristics, and function of biological molecules
• understand the relationships between form and function at the levels of biological organization
• comprehend how energy transformations occur and how energy flows through physical environments and
living systems
• understand the unity and diversity of life at the molecular and cellular levels
• know how heredity is transmitted through generations making possible the continuity of life
• understand and interrelate knowledge in the biological areas of cell biology, genetics and evolution as they
apply to both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
GRADING SCALE: 100 ‐ 90 = A; 89 ‐ 80 = B; 79 ‐ 70 = C; 69 ‐ 60 = D, < 59= F
There will be five lecture exams (including a final), which constitute 60% of total course grade. The final exam will
include 40% content from previous exams. You will be tested on lecture notes and readings from text chapters. Format
for the exams will be objective and some short answer essays. Attendance taken by Access cards will contribute 5% and
electronic pop quizzes the remaining 10%. The remaining 25% of your course grade will come from your laboratory
performance. Lab grades will consist of weekly data sheets, on‐line pre‐lab quizzes, and a formal laboratory report. The
laboratory report is mandatory for passing the laboratory portion of BSC120. Written instructions and deadlines will be
provided by your lab instructor. Students are expected to keep their finished papers on computer disk until the graded
copy is returned. The pre-lab quizzes will only be available a few days before your scheduled lab time and will close at
the beginning of the lab session.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance in lectures is strongly encouraged and will generate 5% of final grade.
Attendance in laboratory exercises is mandatory.
You are responsible for any material missed by being absent. Absences from exams due to illness, death in the
immediate family, or institutional activities will be excused with the appropriate written notification to the instructor.
See Marshall University Undergraduate Catalogue ‐ Academic Information for guidelines. Until final grades have been
submitted you are expected to keep copies of all submitted and graded work (quizzes, papers etc).No makeup exams
will be permitted without an official excuse sent by Dean of Students office. No excuses are accepted for missed
laboratory exercises. You are permitted two (2) drops in laboratory attendance for the semester to accommodate
unforeseen circumstances. This policy will be strictly enforced.
COMPUTER LITERACY: Course materials, practice quizzes, are located on course website at
http://www.marshall.edu/muonline. Log‐in using your MyMU user name and password. If BSC 120 is not listed on
homepage, notify instructor immediately.
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION: Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students,
including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. University policy states that it is the responsibility
of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304‐696‐
2271 to provide documentation of their disability. Following this, the DSS Coordinator will send a letter to each of the
student’s instructors outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in classroom
experiences, outside assignment, testing and grading. The instructor and student will meet to discuss how the
accommodation(s) requested will be provided. For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled
or contact Disabled Student Services Office at Prichard Hall 117, phone 304‐696‐2271.
WITHDRAWAL: If you are not happy with your academic performance in this class please come see me. Students should
keep the W date for this semester, October 28, clearly in mind. Do not just stop attending. This will result in an F on your
transcripts. The Biology department does have graduate students available for tutoring.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES: No electronic devices, EVER, during tests. Cell phones are to be turned off during lecture. Please
inform the instructor should there be a need to have a cell phone on. Students will be asked to leave if they are causing
a distraction for instructor or other students.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IN ANY FORM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
All written assignments, quizzes, and exams are to be independent efforts of each student. If you have any questions
please ask.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Additional information, including inclement weather policies, can be found
in the Marshall Undergraduate Catalogue at http://www.marshall.edu/catalog/undergraduate/UG_1112_published.pdf
Learning Assistant Program
The Learning Assistant Program is a new program created that allows former undergraduate, BSC120 students (called
LAs), to assist current BSC120 students in better understanding the content of the class throughout the semester.
Besides having these LAs sit in and be a part of each lecture, they will provide opportunities outside of the classroom for
current students to come and ask questions about classroom material covered up to that point. Each week, these “coseminars” will offer you another way to learn the BSC120 course content from a successful student who is sitting with
you IN class, and will also provide a way to share information between you and your professor.
The current “co-seminar” times available for your BSC120 class are:
*Please note you do not have to sign up beforehand for these activities, but are invited to show up to one each week.
Monday 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM; Location: First Year Student Residence Hall- South
Thursday 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM; Location: TBD
*Additional information about the LA Program can be found online at www.marshall.edu/LAProgram.
Tentative Class Schedule Fall 2010
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Dates
8/22‐8/26
Lecture Topics
Course overview ; Introduction to Biology; The Chemical Basis
of Life I
8/29‐9/2
The Chemical Basis of Life II
Labor Day Holiday No Class on Monday 9/5; No labs this week
9/7 ‐ 9/9
General Features of Cells; Membrane Structure
9/12
Exam I
9/14-9/16
Energy; Enzymes; Metabolism
9/19 ‐9/21
Cellular Respiration
9/26 ‐ 9/30
Photosynthesis; Cell Communication
10/3
Multicellularity
10/5
Exam II
10/7
DNA
10/10 ‐ 10/14
Gene Expression and Regulation; Cancer
10/17 ‐ 10/21
10/24
10/26 ‐10/28
10/28
10/31 ‐ 11/4
11/7‐11/11
11/14
11/16
11/18
11/21 ‐ 11/26
11/28
11/30 ‐ 12/6
8:00am 12/9
Mitosis and Meiosis
Exam III
Patterns of Inheritance
Last day to drop class
The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria; Developmental Genetics
Technology; Genomes
Origin and History of Life
Exam IV
Evolution; Population Genetics
Fall Break
The Origin of Species; Taxonomy and Systematics
Dead Week
Final Exam
Text Chapters
Chapter 1; Chapter 2
Chapter 3; Chapter 4
Chapter 4; Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8; Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12; Chapter 13;
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16; Chapter 17
Chapter 18; Chapter 19
Chapter 20; Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23; Chapter 24
Chapter 25; Chapter 26