Dr. EMILY GILLESPIE
CONTACT INFO
gillespiee@marshall.edu (please use this email only)
Science 364
(304) 696-6467
OFFICE HOURS: 1:30pm-3:30pm Monday, 1-3pm Wednesday, and 10am –11am Friday,
or by appointment if you are in class during these times. If you want to make absolutely
sure you will find me during office hours, let me know via email that you plan to come,
and I’ll let you know for sure!
LECTURE MEETINGs: Corbly 105 Lecture Time: M, W, F 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
LAB MEETINGS: Section 101 (10am-12pm Monday); 102 (5-7pm Monday); 103 (5-7pm
Tuesday); 104 (10am-12pm Wednesday); and 105 (2-4pm Wednesday). You will have
a Graduate Teaching Assistant that will manage your lab, and I will likely stop in on
occasion, but you are welcome to come to me (EG) with any issues.
COURSE INFO
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS—1) Text: Biology, 2nd Edition, 2011, Brooker et al., 2)
Response card (‘clicker’), 3) BSC120 Laboratory Manual, Weinstein, 4) safety goggles,
and 5) Access to the course website through www.marshall.edu/muonline (also called
Blackboard), where you will find various updates, announcements and materials
throughout the semester. If you cannot access the course during the first week of class,
email me right away, because you are responsible for material posted here.
You are also recommended to purchase A short Guide to Writing About Biology,
by Pechenik. This text will acquaint you with the basic conventions of writing in the
biological sciences. You may find that it is useful for lab reports, and it should certainly
be useful to you over time. We will not have long writing assignments in the lecture,
however.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 4 credit hrs. This survey course introduces students to the
biological principles common to all organisms, including the chemistry of life, cell
biology, metabolism, heredity, and evolution through classroom lecture and laboratory
activites. The course is intended for science majors and pre-professional students.
(Prerequisite: 21 or better on Math ACT, or C or better in MTH 121 or higher).
COURSE OBJECTIVES: When you leave BSC-120, you should be able to:
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Apply the methods of science investigation –how we do science
Describe and be able to predict the structure, behavior, characteristics, and function
of biological macromolecules, the ‘building blocks of life’
Relate form and function at different levels of biological organization
Explain how energy transformations occur and how energy flows through physical
environments and living systems
Describe the unity and diversity of life at the molecular and cellular levels
Explain the transmission of genetic information through space and time
Describe the evolutionary framework that is central to all of biology
EXPECTATIONS
I view classroom learning as a ‘two-way street.’ In other words, you (the student) and I
(the lecturer) must work together in order for your experience to be successful. Your
commitment to the class is critical!
My responsibility to you is to come to class prepared each day, to think critically about
what you need to learn in this class in order to be successful science majors, to be
available to you for help, and to give you feedback about your progress in a timely
manner.
Your responsibility to me is to come to class prepared, to study actively, to be
responsible for your own learning process, and to address problems in a timely manner.
It is extremely difficult to do well in this course if you are disengaged, attend poorly, fail
to recognize what you need help with, or refuse to modify unsuccessful habits.
I expect everyone to handle themselves in a professional manner in class, and I will ask
that students who cannot do this leave for the day. I require that all electronic devices
remain off during lecture; if ringing phones becomes a habitual problem, I will ask
those people to leave class. I expect you to be professional in your email and one-onone contact with myself and your lab GA. Please note that I do not reply to emails
written in text-ese.
Good Habits:
● Read ahead AND frequently review what we’ve already covered. Avoid cramming!
● Ask questions in class! Students who participate actively tend to do well.
● If you get overwhelmed, come see me. I can’t help you if I don’t know that you need
help. Seek help long before your exam, so that you can make necessary changes
to your study habits. You have many resources at your disposal to help you
improve your academic performance. If you keep practicing unsuccessful habits,
you can expect to continue to struggle academically. Learning is a continual
process!
● Be considerate of your classmates, your lecturer, and your lab instructor. Be on time.
Respect your classmates’ questions. Respect my time and effort. Stay engaged
until we dismiss.
● Pay attention to your health and take care of yourself! Manage your physical and
mental stress. Seek help before you get overwhelmed.
● In short, be actively involved in your education! We’re here to help, but the person
who cares most about your progress, and is most responsible for your progress
is…..YOU. Don’t waste your chance.
GRADING INFO
GRADING: A=100 -90; B=89-80; C=79 -70; D=69-60; ≤59= F. There will be five
lecture exams (including the final), which together constitute 65% of total course
grade. The final will be comprehensive, but count the same as a regular exam. You will
be tested on lecture notes, readings from the text and any other materials assigned.
Classroom and/or online quizzes will together constitute 10% of your final grade. 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 BSC-120. Students are expected to keep their finished papers on computer
disk until the graded copy is returned.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance in lectures is expected; there is a strong correlation between
participation and good academic performance. There will be un-announced, frequent
quizzes, which have no provision for makeups. I will drop the FIVE lowest quiz grades,
whether on-line/open-book or in lecture. No makeup exams will be permitted without
an official excuse sent by Dean of Students office. Attendance in laboratory exercises is
mandatory. You are responsible for any material missed by being absent for any
reason. No excuses are accepted for missed laboratory exercises. You are permitted
two (2) drops in laboratory attendance for the semester to accommodate unforeseen
circumstances. These policies will be strictly enforced, so do not miss class or lab
frivolously.
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. The DSS Coordinator
will then 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
WITHDRAWAL: If you feel that you cannot complete the course, keep the Withdrawal
deadline, Nov. 2, clearly in mind. You must administratively withdraw. Do not simply
stop attending (you will receive an F!)
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY—Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and cheating will be
pursued vigorously. This includes, but is not limited to, exams, in-class or online quizzes
(including clicker quizzes), lab papers and quizzes, etc… If work is intended to be done
with a group, you will receive explicit instructions indicating that you have permission to
exchange work with other students. If you have any questions, please ask.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Additional information can be found in the
Marshall Undergraduate Catalogue at http://www.marshall.edu/wpmu/academicaffairs/?page_id=802
Learning Assistant Program
The Learning Assistant Program (http://www.marshall.edu/LAProgram) is a program
that allows former successful undergraduate BSC120 students (called LAs), to assist
current BSC-120 students with course material. This will be an excellent time for you to
get extra review, listen to other students’ questions and self-assess your preparedness.
You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this program. Each week, LAs will
offer “co-seminars” to reinforce BSC-120 course content. This semester’s co-seminar
times will be determined by the Las during the first week of class, and your input is
requested.
Tentative Class Schedule Fall 2012
Week
Week of
Day
Topic
1
Aug 27
M
Course overview
W
Introduction to Biology
1
F
The Chemical Basis of Life I
2
M
Labor Day—No class
W
The Chemical Basis of Life II
F
Chemistry Catch up and Review
M
General Features of Cells
4
W
Membrane Structure
5
F
Synthesis & Review
M
Exam I—September 17
W
Energy; Enzymes; metabolism
6
F
Metabolism respiration
7
M
Respiration, Fermentation, 2ndary metabolism
7
W
Fermentation, Secondary metabolism Photosynthesis
8
F
Photosynthesis
8
M
Metabolism Catch Up and Review
W
Cell Communication
F
Multicellularity
M
Review & Synthesis
W
Exam II—October 10
F
DNA
M
Chromosomes, Gene Expression
W
Gene Expression
12
F
Gene Regulation
13
M
DNA regulation Catch up and review
W
Mutation, DNA repair and Cancer
14
F
Mitosis
15
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Sept 3
Sept 10
Sept 17
Sept 24
Oct 1
Oct 8
Oct 15
Oct 22
Ch.
3
[2,3]
[6,7,8]
9
10
11
11,12
[11,12,13]
10
11
12
Oct 29
Nov 5
Nov 12
M
Meiosis
15
W
Mitosis & Meiosis Catch up and Review
F
Patterns of Inheritance I
16
M
Patterns of Inheritance II
17
W
Synthesis & Review
F
Exam III—November 9
M
The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
18
W
Developmental Genetics
19
F
Genetic Technology
20
[15]
13
Nov 19
MWF
Thanksgiving/Fall Break
14
Nov 26
M
Genomes, Proteomes & Bioinformatics
W
Biotechnology Catch up and Review
F
Origin and History of Life
22
M
Evolution
23
W
History of Life & Evolution Catch up & Review
F
Synthesis & Review
Dec 10
M
Exam IV—December 10
Dec 14
F
Final Exam 8am-10am
15
16
Dec 3
21
[18 - 21]
[22,23]