Principles of Biology — BSC 120
Marshall University — Fall Semester 2013
Dr. Jeffrey D. May
378 Science Bldg. 696-3637
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I (BSC 120): COURSE GUIDE AND POLICIES
OBJECTIVES OF THIS COURSE:
1. To increase your interest in biology. Biology should be enjoyable, interesting, challenging. You are
biological. Regardless of your major, you are intimately involved with biological concerns, from health and
reproductive considerations to determining the quality of the environment your children will inherit.
2. To improve your ability to “think science," As a scientist, you need to be able to interpret and evaluate
scientific information in the form of graphs and other figures, tables, written evidence, and demonstrations.
Furthermore, you will need to be able to pose testable hypotheses concerning observations of the world around
you, and to devise and/or interpret experiments for testing such hypotheses. These skills take time to develop;
you will get some experience in them during this semester.
3. To improve your effectiveness in communicating scientific information. Writing in science—as in other aspects
of life—is a primary means for communicating your ideas. The quality of your writing determines how clearly
you will convey your ideas and convince others of their value. In addition, writing is intimately related to
learning.: “Careful writing helps you develop ideas and therefore is an important tool for helping you to learn,
plan, show relationships, review, organize, communicate, remember, clarify, and discover what you know, what
you don’t know, and what you need to know.” (Randy Moore, in Writing to Learn Biology). Although it may
seem like some people are born writers and others are not, writing skills develop with repeated experience. You
will have opportunities in lab to work on your writing.
4. To extend your knowledge base in biology. In the two semesters of Principles of Biology (BSC 120 & 121) you
will study biology from a wide variety of perspectives, from molecules and cells to ecosystems. This semester,
we will be focusing primarily on four major concept areas: fundamental biological chemistry; the structure and
function of the cell; molecular genetics and gene expression; and causes and consequences of evolution. Our
ultimate concern will be with the role and importance of biological knowledge to you, to science, to society, and
to planet Earth.
DAYS, TIMES, LOCATIONS, OFFICE HOURS:
LECTURES:
Tuesday and Thursday, 11-12:15 AM in Corbly Hall, Rm. 105.
LABS:
The day and time of your lab meetings depend on your lab section number. All labs meet in S-210. NOTE
THAT THE LAB IS NOT OPTIONAL. YOU CANNOT PASS THE COURSE WITHOUT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE LAB
PORTION.
OFFICE
HOURS:
My tentative office hours are on Monday 12-3:00 PM and Thursday 1-4:00 PM. If you would like to meet
with me and those times are not convenient for you, let me know. In any case, it is safest to make an
appointment ahead, since committee meetings, research, and other obligations crop up from time to time
during the week.
LECTURE TEXT:
Robert J. Brooker, Eric P. Widmaier, Linda E. Graham, and Peter D. Stiling. 2014. Biology, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill,
New York, NY.
Take time to get to know this book. It is written clearly and is wonderfully illustrated with photographs and
diagrams that help to dramatize, exemplify, and augment the written descriptions. The major features designed to
help you understand the material are discussed in the Preface. Take advantage of them. In addition, I strongly
encourage you to hang onto the book as a reference for future courses.
“CLICKERS”:
You are required to have a Turning Technologies Response Card NXT for this course. These are available from
the campus bookstore, or directly from Turning Technologies at https://store.turningtechnologies.com/. (If you use
that website, you will need to enter the code “mar1” in the “Submit School Code” box.)
Starting on 10 September, you MUST bring your clicker to every lecture meeting and to every exam throughout the
remainder of the semester. The penalty for not bringing it to lecture will be a score of zero on any quiz given
during that lecture. Failure to bring it to an exam will result in an automatic 10% deduction on your exam score.
LECTURES:
I will try to focus each lecture on fundamental concepts and processes. I will also try to poke at your knowledge—
and will quiz you a bit—so we can both see how thoroughly you are grasping the material. You will need to rely
on the text readings for some concepts; but for the most part, the level of understanding required for the factual part
Page 1
of the exams will be the level at which the material is discussed in lecture. I will try to reduce the intensity of
detail a bit in favor of a better conceptual understanding.
MOTIVATION:
In order to study effectively, it is extremely helpful if the subject matter is interesting. In large measure, we take an
interest in things that seem relevant to our lives and in things that we are good at. Both of those aspects can be
nurtured by interacting with the subject matter: By studying a subject and gaining greater familiarity with it we
begin to better appreciate its relevance, it becomes easier, and our interest grows. Therefore, "to take an interest" is
an active process; you must cultivate it by seeking relevance and by getting involved with the material.
(Remember the Law of the Farm.)
So here's the point: Although I will do my best to make my presentations interesting, it is you who fundamentally
control your level of interest. In the end, I cannot interest you in Biology, only you can. As indicated earlier, there
are plenty of real reasons for making that effort.
LEARNING AND TESTING:
Due to the size of the class, exams will consist entirely of objective questions (multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank,
etc.). You will be using your Clicker to respond to the exam questions Learning biology, like other subjects,
requires more than merely memorizing new terms, although that aspect is inevitable. Real comprehension requires
that you not only know what the new terms mean, but that you also grasp the interrelationships among ideas well
enough that you can apply them to new situations. It is an integrative (weaving together) and synthetic (creative)
process: You weave the new stuff into the old stuff to make a functional (i.e., meaningful, useful) body of
knowledge. Studies have shown that these interactive processes make it more likely that you will successfully
recall and apply the information both in exam situations and in Real Life (i.e., outside the university setting). It is
my aim to encourage an integrative, analytical, synthetic approach to learning. And I will test you on such skills
during exams.
ATTENDANCE:
LECTURE: You will be expected to attend all lectures and lab meetings, to arrive on time and to stay for the entire
duration of the meeting. Commit yourself to do so throughout the semester. I will not await your arrival to
begin. Although I will not formally take attendance in lecture, quizzes will be frequent. In addition, you will be
held responsible for all notes, handouts, assignments, and schedule revisions that are announced during lecture. I
often make such announcements at the beginning of class—another reason to avoid arriving late.
If you must be absent from either lecture or lab, talk to me ahead of time, if possible; and otherwise,
immediately on your return. In either case, be sure to present to me the appropriate verification (e.g., from
doctor, coach, academic dean, clergy).
LAB: Attendance will be taken in lab, and tardiness noted. You are expected to arrive on time for lab and to stay
until all work is completed. In computing your final grade, your lab grade will be multiplied by the percentage
of lab periods you attended.
For these computations, tardiness of 1 to 15 minutes is equivalent to 1/4 of an absence; tardiness of 16 to 30
minutes is equivalent to 1/2 of an absence; and tardiness beyond 30 minutes is equivalent to a full absence. In a
similar way, leaving before all required work is completed will also be considered partial or complete absence.
HELP, LAS, AND TUTORING:
Marshall has instituted a Learning Assistant (LA) program in a limited number of courses in the last couple of
years. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this program. The LAs will introduce themselves and tell you
more about the program, meeting times, contact information, etc.
I encourage you to see me if you are having difficulty with any concept that continues to give you problems after
re-reading your lecture notes, reading the text, and talking with the LAs. Don’t let things go until you are
desperate! Seek help if you merely want to clarify a minor point, well before it becomes a major issue for you.
If you would like some help in any aspect of the course, please see me as early as possible after you recognize the
need. To do this effectively, you must be alert to what’s making sense and what isn’t. It is far more effective to
catch difficulties early than to try to root up entrenched problems later. For outside help, the Academic Skills
Center (phone x6213) offers instruction in study skills, as well as other related classes. Since those skills will be
beneficial throughout your college years and beyond, it is best to begin developing them as early as possible. If
you want to consider the assistance of a tutor, call Marshall's Tutoring Office, at x6622. Most importantly, don't
wait until you are foundering badly or the Final Exam is upon you before you begin. You will not be able to make
up an entire semester's learning in a few days. (Remember the Law of the Farm!)
Page 2
MAKE-UP EXAMS
I realize that dire circumstances and emergencies occasionally arise. Talk to me ahead of time, if possible; and
document the situation (e.g., a note from doctor, lawyer, clergy) as completely as possible. If it is necessary for
you to miss a scheduled exam date, it may be possible to take a make-up exam. However, be advised that makeups are generally given as a combination of written essay and oral exam, and are nearly always more difficult than
the original exam (not because I try to be cruel, but because it is very difficult to design a make-up exam that is
entirely fair to all involved).
GRADING
Your final grade will be determined approximately as follows, although changes to this scheme are possible.
Lecture Quizzes:
Connect Quizzes:
Hourly Exams (3)
Final Exam
Laboratory
TOTAL
10%
10%
35%
20%
25%
100%
NOTES REGARDING EXAMS: (1) Hourly exams will be generally non-comprehensive, dealing primarily with lecture
and reading material encountered since the previous exam, as indicated on the Schedule of Lectures and Exams.
However, bear in mind that material introduced later in the course inevitably builds upon material introduced
earlier. As a result, it is not possible to make later exams completely independent of the earlier material. (2) If you
miss an exam and fail to make it up, it is counted as a zero in computing your final grade. (3) The Final Exam is
not optional and is comprehensive, i.e., covers material from the entire course.
CHEATING:
Cheating (including all aspects of “academic dishonesty” as defined in your Student Handbook) is an
uncomfortable subject. It is rare. But it has happened in the past; so I bring it up here. I consider cheating to be an
extremely serious infraction, and will deal with it harshly should it arise. Cheating will certainly result in failure of
the exam (or other assignment, if in lab) and may result in failure of the course as well as academic probation at
Marshall University. Repeat offenses will result in suspension from Marshall University.
Page 3
Principles of Biology — BSC 120
Marshall University — Fall Semester 2013
Dr. Jeffrey D. May
378 Science Bldg. 696-3637
Principles of Biology I: Tentative Schedule of Lectures and Exams
Chapter readings are in: Brooker, Widmaier, Graham, and Stiling. 2014. Biology, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.
DATE
August
September
October
November
LECTURE TOPIC
TEXT READING
27 Tue
Course Orientation: Schedule, Content, Policies, Expectations, Etc.
29 Thu
An Introduction to Biology
30 Fri
Schedule adjustment period ends.
Chapter 1
3 Tue
The Chemical Basis of Life I: Atoms, Molecules, and Water
“W” withdrawal period begins.
Chapter 2
5 Thu
The Chemical Basis of Life II: Organic Molecules
Chapter 3
10 Tue
General Features of Cells
Chapter 4
12 Thu
Membrane Structure, Synthesis, and Transport
Chapter 5
17 Tue
An Introduction to Energy, Enzymes, and Metabolism
Chapter 6
19 Thu
EXAM 1: CHAPTERS 1-6
24 Tue
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
Chapter 7
26 Thu
Photosynthesis
Chapter 8
1 Tue
Cell Communication; Multicellularity
Chapters 9 & 10
3 Thu
Nucleic Acid Structure, DNA Replication, and Chromosome Structure
Chapter 11
8 Tue
Gene Expression at the Molecular Level
Chapter 12
10 Thu
Gene Regulation
Chapter 13
15 Tue
Mutation, DNA Repair, and Cancer
Mid-semester.
Chapter 14
17 Thu
EXAM 2: CHAPTERS 7-14
22 Tue
The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Meiosis
Chapter 15
24 Thu
Patterns of Inheritance
Chapter 16 & 17
29 Tue
Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
Chapter 18
31 Thu
Developmental Genetics
Chapter 19
1 Fri
Last day to drop a full semester individual course.
5 Tue
Genetic Technology
Chapter 20
7 Thu
Genomes, Proteomes, and Bioinformatics
Chapter 21
12 Tue
EXAM 3: CHAPTERS 14-21
Page 4
14 Thu
The Origin and History of Life on Earth
Chapter 22
19 Tue
An Introduction to Evolution
Chapter 23
21 Thu
Population Genetics
Chapter 24
25 Nov.-1 Dec.
December
THANKSGIVING BREAK—NO CLASSES
3 Tue
Origin of Species and Macroevolution
Chapter 25
5 Thu
Taxonomy and Systematics
Chapter 26
6 Fri
Last day to withdraw for Spring Semester
7 Sat
Last day of classes.
12 Thu
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM 10:15-12:15 AM.
Page 5