Biology 1500: Fundamentals of Biology
Fall 2014
Monday/Wednesday, 6:40-7:55 p.m., Science Building 02
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introductory course designed to survey the principals of biology. Cell theory,
cell division, heredity, evolution, ecology, anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, and the
classification system of organisms are included. Biological issues related to current events will be
included in discussion and take home assignments.
50095 BIOL 1500 Fundamentals of Biology (3)
[FORMERLY BIOL 1]
Advisory: Eligibility for English 1000 and Reading 1005 strongly recommended; 48 hours lecture
Transfer Credit: CSU: UC
CREDIT: 3 Semester Units
INSTRUCTOR: April Ashmore
 Webpage: http://ashmoretcbiology1500.wikispaces.com/
 Email: aashmore@taftcollege.edu
 Office Hours: Room S2 Monday & Wednesday 6:25- 6:40
TEXTBOOK: Johnson, George B. The Living World. 8th Edition. 2010. Wm. C. Brown Publishers.
(Required)
Websites:
Textbook: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007337797x/student_view0/index.html
Resources: My wikispace page for this course
http://ashmoretcbiology1500.wikispaces.com/
Chapter Outlines and Objectives:
 Chapter Outlines will be given out prior to each lecture.
 Chapter Objectives may be viewed on the wikispace.
Chapter Reading
The reading assignments are listed on the weekly lecture schedule. The reading and lecture complement
each other. Not every detail can be covered in lecture, therefore I expect you to obtain information from
the text. Reading the assigned chapters prior to lecture or within a reasonable timeframe following
lecture is imperative to your success in class. Review the study questions that are in the text to help you
understand the concepts. You can print off the notes from the wiki website and bring them to class.
Course Evaluation:
Lecture Exam #1
Lecture Exam #2
Lecture Exam #3
Final Exam
Class Project
In Class Exercise (ICE) (3 x 20pts)
Quizzes (13 x 10pts)
100pts
100pts
100pts
100pts
50pts
60pts
130 pts
Total 640 pts
*There are NO make-ups on quizzes.
*Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor. A 10% penalty will be assigned to make-up
exams taken within a week of the assigned exam date. No make-ups will be permitted after a week has
passed.
*You may be dropped from the course for more than 2 unexcused class sessions at the discretion of the
instructor!
Grade Distribution
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = <59%
**Be sure you know your grade at all times. You will receive the grade you have earned!!!
Weekly Lecture Schedule
Schedule subject to change!!
Quizzes are not listed. They will be given and the discretion of the teacher.
Week
1
2
3
Dates
Mon. 8/25
Wed. 8/27
Mon. 9/1
Wed. 9/3
Mon. 9/8
Wed. 9/10
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Mon. 9/15
Wed. 9/17
Mon. 9/22
Wed. 9/24
Mon. 9/29
Wed. 10/1
Mon. 10/6
Wed. 10/8
Mon. 10/13
Wed. 10/15
Mon. 10/20
Wed. 10/22
Mon. 10/27
Wed. 10/29
Mon. 11/3
Wed. 11/5
Mon. 11/10
Wed. 11/12
Mon. 11/17
Wed. 11/19
Mon. 11/24
Wed. 11/26
Mon. 12/1
Wed. 12/3
Mon. 12/8
Wed. 12/10
Mon. 12/15
Chapters
Ch. 1 "The Science of Biology"
Ch. 2 "The Chemistry of Life”
NO CLASS
Ch. 3 "Molecules of Life"
Ch. 4 "Cells"
Ch. 5 "Energy and Life"
Ch. 6 "Photosynthesis: Acquiring Energy from the
Sun"
Ch. 7 "How Cells Harvest Energy from Food"
Review ICE
Exam 1 ( Ch. 1-7)
Ch. 8 "Mitosis"
Ch. 9 "Meiosis"
Ch. 10 "Foundations of Genetics"
Ch. 11 "DNA: The Genetic Material"
Ch. 12 "How Genes Work"
Review ICE
Exam 2 (Ch. 8-12)
Ch. 14 “Evolution and Natual Selection”
Ch. 15 "How We Name Living Things"
Ch. 16 "Prokaryotes: The First Single-Celled
Creatures"
Ch. 17 "Protists: Advent of the Eukaryotes"
Ch. 18 "Fungi Invade the Land"
NO CLASS
Ch. 32 "Evolution of Plants"
Ch. 33 "Plant Form and Function"/ Review
Exam 3 (Ch. 14 – 18, 32, 33)
Ch. 19 "Evolution of the Animal Phyla"
Ch. 20 "History of the Vertebrates”
Ch. 21 "How Humans Evolved"
Ch. 35 “Population and Communities”
Ch. 23, 24, 25 Circulatory, respiratory and Digestion
Review
Final Exam 6:00 – 9:00 (Ch. 19-21, 23-25, 35)