BIOL 110:
Biology Concepts
and Biodiversity
|
|
FALL 2008
Show Class Tutoring Information
Bio 110 Tutoring
Fall 2008
The Learning Center
Room 123
Group Tutoring Times:
Mondays: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Wednesdays: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Fridays: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Appointments may be scheduled:
Mondays: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Tuesdays: 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Wednesdays: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Thursdays: 12:00 - 3:00 PM
Credits, class periods, lab periods: 4, 3, 3
BIOL 110 is intended to be prerequisite to the three other majors' biology
courses: BIOL 220W, 230W, and 240W offered within
the Penn State system. It, itself, requires no previous knowledge of biology
and can be considered the first part
of an in-depth study of biology.
Course Materials
Textbook: Biology,
Campbell and Reece (Eighth Edition)
Laboratory Manual: Investigating Biology -- A Laboratory
Manual for Biology
(Fifth Edition), Judith G. Morgan and M. Eloise Brown Carter
Required Supplemental Reading: Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher, Lewis Thomas
Course Objectives
-
To recognize and comprehend the unifying "themes" that pervade
all of biology.
-
Understand genetics, the scientific study of heredity and
variation, at the chromosomal and molecular level. Delve into genomic
organization and expression, and the advances of recombinant DNA technology.
-
Introduce and evaluate the concept of evolution, and review Darwin's views of
Descent with Modification and Natural Selection.
-
Survey the diversity of contemporary life on earth and trace
the evolution of the diversity, e.g., the origin of prokaryotes, evolution of
the eukaryotic cell, the genesis of multicellular life, and the adaptive
radiations of plants, fungi and animals.
-
Appreciate the biosphere as an "intricate tapestry of interwoven life forms"
and the concept of "biophilia" (E.O. Wilson, 1988).
-
Delve into laboratory investigations as a contemporary researcher, following
the scientific method with regard to experimentation itself
and scientific writing.
-
Foster technology in the classroom and laboratory by utilizing
computer based modules, interactive software, and accredited resources
available on the World Wide Web.
Organization and Policies
-
Classroom Presentations: The course meets three times
a week. Class topics are outlined in the attached schedule.
An integral part of this course is the development of critical thinking skills.
Biology is a dynamic science that requires more than mere acquisition and
memorization of facts. It requires conceptualization of core concepts in order to understand the
interrelationships of life from the subcellular level to the whole
organism. It's my challenge to bring to my teaching the critical thinking,
rigor, creativity, and spirit of experimentation that defines research
itself. In short, you will not memorize, but instead will be practicing
"real science" in my classroom. It is my goal that you, my students,
emerge with a firm grasp of the nature of science so that you can
appreciate basic research, think critically about real world issues,
problems and situations, find your niche in the sciences (one based on
passion), and sustain a lifelong curiosity about the world around you.
I will assume you have read the assigned material before entering class. I strongly
suggest that you participate in a study group, and use the group to
assess your comprehension of the course material. I also urge you to
utilize the Penn State Lehigh Valley Learning Center where our teaching
assistant, Foram Dave, will be holding routine tutor sessions.
-
Laboratories: Laboratories will commence on the third
week of classes and will meet as scheduled. Check your schedule
carefully before attending lab! The laboratory exercises are designed
to give you an opportunity to learn through experimentation (inquiry and
experience) and to use your critical thinking skills.
I will provide instruction in the nuts and bolts of appropriate experimental
methods. I also will provide guidance into how an effective experiment is
designed. You , however, will perform your own experiments. You as the
researcher must plan and carry out every step of your experimentation. What I
am stressing is that you think about the experiments you are carrying
out , plan ahead, and follow through
with your results and write-ups.
Each student will be required to write a scientific protocol. You will
be required to follow the guidelines in the manual Writing in the Biology
Curriculum
(Dunski et al., 1994), which is on reserve in the library. For your protocol, you will have the opportunity to make
two revisions prior to receiving your grade.
-
Attendance and Make-up Exams: You will be responsible
for all material. Please note the exam schedule. All of the exams will
be used to assess your performance in this course; none will be dropped.
Only those individuals with legitimate and verifiable excuses will
be allowed to schedule a make-up exam. If you cannot take the exam at a
scheduled time, you need to contact me as soon as possible. Documentation
of reason for missing an exam is required before a grade will be released and
recorded.
Legitimate excuses are the following:
-
illness, with a doctor's excuse and receipt
-
a University-sponsored event (including religious holidays recognized by the
University)
-
a death in the family with documentation
-
during Finals Week three or more exams in one day
Family reunions, anniversaries and weddings are not legitimate excuses and
make-up exams will not be given for those reasons. Check the exam schedule now
to see if there are any conflicts between your academic and social calendar,
and make adjustments or arrangements in your social calendar right away.
* It is stressed that if you are late for class or miss class because of
dangerous weather conditions, your safety is more important. Always drive
safely.
-
Missed Laboratories: Lab attendance is mandatory. If
you miss a lab you must have a legitimate excuse (as above).
If you fail to make up a missed lab you will lose 100 of your total laboratory
points at the end of the semester. Missed labs will indeed affect your
grade!
Evaluation Methods
Knowledge of class material will be evaluated by four semester exams, four
readiness assessment tests (RATS), and a comprehensive final exam. The class
exams will cover material presented in the class; the assigned text book readings, as
well as interactive Web modules, Web Assignments, and handouts are a
resource for class preparation and understanding of course content.
Each exam will consist of multiple choice, fill-ins, short answers, and essays.
The final exam will test your comprehensive knowledge of the entire semester's
material.
The lab component will be judged by lab protocols, group presentation on
bacteria, herbarium project, lab exam, and of course, your overall lab
preparation, organization and technique.
Class (60% of grade):
| 5 Semester Exams (100 points each; one will be dropped) |
= 400 points |
| 4 Readiness Assessment Tests (RATS) (50 points each) |
= 200 points |
| 1 Final Exam |
= 200 points |
|
Total |
= 800 points |
Laboratory (40% of grade):
| Lab Protocol (bacteriology) |
= 100 points |
| Bacteriology Group Presentation |
= 300 points |
| Herbarium Project |
= 300 points |
| 1 Lab Notebook including Lab Report |
= 400 points |
| Total |
= 1100 points |
Class grades will be determined by a percentage scale based upon the total
number of points available (900 points). Lab grades will be determined by a
percentage scale based upon the total number of points available (1100 points).
Class grade equals 60% of overall final grade; lab grade equals 40% of overall
final grade.
Penn State University letter grade equivalents:
| 95-100 |
A |
| 90-94 |
A- |
| 87-89 |
B+ |
| 84-86 |
B |
| 80-83 |
B- |
| 75-79 |
C+ |
| 70-74 |
C |
| 60-69 |
D |
| 0-59 |
F |
CLASS SYLLABUS
Segment I: General Principles and Properties of Life
| Date |
Class Content |
Readings |
| M 8/25 |
Introduction to Course |
Chapter 1 |
| W 8/27 |
Introduction to Course |
|
| F 8/29 |
The Three B's of Biology:
Biospheres, Biomes, and Biodiversity |
Chapter 52
Exploring Life:
Ch. 34 - The Biosphere |
| M 9/1 |
Labor Day - No Class |
|
| W 9/3 |
The Three B's of Biology:
Biospheres, Biomes, and Biodiversity continued |
|
| F 9/5 |
The Chemistry of Life: Small Molecules |
Chapters 2, 3 & 4 |
| M 9/8 |
The Chemistry of Life: Large Molecules |
|
| W 9/10 |
The Chemistry of Life: Large Molecules |
|
| F 9/12 |
Biomembranes |
|
| M 9/15 |
The Cell |
|
| W 9/17 |
Energy, Enzymes and Catalysts |
|
| F 9/19 |
EXAM #1 |
|
| M 9/22 |
Glycolysis, Cellular Respiration & Fermentation |
|
| W 9/24 |
Glycolysis, Cellular Respiration & Fermentation continued
|
Chapter 9
|
| F 9/26 |
Photosynthesis |
Chapter 10
|
| M 9/29 |
Photosynthesis continued |
|
| W 10/1 |
Photosynthesis continued |
|
| F 10/3 |
EXAM #2 |
|
Segment II: Reproduction and Inheritance
| M 10/6 |
The Cell Cycle |
|
| W 10/8 |
Mitosis |
|
| F 10/10 |
Meiosis |
|
| M 10/13 |
Mendel and Non-Mendelian Inheritance |
|
| W 10/15 |
Mendel and Non-Mendelian Inheritance continued |
Chapters 14 & 15
|
| F 10/17 |
EXAM #3 |
|
| M 10/20 |
Replication |
|
| W 10/22 |
From Gene to Protein: Transcription |
|
| F 10/24 |
From Gene to Protein: Transcription |
|
| M 10/27 |
From Gene to Protein: Translation |
|
| W 10/29 |
From Gene to Protein: Translation |
Chapter 17
The Biology Place: Translation |
| F 10/31 |
EXAM #4 |
|
| M 11/3 |
Biotechnology |
|
Segment III: Biodiversity and the Kingdoms of Life
| W 11/5 |
Viruses and Bacteria |
Chapter 19
|
| F 11/7 |
Mechanisms of Evolution: Descent with Modification |
|
| M 11/10 |
Mechanisms of Evolution: The Origin of Species |
|
| W 11/12 |
The Origins of Life and Biodiversity |
Chapters 26
|
| F 11/14 |
Kingdom Fungi |
|
| M 11/17 |
Kingdom Fungi continued |
|
| W 11/19 |
Kingdom Fungi continued |
|
| F 11/21 |
Kingdom Protista |
|
| M 11/24 |
No Class - Thanksgiving Break |
|
| W 11/26 |
No Class - Thanksgiving Break |
|
| F 11/28 |
No Class - Thanksgiving Break |
|
| M 12/1 |
Kingdom Protista continued |
|
| W 12/3 |
Kingdom Plantae |
|
| F 12/5 |
EXAM #5 |
|
| M 12/8 |
Kingdom Plantae continued |
Chapters 29 & 30
|
| W 12/10 |
Kingdom Animalia |
Chapters 32
|
| F 12/12 |
Kingdom Animalia |
Chapters 32
|
Week of
12/15-12/19 |
FINAL EXAM |
Date And Time
to be Announced |
| Lab Syllabus
|
|
|
