Biol 101: General Biology I Tentative Schedule Winter 2000/Dalton

SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

DIVISION OF ACADEMIC STUDIES

Dowagiac, Michigan

COURSE SYLLABUS

Winter Semester, 2004

COURSE TITLE: General Biology I COURSE NO.: BIOL 101

SECTION NO(S): 1401

CREDITS/CONTACTS: Credit Hours: 5

Lecture Hours/Weekly: 4 (M,T,W,F: 8:00-9:00 am, Room 714A)

Lab Hours/Weekly: 3 (R: 8:00-11:10, Room 702)

INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Clyde Dalton, Office 713C

Office Hours: 9:10-10:10 M,W, F Office Phone: 782-1333

11:30-12:30 T, R e mail address:

PREREQUISITE: One year of high school chemistry or CHEM 100 with grade of C or higher

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Explores the principles of molecular and cellular biology. Includes the scientific

process; chemical principles and biological molecules; cell structure, metabolism,

and reproduction; Mendelian, chromosomal, and molecular genetics; and embryo

development. Laboratory emphasizes development of lab skills, biological

techniques, and instrumentation used in cell biology.

CORE CURRICULUM: Not applicable

MACRAO/DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS: This course may be used to meet a SMC Natural Science and

Mathematics degree requirement.

TEXTBOOKS REQUIRED:

1. Tobin, Allan J. and Jennie Dusheck. Asking About Life. Philadelphia, PA: Harcourt College

Publishers. 2nd ed., 2001.

2. Maris Multimedia. Process of Science: Discovering Biology Interactive CD-Rom. Philadelphia, PA:

Saunders College Publishing, 1999.

3. Tavormina, Salvatore J. and Maris Multimedia. Workbook to Accompany Process of Science:

Discovering Biology Interactive CD-Rom. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders College Publishing, 1999.

4. Dalton, Clyde H. Laboratory Manual for Biology 101. Southwestern Michigan College, 2000.

5. Van De Graaff, Kent M. and John L. Crawley. A Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory.

3rd ed. Englewood, CO: Morton Publishing Company, 1996.

NOTICE: Information in this syllabus, was to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and

complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. The instructor, however, reserves the

rights, acting within the policies and procedures of Southwestern Michigan College, to make changes in

course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.

HONESTY POLICY

Cheating or plagiarizing will absolutely not be tolerated at Southwestern Michigan College. Any student

found cheating or plagiarizing material in any manner may be assigned a failing semester/session grade in

this course. A second such incident while at SMC could result in suspension or expulsion from the

institution. A student found in violation of this section of the syllabus will not be allowed to drop this course.

Additional detail regarding cheating and/or plagiarism may be found elsewhere in this syllabus.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: General Biology I will use lecture, discussion, text readings, videotapes, internet

web sites, CD-Rom concept tutorials and interactive investigations, small group

problem-solving, and individual, small group, and class laboratory activities.

EVALUATION: Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate achievement of the course objectives

by obtaining a final minimum grade of 65% (for transferability to another institution and meeting

core curriculum requirements) or 50% (for SMC credit and meeting distribution requirements) as

measured by tests, quizzes, group projects, individual reports, laboratory reports/questions/quizzes,

subjective evaluation, and a comprehensive final examination.

EVALUATION 4/5 Tests @ 100 pts. ea. 400 pts. 44.4% of final grade

METHOD: 1 Final Examination 100 pts. 11.1% of final grade

12 CD-Rom Concept Tutorial Quiz Checks

@ 5pts. ea. 60 pts. 6.7% of final grade

2 Group CD-Rom Interactive Investigation

Projects @ 25 pts. ea. 50 pts. 5.6% of final grade

4 Individual Internet web-site reports

@ 10 pts. ea. 40 pts. 4.4% of final grade

Laboratory-Related Activities 200 pts. 22.2% of final grade

1 Lab Final Exam @ 50 pts.

Lab Reports/Questions/Pre-lab Quizzes

(totaling 150 pts.)

Subjective Evaluation (based on class 50 pts. 5.6% of final grade

attendance, timeliness, participation) ______

900 pts. total

GRADING SCALE: A 90-100% 810 pts. required

B 78-89% 702 pts. required

C 65-77% 585 pts. required

D 50-64% 450 pts. required

F 49% and below

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance at all scheduled laboratories is required. There are no make-up labs and

labs can not be performed in advance of the scheduled time. Students will not be

allowed to attend a different lab section than the one to which they are assigned

except by advance approval of the instructor. If a student misses a lab for which a

lab report/questions/pre-lab quiz is required, he/she will receive a zero on that

assignment. In addition, two points will be deducted from the subjective evaluation

points possible for every lab missed. One point will be deducted from the subjective

evaluation points possible for every lab for which a student is tardy to lab.

Attendance at all lectures is required and is necessary in order for the student to be

aware of the focus of attention and emphasis on particular concepts and topics, to be

exposed to details or examples not presented in the text, and for the student to know

the exact dates of tests, quizzes, and assignments due (as they might vary slightly from

the tentative schedule). Student success in the course is dependent upon regular and

faithful presence and participation, as well as dedication, organization, and diligent

daily study habits. For each day of lecture a student misses beyond one (the first day

absent), two points will be deducted from the subjective evaluation points possible.

Being tardy to lecture will result in one point being deducted from the subjective

evaluation points possible.

TESTING POLICY: Students are expected to take all tests as scheduled. There are no make up tests. A student

is allowed to drop his/her lowest test score of the five tests given. If a student misses a test

due to illness or personal reasons, that test missed will automatically become the one test

score dropped. If a student misses a second test, an automatic zero will result. However, if

a student must miss a test because of an SMC-sponsored event, it is the responsibility of the

student to make arrangements in advance with the instructor to take the test prior to absence.

OTHER COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

1. The student is expected to have read the assigned material prior to lecture or lab and to come to class

prepared. The student should bring the appropriate materials to class as well.

2. Tardiness is not acceptable. It interferes with the concentration of other students and is disruptive

behavior to the learning environment. It is disruptive to the beginning of lecture and class activities

and introductory lab remarks. If the student must be tardy, it would be greatly appreciated if he/she

would make an attempt to slip in to the classroom as inconspicuously as possible and not walk between

the instructor and the rest of the class. Remember that each day of tardiness to class results in one point

being deducted from the 50 possible points of subjective evaluation. If a student is tardy for a test or a

pre-lab quiz, he/she will not be given additional time to complete the test or quiz.

3. Absence from class is not acceptable. Remember that two points will be deducted from the 50 possible

points of subjective evaluation beyond the first day missed. If a student is absent from lecture, it is his/her

responsibility to determine what was presented or distributed in class and to get notes from another

willing student. Any handouts distributed in class will not be available from the instructor after the class

period during which they were distributed. If a student is absent and needs the handouts, he/she must

photocopy another willing student’s copies at his/her own expense.

4. The student is expected to submit any writing assignments (lab reports/questions, projects, etc.) in legible

and neat form. If the instructor is unable to decipher what a student has written, it will not be read by the

instructor.

5. The student is expected to work with other class members in a cooperative manner on CD-Rom interactive

investigations and the report that the group submits and in class activities conducted during lecture.

Evaluation of contributions by each student to the group will be made by other group members.

6. The student is expected to become proficient at searching the internet for course-related material on the

computer and become proficient in utilizing the CD-Rom concept tutorials supplied with the text for the

course.

7. Four internet reports are required. One internet report should be submitted for each of four units out of the

five units covered. The internet reports are due before or the day of each of the tests. There are five tests

in the course. It is the student’s choice as to which of the five units he/she chooses not to do an internet

report. If a student chooses not to do a report for the first unit (first test), then he/she must submit an

internet report for the other four units. The internet reports must be typed or word-processed. The report

should include: 1) the specific web site address 2) a summary of the contents of this site 3) a statement

as to the relevance of this site to the specific unit covered. Internet reports are NOT acceptable for college

or university sites that are geared for a particular class (example: stages of cell division portrayed on the site

for an introductory biology course at U of M). The site that you choose should be something beyond material

that is covered in the textbook or in class. The site should NOT be a review of material covered in class. The

site chosen should provide you with more in depth information about a particular topic touched on in class that

sparked your interest to know more about.

8. No cell phones or beepers are allowed in class (either lecture or lab).

LABORATORY EXPECTATIONS:

1. The student is expected to be on time in order to hear introductory lab remarks.

2. The student is expected to work safely in lab and to clean his/her lab bench following the completion of

each lab session. Lab benches should be washed, sinks should be left free of debris, and any reagents or

materials used should be left orderly.

3. Since there are no make-up labs, if a student misses a laboratory session, he/she will receive a zero on any

laboratory report/questions/pre-lab quiz due during or after the lab session.

4. When a laboratory report is required for a lab, it is due at the beginning of the next laboratory period one

week later. Late lab reports are unacceptable. 10% will be deducted if the lab report is turned in the same

day at a later time. 20% will be deducted for every school day past the due date.

5. Lab reports are expected to be typed, word processed, or printed in ink, stapled together in the proper order,

and reports should follow the lab report format outlined in the laboratory manual and discussed during the

first laboratory period. All sections should be properly labelled.

6. When using the microscopes, students should follow the procedure outline in the laboratory manual and

discussed during the first laboratory period. The student is also expected to put the microscope away

in the manner described in the laboratory manual and discussed during the first laboratory period.

The first violation in using or putting away the microscope properly will result in a “warning ticket.”

Any future violation will result in two points being deducted from the 50 possible points of subjective

evaluation.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

1. describe the various aspects of the scientific process and experimental design used to investigate and

answer questions about life

2. explain basic chemical principles of atomic and molecular structure, bonding methods, acids, bases,

pH, and buffers

3. describe the structure, characteristics, and functions of water and the biologically important molecules

(carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)

4. compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and describe the structure and function of

eukaryotic cell organelles

5. compare and contrast the various mechanisms by which cell membranes regulate the entrance and

exit of molecules into and out of cells

6. describe the structure, role, action, and regulation of enzymes in the control of metabolic reactions

within cells

7. compare and contrast endergonic and exergonic reactions and photosynthesis and respiration

8. sequentially list the events of mitosis and explain the role of mitosis to cells

9. sequentially list the events of meiosis and explain the role of meiosis to sexually reproducing organisms

10. explain the mechanisms and events by which early embryonic development occurs

11. apply the basic principles of Mendelian genetics, post-Mendelian genetics, and probability to the

inheritance of traits

12. describe the processes of DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein synthesis, and gene regulation

and relate these processes to cell reproduction and the inheritance of traits

13. sequentially order historical technological developments and scientific discoveries related to cellular

biology and genetics

14. demonstrate proficiency in macroscopic and microscopic observation and in experimental data

collection and analysis to reach scientific conclusions

SOME GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE CD-ROM SUPPLIED WITH THE TEXT

1. Use of the CD-Rom requires Quick-Time for Windows installation. This has already been installed on the 10

computers in the Math/Science computer lab in room 714B, although the program will not run without the

insertion of your disk. If the student would like to install this on their home computer, inserting the disk and

following the directions should automatically install Quick Time.

2. The “Concept Tutorials” include interactive stills and interactive animations. The interactive stills are designed

primarily for students to understand structure. They include diagrams with “hot spots” to click on with the

mouse for more information and include multiple choice questions. The interactive animations are designed

primarily for students to understand function and processes. They include questions as the student goes along

through the program and a separate multiple choice quiz at the end.

3. The “Interactive Investigations” FOCUS on processes and the active search for answers to specific questions

raised during the evaluation of landmark experiments. They allow the student to retrace the steps of scientists’