Biology 242 – Genomes & Evolution
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Fall 2017 Biology 242 – Genomes & Evolution Instructor: Dr. Terry Bird Office: Shiley Center for Science and Technology 432 Laboratory: Shiley Center for Science and Technology 474 Phone #: (619) 260-4671 email: [email protected] Office hours: Mon, Tues & Wed 1:30-2:30pm, Thurs 12:30-2:30pm or by appointment Text: Campbell Biology (11th Edition) (Mastering Biology) Inquiry in Action: Interpreting Scientific Papers, Buskirk & Gillen A Student Handbook for Writing Biology, 4th ed., Karin Knisely Course description This one-semester course for biology majors provides an introduction to the mechanisms and results of information flow through organisms and their lineages. Lecture topics will include the nature, expression, and change of hereditary information in DNA, the mechanisms of evolution, and the origins and relationships of major groups of organisms. The laboratory (Bio 242L) must be taken concurrently and will include inquiry into the genetic basis of evolutionary change, and testing of hypotheses of adaptation. Bio 242 and Bio 242L constitute half of the year of introductory biology. Bio 240 and 240L, Bioenergetics and Systems, should be taken the semester before or after Bio 242. This introductory series meets the general biology requirements of the biology major and health science professional programs, as well as the Core requirement for Scientific and Technological Inquiry. Students in majors other than the sciences should consider taking designated biology courses below the 200-level to fulfill this Core requirement. Course Learning Outcomes At the end of the semester a student who takes both Bio 242 lecture and lab should be able to: 1. Design and conduct an experimental and/or observational investigation to generate scientific knowledge. 2. Analyze data using methods appropriate to Biology in order to make valid and reliable interpretations. 3. Describe how information flows through cells, organisms, and entire populations; and how it contributes to the evolution of diverse organisms. 4. Identify and use appropriate and sufficient scientific evidence to evaluate claims and explanations about the natural world. 5. Define the role innovation plays in biology and articulate how biology fosters innovation toward societal change. Consider the role diverse perspectives play toward the creative and critical thinking necessary to biology. Fall 2017 Grading There are two midterm exams, each worth 100 points; there is one final worth 150 points. Note that all examinations, including midterms, are cumulative. There will be pop quizzes focusing on assigned reading and previous lecture material totaling 30 points. There will be on-line reading quizzes administered through the Mastering Biology website totaling 30 points. You will have two assignments associated with the scientific literature totaling 20 points. You will have one data analysis project totaling 20 points. There will be additional assignments and participation points that will be determined as the course continues totaling 25 points. There is a total of 475 points that can be earned in this course. Final grades are determined by total points accumulated from the exams, quizzes, assignments, and participation in this manner (this course is not scaled or curved): A 93% - 100% C+ 77% - <80% F <60% A- 90% - <93% C 73% - <77% B+ 87% - <90% C- 70% - <73% B 83% - <87% D+ 67% - <70% B- 80% - <83% D 60% - <67% Specific readings and videos will be assigned from your textbook and other sources. The will announced in class or indicated on PowerPoints. You will be expected to have read or viewed these sources before lecture. Note that throughout the course there will be occasional pop quizzes that test whether you have completed these assignments. Be advised that since student exam scores will not be "curved" under any circumstances it is very important that you keep up with your studies and be well prepared for quizzes and exams. Do not hesitate to contact me as soon as you encounter difficulty with any course material. I will do my best to help you. Fall 2017 Lecture Topics and Exam Schedule Lecture Dates Biol 242 Lecture Concepts Week 1 Sept. 6-8 -Course overview 2 Sept. 11-15 - Evolution through natural selection explains the diversity and underlying unity of all life on Earth - Understanding evolution requires understanding information flow at the cellular, organismal and population levels 3 Sept. 18-22 - Protein structure/function and relationship to traits - Relationship between the structure and three functions of DNA 4 Sept. 25-29 - Concepts within central dogma - Relationship between genotype and phenotype 5 Oct. 2-6 - Concepts regarding DNA replication, mutation, generation of new alleles and relationship to traits 6 Oct. 9-13 - Cell theory (the unit of life) - Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes Oct. 11 Midterm Exam 100 points 7 Oct. 16-20 - Evolution of multicellularity - Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes Friday is Fall Holiday 8 Oct. 23-27 - Developmental gene expression - Evolution of diverse animal body plans 9 Oct. 30- - Cost/benefits of sexual/asexual reproduction Nov.3 - Variation and adaptations in reproductive life cycles 10 Nov. 6-10 - Populations (the unit of evolution) - Gene pool, fitness and microevolution Nov. 8 Midterm Exam 100 points 11 Nov. 13-17 - Natural Selection (cont.) and Sexual Selection 12 Nov. 20-21 - Species and Speciation Thanksgiving Holiday Wed-Friday 13 Nov. 27- - Factors affecting adaptive radiation and macroevolution Dec. 1 14 Dec. 4 8 - the legacy of coevolution and convergence 15 Dec. 11-15 - Genomic information and phylogenetic analysis - What can be learned about the history of life? Dec. 20 Final Exam 8-10am 150 points The lecture topic schedule should be considered as tentative since the dates of specific lectures will likely shift over the course of the semester. However, all exam dates and times are final. Fall 2017 Academic Integrity The USD Academic Integrity Policy will be strictly enforced. Any student found to have cheated or plagiarized will receive a score of zero for the exam or assignment and will be reported to the Dean’s office. If you are unclear about what constitutes cheating or plagiarism, please ask me about it before handing in an assignment. Group problem solving is permissible, but this collaboration must be limited to discussions only. Homework assignments must be entirely your own work. If you use any text or concepts from published literature, you must cite these sources. The Last Word Biol 242/242L is a cell phone free lecture and laboratory course. You may use your phone to record lectures or to take pictures that record data in lab. Otherwise, please turnoff and put away your phone before the start of each class meeting. You are permitted to use laptops to take notes during lecture. However, I may rescind this privilege if I determine that students are viewing social media sites in class..