Biological Science I (BIOL 121)

Spring 2003

EHFA 248, MWF 10:30 - 11:20 AM

 

Instructor:  Dr. John Hutchens

Office:  SCI 126B

Phone:  349-2169

E-mail:  jjhutche@coastal.edu

Office Hours:  Mon and Fri 1:30-3:30 PM, by appointment, or just stop by.

Course web page:  http://ww2.coastal.edu/jjhutche/bio121.htm

 

Required text:  Campbell, N.A., and Reece, J.B.  2002.  Biology.  6th Edition.  Benjamin Cummings. 

 

Objectives:  BIOL 121 is the first semester of a two-semester introduction to biology for students majoring in biology and related fields of study.  I will introduce a variety of topics including the scientific method, chemistry of life, macromolecules, cell structure and function, genetics, and DNA.  This material will give you a foundation for understanding biological systems and doing well in your upper-level courses.

 

Grading:  Your grade is based on four lecture exams, six occasional quizzes, and a comprehensive final exam.  Quizzes and exams will consist of multiple-choice questions.  Quizzes and exams will cover material from both lecture notes and the book, and include both factual and analytical types of questions.  Analytical questions will require you to apply your biological knowledge as well as interpret data.  Six short quizzes will be given in-class occasionally, and your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.  Each exam is worth 100 points, and the lowest exam grade will be dropped.  Hence, your final exam will be optional if you are pleased with your exam scores.  However, if you miss any of the four exams, you must take the final exam. 

 

Cheating on quizzes or exams will not be tolerated, and a grade of F will be assigned for the assignment.

 

Point Distribution:                                                         Grading scale: 

Assignment

Points

 

 

Grade

%

Exams

300/400

 

 

A

90-100

Quizzes

50

 

 

B+

87-89

Final Exam

0/100

 

 

B

80-86

Total

450

 

 

C+

77-79

 

 

 

 

C

70-76

 

 

 

 

D+

67-69

 

 

 

 

D

60-66

 

 

 

 

F

0-59

 

Extra Credit Fridays (ECF):  There will be five opportunities for earning extra credit points.  To earn 4 points on each of these five Fridays, you need to bring in a newspaper article discussing a current event focused on a biological topic from the preceding 2-3 weeks.  To earn all 4 points you must also answer a few questions about the article.  All answers must be type written and turned in at the beginning of class.  Newspaper articles can be from local or national papers, and can either be cut out from ‘actual’ newspapers or printed from the internet.  Questions to be answered:  1) What is the main point of the article?  2) Was the article biased?  Is so, how?  3) What did you learn from the article? 

 

Biology workshops:  You will have the opportunity to participate in weekly peer-led workshops to reinforce what you learn in lecture.  The workshops will consist of small groups to allow for more interaction and questions than often possible in lecture.  Participation in workshops is optional.  However, if you participate in the workshops I will drop your second lowest quiz grade.  You can sign-up for them between Jan 21 and 24, and they will start the week of Jan 27.

 

Attendance:  Attending lecture is not mandatory, but it is the key to doing well in this class.  Because I drop your lowest quiz and exam grades, there are no make-up quizzes or exams except for extreme circumstances (my discretion) AND if your absence is excused (see the CCU 2002/2004 Catalog, p. 45-46 for details).

 

Learning disabilities:  Students with learning disabilities should see me at the beginning of the semester so special arrangements can be made, if necessary, for your success in this course. 

 

Reminder:  Turn OFF your cell phones before class!

 

Caveat:  This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

 

Tips for success: 

1)      Come to class.  Come to class.  Come to class. 

2)      Take good notes.

3)      Ask questions.  Question everything.  Ask questions.

4)      Read your text carefully, especially the material I cover in class.

5)      Study for more time than you think you need to study, and make sure it’s quality time.

6)      Study with others in class.

7)      Rewrite your notes with what you’ve learned from asking questions and reading the text.

8)      Get some sleep before exams.

9)      Have a good attitude.

10)  Come to class.

 

Schedule:  This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

 

Week

Dates

Topic

Chapter Readings

1

Jan 17

Introduction; Science process

1

2

Jan 20: MLK; Jan 22 & 24

Atoms and bonds

2

3

Jan 27-31; ECF

Water; Organic chemistry

3, 4

4

Feb 3-7

Macromolecules

5

5

Feb 10-14; Exam 1-Feb 10

Metabolism; Cells

6, 7

6

Feb 17-21; ECF

Membranes

8

7

Feb 24-28

Photosynthesis

10

8

Mar 3-7

Exam 2-Mar 3

Respiration

9

9

Mar 10-14; ECF

Cell communication; Cell cycle/Mitosis

11, 12

10

Mar 17-21

Spring Break

 

 

Mar 24-28;

Exam 3-Mar 28

Meiosis

13

11

Mar 31 – Apr 4

Apr 1: Last day to W; ECF

Mendelian genetics

14

12

Apr 7-11

Chromosomes

15

13

Apr 14-18

DNA

16

14

Apr 21-25

Exam 4-Apr 25

Genes to proteins

17

15

Apr 28 – May 2 ECF

Gene expression; DNA technology

19, 20

 

May 7, 11AM

Final Exam