BIOLOGY 100 Biological Concepts
Instructor: Thomas V. Vogel Office: 360 Waggoner Hall (WG)
Phone: 298-2329 E-mail:
COURSE OVERVIEW
A laboratory course recommended for nonscience majors, relating reproduction, heredity, evolution, ecology, and behavior to human life and the problems of society. This general education course does not count toward a major or minor in biology. There are no prerequisites or corequisites for this course.
COURSE GOALS
This course is designed for students who do not plan to major in any area of science yet have an interest in biology. Selected topics of societal interest to modern man are discussed in depth but with a minimum of terminology. The main goal is a better-informed citizenry in scientific matters. The laboratories are designed to illustrate how biologists go about solving problems and how they handle data. Among the Major Topics to be discussed in this course are:
Human Reproduction - the structure and function of human male and female reproductive systems, venereal disease, birth control, and sterility
Human Development - fertilization and early fetal development, prenatal environment, and birth defects
Genetics - cell organization and division, classical genetics, gene duplication and action, mutations, cancer, and aging
Evolution - evidence for evolution, history of evolution, human evolution, and mechanisms of evolution
Ecology - physical environment, biotic factors and their interaction, populations, community organization, ecosystems, environmental pollution, and energy problems
Behavior - unlearned and learned, communication, territoriality, reproductive, and biological rhythms
TEXTBOOKS
Simon, Eric, Dickey, Jean and Jane Reece. Campbell-Essential Biology with Physiology. Fourth Edition. Peason. (2013). “Mastering” is not required for this course.
(Required for Lecture)
Vogel, Thomas V. Fear and Loathing in Introductory Biology. (2009). Dubuque, IA Kendall-Hunt Publishing. (Required for Lecture)
Aanenson, Marian, Barden-Gabbei,Laura, Meiers, Susan and Thomas V. Vogel. Biological Concepts-A Laboratory Manual. Hayden McNeil. (2012) (Required for Lab)
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance / Conduct: You are expected to be present and on time for each class. The exams will contain information from the notes (75%) and from lecture (20%) and directly from the book (5%). All exams will be presented through “Westernonline” in multiple choice formats.
Students with Disabilities: Any student who has a need for special accommodations is encouraged to discuss this with the instructor as soon as possible.
Grading Scale
100-93 = A
92-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
62-60 = D-
59 and below = F
Testing and Grading Criteria
6 Exams 75%
Laboratory 25 %
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100 %
Definition of Plagiarism
The faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences ascribes to a definition of plagiarism as expressed by V. E. McMillan in Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences (Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, New York, pg 16)
“Plagiarism is the theft of someone else’s words, work, or ideas. It includes such acts as (1) turning in a friend’s paper and saying it is yours; (2) using another person’s data or ideas without acknowledgement; (3) copying an author’s exact words and putting them in your paper without quotation marks; and (4) using wording that is very similar to that of the original source but passing it off as entirely your own even while acknowledging the source.”
Required Web-Sites
It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the information (including required forms, definitions, and time lines) contained in the following university web sites. Each student should access these web sites and carefully read the information they contain, your instructors will hold you responsible for knowing this information. If you have questions about any of the information contained in the web sites, ask your instructor:
Western Illinois University: http://www.wiu.edu
Department of Biological Sciences Policies: http://www.wiu.edu/biology/about/policies.shtml
Student Rights and Responsibilities: http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/
Final Exam Policy: http://www.wiu.edu/policies/finexam.php
Academic Integrity Policy: http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php
Grade Appeals Policy: http://www.wiu.edu/policies/gradeapp.php
Laboratory
Attendance Policy and Minimum Lab Grade Policy
Tardy Policy: You are expected to be present and on time for every laboratory session. Quizzes will be given during the first ten minutes of each laboratory session. If you arrive late, you will only be allotted the amount of time remaining. For example, if you arrive five minutes late, you will be given only the remaining five minutes of quiz time to complete your quiz. If you arrive after the quiz is completed, you will NOT be permitted to take it and will receive a grade of zero for that quiz.
Attendance Policy: Absences can be considered either excused or unexcused depending upon the reason for the absence. Absences will be considered excused for the following reasons: illness (your own), death in the immediate family (sibling, parent, grandparent, child, spouse), and official university trips. If you are required to be gone due to your own military service obligations, you will need to bring documentation for that to the Lab Coordinator. All other absences will be considered unexcused. The absence policy differs depending upon whether the absence is excused or unexcused.
If you miss a lab due to an EXCUSED absence, you will not be permitted to take the quiz for the lab missed or make up the lab. However, in order not to penalize you for a legitimate absence [illness, death in the immediate family, official university trips], your total possible points will be reduced by the number of points associated with the lab exercise and lab quiz for that lab, typically eight points. In order for a lab to be considered excused, you are responsible for providing appropriate documentation within three weeks of the absence. To verify an absence due to illness, you must provide a note from your physician. If you decide not to see your physician when you are ill, your absence will be counted as an unexcused absence. If appropriate documentation for any absence is not procured and provided to your instructor within three weeks, the absence will be considered unexcused with all the penalties as described below. Absences which are excused will be designated with an “e” on WebCT under the absence column for that lab.
If you miss a lab due to an UNEXCUSED absence, you will not be permitted to take the quiz for the missed lab or to make up the lab, you will lose the 10 perfect attendance points (described below), and your total possible points will not be reduced. In other words, you will receive a grade of zero for both the lab you missed and the quiz connected with that lab as well as lose the attendance points for a total of 18 points. However, you are permitted only one (1) unexcused absence in lab before failing the entire course. If you have a second unexcused absence you will receive a zero in lab and therefore an F in the Bio 100 course. Absences which are unexcused will be designated with a “u” on WebCT under the absence column for that lab.
You are allowed only one unexcused absence and three total absences. On the second unexcused or fourth total absence (i.e. combined excused and unexcused absences) you will receive a zero in the lab and therefore an automatic F in the Bio 100 course. It is your responsibility to keep up with how many absences of each type you have.
Homework: Whether you have an excused or unexcused absence, you are expected to submit your homework (to be described at further length below) each week. Failure to submit a homework assignment will result in a zero on that assignment. Please note, homework is worth 20% of each lab’s grade and 16% of your final lab grade.
Forced F in the Course: More than one unexcused or unauthorized absence from lab will result in a zero (0) for the lab portion of the course. More than three total absences in any combination of excused (authorized) and unexcused (unauthorized) absences will result in a zero (0) for the lab portion of the course. Students must pass the lab portion of the course (i.e. receive a 60.0% minimum score) to pass the course. Therefore, any student receiving more than one unexcused absence or a total of more than three absences (excused and unexcused absences combined) and students who receive a lab grade of less than 60.0 will automatically receive a grade of F in the course. For an absence to be authorized or excused it must be verified by the laboratory instructor. Any appeals concerning whether or not an absence is excused will be considered first by the Faculty Laboratory Coordinator (Dr. Barden-Gabbei) and second by the Department Chair of Biological Sciences (Dr. Anderson). Excused absences include participation in athletic and music events sponsored by the university, field trips for other courses, illnesses (Beu Health Center or doctor’s note will be required for verification), and death in the immediate family (copy of the funeral service may be required for verification). Absences should be verified by the laboratory instructor prior to the lab to be missed, except for illnesses and unexpected family emergencies, which should be reported to the laboratory instructor as soon as possible upon your return to classes.
STATE ACCREDITATION POLICY INFORMATION:
“In accordance with Illinois State Board of Education certification rules, all candidates seeking teacher certification are required by Western Illinois University to obtain a grade of “C” or better in all directed general education course, all core courses, and all courses in the option. Note: A “C- ” is below a “C”.” Please note: any secondary science teacher certification student wanting to see how this course is aligned with the State and National Standards should see their advisor and/or examine the Secondary Science Teacher Certification WesternOnline Advising site.
Class Schedule
Wk Day Lecture Topics Lab
M Characteristics of Life No lab
1 W Characteristics of Life
F Scientific Method
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M Biochemistry 1
2 W Origin of Life (Metric/ Microscope)
F Human Reproductive Systems
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M Human Reproductive Systems 2
3 W Contraceptives/ STD’s (STD’s)
F Human Development (Embryology)
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M Human Development (Embryology) 3
4 W Aging (Reproduction)
F Cell Structure
EXAM # 1
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M Cells & Energy 4
5 W Cells & Energy (Cells)
F Bacteria & Viruses
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - M Cell Cycle 5
6 W Mitosis & Meiosis (Cell Division)
F Foundations of Genetics
EXAM # 2
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M Gene Inheritance Patterns 6
7 W Chromosomes (Genetics)
F Genetic Disorders
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M Genetic Disorders 7
8 W DNA Replication (Genetics Problems)
F DNA Transcriptions and Translation
EXAM # 3
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M Gene Technology 8
9 W Genomics (Human Heredity)
F Genomics
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M Evolution 9
10 W Microevolution (Molecular Genetics)
F EXAM # 4
M Speciation 10
11 W Human Evolution / Fossil Record (Population Growth)
F Human Evolution / Fossil Record
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M Human Population Growth 11
12 W Human Population Growth (Populations)
F Communities
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M Behavior Mechanisms 12
13 W Animal Behavior (Populations)
F EXAM #5
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M Terrestrial Ecosystems 13
14 W Terrestrial Ecosystems (Migrations)
F Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems
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15 W Pollution (Behavior)
F Review
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(Note: Schedule, including test dates, is subject to change with notice, as appropriate for this class.)