Great Basin College, Pahrump Valley Campus, 551 East Calvada Blvd, Pahrump,
Nevada – 89048- Phone:(775) 727-2000 -Fax:(775) 727-2014
Course Syllabus for BIOL 190 – Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology- Spring 2016
Instructor: Dr. Rita Bagwe
Office: 101B
Email: (preferred way to contact me)
Phone: 775-727-2005
Office Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays - 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Friday – by prior appointment only.
Teaching Assistant: Teaching assistants will meet strictly by scheduled appointment only. Sign-up sheet for scheduling appointments is kept in the Academic Success Center.
Course title: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
Course number/ section numbers:BIO 190 /1005 lab/ 1006 lecture (35007/35015)
Number of credits: 4 Credits
Meeting dates / time/ place: Lectures - Monday & Wednesday 5:30 p.m.to 6:45 p.m. (PAHR 122 & GGTA130) and Labs - Monday 2:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. – (room number PAHR116 only for Pahrump students. Other campuses students will have labs on their respective campuses). Elko students will have labs in GLUND 129 ON Tuesdays from 1.00-3.45p.m).
Dates when classes will not be held: Classes will not be held on holidays listed in the school academic calendar.
Prerequisite: Must have completed MATH 96, MATH 97, MATH 120 or higher, or attained satisfactory score for placement into MATH 120 in SAT/ACT or placement tests. Note: The English prerequisites have been removed for this course. The Science department recommends that you test into ENG 101 or have completed ENG 101 before taking BIOL 190.
Corequisite: Concurrent enrollment in a corresponding lab section is required for this course.
Course description:Study of the Structure and function of cells. Major molecules of life; composition and physiology of cellular organelles; cell metabolism, reproduction, motility, and gene function of both plant and animal cells. Required for biology major students.
Texts: Lecture - Required text – ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO IS REQUIRED
1) Biological Science(w/ MasteringBiology code)
Publishers-Pearson, Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company
Authors –Scott Freeman, Kin Quillin and Lizabeth Allison;
5th edition (required); Published – 2013;
Bottom of Form
ISBN-13: 9780321743619
ISBN: 032174361X
(Students can buy the international version or Volume 1 which is much cheaper)
2) MasteringBiology with Pearson E-text -- Standalone Access Card -- for Biological Science Edition: 5th Author: Freeman
ISBN: 9780321858931
Copyright Year: 2014
Publisher: Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company
MASTERINGBIOLOGY: Online Assignments: Completion of weekly online homework is required for this course. Assignments will be based on the topics covered in lecture and some additional topics we did not cover in lecture. You will be required to look up the information for this additional subject matter in order to complete the assignments. You are responsible for having access to a functioning computer and for completing and turning in of the assignments on time. Late work is not accepted.
The online assignments is provided and maintained by the textbook publisher (Pearson, Benjamin Cummings). I am only able to set up the assignments – this means that I cannot help with technical issues. You must get help from the publisher if you think that there is something wrong.
You bear the responsibility for getting the technical aspects of the course to function properly so that you can participate fully.
Online assignments will be assigned each week. They will be made available on Monday morning and they are due Sunday at 5:00PM. The assignments will focus on what we have covered in lecture for the week. Some of the problems will be based on material that we have not covered in lecture. This will require you to read the textbook yourself in order to figure out those problems.
Instructions for access (for those with a brand new book): If you purchased a new book that is shrink-wrapped with an access kit (a small cardboard fold-out), follow the directions in the access kit.
Course Name for MasteringBiology: RITABIO190SPRING2016
Course ID for MasteringBiology: BAGWE38819
Lab Manual: No lab manual is required for the lab.All the forthcoming labs will be posted on the WebCampus module.
Goals of this course: Students taking this course will have an understanding of cells, biomolecules, composition and physiology of cellular organelles, cell metabolism, reproduction, motility, and gene function in both plants and animals. The GBC General Education Objectives are addressed in this syllabus.
Learning outcomes and Measurements for BIO 190
Learning Outcomes / MeasurementMolecules of Life
Solve problems involving the identification and functions of the 4 classes of biologically relevant carbon compounds / Lecture exam, quizzes
Cellular Metabolism
Describe common biochemical pathways (including glycolysis, Krebs cycle, chemiosmosis, fermentation and photosynthesis) and solve problems involving integrated cellular metabolism. / Lecture exam, quizzes, online homework
Genetics
Apply concepts of transmission and molecular genetics / Lecture exam, quizzes
Evolution/Natural Selection
Describe how natural selection leads to evolution, and how this process is tested with the tools of quantitative genetics / Lecture exam, quizzes together with discussion, written response to video, with quantitative genetics problems in lecture and lab
Learning outcomes and Measurements for general education
Objectives / Expected Learning Outcomes / Outcome MeasurementsUpon completion of the course the student will be able to: / The expected outcomes will be measured by:
1. Communication Skills / Students will have several opportunities to exercise written and oral communication skills throughout this course. They will complete laboratory reports and written assignments accessing scientific information as well as written exams. Oral communication skills will also be utilized during discussions involved in completing laboratory assignments. / Lecture Exams: Students will be able to read and answer exam questions in written form.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will read and answer exam questions in written form.
Written Lab Report: Students will clearly communicate scientific information in written form. (See “lab reports” below for grading rubric)
Class Discussions: Students will be able to communicate scientific ideas orally. (Ungraded)
2. Critical Thinking / Quantitative Ability: Students will use mathematical principles and quantitative methods to complete the laboratory assignments. They will also learn how to quantitatively measure molecular-biological and cellular characteristics.
Reasoning and Individual Thought: Students will use reasoning and independent thought to complete laboratory experiments and answer exam questions.
Scientific Understanding- Students will comprehend molecular-biological and cellular systems and the process by which the scientific knowledge is discovered. They will develop the ability to understand molecular-biological and cellular information and how it relates to them. / Lab Exams (written and practical)
Lab Notebook
Quizzes
Lecture Exams
3. Personal and Cultural Awareness / Sense of the Individual in Society- Students will gain an understanding of molecular and cellular biology and how this affects them and the population.
Sense of the Past- Students will gain an understanding of how biological knowledge was discovered and how this knowledge has changed society and their lives.
Sense of Accountability- Students will comprehend the consequences of human discoveries in molecular and cellular biology and their implications.
Appreciation of Fine Arts- Students will develop an understanding of the value of biological diversity and individual curiosity and creative thought. / Lecture Exams: Students will be able to answer exam questions on the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society, on the history of biological research, and how their actions affect them and their environment.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will be able to answer lab practical exam questions on the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society, on the history of biological research, and how their actions affect them and their environment.
Class Discussions: Students will be able to discuss the importance and place of cell and molecular biology in society and how their actions affect them and their environment- ungraded.
Written Lab Report: Students will calculate and present quantitative results clearly in the lab reports.
4. Personal Wellness Objective / Students will develop skills in determining the consequences of their actions in relation to the environment and their personal health. They will gain knowledge needed to make important decisions involving personal health. / Lecture Exams and Lab Practical Exams: Students will be able to answer exam questions on the molecular basis of human health.
Class Discussions: Students will discuss the molecular basis of human health, ungraded.
5. Technological Understanding / Students will gain knowledge of how advancing technology in the field of biology will affect their lives and their personal health. / Lecture Exams: Students will be able to answer exam questions on technology in cell and molecular biology, and human health.
Lab Practical Exams: Students will demonstrate the ability to use technological lab equipment used in biology and relate the use of this equipment to cell and molecular biology and human health.
Written Lab Report: Students will present, in written form, the use of technology to discover knowledge in the area of cell and molecular biology – the “procedures” section of their lab reports.
Summary of the Assessment of Objectives: Learning and general education objectives will be assessed with three distinct tools. Lecture exams will consist of multiple choice questions, true or false statements, fill in the blanks, and short essay type questions that will test three types of knowledge: recall of factual information, definitions of terminology, and conceptual and integrative thinking. Laboratory practical’s will emphasize recall of the various manipulative and study objects used in the exercises, as well as testing that the students understand the concepts and principles that were generated with these devices. The written laboratory report will assess their written communication skills, as well as their conceptual understanding of a critical lab experiment.The experiments have been chosen for its mix of conceptual, numeric, and technical skills.
Method of instruction: Each week there will be two lecture classes and one laboratory class. Homework assignments will be assigned every week.It is your responsibility to read the chapter before the class.
Use of computers in this course: WebCampus: This course will make use of WebCampus. To log in, go to webcampus.gbcnv.edu. Your WebCampus ID is your Great Basin College email address ID. If you don't have a GBC email address or don't remember your address go to swami.scsr.nevada.edu or the Technology Help Desk , or 775-753-2167. Passwords will be sent by mail to students who register for their course(s) 5 days before the semester begins. If you register after this time or did not receive a letter by mail, contact the Help Desk as soon as possible.
Grading system: The grade for this course will be based on two components: performance in lecture and laboratory. The total score for the course is 800 - 1000. (approx.)
400 Points- 4 Lecture based exams each for 90 minutes time limit (100 points each).
(All lecture exams will be scheduled on webcampus during the class timings. I will make exams available at a given specific time for 90 minutes only. You have to be present on the campus for taking the proctored online exam and it will be password protected).
100 Points- 10 -15 Lecture quizzes worth 10 points each to be taken on webcampus. Time limit will be 10 -15 minutes based on the content of the quiz.
50 Points- 2 Lab reports worth 25 points each. Please read the instructions for submission of lab reports given below very carefully. (for Pahrump students only)
100 Points- 2 Lab Practical Exams 50 points each (Includes 5 points for Lab notebook & Technical evaluations during each lab exam) (for Pahrump students only)
(Lab exams will be held during the lab class. All students will have to work independently during the lab exam)
150 – 200 Points – MasteringBiology assignments. (Total points may change during the course).
Lab Reports (for Pahrump students only): Will be on the Enzyme and Photosynthesis labs. The use of color pencils is mandatory for all students. All the experiments should have an aim, materials used, procedure, principal, results, conclusion, graphs, figures, tables and flow charts wherever necessary.
The report must be typed, single spaced, 12 point font size, times new roman.First page of your lab report must have your name, class details and title of the lab report. Second page should have Index page. It must be in tabular form and should include serial number, title of the experiments and page numbers for each sub sections on the lab report. All the pages should be numbered.
It is due by the next lab class period (1 week) after being assigned. The report should follow the following outline:
Aim: Title of the experiment.
Introduction: Give the background to the topic. Why is it important? Briefly tell what you are going to do in the experiment.
Materials:
Procedures:Explain what organisms, materials and methods were used in the experiments. How did you do it?
Results: Present the results. Point out key or unexpected results.
Conclusion: What was the significance of your results? Explain the importance of the experiment, and whether or not your outcome was consistent or inconsistent with what was expected.
Reference:Citing material used in writing of lab report
Diagram / Figure/ Tables/ Calculations/ Graphs: Wherever necessary. Clear, legible and labeled.
Grading criteria for the report are identical to those used by the English department:
1. Focuses and develops ideas effectively, showing creativity and insight.
2. Organizes ideas in a purposeful and logical manner, moving the reader (listener) smoothly through the text (subject).
3. Uses sentence structure and word choice effectively with a sense of control.
4. Commits few, if any, errors in grammar/usage and mechanics.
Lab Notebook: A lab notebook has to been maintained by everyone and it will be graded during lab exams. The use of color pencils is mandatory. A plain notebook should be used as lab notebook and should include certificate page and index page. All lab exercise questions should be answered and written legibly. The use of neat, well labeled graphs/diagrams should be included when necessary. Attendance in lab is mandatory, there will be no make-up labs.
Technical Evaluation: Each student will be graded on my technical evaluation of your proficiency in the laboratory. Use and care of equipment(s), station cleanliness, and overall participation in labs are some of the factors that will be judged. Excessive tardiness/absences and careless behavior will also be factored into the technical evaluation.