Fall 2006 BIOL 178: PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY

General Information About the Course and Syllabus

Course:Biol 178-002When and where: MWF 10:30 – 11:30 in LA 205

Instructor: Dr. Stanley Wiatr, Office – Room 139 ScienceBuilding, Phone: 657-2018

Office Hours: MWF 9:30-10:00; MF 2:00-2:30 or By Appointment or Walk in ANYTIME

Email:hen using email, please identify yourself in the subject heading with Biol 178 and a brief description of the email.

Webpage:

Useful course information will be posted here.

Textbook: Raven, P.H. and G.B. Johnson 2005. Biology 7th edition. McGraw-Hill.

This text is available at the MSU-Billings bookstore (Jackets & Co) as a hard-cover text or as an e-book (electronic text) option which can be downloaded to your computer.

Text Website: Go to: mhhe.com/raven7 then click on ‘Student edition.’ The website is exclusively for use with your text. It’s a great study tool containing quizzes, outlines and links to other biology sites.Use this resource as an electronic study guide.

Welcome to Biology 178. This is the first course in the Biology core for students majoring in Biology. It emphasizes principles of biology related to the unity of life. Pertinent topics are outlined in the syllabus. The real key to success in this class is the assigned readings from the text before and after the scheduled class meetings. Get the big conceptual picture, and the detail will follow. You should not miss a class unless exceptional circumstances warrant your absence.

Course objectives and Expected outcomes: The objective of this course is to give you a strong foundation in the basic principles of biology. This foundation includes a solid grasp of biological concepts and their applications, development of critical thinking, analytical and problem solving skills, and the ability to recall andclearly communicate contemporary concepts in biology. The expected outcome of this course is that it will give you a contemporary view of biology necessary to pursue advanced work in the many different facets of biology such as ecology, cell and molecular biology, and diversity.

ASSESSMENT: Assessment will be done through unit examinations and a comprehensive final exam. Questions on these exams will include multiple-choice, essay, short answer and other formats. Your communication skills will be assessed through clarity in writing, accuracy in grammar, and spelling and organization in presentation of facts.

GRADING: Grades will be determined by numerical scores on each test. Tests and your final grade may be curved. The scale will be as follows:

93 -100% = A
90 - 92% = A-
87 - 89% = B+
83 - 86% = B / 80 - 82% = B-
77 - 79% = C+
73 - 76% = C
70 - 72% = C- / 67 - 69% = D+
63 - 66% = D
60 - 62% = D-
0 - 59% = F

1. Five Unit Exams: Fiveunit examinations of equal weight will be given during the semester on the dates indicated below.All exam dates are tentative, and we reserve the right to change the date if necessary.These exams represent 75% of your grade.

2. Comprehensive Exam: A final comprehensive exam will be given during finals week.This exam will be 25% of your final grade.

3. Makeup exams: A makeup exam will be given for any of the first five exams if a compelling reason exists. A compelling reason is a documented family emergency or illness with a letter of support from the Dean of Students. Unsanctioned university events or conflicts related to work schedules, travel, hunting or fishing are NOT compelling reasons.All makeup exams will be given on Friday December 8, 2006 from 1:00 - 5:00pm and they will be 100% essay format. The final exam scheduled for finals week may not be taken earlier than the scheduled day and time.

Grading summary:

75% Five unit exams

25%Final Comprehensive exam

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Reasonable accommodations will be madefor students with documented disabilities. Please see me and contact Disability Support Services if you need assistance.

Academic Misconduct: Our policy is zero tolerance of cheating or plagiarism.

SYLLABUS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Date / Topic / Chapter(s) in text
Wed Sep 06 / Introduction: A view of life / 1
Fri Sep 08 / Nature of Molecules / 2
Mon Sep 11 / Chemical Building Blocks of Life / 3
Wed Sep 13 / Chemical Building Blocks of Life / 3
Fri Sep 15 / Cellular Structure / 5
Mon Sep 18 / Cellular Structure / 5
Wed Sep 20 / Biological membranes / 6
Fri Sep 22 / Exam 1 / 1,2,3,5,6
Mon Sep 25 / Energy and metabolism / 8
Wed Sep 27 / Respiration: How cells harvest energy / 9
Fri Sep 29 / Respiration: How cells harvest energy / 9
Mon Oct 02 / Photosynthesis / 10
Wed Oct 04 / Photosynthesis / 10
Fri Oct 06 / Exam 2 / 8,9,10
Mon Oct 09 / How cells divide: Cell cycle / 11
Wed Oct 11 / How cells divide: Mitosis / 11
Fri Oct 13 / Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction / 12
Mon Oct 16 / Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction / 12
Wed Oct 18 / Patterns of Inheritance / 13
Fri Oct 20 / Patterns of Inheritance / 13
Mon Oct 23 / Patterns of Inheritance / 13
Wed Oct 25 / Exam 3 / 11,12,13
Fri Oct 27 / DNA: The Genetic Material / 14
Mon Oct 30 / Genes and How They Work / 15
Wed Nov 01 / Genes and How They Work / 15
Fri Nov 03 / Gene Technology / 16
Mon Nov 06 / Cancer Biology & Cell Technology / 20
Wed Nov 08 / Exam 4 / 14,15,16,20
Fri Nov 10 / Veteran’s Day – No Class
Mon Nov 13 / Evolution: Genes within Populations / 21
Wed Nov 15 / Evolution: Evidence / 22
Fri Nov 17 / Evolution: Origin of Species / 23
Mon Nov 20 / Systematics and the Phylogenetic Revolution / 25
Wed Nov 22 / Thanksgiving Holiday No Class
Fri Nov 24 / Thanksgiving Holiday No Class
Mon Nov 27 / Exam 5 / 21,22,23,25
Wed Nov 29 / Population ecology / 53
Fri Dec 01 / Community ecology / 54
Mon Dec 04 / Ecosystems / 55
Wed Dec 06 / The Biosphere / 56
Fri Dec 08 / Review
Mon Dec 11 / Final Comprehensive Exam 10:00-11:50

1B178F2006-04SyllabusWiatr