College Biology: Biology 211.09
Syllabus - Fall 2008
Instructor: Katie BarndtMeeting Time: / Classroom: / Office: IB 2423C #14
Office phone: 527-5665
Email:
Office hours: By appointment
TTh 6:00 – 9:20 pm / AS 1617
Course Website:
Instructor Website:
Course Description: This is the first in a series of majors' biology classes covering the principles of biology. We will cover topics concerning cell structure and function, metabolism, genetics, and chemistry. I encourage students to participate through questions and shared experiences to enrich the class.
Required Text:Biology8th edition: Campbell and Reece; Benjamin Cummins Pub.
Lab Handouts for Biology 211 available at course website.
Recommended Text: Photo Atlas for General Biology. Strete and Vodopich.
Course Prerequisite:Chemistry 101 (minimum); a base level of chemistry (Chemistry 101) is assumed for this course. A base level of English 101 is also assumed for this course.
Evaluation: Your grades will be calculated based on the
Students will be evaluated as follows:following scale
Exams (4) / 60% / 4.0 / 95-100% / 1.0 / 65%Lab Quizzes (4) / 16% / 3.5 / 90% / 0.9 / 64%
Lab Exercises / 12% / 3.0 / 85% / 0.8 / 63-61%
In-class Activities / 12% / 2.5 / 80% / 0.7 / 60%
Total / 100% / 2.0 / 75% / 0 / 59-0%
1.5 / 70%
*Note that each percentage point ~ .1 decimal grade
Critical Dates
Exams / Lab QuizzesDate / Topics / Date / Topics
Thursday,
Oct. 9 / Exam #1: Introduction, Cell Structure & Function, Membranes, Cell Communication / Thursday,
Oct. 9 / Labs 1-3 (Microscopes; Cells; Osmosis & Diffusion)
Tuesday,
Oct. 28 / Exam #2: Metabolism, Cellular Respiration, Photosynthesis / Tuesday,
Oct. 28 / Labs 4-5 (Enzymes; Respiration & Photosynthesis)
Tuesday,
Nov. 18 / Exam #3: DNA Structure, Cell Division, Inheritance / Tuesday,
Nov. 18 / Labs 6 (Mitosis & Meiosis) & Movie
Tuesday,
Dec. 9 / Exam #4: Protein Synthesis, Gene Regulation, Viruses, Genomes / Tuesday,
Dec. 9 / Labs 7-8 (GMO, pGLO)
Exams & Lab Quizzes: Examinations are not cumulative. Exam questions are typically short answer or essay. Make up examinations & lab quizzes are given due to illness or extreme hardship and only when prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. If prior arrangements are not made a 0% will be assigned for the missed exam/lab quiz.
Laboratory Exercises: Lab handouts will be made available on the course website throughout the quarter. It is your responsibility to print and read these exercises before attending lab. Handouts will not be available in lab. Prelabsmust be completed before each lab and are due at the beginning of the lab period. No credit will be given for late prelabs. Lab questions will be due in class on the specified due dates. Late lab questions will only be accepted in the case of illness or extreme hardship and only when prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. No emailed assignments will be accepted. There will be no make-ups for missed labs.
In-class Activities: In-class activities will vary, but may include the types listed below. You must be present and actively participating to receive points.
Biology in the News: Students will be assigned a week to monitor the news for stories relevant to the topics covered in class. Each student will find several news stories, provide a brief summary of each, post their summaries to the discussion board and present their summaries in class. Assignment details will be distributed separately. No late summaries/postings will be accepted.
Review & Reading Quizzes: Short quizzes which cover either the previous lecture(s) or the assigned text readings may be given randomly during the quarter. I have given you a detailed reading schedule, so it is in your best interest to keep up with the readings.
Other activities:These will vary but most will require working in a group. Some activities will require homework or reading assignments that need to be completed before class and turned in during class. No emailed assignments will be accepted. No late homework assignments will be accepted.
Lecture Content and Testable Material: I expect students to read the appropriate text and/or lab chapters before the corresponding lecture or laboratory. I will try to cover the majority of material presented in the texts, but time is always against the instructor. Therefore, lecture content will most likely not cover all the material presented in the textbook; however, students are responsible for material presented in both the lecture and the textbooks. Material not covered in the lecture, but presented in the textbook is testable material.
Attendance: Students should attend every class session. It is the student's responsibility to obtain lecture notes, handouts, or other materials in case of an absence. I will do all I can to help students who must miss class due to illness or other emergencies, but I must know as soon as possible. A student who stops attending class without an official withdrawal will be assigned a grade based on the work completed up to that point.
Commitment: This is a course that requires a great deal of individual effort by each student. I have given you a detailed schedule of the quarter for a reason. With this schedule you will be able to stay on top of the material and should not be pressed for time. Attendance, attentiveness and effort are essential for success in the class.
Academic dishonesty: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in a zero for that exam, quiz or assignment. A second offense will result in a withdrawal from the class for the remainder of the quarter.
Feedback: If you have questions about your grade on a particular assignment or about the class in general, please make an appointment to see me.
Americans with Disabilities Act: If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability; if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor; or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated; please speak with me as soon as possible.
Classroom Conduct:
Guidelines for Student Conduct: Students are expected to comply with student conduct policies and procedures. Information on student responsibilities and rights is available at the following website:
Cell Phone/Electronic Devices Etiquette in the Classroom: To avoid disruption of the learning environment, students are expected to turn off or silence cell phones, pagers and other electronic devices during class. Please do not answer cell phones during class.
Fragrance-Free Policy: Many people suffer from allergies and/or chemical sensitivities. As NSCC is officially a “fragrance-free’ campus, please minimize your use of perfumes, colognes, and other heavily scented products.
Student Resources:
The Loft (
The Loft Writing Center Plus offers individualized, one-on-one English and World Languages tutoring. Students can get help to improve their reading, writing, grammar, and pronunciation skills from qualified tutors.
Math/Science Learning Center(
There will be a biology tutoring schedule available shortly after the start of the quarter.
Advising Center (
Join the Advising Center Listserv to receive information on college transfer and advising events.
Course Outcomes/Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
Explain what is meant by the statement "life is chemistry".
Explain what is meant by the statement "the cell is the basic unit of life".
Explain basic cellular structure and processes.
Explain basic biochemical reactions.
Explain how enzymes catalyze biological reactions, and what regulates enzymatic activity.
Explain the processes and outcomes of photosynthesis and respiration, and how they are linked.
Explain the genetic code and how it is translated into proteins.
Explain how genetic information is stored and passed on from generation to generation.
Explain what genetic variation is, why it is important, and how it is created.
Correctly use a microscope.
Describe the basic methodology of doing science, including hypothesis testing.
Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to critique writings in the field of cellular biology
Biology 211 Schedule – Fall 2008
Schedule subject to change
Week 1 / Tues. Sept. 23 / Thurs. Sept. 25Introduction
A Tour of the Cell
Lab #1: Microscopes / A Tour of the Cell (cont.)
Readings / Ch. 1 & Ch. 6 (p. 94-101) / Ch. 5 ( p. 68-74); Ch. 6 ( p. 102-122)
Week 2 / Tues. Sept. 30 / Thurs. Oct. 2
Membrane Structure & Function
Lab #2: Cells / Membrane Structure & Function (cont)
Cell Communication
Readings / Ch. 3 ( p. 46-52); Ch. 5 ( p.74-77); Ch. 7 / Ch. 11
Week 3 / Tues. Oct. 7 / Thurs. Oct. 9
Cell Communication (cont)
Lab #3: Osmosis & Diffusion / Exam #1
Intro. to Metabolism
Readings / Ch. 5 (p. 77-86); Ch. 8
Week 4 / Tues. Oct. 14 / Thurs. Oct. 16
Metabolism (cont.)
Lab #4: Enzymes / Overview of Cellular Respiration & Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Readings / Ch. 9; Ch. 10 (p. 185-189)
Week 5 / Tues. Oct. 21 / Thurs. Oct. 23
Photosynthesis
Lab #5: Respiration & Photosynthesis / Photosynthesis (cont.)
Readings / Ch. 10
Week 6 / Tues. Oct. 28 / Thurs. Oct. 30
Exam #2
Movie: The Race for the Double Helix / DNA Structure & Replication
Cell Cycle & Mitosis
Ch. 5 (p. 86-89) / Ch. 16; Ch. 12
Week 7 / Tues. Nov. 4 / Thurs. Nov. 6
Meiosis & Sexual Life Cycles
Lab #6: Mitosis & Meiosis / Introduction to Inheritance
The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Readings / Ch. 13 / Ch. 14; Ch. 15
Week 8 / Tues. Nov. 11 / Thurs. Nov. 13
No class / Inheritance (cont.)
Readings
Week 9 / Tues. Nov. 18 / Thurs. Nov. 20
Exam #3
Lab #7: GMO Investigator, Part 1 / From Gene to Protein
Lab #7: GMO Investigator, Part 2
Readings / Ch. 17
Week 10 / Tues. Nov. 25 / Thurs. Nov. 27
From Gene to Protein (cont.)
Regulation of Gene Expression
Lab #8:pGLO, part 1 / No class
Readings / Ch. 18
Week 11 / Tues. Dec. 2 / Thurs. Dec. 4
Viruses
Lab #8:pGLO, part 2 / Genomes & Their Evolution
Readings / Ch. 19 / Ch. 21
Week 12 / Tues. Dec. 9
Exam #4