Principles of Biology I
BIOL 1710.001 Fall 2016 TR 8:00-9:20 GAB104
Course Description and Objectives.BIOL 1710 is the first half of a two-semester Honors 1st year Biology sequence designed for science majors, students who require a biology class which will meet the requirements for Biology majors (e.g. premedical, other pre-professional students who may be completing a non-biology major) or students wishing to complete an Honors science class. The objective of this course sequence is to provide the student with a broad background in biology that can serve as a prerequisite for higher-level courses if desired. The companion laboratory component for this sequence is 1760 and this course will allow students to complete laboratory exercises to complement the lecture course. Students therefore should enroll in a section of BIOL 1760 (strongly recommended, not required) either semester (but only once) when completing BIOL 1711 or 1722.
TEXT. “Biology” by Campbell, Reece, Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky and Jackson; 10th Edition, 2014.
TESTING. You will be given three in-class examinations (Exam III will be held during the final exam period). All exams will count equally toward your final grade, with each having a value of 100 points. Exam III will not be comprehensive, but will be over material covered after Exam II. Attendance is required for all exams. Any student missing any of the first two exams for whatever reason will be required to take the comprehensive make-up exam at the end of the semester. The comprehensive exam at the end of the semester will cover materials from the entire course.Students that have taken all three exams may also take the comprehensive exam and drop a lower score from an earlier exam--excluding Exam III (Exams I or II only). A grade of “I” will only be given to students who miss Exam III because of a properly documented sickness or other emergency. Any student found cheating on any exam will receive a zero (0) for that exam and may face other disciplinary action(s). Old exams are posted on the course’s Blackboard site. Note: some old exam questions may be derived from a previous textbook edition and therefore may not be covered at the same point during the semester in the current textbook (if at all). These old exam questions are made available to students to provide insight into how particular subjects will be represented on future exams.
ATTENDANCE. Attendance is expected for all classes and recitations. Students who are absent from lecture on no more than one occasion prior to an exam will receive 4 bonus points on that exam.
GRADES. Your final course grade will be calculated from a combination of the three in class exam scores (maximum 100 pts each)):
Exam I + Exam II + Exam III = final grade (%)
300
Contact the Course Director or the Proctor/Grader for questions or concerns about grades.
OFFICE HOURS. If you are having any problems with any aspect of the course, you are encouraged to talk with your laboratory teaching assistant,my teaching fellow or to see me. Please feel free to drop by offices or schedule an appointment (best arranged by emailing first) if preferred. Individuals for this Principles of Biology I section and their offices are:
Dr. Robert BenjaminLife Sciences Rm. A411565-3217Course Director, Lectures/Exams
Das PetranovaLife Sciences Rm. A407Use EmailTA, Proctor/Grader
Email addresses: Dr. Benjamin’s is ; Das Petranova’s is
Dr. Benjamin’s office hours are “open” (if there, he will generally be glad to speak with you) or by appointment (email for time/date). Das Petranova’s office hours will be posted on Blackboard Learn and/or you may email for an appointment if needed.
NOTE – The best way to contact either of the above personsis generally via e-mail. Leaving messages by email is generally a much more reliable method than leaving phone messages
Students With Disabilities. The University of North Texas complies with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The University of North Texas provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, as defined under the law. This legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please see Dr. Benjamin and/or contact the Office of Disability Accommodation at 940-565-4323 during the first week of class.
COURSE SYLLABUS/APPROXIMATE LECTURE SCHEDULE
BIOL 1710.001
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I
LECTURE DATETOPIC LECTURER CHAPTER
1 Aug 30Evolution, the Themes of Biology RCB 1
2 Sept 1Chemical Context of Life RCB 2
3 Sept 6Chemical Context of Life (continued) RCB 2
4 Sept 8Water and Life RCB 3
5 Sept 13Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life RCB 4
6 Sept 15Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules RCB 5
7 Sept 20Tour of the Cell RCB 6
8 Sept 22Tour of the Cell (continued) RCB 6
9 Sept 27Membrane Structure and Function RCB 7
10 Sept 29EXAM I (covers through lecture 9 material)
11 Oct 4Introduction to Metabolism RCB 8
12 Oct 6Introduction to Metabolism (continued) RCB 8
13 Oct 11Cellular Respiration and Fermentation RCB 9
14 Oct 13Photosynthesis RCB 10
15 Oct 18Cell Communication RCB 11
16 Oct 20The CellCycle RCB 12
17 Oct 25Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles RCB 13
18 Oct 27Mendel and the Gene Idea RCB 14
19 Nov 1Mendel and the Gene Idea (continued)RCB 14
20 Nov 3EXAM II (covers material from lectures 10 through 19)
NOTE: Nov 2 – Last day to drop class with “W”
21 Nov 8Chromosomal Basic of InheritanceRCB 15
22 Nov 10Molecular Basis of InheritanceRCB 16
23 Nov 15Molecular Basis of Inheritance (continued) RCB 16
24 Nov 17Gene Expression: From Gene to ProteinRCB 17
25Nov 22Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein (continued)RCB 17
Nov 24Thanksgiving Holiday (no class)
26 Nov 29Regulation of Gene Expression RCB 18
27 Dec 1Regulation of Gene Expression(continued) RCB 18
28 Dec 6DNA Tools and BiotechnologyRCB 20
29 Dec 8ReviewRCB
Dec 138:00-10:00am Exam III (required, covers material from lectures 21 - 28) and
[optional]Comprehensive Make-up Exam
PLEASE NOTE DIFFERENT AND LONGER CLASS TIMES FOR
EXAM III/FINAL
Further Note: Be on time for Exams (plan to arrive early to be safe). After the first student leaves the exam room, later arrivals will not be allowed to take Exams.