Syllabus for BIOL 190 – Intro. to Cell and Molecular Biology Lab
Fall 2016
College Information: Great Basin College, 1500 College Parkway, Elko Nevada, 89801,
Phone:775.753.8493,
Instructor:Carrie MeisnerOffice: Lundberg 109
Phone: 775.753.2204
Email: Use WebCampus
Office hours: M, Th: 1:00PM-3:00PM
M 10:00-11:00AM
Or by appointment.
Lab Meets: Section 1002-Lab (91878) Tues. 1-3:45pm
1003-Lab (91879) Tues. 7-9:45pm
Elko labs 1004-Lab (91880) Wed. 1-3:45pm
1005-Lab (91881) Thur. 1-3:45pm
Ely lab 1011-Lab (94216) Mon. 7-9:45pm (L. Stewart will have additional info.)
Course description:
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 majors.
Prerequisite:
Must have completed MATH 096, MATH 097, MATH 120 or higher, or attained satisfactory score for placement into MATH 120 in ACT, SAT or placement tests.
Texts: Lab manual – Perry, Laboratory Manual for General Biology, 6th edition. ISBN 0-534-38025-5 (required).
Method of instruction: Laboratory, with online enhancements. Important course announcements and documents will be made available to you via Web Campus, available at Please contact GBC Helpdesk for Web Campus accessibility issues. You bear the responsibility for getting the technical aspects of the course to function properly so that you can participate fully.
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 at the end of this syllabus.
Grading system: The grade for the lab portion of the class will be based on two practical exams worth 50 points each, two writing assignments (lab report and video response paper) worth 25 points each, and ten weekly pre- lab quizzes worth 10 points each.
At the end of the semester, after receiving your lab grade from your lab instructor, your lecture instructor will incorporate the lab grade into your final grade for the course. Your final grade for the course will be weighted so that it is 75% from lecture and 25% from lab.Last chance to officially drop a course is Nov. 2.
Extra Credit: There is no extra credit given in this course.
Attendance policy: Attendance is not mandatory, however attendance correlates positively with passing the course
Lab practical exam makeup policy: Makeup exams will only be given in exceptional circumstances with an approved written excuse, at the instructor’s discretion.
Pre-Lab quizzes: A pre-lab quiz will be given via Web Campus each week. You will be given 2 attempts for each quiz with the highest score being kept. Quizzes will be based on upcoming topics being covered that week. This will require you to read the lab manual and or any other supplemental information given in order to complete the quiz. The first quiz is due Sept.4 by 11:59pm. Remaining quizzes will become available on Monday mornings at 12:00am and are due the following Sunday (1 week) at 11:59pm. Late work will not be accepted.
Lab report:Effect of Solute Concentration on Osmosis will be written up as a report and turned in via Web Campus to the appropriate drop box. It is due 1 week after completing the lab. This allows plenty of time for everyone to get it done. Assignments will not be accepted via snail mail, email, fax, or other means. Technical problems with Web Campus need to be addressed to the GBC Helpdesk. The report should follow the outline provided in the module for week 5.
Video Response Paper: Each student will be required to write a response to a video:Judgment DayIntelligent Design on Trial. Your written response to the video will use the format provided in the module for week 12. In the paper I will be looking for evidence that you understand the subject and controversy, and can clearly communicate your understanding. Your demonstration of knowledge of natural selection and the evidence and issues surrounding it will be subject to grading, not your personal opinion. You will turn this paper in via Web Campus to the appropriate drop box. It is due Nov. 20.
Other policies: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may result in a failing grade and/or reporting to GBC Administration. The students conduct policy in the current GBC catalog will be enforced. This syllabus is not a contract and is subject to change, without warning or notification, at any time.
Lab Schedule: This is a preliminary schedule. I reserve the right to change any part of it.
Week of (Date) / Lab we are doing this week8/29 / Lab safety introduction
Biological Macromolecules and functional groups lab (this handout will be given to you in class)
9/4 / …continuing Macromolecules lab
9/11 / #8 Enzymes
9/18 / #14 DNA
9/25 / #7 Diffusion and Osmosis Lab report will be done on this lab. Due at the beginning of your next lab period!
10/2 / #3 Microscopy and #6 Cells
10/9 / #10 Respiration
10/16 / Lab Midterm Exam
10/23 / Photosynthesis Lab
Download this lab from WebCampus and read it before coming to class.
10/30 / #11 Mitosis and #12 Meiosis
11/6 / #13 Heredity
11/13 / Judgment Day Intelligent Design on Trial video
11/20 / Thanksgiving Break
11/27 / #16 Evolutionary agents
12/4 / Lab Practical Final
12/11
finals week / NO LAB THIS WEEK
Learning outcomes and Measurements for BIO 190 (For both lecture and lab)
Learning Outcomes / MeasurementMolecules of Life
Solve problems involving the identification and functions of the 4 classes of biologically relevant carbon compounds / Lecture exam, quizzes
Lab quiz, lab report and practical exam
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
Lab quiz, lab report and practical exam
Genetics
Apply concepts of transmission and molecular genetics / Lecture exam, quizzes
Lab quiz, lab report and practical exam
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
Lab quiz, lab report and practical exam
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.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement:
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability.The Director of Disability Support and Related Resources will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please call 775.753.2271.
From the 2016-2017 GBC Catalog, page 52
This syllabus does not in any way represent a contract. It is a reflection of the intent of the instructor, but do recognize that it is an organic construct that may change as the semester progresses. Any changes will be announced in class.