| Doug
Christensen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology   
Biology Concepts
(BIO 110)
|
|
The first course for biology majors. A grade of C- or better in this course is a prerequisite for all biology courses numbered 200 and above. A study of the microscope, basic cell structure and function, DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis, genetics, evolution, population biology and diversity. (3 lecture hrs and 3 lab hours per week).
Course Goals/Objectives:
This course is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the cell and its replication. This will include an understanding of transcription and translation and how mutations may lead to micro and macro-evolution, contributing to the large diversity of life that now exists.
LECTURE TEXT:
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (Wayne State Edition), Starr and Taggart (Brooks/Cole)
LAB MANUAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL READING:
BIOLOGY CONCEPTS Lab Manual (IN HOUSE)
The Monk in the
Garden, Robin Marantz Henig
Course Content:
I. Concepts/Methods and Basic Chemistry in Biology (chapters 1-3)
This section will provide students with a basic understanding of how research has been conducted in the past and why it has revealed to us our basic knowledge of the world around us. It will also provide some detail to chemical interactions that allow life to exist.
II. Cell Structure and Function (chapters 4-8)
This section will provide detail to the components that make up Eucaryotic cells and how they interact allowing cells to carry out energy utilizing and energy releasing reactions. Special attention will be given to the membrane, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, vacuoles and the mitochondria.
Central Pathways of metabolism will be discussed including the Embden-Meyerhoff Pathway and the TCA cycle.
III. Principles of Inheritance (chapters 9-16)
This section will discuss how cells replicate while ensuring that each new cell has the genetic information necessary for it to function properly. It will also discuss the fundamental role of meiosis in sexual reproduction and introduce its role in generating diversity.
Interpretation of the genetic code and reasons for its careful conversion from DNA to RNA to protein will need to be addressed to ensure a proper understanding of inheritance. Once this concept is developed, we will address predicting observable patterns of inheritance and discuss why such a wide range of cell types can exist in a single being, despite the fact that all cells in any one individual contain the same genetic information.
IV. Evolution and Diversity (chapters 17-21)
This section will discuss the role of mutations, natural selection, sexual selection and isolation events in terms of the role they may play in causing change within a species.
V. Ecology and the Biosphere (chapters 46-50)
This section will
highlight the community interaction of the living organisms around us and
discuss the impact they may have on our world as a whole. Special
attention will be given to the role of one of the most successful species
of all time, us.
LABORATORY
The lab will contain two different components which include weekly lab exercises/quizzes (listed below) and weekly quizzes/Written discussions over two chapters of THE MONK IN THE GARDEN.
LAB EXERCISES
Week of:
Lab Assignment and Monk chapters quiz
| Aug 26 -
Start Fast Plants/Metric Conversions
Sept 2 - No Lab - labor Day Break Sept 9 - Descriptive/Experimental Science Sept 16 - Microscopy/Cross Fast Plants Sept 23 - Membrane Lab Sept 30 - Enzymes Oct 07 - Photosynthesis Oct 08- Cellular Respiration Oct 14 - Meiosis/Mitosis Oct 21 -- (No Lab) Mid-term Break Oct 28 - Genetics Nov 04 - DNA Isolation/Electrophoresis Nov 11- Hardy-Weinberg/Population Genetics Nov 18 - No Lab (Thanksgiving Break) Nov 25 - Biodiversity (animalia) Dec 02 - Ecology/Env. Concerns |
Read Chapters 1
and 2 of MONK for next week
No Lab - Labor Day Lab 1 and Appendix A (quiz chap 1 & 2 MONK) Lab 2 (chap 3 & 4 MONK) Lab 3 (chap 5 & 6 MONK) Lab 9 (chap 7 & 8 MONK) Lab 10 (chap 9 & 10 MONK) Lab 4 (chap 11 & 12 MONK) No Assignment Lab 5 (chap 13 & 14 MONK) Lab 6 (chap 15 & 16 MONK) Handout (chap 17 & 18 MONK) Handout (chap 19, 20 and Ep. MONK) No Assignment Lab 11 Lab 14 and Web of Life Video |
GRADING POLICIES:
Overall Grades will
be based on the following:
| Midterm Exam 1 (Tentative date Sept 25th)
Midterm Exam 2 (Tentative date Oct. 30th) Midterm Exam 3 (Tentative date Nov 25th) Comprehensive Final (ACTUAL DATE - DEC. 17th at 8 a.m.) Lab Exercises The Monk in the Garden Quizzes |
15%
15% 15% 20% 25% overall (% subject to change based on instructor) 10% overall (% subject to change based on instructor) |
| 100% |
All Labs are mandatory - missing a lab will result in a grade of zero for that particular lab, unless you had permission from your instructor PRIOR to your absence. Excessive absences may result in failure of the course as a whole.
Grades will be awarded
based on the following overall percentages obtained:
| 92.5 -100 %
89.5 - 92.4 % 86.5 - 89.4 % 82.5 - 86.4 % 79.5 - 82.4 % 76.5 - 79.4% 72.5- 76.4% 69.5 - 72.4% 66.5 - 69.4% 62.5 - 66.4% 59.5 - 62.4% <59.5% |
A
A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F |
Enjoy your college experience and feel free to come in and see me with any questions or concerns. It is my job to help you, and I encourage you to ask questions of me if you need assistance. Tutors are available on the 3rd floor on Carhart Science, if you wish to utilize them.
UPDATED JULY 2002
(appropriate for Fall 2002 semester).
