Syllabus – Bio 106 – Cells, Genes & Society

Fall 2008

 

Instructor: Jeffrey D. Newman

Room: Heim 107

Phone: 570-321-4386

email: newman@lycoming.edu

office hours: M 3:00-4:00 PM

Th 10:30-11:30 AM

Lecture meets MWF 11:30 – 12:20 in Heim G-11

Lab meets in Heim 106
Wed 2:00–4:50PM or Thurs. 6:00–8:50PM

Course web site: http://moodle.lycoming.edu 

 

Catalog Description of Course: A science distribution course for the non-science major. This course investigates how cellular phenomena, genes and biotechnology are involved in virtually everything we do and in many of the decisions we make. Being able to understand the implications of biology in medicine, health care issues, bio-ethics, and business is the primary goal of this course.

 

Text: Essential Biology with Physiology, 2nd Ed, Campbell, Reece, Simon,  Pearson Benjamin Cummings Pub. , 2007

 

Grades will be determined based on the following assessments:

 

                                    Exams                                                4 x 100 pts = 400 pts

                                    Prep papers                                      33 x 3 pts =   100 pts

Lab Quizzes                                      5 x 20 pts =    100 pts

                                    Discipline Specific Lab Report                              100 pts

                                    Total possible                                                           700 pts

Grading Scale

 

 

B+ = 86.7 - 89.9%

C+ = 76.7 – 79.9%

D+ = 66.7 - 69.9%

 

A = 93.3 – 100%

B = 83.3 – 86.6%

C = 73.3 – 76.6%

D = 63.3 – 66.6%

F= below 60%

A- = 90.0 – 93.2%

B- = 80.0 – 83.2%

C- = 70.0 – 73.2%

D- = 60.0 – 63.2%

 

 

Exams will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

 

Daily “Prep Papers” are due at the beginning of each class (except for exam or lab days).  Any instances of academic dishonesty with prep papers (e.g. turning in the same prep paper on multiple days or two people turning in identical, or obviously copied & edited prep papers) WILL result in a loss of ALL prep paper points for the semester.

 

Guidelines:

 

Attendance policy: Attendance of lectures is expected and is in your best interest, because a significant percentage of material on exams will be based on classroom discussions and subjects not covered in the text. Four unexcused absences will result in a warning; if a fifth unexcused absence occurs, the Freshman Dean will be notified.  It is your responsibility to turn in a prep paper or sign in each day to confirm attendance.

 

As Biology is a laboratory science, attendance of Lab sections is essential. Quizzes are given during the first 15 minutes of lab, and no make-up quizzes will be given.

 

 

 

 

Tentative Schedule

 


 

Lecture Topics (chapter)

Lab Activities

Week 1
8/25 – 8/29

Intro to the Science of Life (1)

Meet & Greet, Nature of Science

Week 2

9/1 – 9/5

Molecules in the Cell (2,3)

Nutrition, what molecules do we need? (read ch 22)

Week 3

9/8 – 9/12

Tour of the Cell  (4)

Quiz, Observing Cells in the Microscope

Week 4

9/15 – 9/19

Exam 1 (9/15)

Enzymes & Metabolism (5,6)

Fermentation: Wine & Yogurt!

Week 5

9/22 – 9/26

Cell Division & Cancer (8)

Quiz, Observe cancer cell culture experiment, mitosis in onion cells

Week 6

9/29 – 10/3

Mendelian Genetics (9)

Human Genetic Variation

Week 7

10/6 – 10/10

Exam 2 (10/6) DNA ΰ RNA ΰ Protein: Information Flow (10)

Quiz, Mr. Green Genes – DNA isolation

Week 8

10/13 – 10/17

Gene Regulation, Cloning, Stem cells (11)

Mr. Green Genes – Sequence Analysis
(computer lab)

Week 9

10/20 – 10/24

Biotechnology (12)

Mr. Green Genes – Transformation

Week 10

10/27 – 10/30

Biotech (12) Exam 3 (10/30)

Mr. Green Genes – Gel Electrophoresis

Week 11

11/3 – 11/7

Microevolution (13)

Quiz, Evolution Video, discussion

Week 12

11/10 – 11/14

Macroevolution (14)

Human evolution, Animal sequence comparisons

Week 13+

11/17 – 11/24

Microbes (15)

Microbes Around Us

Week 14

12/1 – 12/5

Immunity (24)

Quiz, Bioethics Discussion/Debate