BIOS 104 Biology for Non-Science Majors Spring 2016 CRN 21348 Course Syllabus INTRODUCTION This course is an introductory course in the biological sciences focusing on cellular and organismal biology as well as ecology and evolution. This course is intended to meet the standards for the LAS science with lab requirements as well as a writing in science requirements. You will not receive credit in the major for this class if you are a Biological Sciences major. Course Goals Improve your science literacy Gain an appreciation for and understanding of the way science and scientists work Construct ideas and connections between concepts to make sense of the ideas rather than simply memorizing isolated facts Develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of different science disciplines Work cooperatively with others in small group settings to accomplish a common goal Gain insights into how you process information and what learning environments work best for you Provide an adequate foundation in science content that will enable future citizens to make informed decisions that have impact on themselves, their families, and society COURSE INFORMATION Lecturer Mike Muller mmuller@uic.edu 996-3476 3098 SEL TAs Boriana Tchernookova btcher2@uic.edu Tuesday Labs Monica Farfan mfarfa2@uic.edu Thursday Labs Website: http://blackboard.uic.edu http://www.masteringbiology.com Mastering Biology Course ID: UIC Blackboard Mastering Biology Website MULLERBIOS104S16 Note: you do NOT need the virtual labs with Mastering Biology! Class Times and Locations: MWF 9:00-9:50 LC C6 (Lecture) Tuesday 9:00-10:50 am 4068 SEL (Lab) Tuesday 11:00-12:50 pm 4068 SEL (Lab) Thursday 9:00-10:50 am 4068 SEL (Lab) Thursday 11:00-12:50 pm 4068 SEL (Lab) -1-
TEXT AND OTHER COURSE MATERIALS st Students are expected to purchase the text Biology: The Core, 1 Edition, by Eric J. Simon with Mastering Biology Mastering Biology is an online tutorial, assessment, and homework environment that will complement what you learn from your readings and lectures You may want to purchase the Mastering Biology w/ e-text this gives you access to the full textbook online and saves money! You do NOT need to purchase the Virtual Labs - we will NOT be utilizing them iclickers will be used in class - you may use either iclicker or iclicker 2 Lab Manual for BIOS 104 is required and is available at the UIC bookstore Internet access for laboratory and supplemental course material. UIC has MANY computer labs if you do not have convenient home internet access. COURSE SCHEDULE This course will be taught in four units. Each unit will have its own set of assignments and a unit test will be given at the end of each of them. A brief outline for the units is given below; the full lecture outline will follow at the end of the syllabus: Unit 1: Cells & Organisms Unit 2: Genetics & Molecular Biology Unit 3: Ecology & Evolution Unit 4: The Biology of Animal Systems What are cells? What are the basic types of cells? What are cells composed of? How do individual cells maintain homeostasis? How do cells work together to make a multi-cellular organism? What is heredity? How are traits passed from parent to offspring? What is DNA and how does it relate to heredity? What are genetic diseases and how are they passed from generation to generation? What are some ethical concerns with genetic engineering? What is evolution? How is it studied? How does evolution explain life on earth? What are the major groups of living organisms present on the earth? How do they interact? How are ecological communities organized? What are the major systems in animal (human) bodies and how do they function? How are these systems regulated (homeostasis)? How does all of this relate to cellular and molecular biology? -2-
ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION We will be involved in assessing your learning together. It is important for both of us to have a sense of what you understand, what you are struggling with, and how you are making connections. Therefore, your assessment will be both formative and summative. Formative assessment is ongoing and is intended to inform you and us of your current level of understanding and to guide us in clearing up misconceptions, providing deeper insights, and enhancing your learning. Summative assessment occurs periodically as a means of measuring your level of understanding and your ability to demonstrate what you have mastered. We will use some traditional and some nontraditional means of assessment. Exams (400 points) Exams will consist of 40 multiple choice questions, and worth, in total, 100 points. You will take each exam twice. The first time you take the exam, it will be a typical in-class exam (i.e. no note, no cheating, all from your knowledge exam). This exam will be worth 80 points of your 100 exam points. You will then take the exam again during your discussion period. This exam will be a group activity, open book, open notes, phone a friend, etc. This exam will be turned into your TA and then graded. It will constitute the final 20 points of your exam grade. Due to the fact that Exam IV is given on the last day of the class, it will not have a group component and will be 100 points of solo exam. Lab reports (90 points) There are 10 laboratory exercises, and we will drop the lowest lab score, so you can earn up to 90 points from laboratory. Group Project (90 points) There will be a group project that you will prepare and present with some of your peers. You will also write an individual paper on some aspect of your group project. The presentation is worth 40 points, the paper is worth 40 points, and peer evaluations of other presentations during the week you do not present will be worth 10 points. You will submit both a hard copy and an electronic copy via SafeAssign of your paper to your TA. This should be obvious, but both the TAs and SafeAssign will check your paper for plagiarism, so make sure you are submitting your own work. The hard copy is due at the beginning of lab during Week 9 (March 8 for Tuesday labs, March 10 for Thursday labs). The Safe Assign must be submitted by 8:00 pm on Thursday, March 10 for all students. There might be a rush to submit papers, so do yourself a favor and submit it early while you are printing out your hard copy. Human Nutrition Project (20 points) There will be a Human Nutrition Project that can either be done as a group or individually. The instructions for completing this will be on blackboard. You will work on this for a couple of weeks prior to the due date and take part in a discussion about your findings during the lab that week. Clickers (30 points) Clickers will be used in most lectures, so be sure to bring them to every class. Your attendance and participation will determine how many clicker points you receive during the semester. -3-
Mastering Biology (120 points) You will have numerous Mastering Biology tutorials and exercises. These will be updated twice a week you are responsible for checking the Mastering Biology website for due dates (they will also be discussed in lecture. Please note that you will be given a score for each Mastering Biology assignment which will be stored on the Mastering Biology website and not blackboard. Your Mastering Biology total for the semester will be scaled down to a score out of 120 at the end of the semester. Course Grade Your course grade will be determined based upon the total number of points you earn this semester. Note that everything is in points, we do NOT deal in percentages in this class. The grading scale is: 675-750 A 450-524 D 600-674 B 0-449 F 525-599 C Academic Honesty Cheating is not tolerated in this class. Work together, but do not cheat! The UIC Policy on Academic Integrity is here (http://www.uic.edu/depts/spha/student_handbook/sec21.htm). If you are caught violating this academic honesty policy, it will result in a zero on that particular work and may result in a failing grade for the course. -4-
Lecture Syllabus BIOS 104 Spring 2016 Week Dates Topic Chapter in Simon 1 Jan 11 Course Introduction, Process of Science 1 Jan 13 Process of Science 1 Jan 15 Biological Chemistry 2 2 Jan 18 Martin Luther King Day - No Lecture Jan 20 Cellular Structure & Function 3 Jan 22 Cellular Structure & Function 3 3 Jan 25 Enzymes: Regulation of Cell Activity 2.13 Jan 27 Energy in Cells - Respiration 4.1-4.6 Jan 29 Energy in Cells - Photosynthesis 4.7-4.10 4 Feb 1 Exam I Feb 3 DNA & Chromosomes 5.1-5.2 Feb 5 Cell Division: Mitosis & Meiosis 5.3-5.10 5 Feb 8 Cell Division: Mitosis & Meiosis 5.3-5.10 Feb 10 Mendelian Genetics I 5.11-5.18 Feb 12 Mendelian Genetics II 5.11-5.18 6 Feb 15 DNA & RNA 6.1-6.3 Feb 17 Protein Synthesis 6.7-6.10 Feb 19 Protein Synthesis II 6.7-6.10 7 Feb 22 Techniques of Molecular Biology 6.13-6.19 Feb 24 Techniques of Molecular Biology II 6.13-6.19 Feb 26 Review 8 Feb 29 Exam II Mar 2 History of Evolutionary Thought 7.1 Mar 4 Process of Evolution I 7.2-7.6 9 Mar 7 Process of Evolution II 7.2-7.6 Mar 9 Species & Speciation I 7.7-7.12 Mar 11 Species & Speciation II 7.7-7.12 10 Mar 14 Organization of the Natural World 8-9 Mar 16 Organization of the Natural World II 10 Mar 18 Intro to Ecology ** 12.1-12.5 SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS 11 Mar 28 Intro to Ecology 12.1-12.5 Mar 30 Ecological Communities 12.6-12.9 Apr 1 No Class - Mike will be Out of Town 12 Apr 4 Exam III Apr 6 Circulation & Respiration 11.1-11.4 Apr 8 Circulation & Respiration II 11.8-11.11 13 Apr 11 Digestion 11.4-11.7 Apr 13 Kidney & Excretory System 11.16 Apr 15 Endocrine Systems 11.15 14 Apr 18 Nervous System 11.20-11.22 Apr 20 Nervous System II 11.20-11.22 Apr 22 Development & Reproduction I -5-
15 Apr 25 Development & Reproduction II Apr 27 Review Apr 29 Exam IV No Final Exam - Enjoy! ** Last day to drop a class LABORATORY SYLLABUS BIOS 104 SPRING 2016 Week Dates Topic Chapter in Lab Manual 1 Jan 11-15 No Lab this Week 2 Jan 18-22 Intro to the Scientific Method 7 3 Jan 25-29 Microscopy & Cell Biology 8 4 Feb 1-5 Bacteriology 12 5 Feb 8-12 Mitosis & Meiosis 2 6 Feb 15-19 Genetics 11 7 Feb 22-26 Paternity Testing in Whooping Cranes 13 8 Feb 29-Mar 4 Group Projects Week 1 Oral Pres 9 Mar 7-11 Group Projects Week 2 Oral Pres Hard copy due at beginning of lab this week - th Safe Assign due on Thursday, March 10 at 8:00 pm 10 Mar 14-18 Natural Selection & Evolution 10 11 Mar 21-25 Animal Diversity 15 12 Mar 28-Apr 1 Ecology of the Barn Owl 13 13 Mar 11-15 Human Nutrition Project online 14 Mar 18-22 Human Mate Choice 4 15 Mar 25-29 No Lab or Discussion this Week Disabilities: Students with disabilities who require any accommodations for access or participation in this course must register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). This is a University wide policy to assist students and registration with DRC is required for accommodations. (312) 413-2183 Voice (312) 413-0123 TTY (312) 413-7781 FAX drc@uic.edu. http://www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/disability_resources/services.html -6-