Introduction to Biology Biology 101, Fall 2014 Instructor: Office: Office Time: Email: Lecture: Lab: Text: Lecture Notes: Course Website: David Sultemeier, Ph.D. Thompson 223d W,F 11:00-12:00 pm or by appointment dsultemeier@pugetsound.edu MWF, 9:00-9:50 am, TH193 M, 1:00-3:50 pm, T 9:00-11:50 pm, T 1:00-3:50 pm TH271 Biology for a Changing World with Physiology, 2nd Edition, Shuster, Vigna, Tontonoz and Sinha Provided online after class as a PDF. A Moodle site will be used to distribute lecture notes, labs and other materials. http://moodle.pugetsound.edu/ COURSE DESCRIPTION Biology 101 is a non-majors biological sciences course that satisfies a Natural Sciences Approaches requirement. Students in Biology 101 will begin to recognize and understand the cellular structure/function relationships that make life possible. In addition to basic structural features of cells, I will emphasize the capacity of cells to process materials and energy and to replicate. You will be introduced to some of the principles underlying DNA technology and some recent applications of that technology such as creating genetically modified organisms. And we will devote discuss special topics related to human health including viruses, cancer and stem cells. Objectives of this course will include 1. Introduce some of the basic principles of modern biology. 2. Relate these principles to your own existence as an individual and as a member of society. 3. Develop your power of reasoning and analysis through application of scientific methods. 4. Enhance your use of writing, both as effective communication and as a learning strategy. Each student should develop confidence in his or her ability to think logically and critically and to communicate ideas effectively. A student should be able to take the knowledge gleaned in this course to interpret and better evaluate scientific reporting in the media and to make better educated choices in life from what food to buy at the store to what bond measures to vote. RESPONSIBILITY Professor It is my duty to provide the best education I possibly can. I will facilitate an effective learning environment in which you can explore the fundamentals of biology. I will address all questions - no question is unreasonable. I will be available to students any time during regular working hours and after hours if reasonable and necessary. Student You are responsible for your own education. You must dedicate ample energy and time to learn the material on your own. You are responsible for obtaining information on any schedule changes as well as on class materials you may miss during absence from class.
You must be an active learner. Please be aware that you will need to plan on additional time outside of lecture and lab so that you may move beyond simple acquisition of knowledge. You may need to develop different study methods to do well in this course. I find that all students can benefit if they participate in a small study group with other students in this class. Use this group to review information, test your knowledge, and practice explaining the concepts. Often it isn't until you try to explain a concept to someone else that you see a gap in your understanding. The more you intellectually engage with these concepts, the more you will learn and the better prepared you will be for the quizzes and exams. READINGS The required text for the course is Biology for a Changing World with Physiology, 2nd Edition, Shuster, Vigna, Tontonoz and Sinha. In addition, I will post extra reading material that we will use for group activities. These papers will include both primary research articles and secondary articles (ie Scientific American, National Geographic, Nature, etc). Also, I will regularly post on moodle supplemental reading material that will NOT be required but may be interesting. All lab exercises for this course will be available on Moodle. I will occasionally make minor modifications on the day of the lab depending on factors such as equipment, reagent, and animal availability. Please be aware in order to conserve resources I will only provide prints of labs. However, I will provide prints of other material at special request. LABORATORY Each student must be registered for a laboratory section. Each laboratory section will meet at its assigned time each week for 3 hours. You are expected to attend the laboratory section for which you are registered and to be on time. Labs start promptly. The laboratory activities provide an opportunity to make first-hand observations, learn data collection techniques, sharpen one's skill in analysis and reasoning, and practice clear and effective communication. A short introduction to the laboratory will generally be given at the beginning of each lab period. This introduction will provide information not available in your lab manual and to demonstrate new techniques but it cannot replace your own advance preparation. You must carefully read through the laboratory description BEFORE the lab to know what it is you are expected to do during the laboratory session. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH! If you do NOT do this, lab will take you much longer than it should to complete. You should also review the portions of your text and lecture notes that relate to the laboratory topic. Each lab description includes many questions for thought and most include a page or more of questions to be turned in at the end of the laboratory session. It is a good idea to bring your text and your lecture notes with you to lab to help you answer the questions. Most of the time you will work in groups of two. All lab exercises will be preceded by a short introductory lecture and are designed to be completed in one lab period. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Plagiarism and any other form of cheating will not be tolerated. I recommend you avoid even the appearance of cheating, particularly during quiz, exam and practical times. Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work of another as one's own. More than four consecutive words from a source other than the writer constitutes plagiarism when the source is not clearly identified in appropriate documentation format.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY All students as part of their obligation to University of Puget Sound assume the responsibility to exhibit in their academic performance the qualities of honesty and integrity. All forms of student dishonesty, which may include but not be limited to: cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism are subject to disciplinary action. Examples of academic misconduct may include: o Representation of the work of others as one's own o Use of unauthorized assistance in any academic work o Failure to cite sources used o Obtaining and/or using tests unless distributed and/or approved by the instructor o Copying the work of another student on any form of test o o Knowingly help someone else cheat Modification, without the instructor's approval, of any form of test, computer program, paper, record, report, assignment, or project for the purpose of obtaining additional credit or an improved grade o Failure to meet other conditions of academic integrity as identified by the instructor in the course syllabus Depending upon the severity of the incident, an instructor may, after discussion with the student, impose a penalty or penalties such as: o Issue a warning. o Reduce the grade of the assignment, examination, or project assignment, any form of test, or project. o Give zero credit for the assignment, any form of test, or project. o Dismiss the student from the course, and issue a withdrawal or failure for a grade. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS If you have a disability including a learning disability or health problem that interferes with ability to succeed in this class, you are encouraged to arrange support services and/or accommodations through Disabilities Services. Please see http://www.pugetsound.edu/disabilities.xml for more information. CLASSROOM EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDANCE Please review university emergency preparedness and response procedures posted at www.pugetsound.edu/emergency/. There is a link on the university home page. Familiarize yourself with hall exit doors and the designated gathering area for your class and laboratory buildings. If building evacuation becomes necessary (e.g. earthquake), meet your instructor at the designated gathering area so she/he can account for your presence. Then wait for further instructions. Do not return to the building or classroom until advised by a university emergency response representative. If confronted by an act of violence, be prepared to make quick decisions to protect your safety. Flee the area by running away from the source of danger if you can safely do so. If this is not possible, shelter in place by securing classroom or lab doors and windows, closing blinds, and turning off room lights. Stay low, away from doors and windows, and as close to the interior hallway walls as possible. Wait for further instructions.
CLASS CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER Closure of the University of Puget Sound due to weather will be announced on the major radio and television stations, on-line at the university website, or via the main telephone number of the university. Please be aware that I live at some distance from campus and if weather and roads are treacherous near my home, even if they are fine near UPS, I may not be able to make it to class. In such a case I will email the class and attempt to have notice of class cancellation posted. GRADING (SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT DISCRETION OF INSTRUCTOR AT ANY TIME) Grading Policies o No make up exams (except in cases of medical or family emergencies, documentation will be required to make up the exam) o Late lab questions or assignments will have 10% deducted per day late. Labs or assignments will not be accepted after three days. o No extra credit Total Points Possible 810 pts Grading Scale A 93% A- = 90-92.9% B+ = 87-89.9% B = 83-86.9% B- = 80-82.9% C+ = 77-79.9% C = 73-76.9% C- = 70-72.9% D+ = 67-69.9% D = 63-66.9% D- = 60-62.9% E < 60% Exams 400 pts Three Regular Chapter Exams (100 pts each) One Partial Chapter / Partial Comprehensive Final Exam (100pts). Quizzes 70 pts Seven Scheduled Quizzes (10 pts each): See the class schedule for quiz dates. All quizzes will be given the first ten minutes of class. If you miss class or are late there will not be an opportunity to make up the quiz. Group Activities 60 pts Three Group Activities (20 pts each): See the class schedule for activity dates. The group learning exercises will require you to read 2-3 papers that concern a special topic. You will be graded on class participation (5 pts) and on your groups ability to provide logical answers to questions given in class (15 pts). Laboratories 180 pts Twelve Laboratories (15 pts each): Most labs require a pre-lab component that needs to be completed and turned into the IA before lab has started (5 pts). All labs have a post-lab component that, depending on the lab, will be turned in at the end of lab or at the start of the following week s lab. Writing assignment 100 pts You will have to create a pamphlet providing at least three figures and text that make an argument in support or opposition to a current topic that is biologically relevant. Potential topics will be provided to you. This pamphlet must include
information from three primary sources and two secondary sources. As part of this project you will have to turn in a topic with an outline of your pamphlet (10 pts), an annotated bibliography (10 pts), provide a review of one other pamphlet on a different topic (20 pts), and turn in a final pamphlet that will be graded on scientific content and presentation (60 pts).
Tentative schedule for BIOL101, FA2014 Subject to change at any time at the discretion of Prof. David Sultemeier Week/dates Lecture Topic Reading Week 1 9/01-9/05 Week 2 9/08-9/12 Week 3 9/15-9/19 Week 4 9/22-9/26 Week 5 9/29-10/03 Week 6 10/06-10/10 Exams, Quizzes, Assignments Laboratory Course Introduction and the Process of Science Ch. 1 No lab Chemistry and Molecules of Life Ch. 2 Quiz 1. Friday 9/12 Lab 1. Lab Safety and Scientific Method Cell Structure and Function Ch. 3 Quiz 2. Friday 9/19 Lab 2. Microscopy Nutrition, Metabolism and Enzymes Ch. 4 Quiz 3. Friday 9/26 Lab 3. The Science Behind the Label The Microbiome with a Focus on Bacteria Antibiotic resistant bacteria (methicillin resistant S. aureus and Extremely drug resistant Tuberculosis) Ch. 18; Lecture notes, and assigned reading Ch. 14; Assigned reading Exam 1. Friday 10/03 Group Activity - Antibiotic resistant bacteria Friday 10/10 Lab 4. Fisheries Biology Lab 5. Bacterial Contamination I Week 7 10/13-10/17 Week 8 10/20-10/24 No class Monday 10/20 Week 9 10/27-10/31 Week 10 11/03-11/07 Week 11 11/10-11/14 Week 12 11/17-11/21 Week 13 11/24-11/28 No class Wednesday or Friday 11/26-28 Week 14 12/01-12/05 Week 15 12/08-12/12 No class Friday 12/12 Special Topic: Viruses (Focus on Influenza, HIV, and zoonotic disease) Ch. 31, Lecture notes and assigned reading Quiz 4. Friday 10/17 The Immune System and Vaccinations Ch. 31, Lecture notes Quiz 5. Friday 10/24 No lab DNA Technology and Genomics: Does your DNA define who you are? Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis Ch. 8 Exam 2. Friday 10/31 Ch. 9, Ch. 11 (Meiosis) Mutations and Cancer Ch. 10 Patterns of Inheritance Ch. 11 and 12 Group Activity GMOs Friday 11/07; Pamphlet topic and objective due Friday 11/07 Quiz 6. Friday 11/14 Pamphlet annotated bibliography due Friday 11/14 Quiz 7. Wednesday 11/19 Draft of pamphlet due Friday 11/22 Thanksgiving Holiday Exam 3. Monday 11/24 No lab Stem Cells and Cell Differentiation Ch. 13 What are the limits of regenerative medicine? Lecture notes, Assigned reading Week 16 Exam 4, Monday, Dec 15, 8:00-10:00 am Peer reviews of pamphlet due Wednesday 12/03 Group Activity Regenerative medicine 12/10, Final draft of pamphlet due Wednesday 12/10 Lab 6. Bacterial Contamination II Lab 7. DNA Fingerprinting I and Population Genetics Lab 8. DNA Fingerprinting II Lab 9. Mitosis and Meiosis Lab 10. Life According to Sam Consequences of Genetic Diseases Lab 11. Human Inheritance Patterns Lab 12. Bioethics Debate