Elements of Biology - Biol 1101

 

Rochester Community and Technical College

Fall 2004

 

Instructor

Dr. Jennifer S. Rubin, Ph.D.

 

Email:  Jennifer.Rubin@roch.edu

Office Phone: 285-7149

Office Location: ST221

Office Hours: Tuesday 10-11 and 2-3, Thursday 12-1, or by appointment

 

 

Textbook Biology: today and tomorrow, Cecie Starr, Brooks-Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc., ISBN 0-534-49565-6

 

Lab Manual Laboratory Manual to accompany Concepts in Biology, 11th Edition, Enger-Ross, McGraw-Hill Primis, ISBN 0-390-48291-9

 

 

Course Description

A one-semester course for non-science majors that blends traditional and contemporary biological concepts for understanding life in today’s world.  The nature of life, cell structure and function, asexual and sexual reproduction, Mendelian inheritance, human genetic analysis, genetic technology, and evolution are covered.  Students will evaluate some of the modern genetic biotechnology applications as to the ethical issues involved.  (3 credits, 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week; Prerequisites: none)

 

This course will meet the needs of students preparing for further study in biological or health-related fields and will serve as a general education science course for those students interested in the cellular aspects of biology.  This course meets the requirements for the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum in CT (Critical Thinking), EC (Ethical and Civic Responsibility), and NS (Natural Science).

 

Lecture/Lab Schedules:

 


Sections 01, 02, 03, 04

Lecture

MW 10-11

     Labs

            T 10-12 James Stegge

            T 12-2 Jennifer Rubin

            W 8-10 Jennifer Rubin

            W 12-2 Katie Ryan

 

Sections 05, 06, 07, 08

Lecture

      TTh 11-12

Labs

      M 8-10 Andrea McCollum

      M 11-1 Andrea McCollum

      M 2-4 Jennifer Rubin

      T 8-10 Jennifer Rubin


 

 


Evaluation

The grade you receive for the course will be based on the total points you receive for exams, quizzes, homework, lab participation, and lab assignments divided by the total number of points possible (670 pts) times 100 to give you a percent for the grade.  (Note: Point values for assignments, exams, etc., are subject to change.)

 

3 exams (100 pts each)                         300 pts

11 lab assignments (10 pts each)            110 pts

Quizzes/homework/assignments            100 pts

Final exam (160 pts)                             160 pts

 

There will be an occasional quiz or short assignment (5-10 points) given during class, from which a few points may be earned if you are present.  Periodically there will be other small assignments (5-10 points) as homework or in class that will contribute to your grade; scheduling of these is to be determined.  There will be no makeup exams or assignments [except in a case of extreme emergency (e.g., hospital stay).  Please do your best to make prior arrangements with me].  Make-up exams, if given, must be taken within two school days of the original date of the exam; otherwise a zero will result.

 

Grading Scale

90-100             A

80-89               B

70-79               C

60-69               D

< 60                  F

 

Note: Grades will not be based on a curve.

 

Absence

Attendance is critical for both lectures and labs.  Exams will be based on both.  If you miss a lab session, with advanced notice and arrangements through me, it may be possible to make up the lab activity during the same week in another Biology 1101 lab section.  You must speak with me in advance to find out if this will be a possibility.  Each lab activity is worth 10 points, or nearly 10% of the overall lab grade.  Labs contribute to approximately 20% of your grade, and if you attend all and do good work, it will be similar to getting an excellent grade on one exam.  Labs are intended to emphasize lecture topics and give some hands-on experience with science.  Thus, attendance is important to experience science, as well as maintain the A with which you each start the course. 

 

If an assignment is due and you will not be in class to turn it in, you need to make arrangements in advance to get it to me (e.g., email me; have someone else turn it in for you).  If you do not turn it in on time, you will get zero credit – talk to me if there were sudden unexpected or unforeseen circumstances (HOWEVER, ‘my car broke down,’ ‘my boss wouldn’t let me leave work,’ etc. are not acceptable excuses).

 


Tentative Course Outline

The lecture will approximately cover the following topics (subject to change).

 

Lecture Outline

Intro to Course, Biology, and Science – Chapter 1

Molecules of Life – Chapter 2

Cell structure and function – Chapters 3&4

Cell energetics – Chapters 5&6

Mitosis – Chapter 7

Meiosis – Chapter 7

Inheritance – Chapter 8

Inheritance/Pedigree Analysis – Chapter 8, supplement?

Human Genetics – Chapter 8, supplement?

DNA structure and function – Chapter 9

DNA ΰ Protein – Chapter 10

Biotechnology – Chapter 11, supplement?

Evolution – Chapter 12

Evolution – Chapter 12, supplement?

Biodiversity: Microorganisms – Chapter 14, supplement?

Biodiversity: Protistans, Fungi – Chapter 14, supplement?

Biodiversity: Plants – Chapter 15, supplement?

Biodiversity: Animals – Chapter 16

Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems – Chapters 18-20

Environmental change and conservation biology – supplement?

 

Exam Dates:

__________________

Exam 1 – Ch. 1-6

Lecture Sections 1-4

            Monday Sept. 20

Lecture Sections 5-8

            Tuesday Sept. 21

__________________

Exam 2 (Ch. 7-9)

Lecture Sections 5-8

            Tuesday Oct. 19

Lecture Sections 1-4

            Wednesday Oct. 20

__________________

Exam 3 (Ch. 10-12, 14, supplements?)

Lecture Sections 1-4

            Wed. Nov. 17

Lecture Sections 5-8

            Thurs. Nov. 18

__________________

Exam 4 (Ch. 14?, 15, 16, 18-20, supplements + cumulative info from Exams 1-3)

Lecture Sections 1-4

            Wed. Dec. 15

Lecture Sections 5-8

            Thurs. Dec. 16

__________________

Lab Outline

 

Week of:

 

Week 1 - Aug. 23

            Labs 1&2: Measurements, SciMethod, Molecules

Week 2 – Aug. 30

            Labs 5&6: Microscope, Survey of Cell Types

Week 3 – Sept. 6

            No labs this week

Week 4 – Sept. 13

            Lab 3: Diffusion and Osmosis

Week 5 – Sept. 20

            Lab 11: Cell Division – Mitosis

Week 6 – Sept. 27

            No labs this week

Week 7 – October 4

            Lab 14: Genetics Problems

Week 8 – Oct. 11

            Lab 16 – Human variation; Pedigree Analysis?

Week 9 – Oct. 18

            Lab 10 – DNA and RNA: Structure and Function

Week 10 – Oct. 25

            Lab Supplement: Biotechnology: Onion DNA Extraction

Week 11 – Nov. 1

            Lab Supplement: Biotechnology: Laundry and Enzymes

Week 12 – Nov. 8

            No labs this week

Week 13 – Nov. 15

            Lab 26: Natural Selection

Week 14 – Nov. 22

            No labs this week

Week 15 – Nov. 29

            Lab 19: Population Genetics

Week 16 – Dec. 6

            Lab 21 or supplement: Ecosystems or Conservation Biology

Week 17 – Dec. 13

            No labs this week
Academic Integrity

NO form of academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating, plagiarism) will be tolerated in this course or at RCTC.  Any student suspected of academic dishonesty shall be dealt with according to RCTC Policy 3.6 Section I.8.

 

Special Needs/Disability Statement

Any student requiring special accommodations, assistance, guidance, or other please notify the instructor as soon as possible.  There are also excellent student support services available on campus (e.g., counseling, advising, tutoring, etc.) – take advantage of these services – they are here for you.

 

Contact information

****EMAIL is the best way to reach me****


Dr. Jennifer Rubin

Science Department

Rochester Community and Technical College

851 30th Ave. SE

Rochester, MN 55904

 

Jennifer.Rubin@roch.edu

Office: 285-7149 (ST221)