St. Gregory’s University Syllabus: Fall 2000
LS 1114-3: Principles of Biology
Instructor: Patty B. Smith

Principles of Biology --- LS 1114

Patty B. Smith
Office: 406C
Telephone: 878-5430
E-mail: pbsmith@sgc.edu
Office Hours: by appointment only.

Course Description
This course provides the student with the basic principles of biology. These include cellular organization and function, genetics, reproduction and development, natural selection, classification of living organisms, representative taxa, ecology, and environmental and conservation issues. Three hours lecture and one laboratory session each week. Recommended for natural science majors. Prerequisites: high school or college chemistry or consent of the instructor.

Text and Materials Required
The required text is Biology (7th edition) by Sylvia S. Mader. A folder will be needed for illustrations and informational handouts. In addition, a laboratory notebook will be required for the laboratory session.

Lecture and Laboratory Policies
The tentative schedules of lecture and laboratory topics are attached. Lecture presentations will be introductions to the important aspects of each topic; laboratory work will demonstrate these aspects. Lecture will meet in room 407, while laboratory will meet in room 401.

Attendance is required in both lecture and laboratory sessions. Only in extenuating circumstances, such as family crisis, illness, birth, etc., will makeup examinations or quizzes be provided and late assignments be accepted. Advise your instructor in advance of an absence as a result of such matters. Missed examinations and laboratory work cannot be made up unless justification for being absent is provided before the assignment is due. If a student is permitted to makeup an assignment, the assignment must be completed within one week of the due date, or the student receives a zero on the assignment. In addition, any makeup examinations or quizzes will be strictly essay format only!

Class attendance and participation are essential! If a student has missed three lectures and/or labs, a notice will be sent to the Registrar’s Office. After five absences, the student is automatically dropped from the course.

Any form of academic dishonesty or misconduct (i.e. plagiarism, cheating on exams, etc.) will result in a failing grade for the course. The required discipline in accordance with university guidelines will be made.

The instructor reserves the right to modify the requirements of the course, the schedule of the examinations, and the arrangement of topics to enhance the learning process.

Research Papers
Each student will compile information from biological research. Research proposals are due on September 13 at lecture session. The research proposal should be a brief paragraph of the project and a list of valid references. Valid references will include both library materials and information from the Internet; dictionaries and encyclopedias are not valid references. The research paper will be neatly typed with the following format. Composition including references should be 4-5 pages, double-spaced, line height of 10 or 12 point, and one-inch margins. The research paper should contain the sections of title page, abstract, introduction, main text, conclusions / summary, and literature cited / references. In addition, copies of all references will be attached to the research paper. Research papers will not be accepted without the appropriate reference copies! Total value of the research project is 150 points. Research projects are due on October 27 at lecture session.

Reading Assignments
Five reading assignments of current and hopefully interesting topics in biology will be given. Each student is required to read, understand, and discuss the manuscript. Quizzes covering the reading assignments will be given during the specified laboratory sessions. Each quiz is valued at 20 points; the total value of the quizzes is 100 points.

Examinations, Lab Practicals, Lab Notebooks, and Grading

Lecture Examinations. Three exams valued at 100 points each. Each exam is comprehensive, that is, covering all material presented in lecture and laboratory. Lecture exams are scheduled for September 22, October 18, and November 17.

Laboratory Practicals. There will be three lab practicals covering laboratory topics and recognition of taxa. Each practical is valued at 50 points. Laboratory practicals are scheduled for the following dates September 28, November 2, and December 7.

Laboratory Notebooks. Each student is required to hand in a lab notebook with the appropriate assignments completed. Each laboratory assignment must contain the sections of title, objectives, materials and methods, results, and conclusions. The appropriate laboratory assignment must be handed in at the end of the laboratory session. The value for each laboratory assignment is 15 points; therefore, the total value for the laboratory notebooks is 180 points.

Final Examination. One exam valued at 100 points. The exam is comprehensive, covering all material presented in the course. The final examination is December 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Grading. Grades Assigned from Total Points Earned:
A = 882 - 980, B = 784 - 881, C = 686 - 783, D = 588 - 685, and F = 0 - 587

Disabilities
If any member of this class has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of the disability and desired accommodations during the first scheduled class period.

Principles of Biology --- LS 1114
Lecture Schedule

Dates

Course Topics

Chapter(s)

August 23 and 25

Course requirements; Characteristics of Life; Scientific Method

1

August 28 and 30, September 1

Chemical Basis of Life; Cellular Structure and Function

2 – 5

September 6 and 8

Cellular Structure and Function cont’d; Photosynthesis

7

Sept. 11 and 13

Photosynthesis cont’d; Cellular Respiration

8

September 13

Research Proposals Due

September 15

No Class

Sept. 18 and 20

Metabolism; Research Projects

6

September 22

Lecture Exam I

September 25, 27, and 29

Mitosis; Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

9 - 10

October 2, 4, and 6

Genetics

11 – 13

Oct. 9, 11, and 13

DNA; Gene Activity

14 - 15

October 16

Biotechnology

17

October 18

Lecture Exam II

October 19-22

Fall Break

Oct. 23, 25, and 27

Charles Darwin and Evolution; Origin of Life

18 – 20

October 27

Research Projects Due

October 30, November 1 and 3

Classification of Living Organisms; Kingdom Monera

28 – 29

Nov. 6, 8, and 10

Kingdom Protista; Kingdom Plantae

30 and 32

Nov. 13 and 15

Kingdom Plantae cont’d; Kingdom Fungi

31

November 17

Lecture Exam III

Nov. 20 and 22

Kingdom Animalia

33-35

November 23 - 26

Thanksgiving Holiday

November 27 and 29, December 1

Kingdom Animalia cont’d

Dec. 4, 6, and 8

Ecosystems; Biosphere; and Human Impact

25-27

December 12 (9:00 a.m.)

Final Examination

Principles of Biology --- LS 1114
Laboratory Schedule

  

Date

Topic and Assignments

  

Aug. 24

Laboratory conduct and safety; Introduction to Microscope

Aug. 31

Chemical Composition of Cells

Sept. 7

Cell Structure and Function; Quiz 1 and Reading Discussion on Science

Sept. 14

Photosynthesis and Respiration

Sept. 21

Mitosis; Quiz 2 and Reading Discussion on Prairie Conservation

Sept. 28

Lab Practical I; Meiosis

Oct. 5

Genetics and Biotechnology; Quiz 3 and Reading Discussion on Biotechnology

Oct. 12

Evolution

Oct. 19

Fall Break

Oct. 26

Kingdom Monera and Protista; Quiz 4 and Reading Discussion on Biomes of North America

Nov. 2

Lab Practical II; Kingdom Plantae

Nov. 9

Kingdom Fungi; Quiz 5 and Reading Discussion on Biodiversity and Human Impact

Nov. 16

Kingdom Animalia

Nov. 23

Thanksgiving Holiday

Nov. 30

Kingdom Animalia; Animal Organization

Dec. 7

Lab Practical III