BIOL211, MAJORS CELLULAR BIOLOGY
WINTER 2015 - SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE, Section 1
Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
e-mail:
Website:
Office Hours:
John Wiseley
Lecture:
SAM 311
(206) 934-5436
Laboratory:
[email protected]
http://www.seattlecentral.edu/faculty/jwiseley/
M-F 9:30-10:30 - Room 311
8:00-9:50 MWThF
Room 203
12:00-2:50 T
Room 302
PREREQUISITES:
One quarter of college chemistry (Chem121 or higher) and English 101
TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLIES:
• Campbell, BIOLOGY (2013) Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., 10th Edition.
ISBN-10: 0321775848
• Bound Composition Notebook – available in bookstore
• Recommended: Life Ascending by Nick Lane (2009) ISBN 978-0-393-06596-1
COURSE OUTCOMES: Upon completion of BIOL211, students should have the ability to…
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Design and conduct basic experiments and maintain records in a lab notebook.
Find scientific information in scientific journals using databases and evaluate secondary
sources of scientific information.
Describe the physical structure, chemical characteristics, and functions of carbohydrates,
lipids, DNA and proteins.
Describe the structure and function the organelles found in eukaryotic cells and highlight the
dynamic relationships between them.
Explain the steps and regulation of cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
Explain the process of cellular communication and signal transduction
Outline the detailed steps involved during the reproduction of cells, both for the production
of somatic cells and for gametes.
Identify & predict patterns of inheritance in Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits
Describe the flow of genetic information during gene expression and explain how this
controls an organism’s phenotype.
Explain the fundamental mechanisms responsible for evolution
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY & TIPS FOR SUCCESS:
As the first course in the major’s series, BIOL211 provides an important foundation for the rest of your
studies in biology. The material focuses on universal themes in life, and the basic structure and
function of the cell. The course includes a considerable amount of material, and our time in class is
limited. You will learn more if you read the material before we cover it in lecture. My lecture
presentations will be available on my website as well as review sheets and other resources. This course
generally follows the material as covered in the text (though not in the same order). However, during
this class, students will learn to find and critically analyze other sources of scientific information.
COURSE FORMAT:
This course includes both lecture and laboratory work. The laboratory exercises are designed to
familiarize you with the scientific process through hands on experience doing research. For
personal study in the lecture component of the course there are many resources available on
Canvas, but also visit www.masteringbio.com. If you have purchased a new text, access to this
site is free using the codes that came with your text. If you have purchased a used text, or you
are comfortable with using an ebook you can purchase access the site. The resources available on
the website are useful study tools that include study outlines and self-quizzes, as well as tutorials,
laboratory exercises, animations, and other resources to aid in understanding this material.
Lecture:
The lecture portion of the course will be evaluated through examinations which will include a
variety of question formats including multiple choice and short answer/essay questions.
There will be four mid-terms, and a comprehensive final. Homework will be assigned during
the quarter. Material that is turned in late will be docked 20% per day late.
Laboratory:
The lab exercises, supported by an NSF grant, were developed to bring authentic research
experiences to the undergraduate biology lab. The project will introduce many molecular
biology techniques. You can learn more at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/comgen/.
Students are required to read the assigned laboratory exercises and complete their lab
notebook (other than results and conclusions) before coming to the lab. There will be several
unannounced checks at the start of lab to ensure that students come prepared. Each lab
should be written up in a bound composition notebook that will be collected and graded three
times during the quarter. Instructions on how to maintain a lab notebook will be provided.
You cannot receive credit for laboratories you did not attend. If there are extremely
extenuating circumstances and you are excused PRIOR to the laboratory the missed lab will
not be recorded as a zero.
TESTING:
There will be four mid-terms and a comprehensive final during the quarter on the dates indicated
in the schedule. Exams will be a mix of multiple choice and short answer questions. No makeup
exams will be given unless I am notified 24hrs before the exam and the absence was the result
of an unavoidable serious accident, a death in the family, or a serious illness. Exceptional
circumstances must be verified by an appropriate third party, i.e. police report, a funeral notice,
or a note form the student's doctor stating the patient's inability to take the test. Make-up
exams will be more difficult than the exam administered in class. If you take a make-up exam, you
can view the exam but it will not be returned to you. You can have a copy of the exam taken by
the rest of the class for your studies (preparation for the comprehensive final).
If you take issue with how a question was graded, we can discuss this within one week of the date
that the exam was returned. I will not, under any circumstances, address complaints about
grading criteria the day that the exam is returned. I want you to think about what was missing
from your answer before we discuss it. If you notice errors in my math (i.e. your total points were
not added correctly), no waiting period is necessary, just bring it to my attention and I will correct
the error.
GRADING: (slight changes in point values may change the total points possible)
Lecture:
Chemistry Quiz
30 points
Mid-term Exams
4 x 80pts.
320 points
Final Exam
100 points
Laboratory/Homework:
Lab notebook checks
Journal Club Presentation
Journal Club Responses
Final Research Report
Homework
Total
70 points
30 points
25 points
30 points
65 points
670 points
Attendance is not graded but you will find the course very difficult if you do not attend class. However, you
cannot receive credit for a laboratory that you did not attend.
Grades will be calculated according to the percentage of total points possible that you have earned
according to the following scale. Decimal grades are reported at Seattle Central CC.
A
A-
B+
B
B-
95-100%
93-94%
92%
90-91%
89%
88%
87%
86%
85%
84%
83%
82%
81%
80%
78-79%
77%
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
C+
C
C-
D+
D
F
76%
74-75%
73%
71-72%
70%
69%
68%
67%
66%
65%
64%
63%
62%
61%
60%
<60%
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.0
A grade of 2.0 or better is required to pass. Students who withdraw from classes before the
deadline will receive W grades. The W grade is not factored into a student’s GPA. A NC grade
can only be granted if the student is passing the class and requests a NC before the final exam.
Academic honesty is expected. Cheating will be subject to discipline, and an F will be
awarded for the assignment or exam.
ADA Statement: Students with documented disabilities requesting class accommodations, or
require special arrangements in case of building evacuation should contact the instructor at
the beginning of the quarter or set up an appointment with the disability support services
(DSS) in room BE 1112.
Closures for Seattle Central Community College will be announced on major radio stations:
KIRO, KOMO, KING. Or online at http://www.schoolreport.org/
Tentative lecture schedule (changes may be necessary during the quarter):
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
Date
Lecture Topic
Reading
1/5
Introduction
Ch. 2 & 3
1/7
Ch. 2 & 3
1/8
Chemistry Quiz (Ch. 2 & 3)
Lecture: Organic Molecules
Organic Molecules
1/9
Biological Macromolecules
Ch. 5, p.67-83
1/12
Biological Macromolecules
Ch. 5
1/14
Cell Structure
Ch. 6 + Life Ascending Ch. 4
1/15
Cell Structure
Ch. 6
1/16*
DNA Structure & Replication
Ch.16 + Life Ascending Ch. 2
1/19
NO CLASS – HOLIDAY
1/21
Mitosis
1/22
Review Session (Ch. 4-6, 12 & 16)
1/23
Exam #1 (Chapters 4, 5, 6, 12 &16)
1/26
Transcription & Translation
Ch.17
1/28
Translation & Mutations
Ch. 17
1/29
Regulation of Gene Expression
Ch.18, p. 360-374
1/30
Regulation of Gene Expression
Ch.18
2/2
Viruses
Ch. 19
2/4
Bacterial Recombination & DNA Tech.
Ch.27, p.572-575, Ch.20, p.408-416
2/5
DNA Technology
Ch.20, p.416-432
2/6
DNA Technology
Ch. 20
2/9
Review Session (Ch. 17-20)
2/11
Exam #2 (Chapters 17-20)
Ch. 4
Ch. 12
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
2/12
Membrane Structure
Ch 7, p. 124-134
2/13
Membrane Structure & Function
Ch 7
2/16
NO CLASS – HOLIDAY
2/18
Introduction to Metabolism
Ch.8, p.141-151
2/19
Introduction to Metabolism
Ch.8 + Life Ascending, Ch. 1
2/20
Cellular Respiration
Ch.9, p.162-172
2/23
Cellular Respiration
Ch.9
2/25
Cellular Respiration
Ch.9 + Life Ascending, Ch. 3
2/26
Photosynthesis
Ch.10, p.185-197 (skip cyclic e- flow)
2/27**
Photosynthesis
Ch.10
3/2
Review Session (Ch. 7-10)
3/4
Exam #3 (Ch. 7, 8, 9 & 10)
3/5
Meiosis
Ch.13 + Life Ascending, Ch. 5
3/6
Mendelian Genetics
Ch.14, p.267-280
3/9
“Complications” to Mendel’s Laws
Ch.14
3/11
Chromosomal Basis of Genetics
Ch.15
3/12
Cellular Communication
Ch.11 see notes to direct your focus
3/13
Cellular Communication
Ch.11 see notes to direct your focus
3/16
Review Session (Ch. 11 & 13-15)
3/18
Exam #4 (Ch. 11 & 13-15)
3/19
Final Review Session
3/20
Final Review Session
Monday 3/23
FINAL EXAM 8:00-10:00 AM Room 203
* January 16th is the last day to drop the class without a “W” grade appearing on transcript.
** February 27th is the last day to drop the class.