Professor: Brenda J. Peters, Ph.D.
Office: Lew 205
Office Phone: 333-6417
Office hours: Monday 1:00-3:00 p.m., Wednesday 10:00-11:00 a.m., Friday 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-2:00 p.m., and by appointment.
Textbooks: Mader, Inquiry into Life , 9th edition, McGraw Hill Publishers, 2000.
Mader, Human Biology Laboratory Manual, 6th edition, McGraw Hill Publishers, 2000.
Time: Lectures: MW 5:10-6:25 p.m.; Labs: W 6:35-8:25 p.m.
Place: Lectures-Lew 002; Labs-Lew 212
Description: This course is an introduction to the biological sciences with special focus on the functioning of the human body.
Attendance: Because learning requires cooperation, attendance as well as class participation is expected. Unannounced quizzes will be given throughout the semester during the lecture period. The quizzes will be worth a total of 20 points. Attendance in the lab is mandatory. You will work with partners and it is not fair for them to do the majority of the work.
Making up exams and labs is extremely difficult; approval must be granted by the instructor. Make-up exams and labs will only be permitted for the following reasons: 1) serious illness-requires a note from a physician 2) illness or death in the family 3) official SAU activity-prior permission required 4) legitimate conflict-prior permission required
Grading: Your grade will be figured from a total point score acquired from individual lecture exams, laboratory exercises, quizzes, homework assignments, and an oral presentation. Grades will be figured according to the following scale: 90-100% = A 85-89% = B+ 80-84% = B 75-79% = C+ 70-74% = C 60-69% = D below 60% = F
Point scores will be rounded to the first whole number.
Exams: There will be 4 lecture exams worth a total of 500 points. Each exam is based on the material covered in the lecture portion of the course and will be equivalent to 125 points. Exams will be mostly multiple choice with 4-5 short answer essay questions.
Laboratory Exercises: The laboratory exercises will be worth a total of 200 points. Each assignment will be worth 10-25 points. You will also be required to do two laboratory reports. Laboratory reports are due within two weeks of the scheduled lab. You will receive 2 points off for each day an assignment is turned in late. Late assignments will not be accepted once laboratory assignments or laboratory reports have been handed back to the class.
Homework Assigment: The homework assignment is worth a total of 30 points. Each student is expected to critically analyze three articles from newspapers, magazines, etc. Each analysis is worth 10 points.
Presentation: Each lab group is expected to give an oral presentation on a topic from Chapter 36, Ecosystems and Human Interference. The presentation will be worth 50 points.
Course Objective: This course will provide students with an introduction to the goals and limitations of the science of biology. The students will also be introduced to methods that scientists use to investigate the world around us. The course will provide students with knowledge concerning the functioning of the human body as well as the natural world. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relationship between the human body and the environment. The course will also contain some discussion of current topics in order to acquaint students with controversial issues, so that they may be able to make informed decisions regarding such topics.
General Information: Finally, if you have any questions concerning the subject material, please come and see me. Also, if you have any complaints or suggestions come talk to me. I hope this will be an enjoyable class for everyone.
CALENDAR (subject to change) WEEK: TOPIC: 1/24 Chapter 1: The Study of Life (pp. 1-16); Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life (pp. 19-44) 1/31 Chapter 2 continued; Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function (pp.45-66) 2/7 Chapter 4: The Plasma Membrane (pp. 67-82); Chapter 6: Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes (pp. 103-116); 2/14 EXAM 1--MONDAY Chapter 5: Cell Division (pp. 83-102) 2/21 Begin Chapter 23 2/28 Chapter 23: Patterns of Gene Inheritance (pp. 469-486) 3/6 Chapter 12: Digestive System and Nutrition (pp. 213-238); EXAM 2--WEDNESDAY 3/13 Spring Break-NO CLASS 3/20 Chapter 13: Circulatory System (pp. 239-262) 3/27 Chapter 16: Excretory System (pp. 303-317) 4/3 Chapter 17: Nervous System (pp. 321-346) 4/10 EXAM 3--MONDAY; Chapter 19: Musculoskeletal System (pp. 369-394) 4/17 Chapter 21: Reproductive System (pp. 419-442) 4/24 Chapter 27: Origin and Evolution of Life (pp. 547-572) 5/1 Chapter 34: Community Ecology(pp. 701-716); Chapter 35: Ecosystems and Human Interference (pp. 743-762) 5/8 EXAM 4 GRADE SHEET Exam # Possible pts. Your score Total Percent Exam 1 125 pts. 125 Exam 2 125 Pts. 250 Exam 3 125 pts. 375 Exam 4 125 pts. 500 Lab 200 pts. 700 Homework 30 pts. 730 Quizzes 20 pts. 750 Presentation 50 pts. 800 LABORATORY SCHEDULE (subject to change) WEEK TOPICS 1/24 Lab: What is Science? (see handout) 1/31 Lab 1: Metric Measurement and Microscopy 2/7 Lab 3: Cell structure and function 2/14 Lab: Cabbage Juice as a pH indicator (see handout) 2/21 Lab 3.5: Enzymes 2/28 Lab 16: Human Genetics; Genetics problems (see handout) 3/6 Lab 5: Basic mammalian anatomy I; Lab 8: Circulatory system 3/13 NO LAB 3/20 Lab 9: Features of the circulatory system 3/27 Lab: Sensory Physiology (see handout) 4/3 Lab: Renal Physiology (see handout) 4/10 Lab 13: Nervous system; Lab 12: Musculoskeletal system ; Reflexes (see handout) 4/17 Lab: STDs (see handout) and Video 4/24 Lab: Effects of Water Pollution (see handout) 5/1 ORAL PRESENTATIONSTop of Page
(30 points)
As part of the objectives for this course, it is important that you learn to read articles in newspapers, magazines, and journals as scientifically literate citizens. This enables you to make informed decisions concerning controversial issues dealing with science and technology. To help in this process, you need to find 3 articles from newspapers, magazines, or some other form of media that deal with some topic in biology that we will discuss in class. The syllabus gives a general outline for the course and the topics I plan to cover. It is very important that you choose an article which is applicable to the topic we are discussing in class. If you find an article early on in the semester that concerns a topic we will discuss near the end of the semester, just hold on to it and present it at the appropriate time. After you find an article, critically analyze it using information from lecture and your textbook, and present the information to the class. You also need to turn in a copy of the article along with your brief written analysis. Each article is worth up to 10 points. This assignment may be done anytime during the semester; however, it must be completed by the last day of class.
Top of PageWORTH 50 POINTS
Your laboratory group must choose a topic for an oral presentation before midterm break. The oral presentation should be about 10-15 minutes in length. All members of each group must contribute to the presentation. You must turn in an outline the day of your presentation along with a list of the contributions of each group member. You should have at least one visual aid. You will be tested on the information presented. You may use your textbook as a reference, but you must have at least one other source. I have provided a few internet sites for the topics listed below. Other internet sites as well as search engines are listed at the top of this page. You must cite the sources at the bottom of your outline.
Chapter 33: Population Ecology
I. Overpopulation
Chapter 36: Ecosystems and Human Interferences
I. Land Degradation
A. Tropical Rain Forest
Destruction
B.
Waste
Disposal/Landfills
II. Water Pollution
III. Air Pollution
A. Nitrogen and
Photochemical Smog
B.
Acid Deposition
C.
The
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
D. Stratospheric Ozone Shield
Depletion
IV.
Endangered Species
V. Solutions
A.
Reducing,
Recycling, and Re-using
B. Biotechnology