Biology 104: General Biology II


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Course Syllabus

Course Description

Continuation of General Biology I. Survey of plant and animal biology and ecology.

Required Texts

Attendance Policy

You are required to attend all lecture periods. You will be allowed three absences from the lecture section of the course. No excused absences are allowed for any but the most extenuating circumstances (e.g., your own serious extended illness, serious illness or death of a family member).

Attendance is mandatory at laboratories and examinations. Makeups will be possible only for the extenuating circumstances (serious illness, etc.) indicated above. If you know that a conflict will be coming up, let me know in advance and it may be possible for you to take an exam or attend a laboratory of another scheduled section. Otherwise I expect you to attend the meetings of your lab section each week and take examinations with your lecture section.

Evaluation and Grading

There will be four regular examinations plus a comprehensive final exam. Each of the regular exams will include material covered since the previous one. The comprehensive exam will cover all chapters for the semester. All exams will consist of "objective" type questions (multiple-choice, matching, etc.) plus an essay question. Most of the questions (at least 90%) will be based on chapter objectives available on the web site. Remaining questions will be based on additional material presented in class. All exams together contribute 75% toward your final grade.

Laboratories will be evaluated through a variety of methods, including quizzes, presentations, and writing assignments. The evaluation method for each lab will be announced in class no later than the Monday preceding the lab. Writing assignments should be word-processed or typed and carefully proof-read. Together the laboratory component of the course will contribute 25% toward your final grade.

Grading Scale
A 90-100%
B+85-89%
B 80-84%
C+75-79%
C 65-74%
D 55-64%
F below 55%

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Classroom Schedule

DATE TOPIC CHAPTER
16 Jan Plant Structure 35
18 Plant Growth 35
23 Transport in Plants 36
25 Plant Nutrition 37
28 Plant Reproduction 38
30 Plant Development 38
1 Feb Control Systems in Plants 39
4 Plant Hormones 39
6 Animal Introduction 40
8 EXAM #1, Chapters 35-39
11 Temperature Regulation; Nutrition 40,41
13 Digestion 41
15 Circulation 42
18 Gas Exchange 42
20 Body Defenses 43
22 Immune System 43
25 Osmoregulation 44
27 Animal Systems 44
29 EXAM #2, Chapters 40-44
10 Mar Chemical Signals 45
12 Endocrine System 45
14 Animal Reproduction 46
17 Mammalian Reproduction 46
19 Neural Transmission 48
21 No Class (Good Friday)
24 No Class (Easter Monday)
26 Vertebrate Nervous System 48
28 Sensory Systems 49
31 Skeletons and Muscle Structure 49
2 Apr Muscle Function 49
4 EXAM #3 Chapters 45-46, 48-49
7 Ecology Introduction: Abiotic Factors 50
9 Population Growth 52
11 Population Regulation 52
14 Community Interactions 53
16 Community Succession 53
18 Ecosystems: Energy Flow 54
21 Ecosystems: Nutrient Cycling 54
23 Biodiversity 55
25 No Class
28 Conservation Biology 55
30 EXAM #4, Chapters 50, 52-55
2 May Course Wrap-up
Final Exam, Chapters 35-55, during finals week
Section A (MWF 10:00) -- Friday, May 9 @ 10:00
Section B (MWF 11:00) -- Monday, May 5 @ 10:00
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Laboratory Schedule

DATE TOPIC EXERCISE
28/29/30 Jan Plant Anatomy 28:A,B
4/5/6 Feb Angiosperm Development 29:A,B,C,E
11/12/13 Animal Form 37:A,C,D1
18/19/20 Digestion: Basic Protocols Handout
25/26/27 Digestion: Experiments
10/11/12 Mar Physiology of Circulation 38:B,E,F
17/18/19 Gas Exchange 39:a
24/25/26 No Lab (Easter Monday) 41:B,C,D,F,G
31/1/2 Apr Nervous System:Basic Protocols
7/8/9 Nervous System: Experiments
14/15/16 Animal Diversity: Chordates 27:D,E,F
21/22/23 Foraging Strategy Handout
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