General Biology 1406 Summer Term
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE-SOUTHWEST
GENERAL BIOLOGY- BIO 1406
INSTRUCTOR: Prof. DONNA S. WIERSEMA
e-mail : donna.wiersema@hccs.edu
Biology Office Phone: 713-718-7771
CRN 41327
OBJECTIVE:
This course is a major works biology course and serves as the
foundation for several fields of endeavor including biological
sciences, nursing, and physical therapy. The course covers basic
molecular biology, cell structure and function, cell reproduction,
genetics, and an introduction to bacteria, viruses, and genetic
engineering and seeks to develop an understanding of underlying
principles applicable to life on the earth. Major core curriculum
competencies will be addressed in this course and include reading,
writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy.
ATTENDANCE:
Class attendance is required. It is the student's responsibility
to get notes and other information from a classmate when he
or she is absent. Four absences during the fall/spring term may
result in administrative withdrawal from the class. Tardies will
be recorded; three tardies count as one absence.
LABORATORY PERFORMANCE:
Teamwork, cooperation, and scientific inquiry will be emphasized.
All glassware must be washed and put in its proper cabinet or hung to
dry. Do not hang two pieces of glassware on one peg. Prepared
slides are to be cleaned and put into the proper labeled box. All
counters and tabletops are to be cleaned before leaving.
LABORATORY REPORTS:
You are required to read the lab procedure prior to the lab
session. Lab exercises are due the day of the lab unless you are
told otherwise. Lab reports are reviewed for content accuracy,
correct logic, completeness and neatness. A numerical grade
will not be given for the lab reports; the labs will be handed in
or checked in class and any errors should be corrected before
your lab exams are taken. Lab reports will count for
approximately 10% of the lab grade.
EXAMINATIONS:
Lecture exams may consist of any type of question: essay,
multiple choice, true-false, matching, diagrams, and short answer.
They will cover the material we cover in class and can be
comprehensive to include previous material. Lab exams
will cover the material we cover in labs but may overlap with
lecture information at times. The lab exams may have a written
component and a practical component. Some exams may not be
returned permanently. Exams may not take the entire class period to
complete and are usually timed. The remaining class time may be used
for lecture or lab whichever applies. Leaving after a test may cause
forteiture of points. The Final Lecture Exam is comprehensive (Cps. 1-20).
MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS:
There will be no make-up lab practical exams. The written portion of
a lab exam may be given at the discretion of the instructor and with
proper medical excuse from the student. If a lecture exam is missed,
a medical excuse (or otherwise) must be provided in order to take the
exam. The make-up exam may be a different but comparable exam.
If the student fails to make-up a missed exam, the grade will enter as zero.
GRADE DETERMINATION:
1. Three lecture exams will constitute approximately 60% of thefinal grade. There may be a fourth lecture exam.
2. Lab component will constitute approximately 20% of the final grade.
Two lab exams are averaged and lab reports are computed in the 20%.
3. The final exam is comprehensive and is valued at 20%.
4. There may be an optional extra-credit assignment or project
and/or internet projects.
5. There may be additional homework assignments which may/ may
not have a point value.
GRADING SCALE:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60- 69 = D
<60 = F
CHEATING:
Overt or covert cheating will not be tolerated. If I suspect you of cheating,
I may give you a verbal warning, a written warning, or simply take up your
unfinished test and assign a zero. Cheating includes, but is not limited to,
talking to another student during an exam without permission, glancing at
or staring at another student's paper, or passing answers in any way.
Consult the student handbook for HCCS policies on cheating.
GENERAL RULES:
1. No eating, drinking, or smoking in class or lab. Water is allowed.
2. No talking so as to distract others. No talking out of turn; raise your
hand if you have a comment or question. Consult the Student Handbook for rules
of student conduct if you do not know them.
3. No activated cellular phones, beepers, or earphones are allowed.
4. All rules of the college apply. Know the safety rules as applied to
the lab component of this course. Repeated infractions of safety
rules will cost points.
5. Exams and scantrons are to be returned to the instructor on the day
of the final exam. No exam or scantron is to be copied.
6. This institution complies with the A.D.Act. Disability Support Services: Any student
with documented disability(e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability
Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty
are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability
Support Office. If you have any questions, please contact the Disability Counselor
at your college.
7. Lab glassware and table surfaces are to be cleaned before leaving. Failure to do so will
debit points from your lab average.
8. Unannounced quizzes may be given.
9. Lecture exams may be given during lab sessions.
10. Some lecture material may be presented during lab.
11. A grade of “W” will not be given after the official drop date.
12. Final course grades are given on the student web site.
13. You are required to do the assigned reading prior to lecture.
See #8.
tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty
offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing
occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording
device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for
Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable
accommodations.
NOTICE:" Students who repeat a course three or more times may
soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCCS and other
Texas public colleges and universities. If you are considering course
withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with
your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits,
reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course
participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that
might be available."
Please note: Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may
soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCCS and other Texas
public colleges and universities. Please ask your professor/counselor
about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering
course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.
NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus
should circumstances warrant during the semester.
1406 LECTURE SYLLABUS
TEXTBOOK:
7th ed. BenjaminCummings Publishing Company,
LAB MANUAL: Loesch, Ph.D., Tom, et.al., Biology 1406 Laboratory Manual,
Cache' House, 2008.
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WEEK OF CHAPTER TITLE
6-2 1,2 Intro/Chemistry/Lab
3,4 Water & Carbon/Lab
5,16 Macromolecules, DNA/Lab
6 The Cell
6-9 7 Membrane Structure/Lab Test 1
7, 8 Intro to Metabolism
9 Cellular Respiration
10 Photosynthesis Lab Practical I
6-16 12 Cell Cycle/Mitosis Test 2
13 Meiosis
14 Mendel & Gene Idea/Lab
15 Chromosomes
6-23 LAST DAY FOR WITHDRAWALS 4:30 p.m.
6-23 16 Molecular Basis of
Inheritance/Lab Test 3
17 From Gene to Protein/
Lab
18 Bacterial & Viral Genetics
19 Control of Gene Expression
20 DNA Technology
11 Cell Communication(optional, time
permitting
Final Lab Practical -- TBA
6-30 Lecture Final Exam (Comprehensive)
BIOLOGY 1406--GENERAL BIOLOGY
******************************************************************************
WEEK OF LABORATORY EXERCISES
******************************************************************************
6-2 Ex. 1 Safety Rules; Basic Chemistry
Ex. 2 Properties of Water
Ex. 3 Biochemistry: Detection of Biological
Molecules
Ex. 4 Microscopy
6-9 Ex. 5 Cell Structure
Ex. 6,7 Diffusion & Osmosis; Enzymes
Ex. 8 Respiration (Instructor Demo.)
6-16 Lab Practical 1
6-16 Ex. 9 Photosynthesis
Ex. 10 Cell Division
Ex. 11 Genetics
6-23 Ex. 12 DNA to Proteins
Ex. 13 Biotechnology
Additional Exercise Time Permitting or Virtual Lab
6-30 LAB FINAL EXAM--TO BE ANNOUNCED
