Germanna Community College

BIO 101 – General Biology I

Section 26/91, MW 4:00-6:45pm/MW 7:00-9:45pm, Room 303

Spring 2005

 

Instructor Information

Maury Wrightson

 (540) 834-1007

mwrightson@gcc.vccs.edu

 

**Only email from GCC addresses will be opened**

 

Office Hours: (316-E FAC1)

MWF 10am-12noon

TuTh 4-6pm

Also available by appointment

 

Required Texts

Starr, Cecie, BIOLOGY Concepts and Applications, Brooks/Cole, 5th edition

Mader, Sylvia, BIOLOGY Laboratory Manual, McGraw Hill, 8th edition

 

Course Description

4 credit hours

This course explores fundamental characteristics of living matter from the atomic level to the molecular level with emphasis on general biological research principles.  It also introduces the diversity of living organisms, their structure, function, and evolution.  Lecture: 3 hours.  Laboratory: 3 hours. 

 

Course Objectives

During this course students will be introduced to:          

a)      The underlying concepts of biology, including unity and diversity of life.

b)      Basic chemistry, including knowledge of atoms, molecules, and chemical bonding.

c)      Cellular structure, including biochemical molecules, organelles, cellular organization, and variation of cell types.

d)      The importance and function of enzymes.

e)      Photosynthesis

f)        Cellular metabolism, including glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport phosphorylation.

g)      Cell division, including the events occurring during mitosis and meiosis.

h)      The principles of genetic inheritance, including genotype vs. phenotype, and probability of solutions in genetic problems.

i)        The structure and function of DNA, including nucleotides, base pairing, the double helix, DNA repair, and replication.

j)        The structure and function of RNA, including transcription, mRNA modification, and translation.

k)      The process of building a protein from mRNA, including matching codons, joining together amino acids, and proper folding.

In addition to the above mentioned material, students will have the opportunity to:

l)        Understand the scientific process and use it in biological and non-biological applications.

m)    Develop skills for communicating effectively through oral presentation.

n)      Learn to write formal lab reports.

o)      Develop skills and confidence in experimentation and use of laboratory equipment.

 

Attendance Policy

Written attendance will be taken at every class.  A student is allowed 2 unexcused absences without affecting their grade.  Absences will be excused for serious reasons such as illness, death in the family, etc., and there must be documentation for the excuse (e.g. note from doctor).  If 4 classes are missed, the student may be automatically withdrawn from the course, in accordance with the Germanna Community College Attendance Policy.

 

Homework and other assignments completed outside of class are expected to be turned in on time.  Late assignments will be accepted at a penalty of a 10 % deduction per day.  Quizzes and other assignments completed during class time cannot be made up.  Tests that are missed can be made up in a timely manner with a make up test that is completely essay.      

 

Academic Honesty

At GCC we expect the highest standards of academic honesty.  Violations of academic honesty include the following:

  • Cheating: This includes seeking or giving unauthorized help on examinations, papers, and other academic assignments.
  • Plagiarism: This is defined as using another’s words or idea and representing them as one’s own either knowingly or unknowingly.  In other words, by not documenting ideas or putting quotations around exact phrasing and documenting the course, one is committing plagiarism.  In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you have the permission of that person.

Misconduct in the area of academic honesty is subject to disciplinary action which can include failure for the assignment or even failure of the course.

 

Disabilities Statement

If you are a student with a disability and will need accommodations while enrolled in this course, please contact the coordinator of disability service in the counseling center (room 201, phone 540-710-2019).  Please inform me of the accommodations that are required after you and the counselor have determined what these will be. 

 

Grading

Tests                            30%

Final Exam                               15%

Homework and quizzes             20%

Lab Report                               10%

Project                                     10%

Lab work                                 10%

Participation                               5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grading Policy

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = <60%

 

Important Dates

Classes Begin                                                                                                   January 10

Holiday (College closed)                                                                                   January 17

Last day to add a class                                                                                     January 18

Last day to change from audit to credit                                                              January 18

Last day to drop with refund                                                                             January 24

Spring break (No classes)                                                                                 March 7 - 12

Last day to withdraw without academic penalty or change to audit                     March 16

Classes end                                                                                                      May 2

Final Examinations                                                                                            May 3 - 9

 

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Date         Lecture Topic                                             Readings    Lab  Other Assignments      

Jan 10

Introduction and Methods of Biology

Chap 1

None

 

Jan 12

Chemistry

Chap 2

Handout

 

Jan 17

HOLIDAY - NO CLASS

 

 

 

Jan 19

Chemistry

Chap 2

Lab 2

HW #1 given out

Jan 24

Biomolecules

Chap 3

“

HW #1 due

Jan 26

Biomolecules

Chap 3

“

 

Jan 31

Scientific Paper

Paper

 

Quiz #1

Feb 2

DNA

Chap 12

Lab 3

HW #2 given out

Feb 7

RNA

Chap 13

“

HW #2 due

Feb 9

Making Proteins

Chap 13

Scientific Experiment

 

Feb 14

Organelles

Chap 4

Test Review

 

Feb 16

Test 1

 

“

 

Feb 21

Organelles

Chap 4

Lab 4

 

Feb 23

Organelles

Chap 4

“

 

Feb 28

Energy

Chap 5

“

Quiz #2

Mar 2

Enzymes

Chap 5

Lab 5

Lab Report Due

HW #3 given out

Mar 7

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

 

 

 

Mar 9

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

 

 

 

Mar 14

Photosynthesis

Chap 6

Lab 6

HW #3 due

Mar 16

Photosynthesis

Chap 6

“

 

Mar 21

Cellular Respiration

Chap 7

Lab 7

Project Topic Due

Quiz #4

Mar 23

Cellular Respiration

Chap 7

“

 

Mar 28

Cell Cycle and Mitosis

Chap 8

Test Review

 

Mar 30

Test 2

 

 

 

Apr 4

Meiosis

Chap 9

Lab 8

 

Apr 6

Inheritance

Chap 10

“

HW #4 given out

Apr 11

Advanced Punnett Squares

Chap 10

Lab 9

HW #4 due

Apr 13

Sex determination

Chap 11

“

 

Apr 18

Pedigrees

Chap 11

Lab 10

Quiz #4

Apr 20

Genetic Diseases

Chap 11

Test Review

 

Apr 25

Test 3

 

 

 

Apr 27

Presentations

 

 

 

May 2

Review

 

 

 

May 3-9

FINAL EXAM