BIO 111C

Biology I

Lecture three hours per week. Laboratory three hours per week. Credit, 4 semester hours.
Course Description:

An introduction to the living organism emphasizing the structure and function of the cell and genetics. This course is designed for biology majors and minors.

Meeting time: TR 8:00-9:15AM

Meeting place: Hederman science, room 105.

Instructor: Dr. Robert G. Hamilton, Hederman science, room 205.

Office hours: 9:00-12:00 AM M  W F

Phone: 925-3872

e-mail:rhamilto@mc.edu

Rationale for course:

The Mississippi College Mission Statement stipulates that "Mississippi College stimulates the intellectual development of its students through the...sciences." this course provides an holistic, interdisciplinary overview of the sciences while emphasizing the biological nature of our planet, the universal role of the cell as a structural and functional unit for all recognized life forms, and the universal genetic code and energy molecule for all life. In addition, the mission statement emphasizes  "...the university environment...encourages them (students) to utilize their skills, talents, and abilities as they pursue meaningful careers, life-long learning, and service to God and others." This course is required for admission by all graduate biology programs, medical schools and other professional schools and thus is an important preparatory step for students who seek careers in the biological and allied health fields. Additionally, this course fulfills the core requirement of every biology major. In this course we attempt to relate research results and contemporary events of a scientific nature to the lives of our students.

Learning Objectives:

Lecture Section:

Learning objectives for the student include, but are not limited to, the following:

That matter is composed of elements and that all living things are composed of matter; additionally, learning how atoms form compounds and molecules; lastly learning why water is essential to life.

Midterm following completion of Chapter 3.

Organic molecules are hydrocarbons.

Functional groups are the basis of the chemical activity of hydrocarbons.

There are 4 main classes of organic molecules--carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

That the cell is the basic unit of structure and function; additionally, learning that all living things have either prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells.

That the cell or plasma membrane structurally delimits the cell from its environment and that the membrane is a dynamic structure which in itself participates in the movement of materials into and out of the cell.

Midterm following completion of chapter 7.

That energy, i.e the ability to do work, can neither be created or destroyed, but can be transformed into covalent bond energy in vital components like glucose and ATP.

That metabolic events of respiration and photosynthesis involve biological oxidations and reductions; additionally learning that these same reactions are mediated by biological catalysts called enzymes.

That glycolysis and respiration utilizing glucose results in much of the covalent bond energy of glucose coming to reside in the high-energy compound ATP; additionally, learning that the energy-requiring reactions of the cell often use ATP as the source of the required energy.

Midterm following chapter 10.

Communication between cells.

The cell cycle. The organization of the genetic material in the cell and the regulation of the cell cycle.

About meiosis, i.e. production of haploid cells from progenitor diploid cells; additionally, learning that the products of meiosis often develop into gametes.

Basic Mendelian genetics. About human genetic diseases. Pedigree analysis.

Midtern following completion of Chapter 14.

The chromosomal basis of inheritance. Genes are linked on chromsosomes. Genes located on sex chromosomes show special paterns of inheritance.

About DNA, the genetic material, and replication, transcription, and translation; additionally, learning about RNA and it's roles in the structure of ribosomes and protein synthesis.

Midterm following completion of chapter 17.

Laboratory Section:

Learning Objectives for the Laboratory section are outlined in the Laboratory manual.

Topics to be covered in course:

Subject matter topics and introduction to biology, basic chemistry, chemistry of biologically important compounds, enzymes, cell structure, membrane structure and function, energetics, mitotic and meiotic cell division, Mendelian genetics, human genetics, nucleic acids, gene activity and regulation of gene activity, recombinant DNA and biotechnology.

Text: Biology, 7th Edition. Campbell and Reece.

Laboratory manual: Biology 1 Laboratory Manual

SAFETY GLASSES ARE REQUIRED FOR LABORATORY SESSIONS. YOU CANNOT WORK IN THE LABORATORY WITHOUT SAFETY GLASSES.

IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO LEARNING, PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR OTHER DISABILITIES, PLEASE CONTACT DR. BUDDY WAGNER IN THE COUNSELING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER. HE MAY BE REACHED BY PHONE AT (601) 925-3354, BY MAIL AT P.O. BOX 4063, CLINTON, MS 39058, OR BY E_MAIL AT wagner@mc.edu. 

THE LAST DAY TO DROP A CLASS IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26. STUDENTS CANNOT WITHDRAW AFTER OCTOBER 26 UNLESS ALL OF THE THREE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET:

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES (CLEARLY OUTSIDE THE STUDENT'S CONTROL).

PASSING THE COURSE AT THE TIME OF THE WITHDRAWAL

DOES NOT HAVE EXCESSIVE ABSENCES AT THE TIME OF THE WITHDRAWAL
Lectures:

The method of instruction will be two 75 minute lecture/discussion periods per week. Lectures will generally follow the textbook. Presentations that are not directly from the textbook will include supplimentary materials.

Grading
Four midterm exams will count towards the final grade, each worth 10% of your final grade, will cover each section of the course separately. The final will be comprehensive. Exam questions will be multiple choice. Several questions will have verbal reasoning component consisting of a passage of text cluster of following questions based upon the passage of text. The lowest of the midterms will be dropped PROVIDED all 5 midterms are written. Missed midterms will count as zero.

Each class will count the same with respect to attendance. For example, if you miss 2/30 class periods, you will get (28/30) X 10 for your attendance grade. As per school policy, if you miss 25% of classes, you will be awarded an F as a grade for the course. Participation will be a factor if a student is chronically late. Students will be given 2 warning with respect to lateness to class, following which a student will lose 1 attendance point for eact time they are late.

Grading Scale:

This scale may be adjusted to include lower grades into higher categories, depending on the clustering of scores. However, each student who attains the lowest grade as posted for each category will receive that category of grade (90% is an A, regardless, as is 80% a B, and 70% a C).


Attendance:

Strict adherence to Mississippi College's class attendance policy will be followed. The Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin describes this policy. If you miss 8 semester classes you will be awarded a grade of "F" for the course.

Academic Integrity:

The Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin describes what the university considers to be academically dishonest, the student's responsibility, and consequences for academic dishonesty.

Missed Tests:

I generally do not allow makeups. I will only alllow makeups if notified IN ADVANCE that a student will miss a test.

My policy on missed tests is due to my desire to return tests as soon as possible. I have observed that students score much more poorly on make ups than they do when they take tests at scheduled times. Returning tests as near as possible to the time the tests were taken greatly aids students in developing an understanding of issues on the test with which have difficulties, and I am unwilling to sacrifice the value of the timely return of tests to the class in general for irresponsibility and/or poor judgment on the part of a few students.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO MISS A TEST DUE TO SOME CONFLICT, FOR ANY REASON, BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE CONSIDERED THE REASONS WHY YOU ARE TAKING THE TIME AND MAKING THE EXPENSE REQUIRED TO ATTEND MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE. WHILE THERE ARE LEGITIMATE REASONS FOR MISSING CLASSES (INCLUDING TESTS), YOU PAY A ACADEMIC PRICE FOR EACH CLASS YOU MISS, REGARDLESS!!.