BIOLOGY 118 Fall 2011 INTRODUCTION TO CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Lecture and Discussion: Dr.

Anna Tan-Wilson Activity: Nancy McGee Aims: To learn concepts and science skills that form the basis for future advanced learning in Biology and related disciplines Biological concepts: Molecular form and function - how atoms form molecules and smaller molecules form biological macromolecules Cellular form and function how macromolecules form cell membranes and how cell membranes form cells including subcellular organelles Bioenergetics how chemical reactions provide the means by which energy-requiring reactions and processes can occur Genes and information flow how information is transmitted, how information encoded in the structure of DNA is transcribed and translated Control of gene expression - how cells with the same DNA can have specialized structure and function How these concepts translate into processes relating to animal structure and function digestion / nutrition, blood gas transport, water and electrolyte balance, nerve transmission, muscular contraction How these concepts have been and will be applied toward practical uses in medicine, agriculture and industry Scientific and critical thinking skills: Logical reasoning Experimental design, analysis and interpretation of data Basic laboratory procedures, calculations and unit conversions Constructing and interpreting graphs Application of scientific and critical thinking skills to concepts Intended for: Intended for the following prospective majors: Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Psychobiology, and Nursing students. Students intending to pursue other majors are welcome to register, but must note that this course will be taught as a beginning course for students who intend to study Biology further. Not intended for fulfilling General Education requirements: If you need a Gen-Ed L, register in Biol 117.

Prerequisite: Before starting this course, you must have already completed both High School Biology and High School Chemistry (if in New York State, at regents level; elsewhere, at the equivalent). It is expected that you have retained information from those high school courses.

Textbook and other required materials Freeman, Scott, Biological Science, 4th edition, Pearson, Benjamin Cummings With access to Mastering Biology registration in Mastering Biology website must be done before Monday, September 11, 2011. This textbook will also be used for Biology 117 next semester. Students who purchase an old edition will be responsible for making the adjustment. A very limited number of copies will be on Library Reserve to be shared by Biology 117 and 118 students. If an old edition is purchased, students will have to purchase access to Mastering Biology for the 4th edition of the textbook. Instructions will be posted on Blackboard. IClicker. Every student must have a clicker, to be purchased at the campus bookstore (or from other sources, including those used by others. If you do the latter, make sure the ID number is still clearly visible). Students use the same clicker for Introductory Chemistry and other classes on campus. Every student is responsible for bringing the clicker to every class and to make sure that the batteries work. Registration of clickers must be done before Monday, September 11, 2011. Course meetings You must be registered for Lecture, Activity and Discussion components. MANDATORY Attendance for ALL lecture and activity sessions. MANDATORY Attendance for ALL discussion sessions with scheduled quizzes and tests Lecture: Activity: For all students, Tuesdays, Thursdays from 1:15-2:40 P.M., Lecture Hall 1. Meet with your group either in the Science III classrom laboratory, activity classroom or computer pod. Specific instructions with regard to dates and times be available on Blackboard. Discussion: Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 8:30 P.M. LH 1 Final exam: As scheduled by the Registrar.

Study resources Lecture attendance and attention during class Discussion sessions for discussion of practice questions in course booklet, also for discussion of quizzes Blackboard - see Course Information for syllabus and consultation hours, Course Documents for lecture outlines and study guides Work done during Activity sessions Consultation hours with instructor, graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants See Blackboard Contacts for consultation hours. Your consultation is not limited to the teaching assistants who teach your activity section. Consult with any of the graduate TAs during their office hours. They will assist you with both lecture- and laboratory-related work. Free tutoring services are available by appointment and walk-in. Stop by the College-in-theWoods Library (Discovery Center) and complete a tutor request card. Conduct during lecture/discussion class To show respect for your classmates, teaching assistants and instructors: Arrive on time and stay in class. Leaving (and returning) while class is in session distracts everyone. If you must leave early for a special reason, let the instructor know and sit on a side aisle seat so you can leave without obstructing anyone.

Turn off cell phones, not just ringers. Leaving the room to answer a cell phone call, going to the restroom or to get a drink of water are very disruptive and rude to the instructor and the rest of the class. Laptop images and noises as students attend to tasks unrelated to class are very distracting to others. If there is a medical condition or special reason for an exception, ask the instructor or teaching assistant first. How to do well in this course The timing of when you study is the single most important key to success. Do not expect to do well by cramming a few days before the exams. Coming to every class, having learned the lesson from before, is very important. Be sure to schedule study in between class sessions. Start with Concepts to Learn in Course Documents in Blackboard, then proceed to read the assigned textbook chapter, work on assigned Mastering Biology questions, work on practice questions Participate in the laboratory. Work seriously on your laboratory reports. Those grades count. Moreover, tests will have questions that pertain to your laboratory work. Tests and quizzes Test schedule: 1 2. 3. 4

designed for 1.5 hours but extended time given for students who need more time Wednesday Sep 21, 2011 7-9 P.M. Wednesday Oct 19, 2011 7-9 P.M. Wednesday Nov 16, 2011 7-9 P.M. As scheduled by the Registrar during Finals week

Quiz schedule: designed for 20 minutes, followed by discussion of answers 1 Wednesday Sep 14, 2011 7 PM 2 Wednesday Oct 5, 2011 7 PM 3 Wednesday Nov 2, 2011 7 PM 4 Wednesday Nov 30, 2011 7 PM Activity test schedule: Practical lab test

Week of Nov 28, 2011

Lab periods

For tests and quizzes, bring Your student I.D. card Several sharpened No. 2 pencils with good erasers A backpack or bag that will keep all books, notebooks, papers, cell phones, iPODS and all other electronic devices out of sight Memorize your B-number in advance There will be no restroom breaks for quizzes. For tests, students can make arrangements ahead of the test day to take one restroom break. These students will take the tests in two installments. In case of illness or other unforeseen calamity: Send an e-mail to annatan@binghamton.edu or call 607-777-2651

Follow up with a signed note from the proper authority You will be given a make-up test in essay format What types of questions to expect: Topics covered in lecture, discussion and activity sessions You will not be tested on topics that are in the textbook but not discussed in lecture, discussion or activity sessions. Questions will test comprehension; ability to apply previously learned information and skills to new and unfamiliar situations. In some cases, the information or skills may have been the topic of a previous test. Review questions and sample tests will help guide your study Scores There will always be more than 100 points on every test. The ability to earn these extra points are given to compensate for misunderstanding or misinterpretation of one or two questions due to wording. Requests to consider alternative answers that are backed up by a legitimate and modern biological source of information must be submitted within a week of the day that the results are distributed. Mastering Biology and Clicker Questions Mastering Biology and Clicker questions count for 8% of the final average. Mastering Biology is based on textbook reading before the relevant lecture/discussion. Clicker questions are based on questions that students answer during class. Policy regarding dishonesty While you are encouraged to help each other and study together, your graded work must be produced independently. Dishonest offenses include, but are not limited to, copying off of another students work, sharing information during a quiz or test, using notes or electronic devices to access information during a quiz or test, substituting for someone in a test, in answering Mastering Biology or Clicker questions, and asking someone to substitute for you in a test in answering Mastering Biology or Clicker questions. You may often work in groups during laboratory activities, however all lab reports must be written independently. For the first offense as documented by the Harpur Academic Honesty Committee, any student who cheats in a quiz or test or helps another cheat will at minimum receive a grade of zero for that quiz or test. Consequences may be harsher depending on the nature of the offense. A second offense as documented by the Harpur Academic Honesty Committee will automatically receive an F for the course. The consequences for proven violations of the Code can range from signing an admission of guilt to more serious consequences such as suspension or even expulsion from the university. Details are given at http://bulletin.binghamton.edu/program.asp?program_id=703#1

Grading Calculation of the final average Lecture / discussion grade: Activity/Laboratory grade Final average The extra point is a bonus.

76% 25 101

How your lecture/discussion grade is calculated: Highest scoring test: 16% Middle scoring test: 14% Middle scoring test: 14% Lowest scoring test: 12% Quiz average: 12% Mastering Biology: 4% Clicker questions: 4% Total: 76% How your activity/laboratory grade is calculated: Laboratory reports (2) 10% Practical lab test (1) 5% Assignments 10% 25% Letter grade equivalents Letter grade equivalents will be based on a students final average. Students who get the following final averages will be guaranteed the corresponding letter grades shown below: Final average 90 and above 75 and above 65 and above 55 and above 55 and above plus passing grade in lab Letter grade A a grade from B- up to Aa grade from C- up to Ba grade from D up to CPass for students who take the Pass/Fail option

Curving to decrease the boundaries for letter grades and Pass/Fail may be applied if needed. However, the adjustment will be slight since the boundaries given above are based on several years results. Do not ask for extra work: Everyone is given equal opportunity to earn points. Use those opportunities. The answer will be no. Incomplete: Given only when a student missed the final examination due to illness or justifiable reasons as judged by the instructor. The University does NOT allow faculty to give INC in lieu of a failing grade.