Introduction to the Biological World, BIOL 100
Spring, 2000
Course Syllabus
Class Meets at 6:00-7:45, Monday & Wednesday, SB 168
Instructor: Dr. Elliott Blumenthal & Alexia Tsiga
Phone: 481-6004 (Office) or 481-6305 (Biology Office)
E-Mail: Blumenth@IPFW.edu
Web Page: Click my name in the Biology Faculty Listing from the IPFW Page
| Date | Assignment | Text Chapter | ||||||||||
| Jan 10 | Introduction: Scientific Method | 1 | ||||||||||
| Jan 12 | Introduction to "Life", Atoms & Molecules | 2 | ||||||||||
| Jan 17 | Martin Luther King Holiday | |||||||||||
| Jan 19 | Energy flow & Cell membrane structure | 3, 4 | ||||||||||
| Jan 24 | Cell Structure: Prokaryotic vs Eucaryotic | 5 | ||||||||||
| Jan 26 | Photosynthesis & Glycolysis | 6, 7 | ||||||||||
| Jan 31 | Glycolysis | 7 | ||||||||||
| Feb 2 | Exam # 1 Genes & Heredity | 8 | ||||||||||
| Feb 7 | Gene expression & regulation | 9 | ||||||||||
| Feb 9 | Cell division | 10 | ||||||||||
| Feb 14 | Patterns of Inheritance: Genetic disorders | 11 | ||||||||||
| Feb 16 | Biotechnology | 12 | ||||||||||
| Feb 21 | Exam # 2 | |||||||||||
| Feb 23 | Principles of Evolution | 13 | ||||||||||
| Feb 28 | How organisms evolve | 14 | ||||||||||
| Mar 1 | History of Life on Earth | 15 | ||||||||||
| Mar 6 | Spring Break | |||||||||||
| Mar 8 | Spring Break | |||||||||||
| Mar 13 | Diversity of Life | 16 | ||||||||||
| Mar 15 | Plant form and function | 17 | ||||||||||
| Mar 20 | Plant responses to the environment | 18 | ||||||||||
| Mar 22 | EXAM # 3 | |||||||||||
| Mar 27 | Homeostasis | 19 | ||||||||||
| Mar 29 | Circulation and Respiration | 20 | ||||||||||
| Apr 3 | Nutrition, Digestion & Excretion | 21 | ||||||||||
| Apr 5 | Immune Response | 22 | ||||||||||
| Apr 10 | Endocrine System | 23 | ||||||||||
| Apr 12 | Exam # 4 | |||||||||||
| Apr 17 | Nervous System | 24 | ||||||||||
| Apr 19 | Animal Reproduction and Development | 25 | ||||||||||
| Apr 24 | Animal Behavior | 26 | ||||||||||
| Apr 26 | Population, Interactions, Ecosystems | 27-30 | ||||||||||
| May 3 | Final Exam (6:15-8:15) | |||||||||||
Assigned Text: Life On Earth, 2nd Edition
Teresa Audesirk and Gerald Audesirk
Prentice Hall, 1997
ISBN # 0-13-915687-9
Laboratory Book: Man and the Biological World
Course Grading System: There will be 5 Lecture Exams worth 80 points each. Exams will consist of 40 multiple choice, true-false or matching questions worth 2 points each. Exams will not be cumulative, but concepts present early in the course may be needed to explain material encountered later in the course. Exams will be based on material presented in lecture, whether directly from the textbook or not, from videos, or from supplemental lecture material. Material from sections of the textbook not specifically listed in the lecture outlines will not be covered on exams.
Your grade in lecture will be the total of these five exams plus in class assignments (five points) for a total of 405 points. For those students enrolled for four credits (lecture plus laboratory), your grade will be based on 535 points: 5 lecture exams at 80 points each plus 130 points for the laboratory portion of the course.
Grades are based on cumulative points and are awarded on the following scale:
535 points 405 points
A= 90% and above 481-535 364-405
B= 80-89% 428-480 324-363
C= 70-79% 374-427 283-323
D= 55-69% 294-373 222-282
F= below 55% Below 294 below 222
From time-to-time, in class writing/discussion assignments will be given. Each assignment will be worth one point. Students must participate in 5 of these assignments. Any additional assignments completed will count as extra credit points. These assignments are due the day they are handed out in class. There will be no make-ups for these assignments.
Make-up Exam Policy-
The exam dates listed are firm. As a result, you are expected to arrange your schedule accordingly and take the exams when scheduled. If you do miss an exam, a make-up (essay) will be given during the time scheduled for the final exam.
Attendance-
It is important that you attend each class. The lecture is designed to augment the textbook and a full understanding of the material will be difficult without the lecture notes. If you miss a class it is your responsibility (and you alone) to obtain the lecture notes and any handouts that you missed. If you have to miss several classes, please see Dr. Blumenthal or Dr. Tsiga, so that we can work together to minimize any negative impacts on your grade.
Laboratory Grading-
A total of 130 points will be awarded for the laboratory portion of the course. Laboratory grades will be based on attendance (36 points), performance on several quizzes, and an in-class paper. Your laboratory grade will be added to your lecture grade.
Class attendance and class participation will be expected of all class members.