BIOL 110 Contemporary General Biology – Fall 2005

Instructor:  Erik P. Scully  Office: Smith Hall 261 (via 247)  Phone: 410-704-3012

E-mail:  escully@towson.edu  Office hours:  MWF 9-10

Date                 Lecture/Discussion Topic (Chap.1:p.)
8/29  Introduction to the course: Biology as a Science (1:2-15) About the Course
8/31  The Nature of Biological Systems  Science & Biology
9/2    The Chemistry of Biological Systems (2:19-31; 3:35-40) Atoms & Molecules
9/5    Labor Day Holiday
9/7    Major Biological Molecules (3:42-62)  Molecules and Chemical Bonds
9/9    Major Biological Molecules (cont.)  Major Biological Molecules
9/12  Cells: Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes (4:69-70)  Viruses, Cells and Cell Structure
9/14  Major Cellular Structures (4:71-92)
9/16  Major Cellular Structures
9/19  Major Cellular Structures
9/21  Getting in and out of Cells (5:99-111)  Diffusion, Osmosis, Membranes
9/23  Getting in and out of Cells
9/26  Dynamic Membranes
9/28  Introduction to Reactions (6:119-124) Reactions & Enzymes
9/30  Enzymes (6:125-128)
10/3  Energy Transformations I: Photosynthesis 8:153-165) Photosynthesis
10/5  Photosynthesis, continued
10/7  EXAM I Study Guide
10/10 Energy Transformations II: Respiration (7:133-147) Glycolysis & Respiration
10/12 Respiration, continued
10/14 Cell Division I: Mitosis (9:171-184) Mitosis and Meiosis
10/17 Cell Division II: Meiosis  (10:191-203)
10/19  More on Meiosis
10/21  Gregor Mendel and the nature of biological inheritance (11:207-219) Mendelian Genetics
10/24  Basic Principles of Mendelian Genetics
10/26  Variations on a Theme by Gregor Mendel (11:220-223) More Genetics
10/28  Additional aspects of Transmission Genetics  (12:231-243)
10/31  The Molecular Basis of Inheritance: DNA Structure (13:251-259) DNA & Protein Synthesis
11/2    The Expression of Genetic Information  (14:263-274)
11/4    The Control of Gene Expression
11/7    EXAM II Study Guide
11/9    Biotechnology & Human Genetics (15:287-302) Biotechnology
11/11  Introduction to Evolution: Darwin, Wallace and Natural Selection (16:310-318) Natural Selection - Genetic Variation
11/14  Demonstrating Genetic Variation
11/16  Factors affecting genetic Variation (17:327-334; 18:339-342)
11/18  Selection: case histories (17:334-338) Selection
11/21  Sexual Selection & Kin Selection Categories & Sexual Selection
11/23  Speciation (18:348-358)
11/25  Thanksgiving Holiday - no class
11/28  A Brief History of Life (19:369-381)
11/30  The impact of humans on Evolution
12/2    Population Ecology (31:677-699)
12/5    EXAM III
12/7    Predation & Parasitism
12/9    Epidemiology
12/12   FINAL EXAMINATION – 8-10AM

Text: Krogh, D. 2005. Biology: a guide to the natural world, third edition.  Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Textbook website: http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_krogh_biology_3

Lab Manual: Hull, J. (Ed.). Contemporary General Biology Laboratory Manual.  Towson MD: Towson University.

BIOL 110 – Contemporary General Biology

Introduction:  BIOL 110 is designed to fulfill the expectations of section II.A.1 (Scientific Inquiry) of the General Education requirements.  Specifically, this means that the course is meant to be an introduction to the practice and principles of Biology as a science.    Although, I must follow an approved syllabus (see previous page), I want to make the approach flexible and responsive to your interests.  Please feel free to ask about any topics that may be related to course material.

We will be having class discussions throughout the course.  I will give you advance notice about each discussion so that you can think about any comments that you would like to make.


Course Requirements and Grading
: The distribution of requirements and grades are as follows:

Exam I: 25%; Exam II: 25%;  Exam III: 25%;  Final (partly comprehensive): 25%.  Final grades will be based on the weighted average of all exams:  

A: 92 or higher;  A-: 89-91; B+: 86-89; B: 82-85; B-: 79-81; C+: 76-78; C: 70-75; C-: 69; D+: 66-68; D: 60-65; F: <60.

Departmental Laboratory Attendance Policy:  Biology 110 is a 4 credit LAB course; any student that misses more than 4 labs FOR ANY REASON (even excused) will be given a FAILING grade for the course.

Examination Policy: If you are going to be absent for an exam, you need to give prior notification to the instructor and provide documentation. If there is an emergency situation that causes you to miss an exam, you need to notify the instructor within 24 hours of missing the exam. All make up exams require written documentation. If these procedures are not followed, no make up exam will be given. IF A SCHEDULED MAKE UP EXAM IS MISSED, THERE WILL NOT BE AN ADDITIONAL MAKE UP SCHEDULED.

Other Policies: Incompletes: Only a chronic illness or severe personal trauma are grounds for receiving an “I” Academic Integrity: You are expected to adhere to the University’s policies on cheating and plagiarism

                                         Tentative Lab Schedule

Week of

Topic
Week of
Topic

8/30

No Lab

10/25

Genetics

9/6

No Lab          

11/1

Karyokinesis

9/13

The Scientific Method

11/8

Human Inheritance

9/27

Molecular Movement

11/22

No Lab 

10/4

Properties of Enzymes

11/29

TBA

10/11

Photosynthesis

12/6

Review

10/18

Respiration & Fermentation