Biology 1001: Multicellular Organisms

Lecture Outline

Spring 2004

Instructor: Professor Luis Malaret

Office: Room 1240 Phone: (401) 333-7295

E-mail: Use my WebCT email address

Office Hours: Tuesday 3:00 - 4:00, Wednesday 1:00 - 3:00, Thursday

10:00 -12:00, Friday 10:00 -11:00

Text: Customized Inquiry into Life. 10th ed. S. Mader

Lab Manual: Customized Biology Laboratory Manual. Vodopich and Moore

Course Description

This course provides a general introduction to biology with a focus on organisms that are multicellular, that is they are composed of many cells that have specialized functions. Biology is the scientific study of life and includes a wide range of sub-topics or fields. Each field focuses on different questions regarding how organisms:

Course Goals

The general purpose of this course is to provide you with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the world you live in. The following goals include the specific knowledge and analytical skills I hope you gain from this course.

· To gain a basic understanding and appreciation of living organisms.

· To understand the basic principles that govern all living organisms and the larger environment in which they reside.

· To learn how new scientific information is acquired and validated.

· To understand how ideas in biology impact our everyday lives.

· To better understand and be able to critically examine the current issues and relevant concepts reported in the news media.

Course Grade

Sixty percent of your final course grade is based on the lecture portion and the remaining 40% is based on the lab portion of the course. Your lecture and lab grades are based on the following work:

Lecture

3 Lecture exams (10%, 10%, 15%) 35%

Outline and summary of a science article 15% } 60%

Attendance 10%

Lab

2 Lab Practicals (10% each) 20%

Lab notebook 15% } 40%

10 Post-lab Computer Quizzes 5%

100%

LECTURES

Regular lecture attendance is essential to doing well in this course. The lecture summarizes and clarifies but does not replace the readings and is an opportunity for you to ask questions and discuss the topics. The lecture grade is based on attendance, an outline and summary you write of one science article you read, and three multiple-choice exams. Attendance counts for 10% of your grade and will be taken randomly throughout the semester.

Lecture Exams

There are 2 in-class lecture exams that consist of 50 multiple-choice questions and a final exam that is cumulative and consists of 65 questions. Forty-five questions cover the topics tested in the last third of the semester. The remaining 20 questions cover the material included in the first two exams. The final is held during Final Exam Week and the date is announced later in the semester.

If you miss a lecture exam a makeup exam will be given only for an excused and documented absence! If you must miss an exam make sure to inform me of this prior to or on the day of the exam and see me as soon as you are back to school. The makeup exam must be taken a week after the original exam. If you fail an exam come to see me within one week of getting the exam back. Bring your notebook and exam and we will discuss note-taking, study and test-taking strategies to improve your grade.

Outline and Summary of a Science Article

You will write an outline and a summary for one full-length article you read from the journal Scientific American. I will present the titles of four articles and you will select one of them to read. CCRI is subscribed to an on-line service that allows you to access articles from Scientific American through the internet In order to complete your assignments, you will read each article, take notes on it, write an outline, and then use the outline to write the summary. All work must be typed. Use Times New Roman point 12 font or Arial point 10 font. Follow the schedule for turning in the two assignments listed below. Late work will be graded down 2 points each day it is late.

Schedule

Assignment Credit Date due

1. Submit outline 50% March 2 (Tuesday)

2. Submit summary 50% April 13 (Tuesday)

Total Credit 100%

LABS

You will receive a laboratory syllabus during the first lab session of the semester. The lab portion of the course accounts for 40% of your final grade. Your grade is based on 2 lab practicals, your lab notebook, and 10 post-lab computer quizzes. You will take a midterm and final practical, each covering the labs done during one half of the semester. You will take an online quiz on the computer after completing each lab exercise. Attendance is mandatory. If you miss a lab, due to documented illness, make it up by attending another lab section but only in the same week. You must attend your assigned lab unless you speak with the instructor first. Note: If you do not pass the laboratory section of the course you cannot pass the course.

Biology 1001

Spring Lecture Schedule

Week of Lecture Topic Pages

1/19 Introduction, Science, Biology and the Scientific Process 3 - 5, 8 - 14

1/26 Evolution: History of Life on Earth 540 - 545

2/2 Evolution & Diversity: Fungi 583 - 587

2/9 Evolution & Diversity: Plants 592 - 606

2/16 Evolution & Diversity: Invertebrates 609 - 624,

626 - 631

Exam 1

2/23 Evolution & Diversity: Vertebrates including Humans 635 - 656

3/1 Evolution: History of the Theory 552 - 553

3/8 Spring Break

3/15 Evolution: The Theory 549 - 551,

554 - 557

3/22 Genetics I: Mendel 466 - 473

3/29 Genetics II: Post Mendelian 477 - 479

Exam 2

4/5 Ecology: Introduction, Populations 678 - 688

4/12 Ecology: Species Interactions and Communities 689 - 693

4/19 Ecology: Ecosystems 697 -711

4/26 Ecology: Global Ecology and Earth’s Future

Final Exam: May 4-7 (Finals Week, exact date to be announced)