Introductory Biology 121, Syllabus, Spring 2004

Instructor: Dr. B. Nicholson, Associate Professor

Office: 340 Copernicus. Telephone: 832-2706

Email: Nicholsonb@CCSU.edu Web address: www.biology.ccsu.edu/Nicholson

Office hours: Mon. 3:00-4:00, Wed: 2:00- 4:00,Thurs. 11:00-11:50: Friday 8:00-8:50

Required Texts: 1) Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. 2002. Biology, 6th edition. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco. 2) General Biology I: Lab Manual (CCSU).

Course Description: Students Must Be Registered in Both Lecture and Lab.

This course will give the students an overview of the science of biology. Lectures will focus on: the basic chemistry of life (atoms, molecules, organic molecules), the structure of a cell, cell metabolism (respiration, fermentation, photosynthesis), cell reproduction, Mendelian genetics, the growth and reproduction of vascular plants, and evolution of the plants.

All exams are multiple choice and worth 10% each.

Exam schedule: Test #1: Mon., Feb. 23, Test #2: Fri., Mar. 19, Test #3: Mon., Apr. 19, Final: Mon. May 17 @ 9:00 AM

Chap. Assigns. 30% To Be Announced

Laboratory 30%

At the end of the semester, letter grades are assigned based on the following: A (90-100); B (76-89); C (62-75); D (51-61); F (Below 50). Once all grades have been accumulated, a decision will be made by the instructor as to whether an additional grading curve is necessary. Final letter grades will be divided into plus and minus categories.

Homework assignments must be handed in when due. Assignments will be deducted points for being late. Materials handed in one week late or more will be reduced one letter grade. Assignments will not be accepted for grading after materials have been returned to class.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE HANDED IN INDIVIDUALLY. Study groups and peer tutoring is strongly encouraged, however when handing in assignments for grading each student must individually turn in their own assignment. Any two assignments handed in with identical wording will receive a zero grade. This applies to all homework assignments. Academic dishonesty will be reported to University officials. Students also must not copy directly i.e. VERBATIM from the text when doing the assignments. Presenting the ideas and words belonging to another person (published or unpublished, including your text) is plagiarism. Students should review the University Policy on Academic Honesty printed on pages 30-32 in the student handbook, or complete the Learning Center's 90-minute workshop on academic integrity.

Help: Extra help is available from a variety of sources.1) A peer-run tutor center that begins approx. the 3rd week of classes, 2) my office hours. (Yes, you should consider your instructor as a potential source for extra help when needed), 3) The textbook website at www.campbellbiology.com, 4) Educational Support Services, located in the SW Quad, of Mem. Hall teaches learning strategies. Organization and test prep. are among the skills you may practice at the ESS office.

Disabilities: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have special emergency medical information to share with me or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Learning Objectives & Reading Assignments
  1. The Chemistry of Life

    Chapter 2 - Understanding the basic principles of chemistry; atoms, molecules, chemical bonds, inorganic molecules, and compounds. Chemical properties of elements and molecules based on their atomic structure and the types of bonds they form is discussed. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 3. Properties of the water molecule and hydrogen bonding in water. Properties of cohesion and adhesion. Acids, bases, buffers and the pH scale. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 4. Carbon and molecular diversity. The element carbon is essential to life and biodiversity because it forms four covalent bonds. The contribution of functional groups to biodiversity is also discussed. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 5. Structure and function of macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,and nucleic acids. Macromolecules are polymers formed by linking similar small molecules called monomers. The function of a macromolecule is dependent upon its architecture. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 6. Metabolism consists of both catabolic and anabolic pathways of energy transformations. First and 2nd laws of Thermodynamics. The structure of ATP and how is involved in cellular reactions. Enzymes and their role as a biological catalysts. Read the entire chapter.

  2. The Cell

    Chapter 7. This chapter on the cell will be partially covered while learning about respiration and photosynthesis. Organelles not discussed during these chapters will be covered at the end of the course. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 8. The structure and function of the cell membrane. Transportation of material across the cell membrane. Osmosis, passive transport, active transport, endocystosis and exocytosis are also discussed. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 9. Respiration and Fermentation. Aerobic respiration is a process where the chemical energy of glucose becomes stored in cellular ATP. It consists of three parts; a) glycolysis, b) KrebŐs cycle, c) electron transport chain and phosphorylation. In anaerobic environments respiration occurs via fermentation. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 10. Photosynthesis, the process where plants convert light energy and inorganic molecules into chemical energy stored in organic molecules. Chloroplast structure and function, the light reactions of photosynthesis, the calvin cycle, the structure and function of plant stomata, C3, C4, and CAM metabolism in plants will be discussed. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 12. Reproduction: Binary fission and mitosis. Cytokinesis in plant and animal cells. Read pages 215-224.

  3. Mendelian Genetics

    Chapters 13. Genes, DNA, chromosomes, and meiosis. Understanding meiosis and the sexual life cycle of humans. Genetic variation is the essence of evolution and adaptation We explore the different sources of genetic variation that occur during sexual reproduction and learn their relative importance in providing variability. Read the entire chapter.

    Chapter 14,and 15. Meiosis and Mendelian genetics. Hybrid crosses are taught and practiced, thus explaining how genetics are expressed. Human disorders are discussed as well as sex-linked genes. Read pages 247-264 and 269-279.

  4. Plant Growth and Evolution

Chapter 35. Plant structure and growth. Students learn about the morphology of the flowering plants; roots, stems, flower, and primary tissue structure. Monocots are contrasted to dicots and secondary growth in woody plants is examined. Read the entire chapter.

Chapters 30 and 38. Sexual Reproduction in the flowering plants. Flowers are the reproductive structures of angiosperms. Students learn about the structure of the flower, how male and female gametes are formed, and how fertilization is accomplished. Fruit production which occurs after fertilization and is important for plant dispersal is examined. Seed formation, seed germination, and seedling growth are also discussed. Read pages 597-612, and 783-794.

Chapters 28, 29, and 30. A survey of the major plant groups: life cycles and evolutionary trends in algae, mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants. Read pages 565-567, 575-594, and 597-612

Chapter 14/15

Old Exam Questions