1. 
2. Help
3. Log In

SYLLABUS

Biology 107: Principles of Biology

Fall Semester, 1999

1. Instructors:

Dr. Thomas Terry will lecture for the first half of the course.

Office: Torrey Life Sciences 276

Telephone: 486-4255

E-mail: terry@uconnvm.uconn.edu

Office Hours : M 11-noon; W 11-noon; Thurs. 2-3. Appointments not needed for these hours; see me after class or call to make appointment for other times.

Dr. Terry was trained as a physicist and a microbiologist. His research interests include cell ultrastructure (electron microscopy), and virus-membrane interactions. Dr. Terry has published and lectured extensively on the uses of internet technology to enrich education. See http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~terry/Common/bio.html

Dr. Barry Johnson will lecture for the second half of the course.

Office: Horsebarn Hill Rd., Building 4 Annex, Room 187/189

UConn Shuttle Orange Line, or see this map for walking/driving directions

Telephone: 486-4493

E-mail: johnson@oracle.pnb.uconn.edu

Office Hours : Mon. & Wed. 10:30-11:30, or make an appointment

Dr. Johnson is a neuroscientist and electrophysiologist. Research in his lab examines the regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels in the brain and heart by the cytoskeleton and associated second messenger pathways. See http://predator.pnb.uconn.edu/beta/faculty/johnson/index.html

2. Materials you will need for this course (available at the UConn Coop except as noted):

(1) Biology, 5th Ed. Neil Campbell. (1999) Benjamin Cummings. Read assignments before each lecture! Later review the reading material to supplement the lectures. Use the study outline and self quiz in each chapter to check your understanding and command of the text.

(2) Customized Biology Laboratory Manual. Vodopich & Moore. (1999) Wm. C. Brown. Bring this to every lab, and read through the day’s assignment before the laboratory period.

(3) Subscription to The Biology Place (http://www.biology.com), a large collection of Web-based biology tutorials. If you purchase a new copy of Campbell's Biology, your purchase includes a password that will allow you to subscribe, found as a sticker on the inside front cover of the text. If you obtain a used copy of Campbell's Biology, you will need to purchase a 3-month subscription to The Biology Place for $10. This can be done with a credit-card purchase on-line, or by check. For either purchase, visit the Biology Place, go to “Membership Options”, and fill out the application form as a student in this course. If you do not have a credit card, continue to the end of the forms interview and you will be given an opportunity to print out an order form and mail it in with a check. Your password will be mailed to you promptly. In the interim, you can sign up for a one week free trial that will allow you full access.

(4) Surgical scissors with one blade blunt and one blade sharp. (Second half of the semester only)

(5) Access to the World Wide Web is strongly recommended. Many computer labs are available through the Computer Center, Residential Life, University Library, and others. If you own a computer, consider obtaining an internet connection. This class uses Web materials extensively, especially in the first half of the semester.

(6) E-mail accounts are recommended. Obtain your free account from the Computer Center, Accounts desk in Room 001, Math-Science Building. Bring your student ID. Use this to communicate with your instructor, laboratory teaching assistant, lab partner, etc.

3. Exams, Quizzes, and Grades:

• Exam format : Exams will be 40-50 questions in multiple-choice format. Exams are based on lecture material and assigned readings.

• Exam locations : Students in sections 01-06 will take exams in TLS 154. Students in sections 07-13 will take semester exams in AS 55 (the large lecture hall behind the Coop as you walk towards Mirror Lake). Final exam locations may be different, but will be announced towards the end of the semester.

• Exam dates : There will be four hour exams, each covering 1/4 of the course material, and a one-hour cumulative final examination, on the following dates:

Exam 1 Friday, September 24

Exam 2 Friday, October 22

Exam 3 Friday, November 19

Exam 4 Thursday, Dec. 16 (time and place tba); 1st hour of final period

Final exam Thursday, Dec. 16 (time and place tba); 2nd hour of final period

• Exam point value : The lowest grade of exams 1-4 will automatically be dropped. If you miss an exam, that is the score dropped. The cumulative final exam will not be dropped, but is weighted equally with the best 3 scores of exams 1-4. The average of these exam scores will comprise 70% of your course grade. Exam grades will be scaled if necessary. Your performance in the lab, as determined by your laboratory instructors, will contribute the remaining 30% of your course grade. Note: The registrar has scheduled the date of the final exam for this course on Thursday, Dec. 16. We are not allowed to make other arrangements for the date of the final exam for any student.

4. Exams for students with special needs:

If you have a learning disability or other kind of disability, please feel free to come and discuss this with the lecturer. Also, if English is not your native language and you wish to discuss the possibility of extra time for exams, please see us before the first exam.

5. Makeup Exams:

• Makeup Exam Policy : Makeup exams are available only to students who have a legitimate excuse for missing an exam, such as illness, scheduled job interview out of town, athletic team event out of town, death in the immediate family, etc. If you know in advance that you must miss an exam, see the instructor in advance and bring documentation to support your anticipated absence. If you miss an exam unexpectedly because of last-minute illness or accident, contact the instructor when you return to campus (or by phone if you will be away for some time) with documentation of your situation.

• Makeup Exam Dates : Makeup exams will be given on the following days for those students who missed the scheduled exam and who have received permission to make up the exam. Makeups may include short-answer, short essay, and/or multiple choice questions.

Makeup for Exam #1 Monday Oct. 4, 4:30 p.m., TLS 79

Makeup for Exam #2 Monday, Nov. 1, 4:30 p.m., TLS 79

Makeup for Exam #3 Monday, Nov. 29, 4:30 p.m. , TLS 79

6. Laboratories:

• Dissection Policy. Animal dissection is required for this course. If you are unwilling to carry out the dissection exercises, you should drop this course . Contact Dr. Johnson if you wish to discuss this further.

• Laboratory Grading Policy. This will be presented in your lab section.

• Starting Date for Labs. Laboratories begin on Friday, Sept. 3, which follows a MONDAY schedule for all university classes. Students in sections 01 and 02 should attend lab on Friday, Sept. 3, and will not attend lab on Monday Sept. 13 (Labor Day). All other sections will have their first meeting on Tues-Friday, Sep. 7-10.

• Makeups for missed Monday Columbus Day Labs. Since students with Monday labs will miss lab on Columbus Day (Oct. 11), you must attend a special makeup lab as follows. Section 01 (normally Monday 10-1), attend Thursday Oct. 14 from 6-9 p.m. Section 02 (Monday 1:15-4:15) attend Friday Oct. 15 from 1:15-4:15 p.m. If you absolutely cannot attend this make-up, see the instructor for possible reassignment where space permits. You will not have to attend labs on Monday of Thanksgiving week.

• Attendance Policy. Attendance in lab is mandatory. This semester’s course is enrolled to capacity, and as a result there are at present no vacant seats in lab. You must attend the lab section for which you are registered. If you need to change lab sections, you must do this through the Touch-tone Add-Drop system; your instructors have no control over the availability of seats in lab. There is usually some turnover in lab schedules during the first week, so check the UCLID computer system frequently to see if a space has opened up. If you cannot find an available lab seat that matches your schedule, you should drop the course at this time. Extra lecture and lab sections are being added for the spring of 2000, so you should be able to enroll then.

• Makeup Policy for Labs. All labs are changed at the end of every week, so it is not possible to make up a lab once the week has passed. If you must miss a lab for a valid reason, ask the instructor as soon as possible if there are any spaces available in other labs that week. If possible, the instructor will issue you a lab pass to attend a different lab. However, this depends on the availability of a vacant seat, which may not be possible if sections are filled to capacity. No student may attend a different lab without a pass from the instructor. Note that even if you miss a lab, you are still responsible for the material; it will show up on quizzes and/or the practical exam.

7. Lecture Schedule:

Part I. Cell Structure and Function Dr. Terry

Note: This schedule is intended only as a guide to lecture sequence and readings. The amount of time spent on each topic will vary, and dates of lectures will depart from this schedule accordingly. For updated and accurate information, see the course Web site, updated weekly.

Date Lecture Topics Reading in text

Wed. 1 Sep.	Course Syllabus and Organization . Introduction to the Cell . Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Unicellular and Multicellular Life	Ch. 1 Ch. 7 (pp. 102-107)
Fri. 3 Sep.	Note: Monday labs meet today! Chemicals in the Cell I. Elemental composition. Atoms & isotopes. Strong and weak chemical bonds. Covalent bonds and organic molecules. Ionic and Hydrogen bonds. Polar and non-polar molecules.	Ch. 2
Mon.6 Sep.	Labor Day Holiday — no classes today
Wed. 8 Sep.	Chemicals in the Cell II. Types of chemical reactions. The importance of weak interactions in biological systems. Roles of water, acids, bases, and buffers. Important functional groups.	Ch. 3
Fri. 10 Sep.	Biomolecules I . Important functional groups. Macromolecules & monomers. Isomers.	Ch. 4
Mon. 13 Sep.	Biomolecules II . Lipids & Carbohydrates	Ch. 5
Wed. 15 Sep.	Biomolecules III . Proteins. Nucleic acids.	Ch. 5
Fri. 17 Sep.	Energy transformations & enzymes. Metabolism. Thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, and free energy. Reaction rates and activation energy. Enzymes as 3D stereospecific catalysts	Ch. 6
Mon. 20 Sep.	Eukaryote Cell Organization I. Nucleus and Cytoplasm. Ribosomes and protein synthesis. The endomembrane system: rER, sER, Golgi, lysosomes.	Ch. 7 (pp. 102-116)
Wed. 22 Sep.	Eukaryote Cell Organization II. Organelles: mitochondria, plastids. Cytoskeletal fibers: Dynein and Kinesin. Cell junctions. Cell walls.	Ch. 7 (pp. 116-127)
Fri. 24 Sep.	EXAM #1 — covers all material through Wednesday Sept. 22
Mon. 27 Sep.	Membranes. Structure. Diffusion, transport, and osmosis. Types of membrane transport. Effects of hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions. Endocytosis & exocytosis.	Ch. 8
Wed. 29 Sep.	Metabolism I. Glycolysis & fermentation. ATP. Oxidation and reduction reactions; temporary electron carriers (NADH, FADH) & terminal electron acceptors.	Ch. 9
Fri. 1 Oct.	Metabolism II . Cell respiration. Organization of mitochondria. Electron transport and chemiosmosis. Role of the TCA cycle.	Ch. 9
Mon. 4 Oct.	Cell Communication . Cell signalling. Receptors and transducers. G-proteins. Kinases. Role of cyclic AMP. Note: Makeup exam #1 today at 4:30 p.m., TLS 79	Ch. 11
Wed. 6 Oct.	Chromosomes and Cell Division. Structure of chromatin. Mitosis and cytokinesis. Cell cycle and its regulation. Cancer.	Ch. 12
Fri. 8 Oct.	Meiosis and sexual life cycles. Karyotypes. Meiosis I and II; contrasts with mitosis.	Ch. 13
Mon.11 Oct.	Columbus Day Holiday — no classes today
Wed. 13 Oct.	DNA Replication & RNA transcription . Evidence for the role of DNA as genetic material. Watson-Crick structure. Mechanism of DNA replication. Transcription and role of RNA polymerase.	Ch. 16 Ch. 17 (pp. 294-296, 300-304)
Fri. 15 Oct.	Protein Synthesis & The Genetic Code. Functions of t-RNA, r-RNA, and m-RNA. Ribosome structure and the process of translation. Types of mutations and possible effects. Origin of new genes.	Ch. 17
Mon. 18 Oct	Viruses: genetic parasites . Virions and life cycles. Phage and animal viruses.	Ch. 18 (pp. 319-330)
Wed. 20 Oct.	Gene Organization in Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes. Operons and gene regulation. Discovery of introns and repetitive DNA sequences. Gene duplication and gene families	Ch. 18 (pp. 337-340) Ch. 19 (pp. 344-356)
Fri. 22 Oct.	EXAM #2 — covers all material not covered on Exam #1

Part II. Animal Structure and Function. Dr. Barry Johnson

Date Lecture Topics Reading in text

Mon. 25 Oct.	Intro to Animal Structure and Function. Body plans. Tissues, organs, and organ systems. Bioenergetics. Homeostasis.	Ch. 40
Wed. 27 Oct.	Movement and Locomotion . Motor mechanisms. Musculoskeletal systems. Muscle types. Mechanism of muscle contraction.	Ch. 49 (pp. 1009-1020)
Fri. 29 Oct.	Nutrition I . Types of digestive systems. Stages of food processing.	Ch. 41
Mon. 1 Nov.	Nutrition II . Vertebrate digestive system. Digestive specializations. Hormones & enzymes. Note: Makeup exam #2 today at 4:30 p.m., TLS 79	Ch. 41
Wed. 3 Nov.	Circulation I . Types of transport systems. Mammalian circulatory system: overall design, blood, heart.	Ch. 42
Fri. 5 Nov.	Circulation II . Mammalian circulatory system: blood vessels.	Ch. 42
Mon. 8 Nov.	Respiration. Factors controlling diffusion rate. Adaptations for gas exchange: skin, gills, lungs. Exchange and transport of gases. Control of breathing.	Ch. 42
Wed. 10 Nov.	Defenses Against Disease I . Non-specific defenses. Specific defenses: the immune system.	Ch. 43
Fri. 12 Nov.	Defenses Against Disease II . Immune system: antibodies, vaccines. AIDS.	Ch. 43
Mon. 15 Nov.	Thermo- & Osmoregulation. Regulation of temperature. Osmoregulatory systems in different habitats: marine, freshwater, terrestrial.	Ch. 44
Wed. 17 Nov.	Excretory Systems . Adaptations. Production of urine by the kidney. Hormonal regulation.	Ch. 44
Fri. 19 Nov.	EXAM #3 — covers all material after Exam #2
Mon. 22 Nov.	Chemical Signals I . Types of chemical communication. Mechanisms of hormone action.	Ch. 45
Tue. 23 Nov. (Note: today is Friday!)	Chemical Signals II. Endocrine glands: pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenals, gonads.	Ch. 45
Wed.-Fri. 24-26 Nov	Thanksgiving recess – no classes
Mon. 29 Nov.	Reproduction I . Methods of asexual and sexual reproduction. Male reproductive system. Note: Makeup for Exam #3, 4:30 p.m., TLS 79	Ch. 46
Wed. 1 Dec.	Reproduction II . Female reproductive system. Birth control.	Ch. 46
Fri. 3 Dec.	Animal Development. Fertilization, organogenesis, cellular signals.	Ch. 47
Mon. 6 Dec.	Nervous Systems I . Neurons and glial cells, resting potential, action potential.	Ch. 48
Wed. 8 Dec.	Nervous Systems II. Synapses: synaptic communication, neurotransmitters, drugs.	Ch. 48
Fri. 10 Dec.	Nervous Systems III. Organization of the vertebrate nervous system.	Ch. 48
Mon. 13 Dec.	Nervous Systems IV. Sensory receptors: Types, roles, mechanisms of transduction.	Ch. 49
Thu. 16 Dec.	EXAM #4 & FINAL — covers all material

8. Laboratory Schedule:

Materials: available at UConn Coop

(1) Customized Biology Laboratory Manual. Vodopich & Moore. (1999) Wm. C. Brown.

(2) Surgical scissors with one blade blunt and one blade sharp. If desired, you may assemble or purchase a complete kit including: scalpel, probe, ruler as well as scissors.

Date

Topic

Pages in Lab Manual

Sep. 3-10

Ex. 2: The Microscope: Basic Skills of Light Microscopy.
Ex. 4: Solutions, Acids, and Bases.

pp. 9 - 2

pp. 37 - 40

Sep. 13-17

Ex. 6: Separating Organic Compounds – Column Chromatography.
Ex. 7: Spectrophotometry (chlorophyll optional)

pp. 55 — 57

pp. 65 - 74

Sep. 20-24

Ex. 10: Enzymes

pp. 97 - 108

Sep. 27 - Oct. 1

Ex. 3: The Cell

pp. 23 - 36

Oct. 4-8

Ex. 8: Diffusion and Osmosis
Ex. 9: Cellular Membranes

pp. 75 — 88
pp. 89 — 95

Oct. 12-15

Ex. 13: Mitosis
Ex. 14: Meiosis

Note: Monday Labs meet as follows
Section 01 meet Thurs Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m.
Section 02 meet Friday Oct. 15, 1:15-4:15 p.m.

pp. 133 - 141
pp. 143 - 152

Oct. 18-22

Ex. 6: Separating Organic Compounds – Gel Electrophoresis
Ex. 15: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

pp. 59 -64
pp. 153 - 160

Oct. 25-29

Ex. 40 (6-11): Animal Tissues (connective, bone, muscle)
Ex. 41: Human Biology: The Human Skeletal System
Ex. 42: Human Biology: Muscles and Muscle Contraction

pp. 428 — 433
pp. 437 — 440
pp. 441 - 448

Nov. 1-5

Note: starting today, bring your surgical scissors to every lab.
Ex. 40 (1-5): Animal Tissues (epithelia, glands)
Ex. 46: Vertebrate Anatomy: External (rat)
Ex. 47: Vertebrate Anatomy: Internal Organs (rat)

pp. 423 - 427
pp. 479 — 485
pp. 487 - 493

Nov. 8-12

Ex. 40 (11-12): Animal Tissues (smooth, cardiac muscle)
Ex. 48: Vertebrate Anatomy: Urogenital and Circulatory

pp. 433 - 434
pp. 495 - 505

Nov. 15-19

Ex. 40 (5-6): Animal Tissues (blood cells)
Ex. 43 (1-3, 8): Human Biology: Breathing
Ex. 44 (1-7): Human Biology: Circulation and Blood Pressure
ECG, Blood Typing exercises

pp. 427 - 428
pp. 449 — 452, 456
pp. 457 - 463

Nov. 22-26

NO LABS (Thanksgiving Week)  

Nov. 29 — Dec. 3

Ex. 40 (12): Animal Tissues (neurons)
Ex. 45: Human Biology: Sensory Perception
Lab topic 29: Investigating Nervous and Sensory Systems (anatomy)

p. 434
pp. 469 - 478
pp. 431- 438

Dec. 6-10

Practical Exam. Anatomy & Physiology  

Dec. 13-14

NO LABS  

9. How to succeed in this course:

If everyone knew how to study effectively, everyone would be a genius. Studying any science is an art, and like all arts requires discipline and focus. If you read a biology text the way you read a novel, you will miss 90% of what you should be getting.

• Learn to read effectively . The key to successful science text reading involves “Active Reading”, as follows:

(1) When you first acquire the text, skim the whole book to find out what resources it contains. Read “About the authors” and the Preface on pp. iv-vii. Look at the Brief Contents on page xiv to see what the book covers. Read one of the interviews with famous scientists (listed on page xiii). Look at the end of any chapter and note the organization of the review, self-quiz, challenge questions, further reading and web links. Note that there are four appendices: what do they cover? Look up the term “apoptosis” in the Glossary and index as a sample exercise. What does the index to a reference with an “ f” tell you (e.g., 407 f)?

(2) Before class, skim the assigned chapter. Read the section titles, not the text. Look at the figures and read a few figure captions. Now, close the book and ask yourself: “What is this chapter about? What topics are covered? What do I already know about this?” Don’t just assume that, because you read the chapter, you will remember. Active reading requires that you stop, frequently, ask yourself questions, and answer as best you can without looking back at the book.

(3) As soon as possible, either before or within a day of a lecture, take an hour or two to read the assigned chapter carefully. Again, use the “Active reading” technique: read one section, then look away from the book and ask yourself questions. “What is this section about? What do the figures illustrate? Do I understand this?” Have blank paper handy, and draw your own version from memory of some of the important figures. Go to the self-quiz and find a question on that section’s material to test yourself with. Then continue with the next section. Time yourself, and once you begin to feel you’ve saturated your brain, STOP! Take a break, do something different, continue with the text later on. Use the end-of-chapter questions and the instructor’s review questions to evaluate yourself as frequently as possible. Keep a list of terms from the reading, and use these terms in your self-quizzing. Make flashcards of terms, and keep reviewing the ones you get wrong.

(4) Don’t wait until the night before the exam to study. If you practice active learning regularly, you should be comfortable preparing for an exam with minimal time investment. The best single thing you can do to prepare for an exam is get a good night’s sleep, so your brain is alert and rested. Exams are in some ways like athletic events; they put pressure on you to excel, and are best prepared for steady, regular preparation and good rest. Exams will often occur during busy times of the semester, when you have other exams, papers due, etc. Waiting to study material until just before an exam is like waiting to work out at the gym until just before an athletic event.

Some of you may find that attending lectures and reading the text is all the support you need. Others will have problems with some of the material. We offer several forms of support to help you with difficulties you may experience. Different students have different optimum learning stratagems; we urge you to experiment with the options listed, and find what best helps you.

• Web Class Site. We will be posting many materials for your use on the “Virtual Classroom”, a UConn server for the “World Wide Web”, available to you through any internet connection by typing the following URL (uniform resource locator, found at http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~bi107vc/fa99/home107.html. This address is case-sensitive; don’t use upper case letters! These materials include class announcements and updates, interactive practice exams and review questions to help you prepare for exams, web activities for specific topics in lecture, an electronic bulletin board where you can send messages to your instructor and read answers to questions and comments, links to important biology sites on the Web, lecture notes, and more. Using the web is easy; you just “point and click” to access different screens with different topics. This will be demonstrated in class. If you have difficulties using the Web, feel free to ask your instructor for some personal instruction.

• Handouts. Handouts will be given from time to time in lecture; these may include suggestions for specific material and/or study problems. Spend some time with these materials as soon as you can review them — don’t just put them aside and wait till the night before an exam to look at them.

• Supplemental Instruction (SI). Salvatore Docimo, Jr., an undergraduate student who has taken this course previously and demonstrated excellent student skills, will lead several SI sessions each week covering current material. These sessions will make use of cooperative learning techniques to help students improve mastery of troublesome concepts and ideas. Times and locations of the sessions will be announced in class. We strongly urge you to attend an SI session early in the course if you are experiencing difficulty or uncertainty with any of the course material — don’t wait until after the first exam! Based on national statistics, students who attend SI sessions regularly can expect to improve their grade between one-half to a full letter grade. Sal’s e-mail address is: <sdocimo@hotmail.com>.

• Interactive Study Partner CD-ROM. Your text comes with a free CD-ROM that includes 20 quiz questions for each chapter, as well as interactive exercises, animations, and more.

• Review Sessions. Your instructors will offer occasional review sessions where you can ask questions about any of the material you wish to review or have difficulty with.

• Office visits and E-mail questions. Your instructors are available for individual consultation regarding any aspect of the course. If you have unanswered questions or concerns, or are in serious academic trouble, see us after class, during office hours, or contact us by E-mail.