Santa Ana College, Fall 2018                                  Patricia Caldani (instructor)     

Lecture: Lecture Monday, Wednesday 08:35AM - 10:00AM email: pcaldani@sac.edu          office hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:00-11:00pm

                             

BIOLOGY 109 Fundamentals of Biology (55605)

 

Course Description:

This is an introductory course focused on basic principles of biology and science. You will learn about cell biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, etc. This course is intended for students not majoring in biology

 

 

Required Materials: Reece, J.B., Taylor, M.R., Simon, E.J. & Dickey, J.L. 2011. Biology: Concepts and Connections. 8th edition. Benjamin Cummings. Carrol, S.B. 2009. Into the Jungle. Pearson Benjamin Cummings

 

 

This is a class schedule of topics and exams for the semester. You are expected to read and study the assigned text chapters before coming to class. Exams will cover concepts from lecture, lab, discussions, and your text.

 

Santa Ana College Catalog and Class Schedule

The Santa Ana College Catalog and the Class Schedule contain a number of policies relating to students that are important to you. Please be sure that you have read these publications thoroughly. You may read these publications online at the Santa Ana College website, www.sac.edu.

 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Communication Skills

1. Reading and Writing - Students will develop their ability to comprehend readings on biological subjects.
2. Reading and Writing - Students will learn the basics of the technical vocabulary of biology.

Thinking and Reasoning

1. Critical Thinking - Students will develop their critical thinking skills by evaluating scientific evidence to reach valid conclusions.

 

 

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course a successful student will be able to:

• Discuss the scientific method, including identification of dependent, independent, and standardized variables, and the role of a control group.
• Apply the metric system of measurement: gram, liter, meter, and degree Celsius.
• Explain the theory of evolution by means of natural selection, and evidence across biological disciplines.
• Interpret the Linnean system of taxonomical classification.
• Identify properties that distinguish living and non-living things.
• Compare prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
• Describe the structure of atoms and the rules underlying the formation of molecules.
• Discuss the unique properties of water and the concept of pH.
• Illustrate the structure and function of major biological molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and how to perform simple qualitative tests in the lab.
• Describe cell structure: including major organelles of eukaryotic cells.
• Operate the microscope to view living things on the cellular level.
• Explain the role of enzymes in the control of chemical reactions in organisms, and how to assay enzyme activity in a laboratory setting.
• Distinguish endergonic and exergonic reactions, and the role of ATP in cell metabolism.
• Compare the similarities and differences between cellular respiration and photosynthesis in energy metabolism, and how to model these processes in the laboratory.
• Explain the cellular basis of asexual and sexual reproduction, and the processes of mitosis and meiosis, including examination of the mitosis in the microscope.
• Identify simple Mendelian patterns of inheritance and the use of Punnet squares in the analysis of monohybrid and dihybrid crosses.
• Discuss the modern concept of a gene, and the processes of transcription and translation.
• Compare the basic structure and function of angiosperms and gymnosperms.
• Describe the structure and function of important human organ systems, including at least: digestive, circulatory, and reproductive   Required Books and MaterialsCourse GradeLecture: There will be 3 midterm exams worth 50 points each.The Final Exam will not be comprehensive, but will be worth 100 points..3 Midterm Exams                                        Each exam is worth 50 pts (150 pts)Quizzes                                                           40                                                                                    TOTAL 240 ptsExams and quizzes will consist of true/false, multiple choice and matching questions answered on Scantron forms and there may be one or more short answer questions per exam. You will be expected to provide Scantron forms (available in the bookstore) and a no. 2 pencil with a good eraser for each exam or quiz. Any make-up exams or quizzes will be more challenging and                                                            The grade scale is: (80-89%)                    B (55-64%)                    D Attendancewhether or not you are present.Withdrawals: Should you decide to withdraw, it is your responsibility to officially drop the class. Failure to formally drop will result in a failing grade.      
• This is a demanding class covering a lot of information. Here are some suggestions:
• Recommendations for Success
• A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the instructor and to the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS). To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Learning Disabilities Program in The Village, VL-203, or phone (714) 564-6264, TTY (714) 564-6284 for a referral to the appropriate DSPS Department.
• Special Accommodations
•  
•  
• Roll will be taken. There is a strong correlation between poor attendance and poor grades. You are responsible for information, exam announcements, date changes, etc. presented in class,
•  
• (below 55%)               F
• (65-79%)                    C
• (90-100%)                  A
• contain short answer questions.
•  
• Final Exam                                                    100 pts
• Assignments                                                   50
•  
• Your Course Grade will be weighted as follows:
• 5 SCANTRON 882-E forms; No. 2 pencils
•  

• do NOT fall behind in the course, keep up with the material on a weekly basis
• each time you study, spend a few minutes reviewing previous lessons
• (this is the secret to long term memory)

• outline the powerpoint notes, this will help you to mentally organize the large amount of material you will be learning

• use associations, acronyms to help you remember things
• create flash cards and form study groups if you find that helpful
• keep up with the Mastering Biology assignments on a weekly basis, this will help you to better learn the material and avoid losing free points

• know the key terms (you can’t answer questions correctly if you don’t!)
• at a minimum, you should learn the course material 3 times in order to  2)   read the corresponding material in the text while reviewing your notes              s   
• The Code of Honor and Integrity is an undertaking of the students, first and foremost, both individually and collectively, that they will:
• Students at Santa Ana College, because they are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence and the pursuit of honor, are expected to meet high standards of personal, ethical, and moral conduct.
•  
• Code of Honor and Integrity
•  
• ***If you don’t do at least this much, you won’t do well in this class***
• 3)   review your notes and key terms before the exams
• 1)   comprehend the class material during the lecture
• retain it well for the exams and quizzes:

1. Not give or receive dishonorable aid during exams, quizzes or assignments

2. Do their share and take an active part in seeing to it that fellow students, as well

                        as themselves, uphold the spirit and letter of the Code of Honor and Integrity.

Some examples of conduct that are regarded as being in violation of the Honor Code include:

 

• Copying from another’s examination or quiz, or allowing another to copy from one’s own papers
• Using any unpermitted source of information, human or other, during an exam, quiz or assignment that influences the grade; this includes the use of technological devices
• Any student-to-student collaboration that is unpermitted
• Plagiarism (plagiarism is defined as the use, without giving reasonable and appropriate credit to, or acknowledging the author or source, of another person's original work)
• Representing the work of another as one’s own work
• Giving or receiving aid on an academic assignment under circumstances in which a reasonable person should have known that such aid is not permitted

 

As a part of the effort to promote an environment of honesty and integrity during quizzes and examinations, the following guidelines will apply for any courses in the Department of Life Sciences:

 

1. Students will leave all books and all other non-essential items (e.g. paper, electronic 
2. devices) on the floor so that they are not useable nor block the sight line between professor and student. No electronic devices will be in reach.
3. Students will not communicate in any way that will dishonorably assist themselves or another student.
4.  
5. Students will leave the room during an exam only if permitted by the professor’s policy. If permitted, only one student may leave the room at any time and be gone for only the average length of time needed for the stated purpose. Students will leave all purses, bags, books, phones, jackets, etc., in the classroom during the absence.
6.  
7. Students will promote the spirit and letter of the Code of Honesty and Integrity by dissuading fellow students from dishonest activity and, when such casual persuasion does not work, informing the professor of the possible dishonest activity, either anonymously, or otherwise.
8.  
9. Students will make every effort to avoid even the appearance of dishonesty or lack of integrity.

 

Violation of this policy will not be tolerated and violators will be subject to severe penalties. The success of the Code of Honor and Integrity is based upon the collective desire of students, faculty and the community to live in an environment that embraces respect for that which is right – both in the college and in society as a whole.

 

LECTURE SCHEDULE

(tentative)

 

Week	Date	*Lecture Topic (textbook reading)
1	8/27-8/31	Introduction; Scientific Method (ch 1)
		Atoms, Molecules & Water (ch 2)
2	9/3-9/7	Atoms, Molecules & Water (cont’d) (ch 2)
		Biological Macromolecules (ch 3) Enzymes
3	9/10-9/14	Biological Macromolecules (cont’d) (ch 3)
		Cell Structure (ch 4)
4	9/17-9/21	Membranes & Membrane Transport (ch 5.1-9) Exam 1 Chapters 1 to 5.1-9 (lectures 1-3)
5	9/24-9/28	Energy & Enzymes (ch 5.10-16)
		Cellular Respiration (ch 6)
6	10/1-10/5
		Photosynthesis (ch 7)
7	10/8-10/12	DNA Structure & Replication (ch 10.1-5)
		DNA Replication/Transcription/Translation
8	10/15-10/19	Gene Expression (ch 10.6-16)
		Cell Division: Mitosis & Meiosis (ch 8)
9	10/22-10/26	EXAM 2 Chapters 5.10-16, 7, 10,16, 8 (Lectures 4-8)
		Principles of Genetic Inheritance (ch 9)
10	10/29-11/2	Principles of Genetic Inheritance (ch 9)
		Evolution & Natural Selection (ch 13)
11	11/5-11/9	Evolutionary History & the Origin of Species (ch 14 & ch 15)
		Biological Communities & Ecosystems (ch 37)
12	11/12-11/16	Exam   3 Chapters 9, 13-15, 37 (Lectures 9-12)
13	11/19-11/23	Tissues & Organ Systems (ch 20)
		Digestive (ch 21), Respiratory (ch 22) & Urinary (ch 25) Systems
14	11/26-11/30	The Cardiovascular System (ch 23)
15	12/3-12/7	Reproduction & Embryonic Development (ch 27) Final Exam Review (Lectures 13-18)
16		Final Exam Dec 10-16