Biology 1030A. Introduction to Biology: Organismal Biology

Room location: 1025 BC (Biology-Chemistry); Days and time: MTWR: 8:00-9:25 am. 6/11/08-7/29/08.

Instructor information: Dr. John B. Pascarella; Office hours are 11:30am-12:30 pm  M and W and 9:30-9:50am TR or by appointment. Office is BC 1097. Phone: 333-5766. E-mail: jbpascar@valdosta.edu;  

Web page: http://chiron.valdosta.edu/jbpascar/

Text. Biology, The Unity and Diversity of Life, 11th Edition, 2006, Starr and Taggart, Thompson/Brooks-Cole. Available in campus bookstore and on-line book sellers.

Course Objectives. This course will introduce non-majors to the study of biology, with emphasis on the processes involved in the development and maintenance of complex multicellular organisms.

Attendance and Behavior. You are expected to attend all class sessions. Please be considerate of others in the classroom and refrain from non-class related talking. Please turn off all cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic communication devices. If a repeated problem develops with noise or behavior in class, I will reduce your grade by a letter grade. NO FOOD OR DRINK. Repeated offenses will result in loss of a letter grade. 

Grading. There will be four semester exams. Each exam will be worth 100 points. Make-up exams will be given only with a valid excuse (medical, sports). You must notify me by the day of the exam or the next academic day (Monday-Friday) regarding a missed exam. Car broke down, slept in, and family problems are not valid excuses. Your final grade will be calculated as the total points from the four exams plus 100 points from the following: in-class video worksheets, assigned homework, in-class group activities, in-class pop quizzes, and random attendance checks.  Letter grades will follow standard 10% levels (90,80,70,60, <60%) of average points achieved by the class.

Cheating and plagiarism: Please refer to the VSU Student Handbook Code of Ethics for policies concerning cheating and plagiarism. Or Don't Cheat!

Privacy Act: Please refer to the VSU Student Handbook Code of Ethics for a statement on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Under this act, it is illegal to release personal information (grades) about an individual. Grades will not be posted or given out over the phone or e-mail. To obtain your current or final grade during the course, please speak to me during office hours.

Special Services: Students requiring classroom accommodations or modifications because of a documented disability should discuss this need with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Students not registered with the Special Services Program, should contact the Special Services Office, Nevins Hall 1115 (phone: 245-2498).


Tentative schedule

If changes occur, they will be announced during the course and posted here.

 

Topic

Date

Reading from book

Invitation to Biology

6/11

Introduction, CH. 1

Chemistry of Life

6/12, 6/16, 6/17

Ch. 2 & 3

Cell Structure & Membranes

6/18-6/19

Ch. 4 and 5

Test 1

6/23

Ch 1-5

Energy and Photosynthesis

6/24-6/26

Ch 6 & 7

Respiration

6/30-7/2

Ch. 8

Test 2

7/3

Ch 6-8

Cell Division (mitosis. Meiosis)

7/7 -7/9

Ch. 9 & 10

Mendel & Chromosomes

7/10, 7/14-7/15

Ch. 11 & 12

Test 3

7/16

Ch 9-12

DNA and Protein Synthesis

7/17, 7/21-22

Ch. 13 & 14

Gene control and genomes

7/23 and 7/28

Ch. 15 & 16

Test 4

7/29

Ch 13-16