Christian Brothers University 
Biol 212 and Biol 212L Departmental Syllabus
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Laboratory

Catalog Data and Goals The Comparative Anatomy course is a study of the structural and functional evolution of selected organ systems in representative vertebrates.  The first part of the course reviews the principals of the comparative method and the phylogenetic (evolutionary) relationships among vertebrates. In the remainder of the course, structures and their organization are interpreted in terms of their embryological development, phylogeny, and functional adaptations.
Lecture and laboratory materials will often overlap, and some use of lab time to introduce or review lecture concepts is expected.  The laboratory room will be available for additional study during posted hours. 
You will want to take advantage of the opportunity to study in the lab in addition to the required class and lab sessions.  Students are encouraged to study together.  The laboratory course will require your active participation in the dissection of vertebrate specimens including shark, amphibian and cat.  The lab is a required part of the course.
You will need to read the assigned text material and the appropriate lab material before you come to lecture or lab.  You will need your textbook and course supplement with you during all lecture meetings and most labs.  You will need your lab manual and course supplement for all lab meetings.  The lab room (S216) will be available during posted hours so that you can review lab materials and complete lab assignments.  * You will want to spend about two hours per week working in S216 in addition to the scheduled lab sessions.
  • Lecture: 3 credits. (Usually Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 9:00-9:50 a.m. in S216.)
  • Lab: 1 credit. (Usually Tues. at 2:00-4:50 p.m. in S216.)
  • Lecture and Lab are co-requisites and must be taken concurrently. 
  • This course is a Group II Biology Elective applicable to the biology major. 
  • The course is offered only during the Spring semester. 
Textbooks and
References
  • Required Text: 

    • Walker, Warren F. and Karl F. Liem.  1994.  Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates:  An Evolutionary Perspective.  Second edition.  Saunders.
  • Required Laboratory Manual: 

    • Wischnitzer, Saul.  1993.  Atlas and Dissection Guide for Comparative Anatomy, 5th  edition.  Freeman.
  • Required Supplement: 

    • Ross, Anna E. BIOL 212 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lecture and Laboratory Course Supplement.  CBU Printing Services.
  • Digital course materials: 

    • Comparative Anatomy Course Web Site
    Digital Images, lecture slides, etc.:  Available to CBU students on the shared directory \\valshare\biology
Prerequisites by Topic The student should have developed the reading, writing, and study skills required to continue sophomore level course work in biology. The prerequisite year of college biology with laboratory should include an introduction to the evolution, cell biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, and development of vertebrates. The prerequisite course should also include the use of compound and dissecting microscopes, identification of animal tissues and organs from microscope slides and photomicrographs, interpreting detailed diagrams of vertebrate anatomy, and dissection of the organ systems of a representative vertebrate.
Prerequisite
Courses		 Sophomore or higher class standing.
BIOL 111 and 112 (Principles of Biology I and II and their labs). 
BIOL 211 (Vertebrate Embryology and lab) is highly recommended as a prerequisite.
  • Students who have not achieved grades of "C" or better in each of the prerequisite courses are advised to repeat the necessary courses before attempting further course work in biology. 
Professor and
Course Coordinator		 Dr. Anna E. Ross, Associate Professor of Biology. 
  • Home page: http://www.cbu.edu/~aross 
  • Office: Science Building Room 203G 

    • Office Phone: 901-321-3436 
    Email: aross@cbu.edu
    Usual office hours for Spring Semester: Monday & Friday 2:00-5:30; Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-5:30.  Additional times by appointment.
Schedule for the Lecture Course
Class #
 Topic Text Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6-7
8
9
 Comparative Anatomy
Evolution and Phylogenies
Origin of Vertebrates
Agnatha
Placoderms, Chondrichthyes
Chondrichthyes
Osteichthyes
Lecture EXAM 1		 1
1-2
2
3
3
3
3
(1-3)
10
11
12
13
14
 Amphibia, Reptilia
Reptilia
Reptilia, Aves
Mammalia
Lecture EXAM 2		 3
3
3
3
(3)
15
16-18
19
20
21
22
23-24
25-27
28
 Integument
Head Skeleton
Head and Trunk Skeleton
Skeleton
Lecture EXAM 3
Trunk and Appendicular Skeleton
Skeleton
Muscular System
Lecture EXAM 4		 5
6-7
7-8
8
(5-7)
8
8
9
(8-9)
29
30-32
33-34
35
36
 Body cavity and mesenteries
Digestive System
Respiratory System
Circulatory System
Lecture EXAM 5		 15
16-17
18
19
(15-18)
37-38
39-41
42-43
 Circulatory System
Excretory System
Reproductive System		 19
20
21
Exam
week
 Lecture EXAM 6 (19-21)
     
Schedule for the Lab Course
Lab #
 Lab Activities 
1
 Protochordates and Chordates:  Anatomy, Phylogeny, & Taxonomy
2
 Lamprey: Larva and Adult; Fish Phylogeny
Lab QUIZ 1
3
 Fish Phylogeny & Skin, Scales
Lab QUIZ 2
4
 Skeleton (Shark & Amphibian) 
Lab QUIZ 3
5
 Skeleton (Cat)
Lab QUIZ 4
6
 Muscles (Shark and Necturus)
Lab QUIZ 5
7
 LAB MIDTERM EXAM, 100 pts.
Start Cat Muscles
8
 Lab #8 Cat Muscles (plus Homework:  Worksheet)
No Lab Quiz
9
 Digestive and Respiratory Systems
Lab QUIZ 6
10
 Circulatory Systems (Shark, Necturus)
Lab QUIZ 7
11
 Circulatory Systems (Cat; Pig Heart; Video)
Lab QUIZ 8
12
 Urogenital Sys. (Shark, Necturus, Cat)
Lab QUIZ 9
13
 Shark Nervous System and Shark Sense Organs 
Lab QUIZ 10
14
 Nervous System (Necturus, Mammal)
Lab QUIZ 11
15
 Sense Organs (Mammal) and Review 
Lab QUIZ 12
Exam week
 LAB FINAL EXAM (100 points)
Resources The course has been structured to afford you every opportunity to develop your ability to learn, to master the required material, and to demonstrate your success in these endeavors.  Students who choose to enroll in this course are seeking rigorous pre-professional preparation.  This course will provide the level of preparation you require.  Nevertheless, you need not feel intimidated by the demanding career path you have selected.  Dr. Ross is available to help you overcome any difficulties you may have with the course material and to help you do your best work. 
Attendance Lecture and lab attendance are both required. 
[CBU professors are required to take attendance and submit attendance records to the registrar.]
You are responsible for all information presented during lecture and laboratory sessions. 
Laboratory sessions will require the entire scheduled period.  You will be responsible for cleaning up before you leave lab.  Therefore, do not expect to be out of lab before the scheduled time. 
Attendance at quizzes and exams is required.  If you miss lecture or lab for any reason, you will need to inform me and you are responsible for making up the missed work on your own time (you must have me verify that you have made up missed lab work).  Any absences will lower your grade.  You will be withdrawn from the course or receive an “F” for excessive absences.
Laboratory attendance is required.  In a laboratory course, there is simply no substitute for “being there.”  Much of the benefit of the lab course is derived from your active participation during the scheduled lab meetings.  You will learn more by working with your classmates doing the lab than can be assessed by any quiz or exam.  In fact, your active participation in lab is so important that no quiz or exam scores could possibly be high enough to compensate for missing the actual experience of being present in the laboratory. Therefore, you must attend all of the labs to pass the course.
Exams and Grades Your grade in the lecture and lab courses will be determined by your own achievement. There is no curve. In this course, you may not use old exams or quizzes in any form.  You may not use notes referring to specific exam or quiz questions or answers from any previous course. 
  • Each lecture or lab exam is worth 100 points. 
  • Lab quizzes are worth 20 points.
  • Grading scale: 90.0-100+% = A, 80.0-89.9% = B, 70.0-79.9% = C, 60.0-69.9% = D, below 60.0% = F.

    • Makeup lecture exams, lab exams, or quizzes will only be available under extraordinary circumstances.
The Lecture Course:
 Six lecture exams will be given.  Exams are 100 points each (a total of 600 points for the course).  Lecture quizzes may be given on short notice, if so, they will increase the 600 point total to the lecture course and no makeups will be available for quizzes missed due to unexcused absence.  All lecture exams are comprehensive.  No exam may be dropped.  Makeup exams will only be available under extraordinary circumstances.
  • If you miss an exam you must either have made prior arrangement for a makeup exam or, you must notify me within one hour of the scheduled exam time to request and schedule a makeup exam, otherwise you will not be eligible for a makeup exam and you will receive a zero for the missed exam.  Ordinarily, no makeup exams are granted and a student will not be allowed more than one makeup exam or quiz for the course.
Lecture exams will cover the topics indicated on the current schedule unless specific changes are announced in class.  Each exam will cover material from lecture, the supplement, digital course resources, and the text.  It is expected that material studied in laboratory will also be incorporated into your responses on lecture exams.  Exams will consist of specific essay questions, short answer, and objective questions.  Exam questions may require well labeled diagrams and will always require detailed and precise responses employing the specialized terminology introduced in the course.
Additional work sheets and short writing assignments may be given in lecture and lab.  Satisfactory completion of these assignments will be required to pass the course but the assignments may not receive a letter grade.
The Laboratory Course:
Twelve lab quizzes will be given.  Each quiz will count 20 points.  Your lowest quiz grade (of quizzes you take) will be dropped.  You may not drop a zero quiz score received because of an unexcused absence.  Thus, your eleven best lab quizzes will total 220 points of the 420 point total for the lab course.  Lab quizzes will consist of practical and short answer questions on the material covered during previous lab sessions.  This material may include information from lecture, the course supplement, lab manual, website, and the text.
  • Lab quizzes will begin 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.  If you are late without making prior arrangement, you may receive a zero on that week’s quiz.  No absences from lab are permitted.  Any lab work missed because of an excused absence must be made up prior to the next week’s lab.  Makeups for lab quizzes will only be available under extraordinary circumstances.  * You must make prior arrangement or notify me within one hour of the scheduled quiz time to be eligible for a makeup quiz. 
The Lab Midterm Exam and the Lab Final Exam will each count 100 points.  Lab exams will be practical exams covering structural details and their functions.  It may be impossible to make up a missed lab exam.  You will also be evaluated on your cooperation and efforts in lab and on the results of your dissections.  Pairs or teams of students will work together to prepare specimens.
  • For more information about this course, contact  Dr. Ross: aross@cbu.edu.
[Revised June 2000 / AER]

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