Dr. Sandra Thompson-Jaeger
Associate Professor of Biology
CW114
Tel: 901.321.3453
Homepage: http://www.cbu.edu/~sthompso
Principles of Biology BIOL 111
Course description: the first half of a comprehensive study of contemporary biology, this semester covers biochemistry, cytology, photosynthesis, energy metabolism, cell division, development, genetics, evolution, systematics and taxonomy of viruses, monerans, protists, fungi and plants. This course includes three lectures and one discussion section per week. Corequisites: Biol 111L and Chem 101 or higher. One semester, three credits.
Required textbook: Biology by Campbell
and Reece (8th edition)
Class time/attendance: MWF 10-10:50 am lecture; Discussion session Thursday 8:30-9:20 am.
You are strongly encouraged
to attend every lecture. According to University policy, those missing eight
or more lectures will be given a failing grade for the semester. If you miss
class, you are responsible for the material covered, as well as for any announcements
(about quizzes, assignments, etc.) that were made during the class period.
Objectives: to provide a basic understanding of the concepts of modern biology, emphasizing the flow of energy in living systems, transmission of information, correlation between structure and function at all levels of biological organization, evolution and diversity of life.
Grading: there will be five 100-point exams, four given during lecture periods, and the fifth during finals week. The last exam will be cumulative.
You will have eight 20-point quizzes and an information literacy assignment worth 30 points. There may be additional short assignments, give at my discretion.
Total points that can be earned are approximately 670. The grading scale is 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, and below 60% F.
Attendance and class participation will be considered for those students who have a borderline grade.
Make up exam/quiz policy: excused absences on the day of an exam include severe illness and death in the immediate family. If you are too ill to come and take an exam, call me or leave a message with Ms. Leah Allen, administrative assistant to the Dean of Sciences. You MUST document any illness with a doctor's note when you return to class.
Be aware that a make-up exam may be of different format, for example, it could consist of ten 10-point short essays, rather than the more typical multiple choice/fill in the blank/short essay format.
You may drop your lowest 20-point quiz grade. There will be NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. If you miss a quiz because of an unexcused absence, your grade for that quiz will be zero. If your absence is excused (see reasons, above), you will not be penalized for missing the quiz, although, again, THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZ given.
Study hints: Your understanding of the subject matter will be greatly enhanced by reading the textbook. Ideally, you should read each chapter BEFORE it is covered in class, but if you cannot, try to read the chapter the day it is covered in class! As you read the text, follow your class notes, and fill in areas where you had misunderstandings. Do NOT wait until the week of the exam and expect to cram six chapters of material into your brain! It is a recipe for failure.
Get plenty of rest the night before an exam! It has been documented that those who pull all-nighters generally have lower grades.
Lecture Topic Schedule:
Month |
Day |
Text Chapter |
Topic |
|
August |
24 |
1 |
Intro/cell theory/evolution |
|
|
26 |
2 |
Atoms and molecules |
|
|
27 |
|
Learning: your first job Ch 2, 3 textbook activities |
|
|
28 |
3 |
Water and pH |
|
|
31 |
4 |
Carbon compounds |
|
September |
2 |
5 |
Macromolecules |
|
|
3 |
|
Quiz 1
|
|
|
4 |
5 |
Macromolecules |
|
|
7 |
|
LABOR DAY! |
|
|
9 |
6 |
The cell |
|
|
10 |
|
Quiz 2
|
|
|
11 |
6 |
The cell |
|
|
14 |
7 |
Membranes |
|
|
16 |
7/8 |
Membranes/Metabolism |
|
|
17 |
|
Catch-up and review |
|
|
18 |
EXAM I |
Chapters 1-7 |
|
|
21 |
8 |
Metabolism |
|
|
23 |
9 |
Respiration |
|
|
24 |
|
Library activity (meet just inside Plough Library) |
|
|
25 |
9 |
Respiration |
|
|
28 |
10 |
Photosynthesis |
|
|
30 |
10 |
Photosynthesis |
|
October |
1 |
|
Quiz 3
|
|
|
2 |
11 |
Signal Transduction |
|
|
5 |
12 |
Mitosis |
|
|
7 |
12 |
Cell cycle control |
|
|
8 |
|
Quiz 4
|
|
|
9 |
13 |
Meiosis |
|
|
12 |
14 |
Mendel |
|
|
14 |
|
Catch-up and review |
|
|
15 |
EXAM II |
Chapters
8-13 |
|
|
16 |
14 |
Mendel |
|
|
19-23 |
|
Fall Break!!! |
|
|
26 |
15 |
Chromosomes |
|
|
28 |
15 |
Chromosomes |
|
|
29 |
|
Quiz 5
|
|
|
30 |
16 |
DNA as genetic material |
|
November |
2 |
16 |
DNA replication |
|
|
4 |
17 |
Genetic code |
|
|
5 |
|
Quiz 6
|
|
|
6 |
17 |
Transcription |
|
|
9 |
17 |
Translation |
|
|
11 |
18 |
Regulation of gene expression |
|
|
12 |
|
Quiz 7
|
|
|
13 |
18 |
Regulation of gene expression |
|
|
16 |
EXAM III |
Chapters 14-17 |
|
|
18 |
18 |
Genetics of cancer |
|
|
19 |
|
Film/Ethical issues |
|
|
20 |
19 |
Viruses |
|
|
23 |
19 |
Viruses |
|
|
25 |
22 |
Descent with Modification |
|
|
30 |
23 |
Evolution of Populations |
December
|
2 |
24 |
Origin of Species |
|
|
3 |
|
Quiz 8
|
|
|
4 |
27 |
Bacteria and Archaea |
|
|
7 |
28 |
Protists |
|
|
9 |
28 |
Exam review |
|
|
10 |
EXAM IV |
Chapters 18-27 |
|
|
11 |
31 |
Fungi |
|
|
|
|
|
EXAM V will be given during Finals Week (December 14-18). It will be cumulative.
The topic schedule shown above is an approximation of the dates we will cover the material. There may be some changes as we find that more/less time is needed for some topics. Exam dates are firm.
Cheating will not be tolerated. Anyone found cheating may be given an F for the course. Please turn off/silence all electronic devices while you are in the classroom, unless instructed to do otherwise.