Principles of Biology:  BIOL 12100
Fall 2008

Tuesdays / Thursdays, 10:50-12:05, Williams 225



Professors:


Dr. Jean Hardwick Dr. Peter  Melcher

Office:  CNS 168 Office:  CNS 255 
Phone:  274-3213 Phone:  274-3980
E-mail:  jhardwick@ithaca.edu E-mail:  pmelcher@ithaca.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 12:15-1:15
Friday 12-1
or by appointment
Office Hours:  Monday 12-1
Wednesday11-12
or by appointment
Teaching Assistant:


Lauren Houdek
Senior Biology major
lhoudek1@ithaca.edu
She will hold weekly review sessions to go over any material covered in lecture. Review session
times and locations will be announced in lecture.





Laboratory Instructors: Office Information

Monday (section 2) 
CNS 110
Jean Hardwick CNS 168 274-3980
Tuesday (section 3)
CNS 110
Robin Bingham
CNS 213
274-1086
Wednesday  (section 4)
CNS 110
Marina Caillaud
CNS 165
274-1181
Thursday  (section 5)
CNS 107
Jean Hardwick CNS 168 274-3980
Thursday  (section 6)
CNS 107
Peter Melcher CNS 255 274-3980
Wednesday  (section 7)
CNS 107
Peter Melcher CNS 255 274-3980


Texts: Biology (8th Ed), Campbell and Reece [Older editions of Campbell are also fine, but you will need to determine the appropriate readings on your own. The figures used in lecture will come from the 8th edition].



A Guide to Biology Lab, Rust, third edition (1983); (a laboratory atlas)


An Introduction to Chemistry for Biology Students, Sackheim, 8th edition.
This supplementary text is recommended (NOT required) for those students who may feel unsure of their background in Chemistry


Lecture Schedule (PDF)
Lab Schedule (PDF)

Course Description:
The primary goal of this course is to introduce you to the major topics and concepts of biology.  At the conclusion of the course, you should understand:

1) the molecular and cellular makeup of living things (organisms)
2) how cells harness and utilize energy
3) cell division and the related transmission of hereditary (genetic) information from one generation to the next
4) how hereditary information is used to build cellular and organismal structure
5) Aa basic understanding of structure and function at the organismal level, using plants and animals as a primary examples.
In addition to learning about these topics, this course is designed to introduce you to the methods of scientific inquiry.  Biology is a huge and growing field.  New information constantly leads to new ideas and the modification or abandonment of old ideas.  It is important for you to understand this process so that you can evaluate new ideas and information.

Performance Evaluation:
 
Grade scale      %
Lecture Points


A 93-100
3 lecture exams (100 points each) 300

A- 90-92
Final Exam (covering entire semester)  150

B+ 87-89
Problem Sets (30 pts each, 4 total) 120

B 83-86



B- 80-82
Lab

C+ 77-79
Lab Assignments (20 pts each, 5 total) 100

C 73-76
Lab Quiz  30

C- 70-72
Lab Notebooks 30

D+ 67-69



D 63-66
Total Points Available
730

D- 60-62
 

F> < 60
There is no extra credit.

Blackboard:

This will be used extensively in this course for posting review sheets, problem sets, assignments, and general notices regarding the course. You should familiarize yourself with Blackboard and make sure you are able to access posted material. Any problems with Blackboard should be reported to
Information Technology Services (ITS): http://www.ithaca.edu/its/sp_index.htm, x43282 (helpdesk).
Academic Honesty:
All the work in this class must be your own, unless stated otherwise. Confirmed instances of academic misconduct will result in a zero for that test or assignment and referral to the school judiciary system. Please refer to the Student Handbook for a detailed description of the policies regarding student academic conduct.
Attendance:
Lectures:  You are expected to come to lecture, however we do not take attendance.  There is a significant correlation between exam performance and lecture attendance.  Therefore, we strongly encourage you to make every effort to attend lectures.

Exams: You must take exams on scheduled exam dates. If you are participating in a collegesponsored event (athletics, performance, etc.) that conflicts with a scheduled exam, you must provide us with a written excuse from a faculty member (coach, director, etc.) at least one week prior to the exam. If you cannot make it to an exam (i.e. illness), you need to contact one of the instructors before the exam begins. Email alone is insufficient; you need to call and leave a message with a number to contact you if we are not available. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that exam.

Laboratory: Laboratory attendance is mandatory.  If you miss your lab, you may arrange to attend another lab section during the week.  You must notify both your regular lab instructor and the instructor of the make-up lab section.  If you do not make up missed labs, it will count against your lab grade.

You must maintain a lab notebook. Lab manuals will be handed out in class and you will need a 3-ring binder, plus additional paper, to take notes and record your results. Notebooks will be periodically evaluated by the instructor. These evaluations will not be announced in advance. During the last part of the semester, we will be dissecting preserved specimens in lab. Any student who cannot participate in these labs must talk with their lab instructor during the first two weeks of the semester. Accommodations for religious or ethical reasons can be made, but only with sufficient notice. Be advised that students will need to provide significant grounds for exemption from the lab exercises in the form of a formal, written justification.

Assignments
All assignments (problem sets, lab assignments) are due on the date indicated in the syllabus.  Points will be deducted for late assignments, unless prior arrangements with the instructor are made.  All problem sets must be typed.  Handwritten assignments will not be accepted.
Accommodations
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case by case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services and provide appropriate documentation to the college before any academic adjustment will be provided.


Go to the Biology home page.
Go to the Ithaca College  home page.

Page maintained and updated by Nancy Pierce and Jean Hardwick.
Last updated: 8/25/08