Southwestern College 2625 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032 Phone: 602-489-5300 Biology

Course Information:

Course Name – Biology

Course Number – SM 201

Semester Offered - Fall 2009

Instructor Information:

Name - Dr. Warren Pettitt

Office location – 2^nd floor of Doerksen Administration building – Room 200

Office phone – 602 489 5300 ext 119

email address – warren.pettitt@swcaz.edu

Office hours – Daily 8:30 to 9:10 and 3:00 to 3:45

Course meeting Days – August 20^th to December 11^th

Course meeting Time – 9:00 – 9:50

Course meeting Place – A101

Course Description: An introduction to the major concepts and principles of biological science. Topics include the philosophy of science, the scientific method, the metric system, cell biology, genetics, classification, and botany. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week.

Prerequisites: no prerequisites required

Course Student Learning Outcomes:

a. Demonstrate an appreciation of the beauty, complexity, and diversity of phenomena

that God has created. (Mission statement; College objective 1,2, and 5; General

education objective 3)

b. Describe the nature of science, its capabilities, and its limitations. (Mission

Statement; Col. Obj. 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1 and 3

c. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and evidence an ability to

apply it appropriately in a scientific context. (Mission Statement; Col. Obj. 5; Gen.

Ed. Obj. 1 and 3)

d. Demonstrate an understanding of the chemical basis of biological systems in living

organisms. (Mission statement; Col. Obj. 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1 and 3)

e. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of energy exchanges within biological

systems. (Mission statement; Col. Obj. 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1 and 3)

f. Describe the structure and function of living cells. (Mission Statement; Col. Obj. 5;

Gen. Ed. Obj. 1 and 3)

g. Demonstrate an understanding of genetic principles and discuss the nature and

importance of the genetic code. (Mission Statement; Col. Obj. 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1

and 3)

h. Demonstrate an understanding of the 5 kingdoms of living organisms, their basis

structure and importance. (Mission statement; Col. Obj. 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1 and 3)

i. Explain and defend one’s view on ethical issues such as biomedical experimentation,

abortion, genetic research, and creation/evolution. (Mission statement; Col. Obj. 1

and 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1 and 3)

j. Explain and defend a biblical view of man’s responsibility to God as stewards of his

creation. (Mission Statement; Col. Obj. 1 and 5; Gen. Ed. Obj. 1)

Texts and Resources:

Starr, C. – Biology: Concepts and Applications , Brooks and Cole Publishing, 2008.

Web site www.swcit.org/warren

Website for our textbook - http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&flag=student&product_isbn_issn=9780495119814&disciplinenumber=22.

Course Schedule (including assignments and activities):

Scheduled Class lecture/ (M,W,F) Reading

8/21 Intro to Biology chapter 1

8/24 Atoms, molecules and bonding chapter 2

8/26 Organic molecules – carbohydrates chapter 3 Water presentation – warren website

8/28 Organic molecules – lipids and proteins

8/31 Organic molecules – nucleic acids

9/2 Cell theory, size and volume chapter 4 Nucleus – warren website

9/4 Cell types and structures

Mitochondrial functions – warren website

9/7 Labor Day – No school

9/9 EXAM 1

9/11 Cell membranes and transport chapter 5

Cell membrane – warren website

9/14 Chemical energy and metabolism

Lactic acid – warren website

9/16 Metabolism and enzymes

9/18 Glycolysis and fermentation chapter 7

9/21 Citric acid cycle, electron transport chain

9/23 DNA and chromosome structure chapter 12

Bypass genes – warren website

9/25 RNA and transcription chapter 13

One wrong letter – warren website

9/28 EXAM 2

9/30 Genetic code and translation

Finding disease genes – warren website

10/2 Day of Outreach

10/5 Gene structure and regulation chapter 8

Gene control - warren website

10/7 Mutation and cancer

Bt corn - warren website

10/9 Cell cycle and mitosis

Gene reader - warren website

10/12 Mitosis and meiosis chapter 9

Classical vs. transgenic - warren website

10/14 Mendelian genetics chapter 10

10/16 Exam 3

10/19 Mendelian and human genetics

A gene you won’t forget - warren website

10/21 Human genetics/genetic technologies chapter 11 Alzheimer’s disease - warren website

10/23 Genetic technologies

Fishing for genes - warren website

10/26 Kingdom Monera chapter 19

Resistance - warren website

10/28 Viruses

10/30 Kingdom Protista chapter 20

Dengue fever - warren website

11/2 Kingdom Fungi chapter 22

11/4 Kingdom Planta chapter 21

Engineer a crop - warren website

11/6 Kingdom Animalia chapter 23,24

11/9 Kingdom Animalia

Wisdom of worms - warren website

11/11 EXAM 4

11/13 Nervous system chapter 30

11/16 Nervous system

11/18 Human development chapter 39

Breast cancer - warren website

11/20 Human development

11/23 Ecology

Biological invaders - warren website

11/25 Ecosystems chapter 42

11/27 Thanksgiving vacation

11/30 Biosphere chapter 43 Coral bleaching - warren website

12/2 Review for exam 5

Green invaders - warren website

12/4 EXAM 5

12/7 Review for Final

Grand Canyon - warren website

12/9 FINAL – Comprehensive (10:30-12:30)

Scheduled lab/ (M,W) Quiz

Week of 8/24 No lab

Week of 8/31 Introductory lab and chemistry Quiz 1

Week of 9/7 No lab

Week of 9/14 Cell Structure – Virtual lab Quiz 2

Week of 9/21 Cell Membrane – Virtual lab Quiz 3

Week of 9/28 Microscope Use Quiz 4

Week of 10/5 Mitosis - Meiosis Quiz 5

Week of 10/12 Genetics – Virtual lab Quiz 6

Week of 10/19 Tissue Lab Quiz 7

Week of 10/26 Microbiology I Quiz 8

Week of 11/2 Microbiology II Quiz 9

Week of 11/9 Computer dissection of pig I Quiz 10

(Anatomical references, sexing of the pig,

Digestive and excretory systems)

Week of 11/16 Computer dissection of pig II

(Circulatory, reproductive, respiratory and

Nervous systems)

Week of 11/23 Computer Lab - Ecology

Week of 11/30 Only video summary due (no actual lab)

Course Evaluation:

Exams – There will be 5 exams and 1 final, the lowest exam score will be dropped.

Quizzes – There will be 10 lab quizzes of 15 points each.

Activities - There will be 13 activities over topics from the web.

(15 points each). They will be turned in each week in lab. These are found at http://www.swcit.org/wpettitt/biology/labvideos.html.

Lab week of 8/31 – Fire ants in the pants

Lab week of 9/14 – The human touch

Lab week of 9/21 – When mitochondria spin their wheels

Lab week of 9/28 – Ricin and your ribosomes

Lab week of 10/5 – Goodbye Dolly

Lab week of 10/12 – Henrietta’s immortal cells

Lab week of 10/19 – Menacing mucus

Lab week of 10/26 – Golden rice or frankenfood

Lab week of 11/2 – West nile virus takes off

Lab week of 11/9 – Tiny critters big impact

Lab week of 11/16 – Whale of a dilemma

Lab week of 11/23 – And then my heart stood still

Lab week of 11/30 – Bye bye bayou

With each video write out a 1 to 2 paragraph summary and then research one web site that is related to this concept. In relation to the web site write out a 1/2 to 1 page summary of what additional information you obtained about this subject. Please make sure you include the web address in your summary. Cutting and pasting the information is not acceptable, it must be in your own words.

Exercises – There are 12 lab exercises for 15 points each.

Classroom Internet assignments – these can be found at http://www.swcit.org/wpettitt/biology/biologyassignments.htm.

Websites you will need to sign up for (it is free to sign up for these):

www.teachersdomain.org (many videos) – I think you get 5 videos to watch without signing up.

Assessment and Grading:

Assignments and their weight –

Tests – about 150 points each

Final – 300 points

Reports – 25 points each.

Quizzes – 15 points each

Computer Assignments – Points range from 10 for short assignments to 40 for detailed ones.

Reading – 25 points per chapter

Absence – Work will be allowed to be made up for excused absences (absences such as emergencies or sickness) but the reason for the absence must be communicated to me for a decision to be made. Work cannot be made up for unexcused absence.

Late Work – Work will not be accepted after the due date. Please communicate with me as soon as possible if circumstances arise that necessitate extensions be granted.

Letter Grades:

A – 90% to 100%

B – 80% to 89.5%

C – 70% to 79.5%

D – 60% to 69.5%

F - < 60%

Expectations for Students:

A. Attendance

1. Students are responsible to arrive for lectures and laboratory classes at the scheduled

time. Tardiness is an interruption to instruction.

2. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain pertinent information from other students or

the instructor in the event of tardiness or absence.

3. In anticipation of absence from a scheduled quiz, test, or lab it is the students

responsibility to make arrangements in advance to take a quiz, test or perform a lab

exercise at an alternate time that is mutually convenient and agreeable. Missed

assignments will be averaged in as a zero on the course grade unless prior

arrangements have been made. There is no makeup for these. Missed tests must be

made up within 1 week of the scheduled time they were taken. Arrangements to

make up the test must be made as soon as the student returns to class.

4. Absence from 5 or more lectures is sufficient reason for the instructor to drop the

student from the course with a failing grade.

5. There is no late work, if you have an emergency concerning any assignment please

contact me as soon as possible.

B. Reading

1. Most benefit will be derived from the course if the assigned reading is done prior to

arrival at the lectures. You will find scanning the text to be insufficient in your

preparation.

2. The instructor may assign additional reading.

C. Cell Phones and other electronic devices should not be on during class.

Accommodation and Special Needs - Include the following statement: Your instructor is willing to make any reasonable adaptations for limitations due to any disability, including learning disability, in keeping with SWC policies and the Student Handbook. Any student with documented certifiable special needs should contact the office of the Dean of Student Services on campus and they will inform me of the proper accommodations you require. If you have a special need, including a learning disability, it is your responsibility to contact this office as soon as possible to discuss your accommodation needs.

Retention of Examinations and Assignments: Instructors will retain copies of student examinations and assignments not returned to students for one semester in case of dispute between a faculty member and a student in assigning or recording a grade. After that time, instructors may discard course materials in a manner that preserves student confidentiality.

E-mail Policy – Include the following statement: Students are issued an official Southwestern College student email address when they are admitted to the College. These addresses all have the same form: firstname.lastname@swcaz.edu. This is the only electronic mailing address recognized by the college. Students are responsible for all official college communications, including attachments, transmitted to this address.  SWC faculty and staff are not responsible for forwarding email to personal email accounts that are not assigned by the college. Students are required to check their SWC email on a daily basis.

If you want to email homework to me please use biologyhomework@swcaz.edu as the address.

Withdrawal:

Last day for withdrawal without instructor signature – September 4^th

Last day for withdrawal with instructor signature – October 30^th

Disclaimer note - Include: This syllabus is subject to modification.  The instructor will communicate with students any changes.