Principles of Biology I
Biology 2601 Youngstown State University
General Biology: Molecular and Cellular
Biology 2601, Fall 2007 Youngstown State University
Section: 0356 (T, Th 5:35-6:50 p.m.) WB 4045, 4 credit hours
Instructor: Heather E. Lorimer, Ph.D.,
Office WB 3013
Phone: (330) 941-7179
e-mail: helorime@cc.ysu.edu
Office Hours: T, Th.
3:30-5:30 W 3:00 - 4:00,
Text: "Biology" Brooker et al. 2008, pub. WCB McGraw Hill
Biology 2601 covers the foundations of Biological Chemistry, Cell
Biology and Metabolism, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and
Microbiology. A good understanding of this material provides the
background necessary to understand material in upper level biology
courses.
General Information: This is a rigorous course. It is not like
high school biology. A lot of material is covered in a very short
amount of time. Students who assume that since the course will be easy
because it is introductory and/or that YSU is just like an extension of
high school are likely to be shocked by the speed and level of this
class. This is an intensive class. You will be expected to
work hard. Doing well in this course is something to be proud
of.
Our Biology graduates have gone on to get jobs at world-class research
institutions, into PhD programs, and have a high rate of acceptance
into medical schools. Do not underestimate the quality of the education
you can get here. As not everyone who enrolls in this class is
truly ready for college level classes we have developed a number of
ways to help you do well in this course. It is strongly recommended that you have
had at least high-school chemistry prior to taking this course.
If you have not, you may want to consider taking Chem. 1505 or 1515 now
and registering for this course in the spring.
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Tests and Grading Policy:
Tests 6@
50 each 300 pts
Lab
100 pts You must register for a laboratory
section
Total
400 pts
The final exam is optional and consists of two separate 50 pt tests,
one for the material covered in the first half of the course and one
for the second half. Each may replace your lowest quiz score from
the previous three in that half. The optional final tests cannot
substitute for your lab grade. There may be additional
extra credit points add to these points, typically from short in-class
pop-quizzes.
Grades will be determined through use of a standard curve, in this
method the total points (not including extra-credit points) for each
student are plotted on a curve, and the mean and standard
deviation in the scores are calculated. The points necessary to achieve
each grade (A, B, C, D, and F) are determined from this curve.
You must get a C or better to go on to get credit towards a Biology
major or minor.
There will be no make-up tests. The final will substitute for any
missed test.
Every year there are students who were A students in high-school who
think that they won't need to worry, and don't follow the advice above
and end up with D's or F's. Don't let that happen to you!
How to Succeed: Take advantage of opportunities for help! In college
classes, much less time is spent in class, and more responsibility for
covering the material outside of class is yours. In general you should
spend 2 to 3 hours studying for every hour of lecture. Be aware that
the text and the lectures are tools to help you learn the material, but
you are ultimately responsible for your learning. The following
are techniques that have been used successfully by other
students. You may find many, if not all, of these techniques
helpful. Everyone learns in their individual way, find out what works
for you.
1. Go to class!
2. Before lecture, skim the chapter, look up words highlighted in
bold in the glossary.
3. Bring your book to class, highlight the material presented in
lecture.
4. If you don’t understand something in class, ask questions.
5. Take good notes, the professors emphasizes things they thinks
are important, and if something is emphasized more than once, it’s
likely to show up on an exam.
6. After class, read the chapter in depth. Do this within 24
hours of the lecture.
7. Rewrite your notes after reading the chapter carefully,
do this ASAP after the lecture.
8. Come to office hours! These times are set aside by the
professor just for the purpose of answering questions form students,
clarifying lectures, and going over the book. If you can’t make the
office hour times, set up an appointment with Dr. Asch or Dr. Lorimer.
We are here to help you learn the material.
9. Attend SI sessions! This is FREE help from successful
students. You can get additional information from the center for
Student Progress at (330) 941-3538.
10. Make sure that you attend your lab and hand in your reports on
time. Most people do, if you don’t your grade can suffer enormously.
11. Write your lab reports according to the format required, do not
leave things out, do not copy your lab partner's report, that may seem
obvious but every year some students get 0's for doing this.
12. Don’t let yourself get behind!
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_______________________________________________________________________
Week Date
Topic
Chapter
I T.
8/28
The
Science of Biology,
1,
Th.
8/30 Atoms and
Molecules
1, 2,
II T.
9/4
Organic
Molecules
3
TH.
9/6
3
III T.
9/11
General Features of
Cells,
4
TH.
9/13
Membranes
5
IV T.
9/18
Test 1 Chapters 1-4 Membranes
5
TH.
9/20
Systems Biology of Cells
Ch.6
V T.
9/25
Enzymes and Respiration
Ch. 7
TH.
9/27
Photosynthesis
Ch. 8
VI T.
10/2 Test 2
(5-8) Nucleic acids
Ch.11
TH.
10/4 Gene
Expression
12
VII T.
10/9
Gene Expression
12
TH.
10/11
Gene Regulation
13
VIII T. 10/16
Cell Communication, cell cycle
regulation
9
TH.
10/18
Test3 Chapters 11-13
Mutations, cancer 14
IX T.
10/23 Mutations
and Cancer
14
TH.
10/25
Chromosomes Mitosis Meiosis
15
X T.
10/30
Simple Patterns of Inheritance
16
Th.
11/1 Complex
Inheritance
17
XI. T.
11/6
Test 4 (9, 14-17) Viral and bacterial
genetics 18
TH.
11/8
Gene technology
19
XII T.
11/13
Gene technology
19
Th
11/15
Genomes, Proteomes, Bioinformatics
21
XIII T. 11/20
Test 5 (17-19,
21) Evolution
23
TH.
11/22
Thanksgiving, No Class
XIV T. 11/27
Population
Genetics
24
TH.
11/29 Origin of
Species, Taxonomy
25, 26
XV T. 12/4
Bacteria
and Archaea
27
Th
12/6
Test 6 (23-27)
Optional Final Tests Tuesday
12/11 5:30 - 7:30
(A for tests 1-3, B for tests 4-6)