Principles of Biology I

Fall 2008

Dr. Anna Yeung-Cheung

Lecture Hours: Mon, Thur, 10:45am -12:00pm

Lab Hours: Mon or Thur, 1:35pm-4:35 pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This first-semester course in introductory biology will cover basic molecules of life, cellular biology, metabolism, cell cycle, DNA and the genetic code. Lab sessions will provide an opportunity for students examine these groups first-hand and improve their technical skills.

  Class Text:  Raven, P. H., G. B. Johnson, J. B. Losos, K. A. Mason, S. R. Singer. 2008. Biology. 8^th Edition. New York . McGraw Hill Publishers. ISBN 978-0-07-296581-0.

  Laboratory Manual: Vodopich, D. S. and R. Moore. 2008. Biology Laboratory Manual. 8^th Edition. New York . McGraw-Hill.

  The class textbook and laboratory manual are available as a special package from the college bookstore.

  Additional reading:

As assigned

  COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 

LECTURE Reading :  Chapters from the text must be read before coming to the scheduled lecture covering that material.  There may also be additional handouts or reading assignments to accompany the reading and lecture material. 

Attendance and Class Participation:  Students are required to attend two (2) lectures each week.  Good attendance is required and will be noted. Students are expected to answer questions and offer discussion when appropriate.

Class exercises:  There will be several short assignments to complement the material covered in class.

Exams:  There will be 3 exams based on the lecture and book material.

  LABORATORY

Reading :  Chapters from the lab manual must be read before coming to the scheduled lab section. 

Attendance and lab performance: Students are required to attend one lab session each

week. Any un-excused absences from lab will result in a 10-point deduction from your final lab grade.  Students are expected to actively participate in the laboratory work.

Lab reports and exams:  There will be several intensive lab reports that will be turned in

for a grade during the course.  There will also be several practical lab quizzes.

* Additional lab information will be presented by the laboratory instructors

  • BLACKBOARD: Students will be required to enroll in Blackboard at Manhattanville. This is an online system for downloading assignments, checking web pages and announcements and discussion. To enroll in the class, go to http://blackboard.mville.edu/. If you don’t have an account, click on “Create account” and follow the directions. Once you have an account, click on “Course catalogue”. Select “Biology” and look for this class in the list. Click on the “Enroll” button to the far right. The password is cells.

• LAB SAFETY: All students working in the laboratory must read the Biology Lab Safety Guidelines, which can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/biosafety.html. In addition, all students must read, print and sign the Student Safety Contract and hand it in to the lab instructor. This form can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/safetycontract.htm

• CLASS CONDUCT: Students are expected to do their own work on the exams, written work and lab reports.  Even though the lab projects will be done in teams, each student is responsible for his/her own write-up of the project. Copying or plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the class. All students must read, print and sign the Biology Honor Code Contract, which can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/honorcode.html. This is to be handed in to the lecture instructor, but applies to BOTH class and lab.

  • THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS OR LABS. If you are going to miss a lecture or lab exam, you must contact the lecture or lab before the exam takes place, and you must produce a written excuse from your doctor or the dean's office.  If you miss an exam or lab and do not contact the professors beforehand, you will receive a zero (0) for that exam or lab exercise. 

  • LATE WORK: All work is due on specified dates. Late work will not be accepted.

  ·        Students who intend to major in biology need to complete Bio 1001 AND 1002 with a minimum grade of C. If a C- or below is received in either class, it must be retaken and passed with a minimum grade of C before students can progress to the 3000-level electives.

  Graded Material:

LECTURE SCHEDULE

FINAL EXAM will be scheduled during Exam Week in December. The emphasis will be on Chapters 15-17 but the exam will be comprehensive for the entire course.