BIOLOGY 2108: BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES II

Fall, 2004

 

 

R. C. Paul

Office:  SC 320, 770-423-6179

rpaul@kennesaw.edu

 

 

Catalogue Course Description

 

Biological Principles II. 3-3-4. Prerequisites: All learning support courses if required.

 

An organismal approach to biology. Topics include population genetics, evolution, behavior, and structure/function relationships. In the laboratory, emphasis is on the collection & analysis of data from exercises dealing with population genetics and ecology. Fetal pig dissection is included. For science majors.

 

Course Goals & Objectives

 

Biological Principles II is intended to develop skills in the beginning science major or future educator. These skills include hypothesis formation & testing, data collection and analysis, and keen observation. The course is also designed to deliver an organismal biology content base appropriate for the beginning student. This content includes natural selection theory, foundational concepts in ecology, and a basic familiarity with the diversity of the living world.

 

Attendance Policy

 

Lecture attendance is important, but it is not directly counted in the course grade. Students are

responsible for all lecture and assigned reading material, and for all announcements made in class,

including announcements amending this course syllabus. Amendments to the syllabus will also appear

on the course web page.

 

Laboratory attendance is required, and lab. reports will not be accepted unless lab. was attended. Students are responsible for all laboratory material, and for all announcements made in class, including announcements amending this course syllabus. Amendments to the syllabus will also appear on the course web page.

 

Lab. Exercises begin at 2 P.M. Students arriving after the lab. has begun will receive a lab. report grade reduction of 10% for that exercise.

 

Make-up exams may be given if prior arrangements are made; the make-up exam may be more

difficult than the original.

 

If the University is closed on an exam. day, the exam. may be given during the next class time.

 

In the absence of an appropriate excuse, late lab. reports & other assignments will be penalized by a grade reduction of 10% per day.

 

Office hours will be posted on the web site (see address at the top of this page).

 

 

 ACADEMIC WITHDRAWAL

(From College or Individual Courses)

 

Students who find that they cannot continue in college for the entire semester after being enrolled, because of illness or any other reason, should complete an official withdrawal form.  Forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

 

Students who officially withdraw from courses will be assigned grades of “W” which will not affect their overall scholastic average.   Those students who stop attending classes and notify no one usually are assigned failing grades which jeopardize their chances of future academic success.

 

Students may, by means of the same withdrawal form withdraw from individual courses while retaining others courses on their schedule.  The last day to with draw without academic penalty for this semester is:

 

October 18, 2004

 

Failure to do so will mean that the student has elected to receive the final grade earned in the course.  The only exceptions to these withdrawal regulations will be for those instances that involve unusual and fully documented circumstances.

 

 

Academic Integrity

 

Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs.  Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic malicious/intentional misuses of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards.  Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “Informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.

 

Special Events Report

 

Students will attend and write a brief report about a biology-related presentation (lecture or poster session) at KSU. A variety of events will be available from which to choose. Schedule information and information about the specific format of the report will be announced in class and on the course web page.

 

“Science in the News” Report

 

Students will write a brief report about a course-related science news item that appears in a current newspaper or news magazine or airs as an NPR radio report. Specific topic areas and the information about the report’s format can be found on the course web page.

 

 

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

 

week

topics (chapters)

8-23

Introduction - Scientific Method (1)

 *BIOL 2108 Labs - all sections – begin 8-30*

8-30

 Evolution (22, 25)

Natural Selection , Population Genetics (23)

9-8

 * Mon. 9/6: HOLIDAY* Speciation (24)

9-13

Life’s Origins (26); Taxonomy & Classification (25)

9-20

Biodiversity (29-34)

* EXAM I W, 9-22*

9-27

Multicellular Organization & Homeostasis (35, 40)

10-4

Internal Transport (36, 42); Respiration (42)

10-11

Nutrition (37, 41); Osmoregulation (44)

10-18

Response (39, 49) ;Nervous Systems (48, 49)

* M, 10-18 Last Withdrawal Day*

10-25

Hormones (39, 45)

*EXAM II W 10-27*

11-1

Reproduction (38, 46); Animal Behavior (51)

11-8

Ecology; Population Dynamics (50, 52)

11-15

Species Interactions (53); Ecosystem Energetics (54)

11-22

Biogeochemical Cycles (54);

* W, 11-24 HOLIDAY*

11-29

Biogeochemical Cycles (54)

12-6

Succession (53); Human Impacts (55)

W, 12-15

*FINAL EXAM  8 – 10 AM*

             

 

LABORATORY SCHEDULE

 

Biology 2108/01 M 2-4:45 P.M. SC 234

Biology 2108/02 W 2-4:45 P.M. SC 234

 

 

WEEK

LABORATORY

8-30

Sampling & Statistics

9-6

Biodiversity ** (M Section 01 may attend lab on T, W or Th @ 2 PM in SC 234)

9-13

Genetic Variation Within a Species I (Drosophila Cage Study) Lab. Report 1 due at Lab. time

9-20

Genetic Variation Within a Species II (Week 1 of Feral Cat Study); Lab. Report 2 due at Lab. time.

9-27

Feral Cat Study week 2.

10-4

Physiology: Human Cardiovascular Study;

Lab. Report 3 due at Lab. time

10-11

Ecology Study Week 1

Lab. Report 4 due at Lab. time

10-18

Biodiversity.

10-25

Ecology Study Week 2

11-1

Fetal Pig Dissection.

11-8

Fetal Pig Dissection 2; Lab. Report 5 due at Lab. time

11-15

Pig Practical Exam

11-22

Biodiversity Review, M & T

11-29

Biodiversity Exam.

                       

 

Texts

 

Text: Biology, 6th ed., N. Campbell, et al., 2001.

 

Writing Guide: A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, 2nd ed., J. Pechenik, 1993.

 

Lab. Text: Laboratory Exercises: Variation in Natural Systems, E. Bostick, et al., Fall, 2004.

 

Grading

 

“Science in the News” Report

     25

 

Special Event Report

     25

 

Exam. I & II (200 each)

    400

 Final Exam

    200

 Lab. Report 1

     10

 Lab. Report 2

     20

 Lab. Report 3

     30

 Lab. Report 4

     30

Lab. Report 5

     75

Dissection

     10

Practical Exam.

     75

Biodiversity Exam.

    100

Total:

 1,000 points

 

 

A = 900 – 1,000, B = 800 - 899, C = 700 - 799, D = 600 - 699