Los Angeles Valley College. Tentative Biology 03 Syllabus, Section Spring 2016

Transcription

1 Los Angeles Valley College Tentative Biology 03 Syllabus, Section 3050 Spring 2016 Instructor: Dr. Shahram Bakhtiari, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology Class: AHS 156, Tuesday 6:00 9:10 pm Laboratory: AHS 151, Thursday 6:00 9:10 pm Lecture Textbook: Essentials of Biology, by Sylvia Mader; Michael Windelspecht, 4 th edition, ISBN: Lab Manual: Biology 3 Lab Manual, Revised Fall 2015, Los Angeles Valley College Edition Contact: Phone: (818) bakhtis@lavc.edu Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:10 9:40 pm with appointment at AHS building room 209. Course Description: This course for non-majors examines the fundamental principles of biology with laboratories emphasizing hands-on investigations. Topics include an introduction to evolutionary theory, basic biological chemistry, cell function and reproduction, cellular respiration and photosynthesis, classical and contemporary genetics, gene expression and an introduction to animal structure and function. Meets UC/CSU GE requirement of natural science with a lab. Prerequisite: None. Needed supplies: 7 sheets of 50 questions/side Scantrons. General Policies: 1. Cheating in any forms of that will lead to receiving 0 for that test which can be followed by further disciplinary actions. The students are kindly referred to the Student s code of conduct regarding academic dishonesty in their catalog. You are also encouraged to review the entire General Policies of your catalog. 2. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class. Late assignments will not be accepted. If you are not able to personally turn in your assignment on time, you may submit it ahead of time or send with one of your friends or take a scan or picture of the assignment and it to me before the due date. 3. There will be no make-up quiz in this course; however the lowest quiz will be dropped. Midterm and final tests are excluded from the aforementioned policy, in which the students can 1

2 make-up the midterm/final test only with providing a strong documentation and with the instructor s discretion. 4. Cell phones or any electronic communicating devices should be turned off during the test. 5. Any religious or ADA accommodation should be requested in writing within the first two weeks of the semester. If you have not yet contacted SSD, do so in a timely manner. Call (818) or TTD (818) , to meet with a SSD counselor. 6. The students are responsible to withdraw from the course. 7. No smoking near AHS building, No cell phone use in the classrooms, No eating in the classrooms, and No transit through the AHS backyard. 8. No audio or video recording as well as picture taking is allowed during lecture or lab, with exception of the SSD students. 9. Test review is only allowed up to a week after the original test in the office. There will be no test review a week before midterm and final tests. Notwithstanding the students are more than welcome to review their tests after the final tests up to a year. 10. No grade will be communicated via or phone. All grade discussions will be conducted in person. 11. There will be no extra credit or grade curving for this course. Grading Policies: Your final grade will be calculated out of 100%: Lecture: 70% Final Test: 20% Mid-Term Test: 20% Exams: 20% Laboratory: 30% Lab Final: 10% Lab Participation: 10% Lab Homework: 10% Class Participation: 10% Letter Grades: % A 60-69% D 80-89% B 70-79% C Bellow 60% F 2

3 The participation points are granted based on participating in the class activities, such as discussions, answering the questions, following the class rules and regulations and not showing disruptive behaviors, actively participating in the lab activities and assisting the others if needed. In case of missing a class or lab, the student can make up the participation points by accomplishing an activity assigned by the instructor. LECTURE SCHEDULE February 9 A view of life (Chapter 1) February 16 The chemical basis of life, The organic molecules of life (Chapter 2, 3) February 23 Exam 1 Inside the cell, The dynamic cell (Chapter 4, 5) March 1 Energy of life, Energy for cells (Chapter 6, 7) March 8 Cellular reproduction, Sexual reproduction (Chapter 8, 9) March 15 Exam 2 Pattern of inheritance, DNA biology and technology (Chapter 10, 11) March 22 Darwin and evolution, Evolution on a small scale (Chapter 14, 15) March 29 Midterm test Evolution on a large scale (Chapter 16) April 12 Viruses, Bacteria, Protists, Plants, Fungi (Chapter 17, 18) April 19 Plant Anatomy and growth, Plant responses and reproduction (Chapter 20, 21) April 26 Exam 3 Animals, Being organized and steady, The transport system (Chapter 22, 23) May 3 Animals, The maintenance system, Defense against diseases (Chapter 24, 26) May 10 Animals, The control systems, Sensory input and Motor output (Chapter 27, 28) 3

4 May 17 Exam 4 Reproduction and development (Chapter 29) May 24 Populations in ecology, Communities in ecology (Chapter 34, 35) May 31 Final test LAB SCHEDULE Week Date Lab exercise Room (AHS) 1 Feb 11 Metric System & Scientific Method Feb 18 Macro- Molecules/ Building Molecules Feb 25 Microscopy and Cell Structure March 3 Functions and Properties of Cells March 10 Photosynthesis March 17 DNA March 24 Cell Division 151 Mitosis & Meiosis 8 March 31 Genetics (Cesar Chavez day) Apr 14 Evolution Apr 21 Biodiversity 1 Protista, Fungi & Plants Apr 28 Flower Lab May 5 Biodiversity Animal Kingdom 13 May 12 Tissues and Systems 151 Cardio 14 May 19 Skeletal System and Owl Pellet May 26 Field Studies / Lab Final 151 4

5 Los Angeles Valley College Course Level Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) Subject Name, Course Number, and Course Title: Biology 3, Introduction to Biology Course Objectives: (List the course objectives as they appear in the course outline of record.) Lecture Objectives: 1. Describe basic molecular structures and chemical bonds; differentiate between organic and inorganic compounds and name the categories of organic molecules. 2. Describe the basic structure of the cell and the functions for cellular components, including the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, and diverse organelles; identifying key differences between plant and animal cells. 3. Compare and contrast the processes and significance of mitosis and meiosis; explain how sexual reproduction is the basis for genetic diversity and the evolutionary process. 4. Explain the process of photosynthesis as the basis for all life and relationship to cellular respiration. 5. Define biodiversity; explain its underlying mechanisms and its significance. 6. Compare and contrast plant and animal forms and functions, such as support, transport, reproduction, and energy transformation. 7. Identify major systems of humans/mammals; describe the function for each and the major organs; discuss interrelationships of organs and selected body systems. 8. Describe the interrelationships of organisms and environments, such as the effect of population growth/decline, species competition, keystone species, predation, and succession. Laboratory Objectives: 1. Apply the scientific method to acquire and record data, identify variables and interpret results; recognize potential sources of error; differentiate between assumption and observation/interpretation; be able to develop hypotheses that relate to stated variables. 2. Utilize and accurately read scientific equipment, such as beakers, pipettes, graduated cylinders, scales, and measuring tapes to conduct biological investigations. 3. Apply the principle of inheritance to selected species; determine probability of genotypes and phenotypes in filial generations from specified crosses. 4. Investigate the chemical and cellular properties of cells and/or organisms, such as enzyme activity, osmosis, diffusion, respiration, and photosynthesis. 5

6 5. Differentiate key characteristics of nine major animal phyla, including symmetry and segmentation; observe and identify unknown specimens using a key based on observable characteristics. 6. Identify the majors systems of humans/mammals; describe major organs of each; discuss the interrelationship of organs and systems of the body. 7. Observe, draw and/or describe the phases of embryonic development in a selected species; identify point of cellular differentiation. 8. Characterize and differentiate the hierarchy of biological systems. Establish 1 2 course level student learning outcomes and indicate how each SLO will be assessed. SLO 1 SLO 2 Course Level Student Learning Outcome (As a result of this course, student will be able to..) Assessment Activity (What will students do to show they achieved the outcome?) Assessment Measure (How will instructors evaluate what the students have done?) Students will think like a scientist by applying the scientific method. Students will provide a written response to scientific methodology questions. A rubric will be used to assess student responses. Students will use critical thinking skills to understand genetics and its possible affects on a biological system. Students will provide a written response to genetic problems. A rubric will be used to assess student responses. 6