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CCBC, Fall 2017 School of Mathematics and Science

Biology Department, Catonsville Campus


BIOL 110: Biology I: Cells and Molecular Section(s) CR1, CR2, & CN3, CRNs 91026,
91325, and 94564
Course Description and Prerequisites1:
Biology I: Molecular & Cells serves as a pre-requisite course for science and allied health majors. It
stresses the basic biological principles common to all living things. Evolution and homeostasis serve
as central themes for the topics, which include cell structure and function (both physical and
chemical), molecular and cellular reproduction and genetics. The laboratory introduces the student to
various biological techniques and emphasizes the process of science.

Pre-requisites: ENGL 052 and RDNG 052 or ACLT 052


Co-requisites: MATH 083 or MATH 073

I. Basic Course Information


A. Instructor: Greg Schmidt, Assistant Professor Biology
B. Office: C.HTEC 110
Contact Information: 443-840-4916, gschmidt@ccbcmd.edu
C. Office Hours: M/W 3:30 pm - 5:30 PM, T / TH 10:30 am 12:30 pm and by appointment
D. Department/School Phone Number:
Catonsville Campus Biology Department phone#: 443-840-4212
Biology Department fax#: 443-840-5547
E. Class Times, Days, and Locations:
Time and Location
Section Lecture Recitation Lab
CR1 MW 5:45-7:10 PM M 7:20 8:15 pm W 7:20 10:15 pm
91206 MASH 227 MASH 136 MASH 232
CR2 MW 5:45-7:10 PM W 7:20 8:15 pm M 7:20 10:15 pm
91325 MASH 227 MASH 138 MASH 232
CN3 T/TH 12:45 2:05 PM T 9:35 am 12:15 pm
94564 CLLB 129 MASH 232

F. Statement of Student Out-of-Class Work Expectations. This is a 4 credit course taught in a


14-week semester, and so you are expected to complete at least eight hours of work per week
outside of the class including reading, class preparation, homework, studying, etc. If this is
an online section, an additional 4 hours are required per week. Students: please note that
these are minimal requirements for any course, and that many students require more time
than this for science courses.
G. Required Materials:
For laboratory courses, appropriate clothing (including shoes which cover the tops of the
feet and have good traction) is required. See Course Procedures for more information:
1. Biology/MindTap by Solomon 10th Edition/Volume I, Mindtap is REQUIRED
2. Introduction to Chemistry for Biology Students. Sackheim, Pearson/ Benjamin
Cummings Publishers.
3. Biology Lecture and Lab Manual by Dalton

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Optional textbooks and resources:
Safety goggles (Must be worn during all laboratory sessions). A limited number are
available in the lab for student use.
H. All PowerPoint lectures, worksheets, animations, and take home assignments are on
Blackboard.

II. Course Goals Overall


A. Course Objectives1:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. apply the principles and assumptions that underlie scientific information and apply
the scientific method to simulated problem-solving situations;
2. recognize and use metric units of measurement and perform basic calculations using
metric units of measurement;
3. follow detailed directions to demonstrate the appropriate use of laboratory equipment
to gather and analyze data;
4. organize data into tables or graphs (where appropriate) and be able to draw inferences
from the graphs;
5. demonstrate the proper use of a light microscope;
6. apply chemical principles to the functioning cell;
7. explain how a cell is the basic unit of life including the function of organelles;
8. explain the principles of bioenergetics, including the processes of photosynthesis,
aerobic respiration and fermentation;
9. explain how living organisms store and process genetic information to control their
life functions and activities;
10. compare and contrast asexual and sexual reproduction;
11. solve genetic problems involving simple Mendelian traits, incomplete dominance,
codominance and sex-linked traits;
12. apply the principles of genetics to explain how ethnic diversity applies in the areas
of genetic inheritance and disorders;
13. determine the relevancy of biotechnological advances to your life; and
14. explain the basic process for evolution in terms of variation, over production and
natural selection

B. Major Topics1:
1. Chemistry of life
2. Characteristics and classification of life (Microscopy)
3. Cell types, structures and functions
4. Cell membrane structure and function
5. Cellular metabolism (including enzymes, photosynthesis and cellular respiration
6. Cellular reproduction (including DNA, mitosis and meiosis
7. Molecular genetics (including transcription and translation)
8. Classical genetics
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9. Evolution
10. Biotechnology
11. The process of science (Metric system of measurement and lab skills including the
proper use of scientific equipment)

C. Rationale: This course can be used to meet the General Education requirement of a four-
credit course in the science domain for general education. This course is intended for pre-allied
health and science majors. Non-science majors should take BIOL 108

III. Evaluation
A. Requirements1: This course will include five lecture exams and a cumulative final exam. In
addition, there will be several quizzes and written assignments. The dates of the exams and lab
practicals are reflected in the class schedule.
B. Instructor's grading policy:

Unit Exams 5 at 100 points each = 500 pts


Recitation 50 pts
Comprehensive Final 200 pts
Total points for Bio 110 Lecture 750 pts
Bio 110 Lab 250 pts
Total points for BIOL 110 1000 pts

i. Lecture is now 70% of the total (700/1000). Students must pass lecture with at least a
60% to pass the entire course.
ii. Recitation is worth 5% of the total (50/1000): Attendance is required but student are
permitted two absences, any more than that and the student will automatically fail the
course. Your recitation points will be determined by averaging the score on all the
quizzes. (For example, if each quiz is worth 10 points and your average for the 13
quizzes is 8.7 your recitation points will be 8.7 * 5 = 43.5 points.) Quizzes may be
taken 3 times during their availability.
iii. Lab is 25% of the total (250/1000). Students must pass the lab with at least a 60% to
pass the entire course.
1. Short Lab Reports: 20 points each100 points (count highest 5) will be
written on the following labs: metric, osmosis, enzymes, photosynthesis,
cellular respiration and Mendelian Genetics.
2. Weekly quizzes: 10 points each100 points (count highest 10)
3. Formal lab report: 50 points. This year the formal lab report will be written on the
osmosis, enzyme or photosynthesis lab.

C. Instructor's attendance policy:


1.Lecture Attendance policy: Students are expected to attend all lectures. Upon arrival, a
student must sign their information card. If you forget to sign in, you will be marked as
absent. No student will be allowed to enroll after the first full week of classes. Students
with a legitimate problem about attendance should discuss the situation with their
instructor.
2.Lab Attendance Policy: Credit will not be given for written lab assignments unless the
student attends the entire lab. A student is permitted two absences (any more than 2
3
absences is an automatic failure for the course) and to makeup two labs which must be
done during the same week. Labs cannot be overloaded. You will not be allowed to take
the quiz if you arrive late. If you arrive after the quiz has been given, you will not be
allowed to attend lab that day. To be admitted into the lab, a signed Safety Sheet must be
on file with the lab instructor by the 2nd lab. You must come to lab with your lab manual.
No food or drink is allowed in any Science lab at any time. Feet must be covered with
closed-toed shoes that cover the tops of your feet and legs need to be covered to your
knees. This is to provide protection from broken glass and other laboratory hazards. Eye,
hand, skin and clothing protection will be required when chemical or biological hazards
are present. Failure to abide by these policies will result in removal of students from the
class.

3. Instructors audit policy: Important notes: (1) you can no longer wait until mid-semester
to decide that auditing a course is appropriate: the final date to change to an audit now
coincides with the final date for withdrawing with a 50% refund, and (2) failure to
participate in the class as follows will result in a grade of W instead of AU. The last
day to switch to an audit this semester is Friday, September 15, 2017.

IV. Course Procedures


A. All assignments and PowerPoint lectures can be found on BlackBoard https://ccbcmd-
bb.blackboard.com/webapps/login/
Tutorial Supplements: Individual and group tutoring sessions are available in the Student
Success Center. Your instructor is available for tutoring during office hours. Cyber-Tutoring
(on-line tutoring; students teaching students by discussion/forum questions: sign up at the
Student Success Center or on line via the Student ServicesStudent Success Center
B. College wide syllabus policies: For college wide syllabus policies such as the Code of
Conduct related to Academic Integrity and Classroom Behavior or the Audit/ Withdrawal
policy, please go to the MySyllabiPolicies Tab on the MyCCBC page. Please pay
particular attention to the following sections of MySyllabiPolicies:
Attendance Policy
Code of Conduct for Academic Integrity
Grades AU (The last day to switch to an audit this semester is: Friday, September 15,
2017. Grades -W (The last day to withdraw this semester is: Friday, November 3, 2017)

C. Contact information for course-related concerns: See endnote for contact information2.
D. Additional Procedures: No food or drink is allowed in any science lab at any time. Feet
should be covered with closed-toed shoes to provide protection from broken glass, spilled
chemicals, and other laboratory hazards. Eye, hand, skin and clothing protection may be
required when chemical or biological hazards are present. Failure to abide by laboratory
safety policies will result in removal of students from the class.
E. Course calendar/schedule: See the printed schedule appended to this document.

This syllabus may be changed with notification to the class.

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Note that the content in these sections is dictated by the Common Course Outline for this course, as
approved at the college-wide level: [http://www.ccbcmd.edu/cco/home.html]
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Students should first attempt to take concerns to the faculty member. If students are unable to resolve
course-related concerns with the instructor, they should contact Ms. Karen Dalton, Catonsville BIOL
Coordinator at kdalton@ccbcmd.edu or 443-840-5944.

BIOL 110 Catonsville Campus Laboratory Schedule

Tentative Lab Schedule Fall 2016 may change at discretion of department

Labs run Tuesday Monday after Labor Day until Thanksgiving, then labs will run Mon Thursday
(Note: No Friday labs)

LAB WEEK EXPERIMENT


Library, Mandatory Safety Review and quiz
Aug 28-Sept 1
Exp. 1 (metric portion): Measurement and Metric System
Sept 4-Sept 8 Exp. 1 (cont.): Measurement and Metric System
Sept 11-Sept 15 Exp. 2: Use of Scientific Method
Sept 18-Sept 22 Exp. 3: Use of a Spectrophotometer
Exp. 4: Microscopes
Sept 25 -Sept 29 Exp. 5: Cell Structure
Exp. 6: Dichotomous Keys
Oct 2-Oct 6 Exp. 7: Osmosis and Diffusion
Oct 9-Oct 13 Exp. 8: Enzymes
Oct 16-Oct 20 Exp. 9: Photosynthesis
Oct 23-Oct 27 Exp. 10: Respiration
Exp. 11: DNA Gel Electrophoresis
Oct 30-Nov 3
Exp. 12: DNA Extraction
Nov 6- Nov 10 Exp. 13: Gene Explorer
Exp. 14: Mitosis
Nov 13-Nov 17
Exp. 15: Mendel
No lab - College closed Thanksgiving Break
Nov 22-Nov 26
Exp. 16: Virtual Genetics Lab
Nov 27-Dec 1
Exp. 17: Karyotype
Dec 4-Dec 8 Lab Quiz on previous Lab

Note: first week - Mandatory safety training and quiz. Students must pass the mandatory safety quiz with at
least 80%. Without a safety quiz a student is not allowed in the lab. A librarian will also come to the lab. The
metric portion/conversion of Experiment #1 will be done during the first week.

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After Labor Day (Monday 9/5) Labs run Tuesday-Monday until Thanksgiving, then labs run M-R. Note: there are
no labs on Friday.

Students can make up two labs without penalty during the same lab week as specified in the tentative schedule
above, only if space is available and with the instructors consent. The table on the following page contain a
list of labs days/times, room number, and instructors. It is the student responsibility to contact the instructor
for make ups. Make-ups are NOT guaranteed.

Day/time Room Instructor


M/W 9:05-12 C.MASH 234 TBD
M/W 11:15-14:10 C.MASH 232 Burkett, Thomas
M/W 12:20-15:15 C.MASH 234 Trueba, Encarni
M/W 19:20-22:15 C.MASH 232 Persichetti, Jason
T - 11:10-14:05 C.MASH 234 Persichetti, Jason
R 11:10-14:05 C.MASH 234 Schmitz, Sonja
T/R 14:20-17:15 C.MASH 232 Burkett, Thomas
T/R 19:20-22:15 C.MASH 234 Hahn, Patrick
R 9:35-12:35 C.MASH 232 Trueba, Encarni

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