biol 202 page

Biol 202: Genetics and Organismal Biology (3 credits)

Fall 2009
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Rm. 100, Ag. Engineering (lecture hall on west end)
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD

This is the first in a two semester series designed to introduce fundamental concepts in genetics, cellular and molecular biology. The home page for the second semester course from last year, Biol 204, is still available.

"We must free ourselves of the hope
that the sea will ever rest.
We must learn to sail in high winds."

Hanmer P . Grant
Fictional Philosopher

Fibroblasts labeled for actin

Instructor: Donald Auger (Pronounced ozh'-ay)

Office: SNP 251A (map) (office hours)
Phone: 688-6385 (Please use e-mail rather than voice mail)
E-mail: email

Text resources:
Cell and Molecular Biology, 4th ed., G. Karp Note: this is not the newest edition; I am using the older edition.
Essential Genetics, 4th ed., D. Hartl and E. Jones

Additional web based resources relating to the texts.
Hartl & Jones: http://www.jbpub.com/genetics/essentials4e/
Karp: http://www.wiley.com/college/karp

Course Goals: Our goal is to cover the basic issues of genetics, cell and molecular biology. Because this course is considered introductory survey, I will limit the scope to what is contained in the two textbooks. In order to allow the students to focus their studying, I will post vocabulary words for each chapter and the student will be responsible to be able to define the term and understand the concepts in the text associated with that word.
    A secondary goal is to promote careful reading skill. To that end, quizzes will contain questions that cite a specific passage in one of the textbooks. These questions will require that the student read the passage carefully since the required answer is not simply a correct answer (there may be several answers that are correct) but the one that is specified in the passage.

Grading: There will be four exams during the semester (Sept. 18, Oct. 9, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4) and one during final exams week (Dec. 14). The final exam will cover material from the whole semester. The first exam covers only two chapters is 50 points; the next three will be worth 100 points each; the final is 300 points. In addition there will be on-line quizzes, posted on the web most Fridays. Answers will be due prior to the first class the following week. The quizzes will contribute up to 150 points; 18.75% of the total grade) based upon the total percent of correct answers. Exams must be taken at the appointed time, except for SDSU excused absences or unexpected emergencies, which must also be excused. In those cases make-up exams will be scheduled after the regular exam date. No exams will be given in advance. The format of the make-up exam may be different from the rest of the class, e.g., I could choose to use essay questions. Contesting grades of quizzes, exams and labs are to be initiated within one week of answers being posted. They can be initiated either in person or by e-mail.

A = 720 points (90%) or upper 20% of class
B = 640 points (80%) or upper 30% of class
C = 480 points (60%) or upper 50% of class
D = 400 points (50%) or upper 60% of class
F < 400 points and lower 40% of class

I am rather rigid on following the grading structure. For example: 89.5% is a B. Also, there is no extra credit; grades are based upon quizzes and exams only.

    Except for examinations, class attendance is not required, but students are responsible for class material. Students are entitled to reasonable accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those in need of such accommodation should notify the instructor and make appropriate arrangements with the SDSU Office of Disability Services, 110 West Hall, 688-4505 or 688-4032. Refer to your student handbook for policies on academic integrity. Cheating on exams can result in failure of the exam.
    The BOR policy manual states: Freedom in learning. Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Student who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should first contact the instructor of the course to initiate a review of the evaluation. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may contact the department head and/ or dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Syllabus:

Date	Topic	Readings
2-Sept	Introduction (lymphocyte, long version)	Karp ch. 1
4-Sep	Chemistry of life; quiz 1	Karp ch. 2
7-Sep	Holiday
9-Sep	Chemistry of life (protein structure)
11-Sep	Chemistry of life; quiz 2
14-Sep	Bioenergy & enzymes	Karp ch. 3
16-Sep	Review session (vocab)	Old questions
18-Sep	First exam (key: A, B, C)	Karp ch. 1 - 2
21-Sep	Bioenergy & enzymes
23-Sep	Bioenery & enzymes (Membrane 1, 2)
25-Sep	Plasma membrane; quiz 3 (ATPase1, 2, aquaporin)	Karp ch. 4
28-Sep	Plasma membrane
30-Sep	Respiration (Overview, TCA cycle)	Karp ch. 5
2-Oct	Respiration; quiz 4 (elect trans, ATP synth 1, 2, 3 )
5-Oct	Photosynthesis (photosynthesis)	Karp ch. 6
7-Oct	Review session (vocab )	Old questions
9-Oct	Second exam (key: A, B, C)	Karp ch. 3 - 6
12-Oct	Holiday
14-Oct	Cell/environment interactions	Karp ch. 7
16-Oct	Cell/envir. interactions & Cyto. Membranes; quiz 5	Karp ch. 8
19-Oct	Cytoplasmic membranes (golgi, secretion1, 2 )
21-Oct	Cytoplasmic membranes & Cytoskeleton	Karp ch. 9
23-Oct	Cytoskeleton; quiz 6 (kinesin )
26-Oct	Cytoskeleton (contraction1, 2, 3)
28-Oct	DNA	Hartl & Jones ch. 1
30-Oct	Transmission genetics; quiz 7	Hartl & Jones ch. 2
2-Nov	Transmission genetics & chi square
4-Nov	Transmission genetics
6-Nov	Review (vocab, Amino acid list)	Old questions
9-Nov	Third Exam (key: A, B, C)	Karp 7-9, H&J 1
11-Nov	Holiday
13-Nov	The chromosome; quiz 8	Hartl & Jones ch. 3
16-Nov	The chromosome
18-Nov	Linkage & mapping	Hartl & Jones ch. 4
20-Nov	Linkage & mapping; quiz 9	3 Point Map
23-Nov	Linkage & mapping; Chromosome behavior	Hartl & Jones ch. 5
25-Nov	Chromosome behavior; quiz 10
27-Nov	Holiday
30-Nov	Chromosome behavior
2-Dec	Review (vocab)	Old questions
4-Dec	Fourth Exam (key: A, B, C)	H & J ch. 2 - 5
7-Dec	Review	Karp ch. 1 - 6
9-Dec	Review	Karp ch. 7 - 9
11-Dec	Review	H & J ch 1- 5
14-Dec	Final exam 2 pm	(keys: A, B, C)

Laboratory (Biol 202L) SNP 039

Section	Time	Instructor
Biol 202L-S01	Tuesday 10:00 am - 12:50 pm	Josh Schuerman
Biol 202L-S02	Tuesday 1:00 pm - 3:50 pm	Josh Schuerman
Biol 202L-S03	Tuesday 5:00 pm - 7:50 pm	Josh Schuerman
Biol 202L-S04	Wednesday 10:00 am - 12:50 pm	Xin Fang
Biol 202L-S05	Wednesday 3:00 pm - 5:50 pm	Xin Fang
Biol 202L-S06	Wednesday 6:00 pm - 8:50 pm	Xin Fang
Biol 202L-S07	Thursday 10:00 am - 12:50 pm	Joan Clapper
Biol 202L-S08	Thursday 1:00 pm - 3:50 pm	Joan Clapper
Biol 202L-S09	Thursday 5:00 pm - 7:50 pm	Joan Clapper

Grading

The grade for the laboratory is separate from the lecture class (1 credit).

25% Preparation (see procedures in Lab 1)
    Have procedures filled out before lab starts
    Procedures correctly laid out and easy to follow
25% Attendance/participation
25% Quality of lab report (established in Lab 1)
    Each week of lab you will receive a grade of up to 75 points on your lab report that reflects the above criteria.
25% Lab performance quizzes.

Attendance is required. An unexcused absence will result in loss of credit for that week's laboratory. An excused absence will allow for a report to be filled out from data supplied by the instructor, but will still result in loss of credit for attendance (i. e., 25% for that lab). Full preparation credit can still be achieved by submitting a sheet showing correctly laid out procedures prior to the lab being missed (either by giving to Lab Instructor or sending it along with a lab mate).

Attendance is not enough; you must participate to the degree possible. The main purpose of these laboratories is to give you hands-on experience. Mistakes (within reason) will be tolerated. The participation portion of the grade is subjectively decided by the laboratory instructor. Leaving your bench in disarray will reduce the participation portion of your grade.

The format and expectations for the lab reports is given in the first session and also will be covered in class.

Grades will be assigned as follows;
    90% or above = A
    80% or above = B
    70% or above = C
    60% or above = D
    Below 60% = Bad


Syllabus/lab protocols

Date	Laboratory
Sept. 8 - 10	1) Introduction, lab safety and pipetting
Sept. 15 - 17	2) Colorimetry
Sept. 22 - 24	3) Enzyme kinetics I
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1	4) Enzyme kinetics II
Oct. 6 - 8	5) Cell fractionation
Oct. 13 - 15	6) Aerobic respiration
Oct. 20 - 22	7) DNA isolation (plasmid prep)
Oct. 27 - 29	8) DNA electrophoresis
Nov. 3 - 5	9) Transmission genetics (Lab quiz 1)
Nov. 10 - 12	No labs
Nov. 17 - 19	10) Genetics problem session
Nov. 24 - 26	No labs
Dec. 1 - 3	11) Three point linkage; problem session2
Dec. 8 - 10	12) Tetrad analysis (Lab quiz 2)

Opportunities

Defense Dept. Scholarship

Space Grant Scholarship

Full time Microbiologist for 3M (for Dec. Grad)

Scholarship: Organic gardening/agriculture

Part time job for undergraduate: Midwest Seeds

Quality Assurance Inspector (full time, Micro major?)