Biology 100

Dr. L.R. McClenaghan, Jr.

General Biology

Office: PS-154 Ph: 594-3751

Spring 2000

Email: lmcclena@sunstroke.sdsu.edu

Office Hrs: 1100-1200 M - Th

TEXT: Starr, C. 2000. Biology: Concepts and Applications. 4th edition. Brooks/Cole.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: The text (see above) and five (5) 882-ES or 882-ES-LOVAS Scantron forms. These forms are available for $0.10 each at the Bookstore.

COURSE FORMAT: General Biology (Biology 100) is an introductory biology course for non-majors. The class meets for 75 minutes twice a week (1230-1345 TTh). Lectures will be supplemented with readings from the text. Four lecture periods have been set aside for exams. A tentative lecture and examination schedule is attached. This schedule may be modified at any time.

LECTURE NOTES: You are expected to attend class and take notes. Your lecture can be supplemented by lecture notes available through Aztec Shops or from the class website (http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/classes/bio100/).

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING: Your grade will be determined by your performance on examinations. These exams consist of multiple choice questions taken from my lecture notes. You will not be tested on material from the book unless it has been discussed in lecture. Four lecture exams and a comprehensive final have been scheduled. These five exams are of equal weight (100 points). Exams will be graded on a curve. Your best four scores on these exams will be used to calculate your course grade. If you are satisfied with your grade after the four lecture exams, you may elect to not take the final. Exam keys will be posted outside my office and on the class website immediately after each exam. My makeup exam policy is simple: THERE ARE NONE. Since you get one "free" exam (see above), if you miss an exam, that exam becomes the one that you drop.

CRASHING: Crashers must legibly write their name and SSN on "crash cards" provided on the first day of class. Crash cards will not be accepted after Thursday, February 3. Crash cards will be drawn at random as space becomes available through drops. Winners will be announced Thursday, February 11 and you must be present to receive a Regline add code).

MISCELLANEOUS:

1. Make coming to class a habit. Scientific studies show that students who come to class get better grades than those who do not. NOTE: Getting notes from Aztec Shops or from the website is NOT a substitute for coming to class!

2. Make use of my office hours to get help if you need it. . If you are not free during my office hours, make an appointment with me for some time that is convenient for both of us.

3. Be on time to class. Class runs from 1230 to 1345. Be ready to begin promptly at 1230 and don't plan on leaving before 1345. On exam days, no one will be admitted to the room after 1240.

4. Be attentive in class. Please sit quietly, pay attention and take notes. Do not distract me or students around you. Violations of this policy will not be tolerated; I will ask you to leave if, in my judgement, you are being disruptive.

5. Straight letter grades are given; there are no plus/minus grades.

6. There's no such thing as "extra credit."

 

LECTURE SCHEDULE

Date

Topic

Chapter (pgs.)

Feb. 1

Introduction; Methods and Concepts in Biology

1

3

Chemical Foundations for Cells; Carbon Compounds

2, 3

 

 

 

8

Cell Structure and Function

4

10

Energy Pathways in Cells

5, 6, 7

 

 

 

15

Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis

8, 9

17

Patterns of Inheritance

10

 

 

 

22

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

11

24

EXAM 1

 

 

 

 

29

DNA Structure; Protein Synthesis

12, 13

March 2

Recombinant DNA and Genetic Engineering

15

 

 

 

7

History of Evolutionary Thought

16 (238-244)

9

The Evolutionary Process

16 (246-257)

 

 

 

14

Speciation

17

16

Evidence for Evolution

18

 

 

 

21

EXAM 2

 

23

Nervous and Endocrine System

29, 31

 

 

 

28

Circulatory Systems

33

30

Respiration and Excretion

35, 37

 

 

 

April 4

Digestion and Nutrition

36

6

Patterns of Reproduction

38

 

 

 

11

Human Reproduction

38

13

EXAM 3

 

 

 

 

18

SPRING BREAK -- No Class

 

20

SPRING BREAK -- No Class

 

 

 

 

25

Population Ecology

39

27

Community Interactions

40

 

 

 

May 2

Ecosystem Structure and Functions

41

4

Ecosystems of the World

42

 

 

 

9

Human Impacts on the Environment

43

11

Conservation Ecology

---

 

 

 

16

EXAM 4

 

18

Review and Farewell Address

---

 

 

 

May 23

FINAL EXAM (1300 - 1500)

 

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