Functional Biology (BIO1330.

251)
Spring 2015 Tu, Th, 2:00-3:20 PM, SUPPLE 116
Instructor:
Dr. Sunethra Dharmasiri
Office: SUPPLE 226 (check 389 if not in 226)
Email:
sd20@txstate.edu
Phone: (512) 245-4644
Office hours: M, W 3:00 - 4:00 PM,
T, Th 11:00 12:00 PM
Required Text: Biological Science by Freeman, Quillin and Allison (5th edition) with
mastering biology access.

Important information- Please read carefully before you buy.

There are two versions to the text, depending on courses you are required to take. Please check
with your academic advisor if you are not sure at this time.
=>If you have taken BIO1330 or BIO1331 in Fall 2014, you already have the textbook and access
to mastering biology. Make sure your mastering biology access is still valid until the end Spring
2015 semester. Just add this class.
=>If you need to take BIO1330 only (but NOT BIO1331), you may get the Volume1 of the
textbook that includes only chapters 1-21. Access code for mastering biology is packaged with the
new volume I.
=>If you plan to take BIO1331 concurrently or in the Fall 2015 semester, you may get the full text
with access to mastering biology.
Once purchased, access code to mastering biology is valid for one year.

Mastering biology information:

Register for this course on Mastering biology (go to www.masteringbiology.com, and follow
registration instructions). You will need a valid Texas State University student ID, an email
address and the student access code (Comes in the Student Access Kit packaged with your new
textbook. You can also purchase access online at www.masteringbiology.com. Make sure it is
for Freeman Biological Science 5th Edition.
- The ZIP code for the school: 78666
- Course ID: BIO1330SPR15TR

Are you in the right course ? (Please read completely and very
carefully)
BIO1330 and 1331 are REQUIRED FOR ALL BIOLOGY MAJORS AND
MINORS, and for several other majors.
For other non-science majors, there is BIO1320 and BIO1421 much easier!
Remember: This is a Science Majors course and is very demanding! I will not
lower the course standards to pass you. It is your responsibility to work hard
and be prepared for this course as well as for higher-level science courses.
Read the recommended book chapters before/after the lecture, and do pre-lecture assignments. Do
recommended homework, even if they are not for credit. It will definitely make learning and
doing exams easier. There will be a lot of work to do. Take this class very seriously and keep up.

If you are not a nursing or a science major, please consult your academic advisor to
make sure if this class is the right one for you.

Lecture schedule (see below-> keep up with what happens each day)

Date
Jan 20
Jan 22
Jan 27
Jan 29
Feb 03
Feb 05
Feb 10
Feb 12
Feb 17
Feb 19
Feb 24
Feb 26
Mar 03
Mar 05

Lecture Topic
Introduction to Biology
Cells and the evolution of
life on earth
The chemical basis of life:
Atoms, molecules, Bonds,
Macromolecules of life
How do macromolecules work
together in cells?
What do cells look like?
Prokaryotic cells (bacteria)
Eukaryotic cells (animal, plant)
Exam 1
Reactions, Energy relationships,
Role of enzymes & ATP
How do cells make ATP?
How do plants make glucose?

Read textbook
chapter/
section
1.1-1.4
2.1, 2.5, 3.1,
3.2, 4.1-4.3,
5.1, 5.2, 6.1
3.3, 3.4, 4.2, 4.3
5.3, 6.1-6.4
7.17.3, 7.6

2.3, 3.4, 8.1-8.5

9, 10

Molecular and vesicular traffic in cells

How do whole cells move?
Role of cytoskeleton & ATP
Mar 10 How do cells interact with their
surrounding?
Mar 12
Exam 2
Mar 24 Replication of cells and their DNA
What happens in G1 phase?
What happens in S phase and G2
phase?
Mar 26 What happens in M phase?
Mar 31 Control of cell cycle
Apr 02 When do cells divide by meiosis?
Apr 07 Genes and the genetic code
Apr 09 Transcription and translation in
Apr 14 bacteria and eukaryotes
Apr 16
Exam 3
Apr 21 Differential gene expression in
Apr 23 bacteria and eukaryotes

6.4, 7.4-7.6

Apr 28

12.1, 12.4, 15.4,

15.5, 16.4, 19.6
20.1, 20.2, 20.5,
20.7

Mutations, DNA damage, Defects in

gene regulation and cancer
Apr 30 Manipulation of genes optional topic
(if time allows)
May 05 Comprehensive review
May 07 Comprehensive final (2 - 4:30PM)

Recommended Homework On Mastering biology (some

from Textbook)
BioSkill 2, BioSkill 7
Study area-> Get ready for
biology (diagnostic test)
BioSkill 8
Web activities for ch 4 and ch 5
Bioflix video & Web activities for
ch 6
Tables 7.1, 7.2 in the textbook
BioSkill 11,
Bioflix videos for chapter 7
Web activity for ch 8 - redox
reactions
Bioflix videos and Web activities
for ch 9 & ch 10 (cellular
respiration and photosynthesis)
Web activities for ch 7

6.2, 11

Watch videos and animations

posted on TRACS

12.1
15

Web activities four phases of

the cell cycle, DNA synthesis
Bioflix video on DNA replication

12.2
12.3
13.1, 13.2
4.2, 4.3, 16, 17

Web activity - phases of mitosis

Bioflix video on mitosis
Bioflix video on meiosis
Web activities for ch 16 and 17
Bioflix video on protein synthesis
Animations (links on TRACS)

18.1, 18.3-18.4
19.1-19.5

Web activities for ch 18 and 19

Watch videos on epigenetics
(links on TRACS)
Study the summary and videos
posted on TRACS
Web activities for ch 20
Watch videos (links on TRACS)

Course Goals
After completion of Biology 1330, a student will be able to demonstrate understanding of the
principles that sustain life at the molecular and cellular levels.
This course is specifically aimed at providing a basic but substantially in depth understanding of
the relationship between cell structure and function, metabolism and cellular physiology. A
student successfully completing Biology 1330 is expected to have an improved ability to think
critically, communicate, and make informed decisions about scientific issues.

Exams and Grading Policy:

There will be three mid-term exams. Final exam is comprehensive, and has more weight.
The final grade for the course will be calculated as follows;
Exam 1
100
Exam 2
100
Exam 3
100
Comprehensive final exam
200 (double your points in final exam)
Mastering biology and in-class Quizzes
80
Online pre-lecture assignments
20
----------------------------------------------------Total:
600
A student's total points including all extra credit points for the semester will be divided by 6 to
calculate the final course grade. (eg: 545/6) = 90.8%
Grading scale: >90 = A, 80 89 = B, 70 - 79 = C, 60 - 69 = D, < 59 = F
You should be able to calculate your grade using this information. PLEASE, do not email me
asking to calculate it for you. It is very simple, and I expect you to be able to do that.
Missed an exam? No makeup exams are given. If you miss an exam, you can use the
final exam score to make it up. (important: allowed for only one exam!!!!)

Quizzes:

Six quizzes will be given on mastering biology and three quizzes will be given in
class. Each quiz is worth 10 points. Lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.
Online quizzes will be accessible on mastering biology site from a specified Friday 8PM until
Tuesday 11PM. After opening the quiz, you should submit answers within 24 hours. Absolutely
no grace period is allowed.
Quiz 1 (in-class) Feb 03
Quiz 2 (Mastering biology) Feb 06 - 10
Quiz 3 (Mastering biology) Feb 20 - 24
Quiz 4 (in-class) Mar 03
Quiz 5 (Mastering biology) Mar 06 - 10
Quiz 6 (Mastering biology) Mar 27 - 31
Quiz 7 (in-class) Apr 07
Quiz 8 (Mastering biology) Apr 10 - 14
Quiz 9 (Mastering biology) Apr 24 - 28

Extra credit points:

There will be a comprehensive quiz for 10 extra credit points

available on mastering biology at the end of the semester. In addition, there may be other
assignments on TRACS or pop quizzes in class for extra credit. ALL EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE
ADDED TO YOUR TOTAL POINTS for the semester BEFORE AVERAGING. Please do online
exercises honestly by yourself, because the knowledge gained from those assignments will be
very useful in lectures, and in exams. Few points you may earn by cheating will not help you
in the long run.

Email correspondence:

Please put 1330TR in the subject line. I have more than one
class to teach, and do not have time to check which class you are from. You will be required to
have, and check your Texas State email regularly for updates and important messages regarding
the course. I will only correspond with students via txstate.edu email address. "I did not see that
message" is not a valid excuse for missing a deadline.
You can address me as Dr. Dharmasiri. I will not respond to emails that begin with a Hey. It
is disrespectful. Thanks for not doing that to any of your Professors.

Plagiarism:

Your actions during exams will be closely monitored by proctors. Keep your
eyes on your exam only. There will be multiple formats of the exam.
When you submit your online quizzes and assignments, I expect those to be completely your
work. Be honest. If you learn well by doing quizzes, it will reflect in your exam grade. Penalty
for plagiarism is an F-grade in this course, and I will report you to the University authorities.

Attendance:

Attending the lecture is your responsibility. There will be NO attendance credit,

however, those who attend the lecture and pay attention, usually get higher grades. Please arrive
on time and stay the whole time. Late arrivals and early departures are very disruptive.

Computers and cell phones: Use of computers / cell phones is completely prohibited
when class is in session. Please use hard copies of notes. Lecture notes will be provided at the
beginning of each class. Talk to me if you really need the computer!!!

Proper behavior in class: When you are in class I expect you to pay attention to the
lecture. Do not talk, or behave in a way that disrupts other students. Do not bring other
homework to do in my class. There will not be any credit for attendance, so please come to the
class ONLY if you really want to listen to the lecture and engage in class discussions. Please

bring your student ID to every lecture. If I ask for your ID, you should be able
to show it or leave the classroom, especially if you have been disruptive.
Additionally, you will lose all your extra credit points.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy:

The University deadline to drop a course with an automatic

W grade is Thursday March 26 (Please check time!). If you miss this deadline, you will
have to get special permission from the registrars office to withdraw from a class, or you will be
assigned the grade you have earned at the end of the semester.
th

Go to http://www.registrar.txstate.edu/persistent-links/academic-calendar.html forSpring 2015

academic calendar, and important deadlines.

TakeadvantageofSupplementalInstruction
SupplementalInstruction(SI)isanontraditionalformoftutoringprovidedbySLACandthe
DepartmentofBiologythatfocusesoncollaboration,groupstudy,andinteractionforassisting
studentsinundertaking"traditionallydifficult"courses.SItargetscourseswithaminimum30%
rateofstudentsthatdrop,withdraw,orfail,andthenprovidesatrainedpeerwhohassuccessfully
negotiatedthecoursetoassistitsfuturestudents.Thispeer,calledtheSILeader,attendsasection

ofthecourse,participatesasanynormalstudent(takesnotes,exams,etc.),andthenfacilitates3
onehourstudysessionsperweekforgroupstudy.SILeadersaretrainedtohelpstudentsimprove
theirstudyskillsandmodelthetypesofbehaviorsthatmakestudentssuccessful.Thehopeisthat
studentsthatattendsessionwillbebetterpreparedforotherdifficultcoursestheywillencounter,
andonaverage,studentsparticipatingregularlyinSIsessionsscoreonehalftoonewholeletter
gradebetterthanstudentschoosenottoparticipate.Formoreindepthinformationregarding
SupplementalInstruction,includinganuptodatesessionscheduleandthehistoryandphilosophy
ofSupplementalInstruction,pleasevisitwww.txstate.edu/slac.Ifyouhaveconcernsregardingthe
SIprogram,pleasecontactLindleyAlyea(lindley@txstate.edu~5122452515)orbringtheissue
tomyattention.
PleaseunderstandthatSILeadersdonothaveadministrativeauthorityinthisclassandthat
attendingSIsessionisnotinanywayasubstituteforattendinglecture!Specificquestions
regardinggradesorgradingstandardsshouldbedirectedtome.

Texas State University-San Marcos Honor Code

As members of a community dedicated to learning, inquiry, and creation, the students, faculty, and
administration of our University live by the principles in this Honor Code. These principles require all
members of this community to be conscientious, respectful, and honest.
We Are Concientious:
We complete our work on time and make every effort to do it right. We come to class and meetings
prepared and are willing to demonstrate it. We hold ourselves to doing what is required, embrace rigor, and
shun mediocrity special requests, and excuses.
We Are Respectful:
We act civilly toward one another, and we cooperate with each other. We will strive to create an
environment in which people respect and listen to one another, speaking when appropriate, and permitting
other people to participate and express their views.
We Are Honest:
We do our own work and are honest with one another in all matters. We understand how various acts of
dishonesty, like plagiarizing, falsifying data, and giving or receiving assistance to which one is not entitled,
conflict as much with academic achievement as with the values of honesty and integrity.
The Pledge for Students
Students at our University recognize that, to insure honest conduct, more is needed than an expectation of
academic honesty, and we therefore adopt the practice of affixing the following pledge of honesty to the
work we submit for evaluation:
I pledge to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility at our University.
The Pledge for Faculty and Administration
Faculty at our University recognize that the students have rights when accused of academic dishonesty and
will inform the accused of their rights of appeal laid out in the student handbook and inform them of the
process that will take place.
I recognize students' rights and pledge to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility at our
University.
Texas State Endorses
Wingspread Journals Seven Principles
for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Student-faculty contact
Cooperation among students
Active learning
Prompt feedback
Time on task

6. High expectations, and

7. Respect for diverse talents and ways of learning