Biol G180 Cell and Molecular Biology Lecture

Golden West College

Spring 2016
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor
E-mail
Office Hours

Kira Pate, Ph.D.

kpate@gwc.cccd.edu
Tuesdays 4:30-5:00 PM in Math & Sciences 104

COURSE INFORMATION
Title
Section
Units
Lecture Location
Lecture Hours
Pre-requisite

Biol G180 Cell and Molecular Biology

60983 (students must also be enrolled in lab section 60106)
5 (including the lab)
Math & Sciences 123
Tuesday and Thursday 5:15 - 7:20 PM
Chem G180, or Chem G185, or Chem G220, or Chem G225

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed as the first in a three-course sequence for students desiring to major in biology.
The topics to be covered in this course are among those which serve to unify the science of biology.
Included in these concepts are: prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure, function and homeostasis,
cell reproduction and metabolism, cell communication, classical and molecular genetics, molecular
biology, biotechnology, and evolution. C-ID: BIOL 190 Lecture & lab. Letter grade only. Transferable to
CSU; UC.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.
2.
3.
4.

List and describe the different steps of eukaryotic cell division.

Evaluate enzymatic data and associated graphs in a laboratory setting.
Correctly identify various organelles of a eukaryotic cell and list their functions.
Prepare a diluted chemical solution by calculating and measuring the required volumes of stock
solution and diluents.
5. Correctly calculate and draw a map of the restriction enzyme sites of a plasmid DNA molecule
using RFLP analysis.

REQUIRED MATERIALS (all must be obtained by the 2nd week of class)

Text: Golden West College custom edition of Biology, 10 ed. by Campbell and Reece (with access to
Mastering Biology website). The custom edition designed for this course has been chosen to present a
more cost-effective option. You may also use the non-custom 10th edition in any format (loose-leaf,
hardcover, e-text). If you use an edition other than the 10th, you are responsible for figuring out
differences in page numbers for the reading assignments. Keep in mind that the package available at
the bookstore comes with access to Mastering Biology, which is required for this course (see below).
Mastering Biology Online (www.masteringbiology.com): You will need to purchase access to the
accompanying online material for the textbook. This will be required to complete pre-lecture
assignments. Although this can be purchased on its own, the most cost effective option is to purchase
it as a package with the textbook (available at the bookstore or online). The course code for this
semester is PATESPRING2016.
Clicker: Clickers will be provided by the instructor for use during each lecture period.

BLACKBOARD LEARN COURSE WEBSITE:

Lecture files, homework assignments, announcements, etc. will be available on the course Blackboard
Learn website. PDF files of the lecture slides will be posted prior to the lecture. I HIGHLY recommend
printing these out (2-6 slides per page) and taking notes during the lecture. To access the website visit:
https://gwc.blackboard.com/. The username and password should be the same as your MyGWC
account. Once you login click on the BioL G180 link under My Courses. You are responsible for
checking this website periodically for critical announcements.

GRADING:
You will receive a combined grade for the lecture and lab. Grades are based on total points earned in
the class out of 850 total. Letter grades will be assigned based off the percentage of total points
earned in the course as shown below.
Assignment
Exams (4)
Evolution Quiz
Quizzes (10; 1 dropped)
Pre-lecture Assignments (25; 4 dropped)
Homework: Article Responses (3)
Participation (25; 4 dropped)
Lab
Total

Points
4 x 100 points = 400
20
9 x 5 points = 45
21 x 3 points = 63
3 x 10 points = 30
21 x 2 points = 42
250
850

Scale
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
<60%

A
B
C
D
F

EXAMS
Material covered in the exams will be based on the lecture material. Exam format will include multiple
choice, fill in the blank, and short answer. The fourth exam is not cumulative and will focus on the
material from the final unit. You will have the entire class period to finish all exams. You will need to
bring a scantron (289-PAR-L) to each exam. Exams may be curved based on class performance.

EVOLUTION QUIZ
There will be one quiz during the last week of school (Evolution Quiz), worth 20 points. This will be
an open note quiz (no books or electronics) and will cover chapters 21-24.

MISSED EXAMS OR QUIZ

Exams and the evolution quiz may only be made-up if they were missed due to an emergency.
Emergencies are considered religious holidays (I must be notified at the beginning of the course of any
religious holidays), personal or family injury or illness, a death in the family, or an accident. You must
contact me via email within 24 hours of the missed exam/quiz and provide written proof of the
emergency in order to take a make-up. Written proof may include accident reports, doctors notes
with signature, funeral service programs, etc. Make-up exams/quiz may be different than the original
in both form and content.

QUIZZES
Quizzes will take place during the first 5-10 minutes of the lecture (see schedule for specific days).
Questions will cover previous lecture material and basic information from the assigned reading for that
day. This is to make sure you are reading through the material PRIOR to the lecture. Please bring a
blank sheet of paper to class on which to write your answers. Students who are absent or late to
lecture will not be eligible to make up any quizzes; however, the lowest quiz score will be dropped.

PRE-LECTURE READING ASSIGNMENTS

There is an assigned reading for each class period (see the schedule for pages), which corresponds to
an assignment on Mastering Biology. These are due before each class by 4:00 PM. No late work will be
accepted. Your three lowest scores will be dropped. It is extremely important that you take the
assigned reading and questions seriously. Lectures will be structured with the assumption that you
have completed the reading prior to class. Again, doing the reading is extremely critical for your
success.

HOMEWORK: ARTICLE RESPONSES

There will be 3 assigned readings from recent scientific articles. The assigned reading will be posted on
Blackboard throughout the semester. You must write a 3-paragraph, 275 word minimum, one-page
maximum (10-12 font, single or double spaced acceptable) paper according to the following
specifications:
1) Provide a one paragraph summary of the article (i.e. topic, main discoveries, model organism
used, any controversies involved...)
2) In a paragraph, describe how this article relates to the content from the class
3) In a paragraph, state your personal view of the article (what did you find interesting?, did you
disagree with anything?, did you find something surprising?, etc.)
Each of the assignments will be worth 10 points. Please bring a hard copy to the lecture on the day it is
due, at the beginning of class. Assignments turned in after the beginning of class will be considered
late. You can turn in late assignments for up to 1 week for half credit. No late assignments will be
accepted after 1 week. COPYING DIRECTLY FROM THE ARTICLE WILL BE CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM.

PARTICIPATION (CLICKERS AND GROUP WORK)

Participation points will be earned through clicker responses and participation in class activities/group
work. Clicker questions are meant to engage you in the material, provide me with instant feedback of
your understanding, and gauge your level of participation. Two participation points are available each
day. Full points will be earned by answering at least 80% of clicker questions (based on participation,
not correctness) and turning in all required group work and in class activities. Up to 4 days may be
missed without penalty. Note: Clickers will be provided for checkout each lecture. If clickers are not
returned all participation points will be lost for that day.

ATTENDANCE/PARTICPATION/ACTIVE LEARNING
Attendance and active participation are absolutely critical in this course. To enhance your learning
experience (and hopefully make the lecture experience more interesting), I will not simply lecture the
entire class period. We will be engaging in active learning activities during class that will help you
develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills not only for the exams, but hopefully for your
future courses/career. However, for this to work I need your cooperation in coming to class prepared
(please, please do the readings!), actively participating during class, and taking all assignments
seriously. It brings me no greater pleasure than to see my students learning and succeeding in my
class (and hopefully enjoying themselves in the process!). I will work hard to help make this happen
but I need your cooperation as well.

CLASSROOM ETTIQUETTE
Please show up to lecture on time and prepared. You should always bring a notebook and pen (and
preferably the lecture notes). You may bring a laptop to class, but if you are caught doing anything
other than taking notes on it, you will be asked to leave and may not be allowed to bring a laptop to
class again. Headphones are not allowed in class. All cell phones should be silenced and put away. All
students are entitled to an environment that encourages learning. If one student behaves in a manner
that negatively affects other class members, he or she is guilty of disruptive behavior, and may be
asked to leave.

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM

Cheating includes but is not limited to submitting work that is not your own, providing/receiving
assistance during exams or quizzes, using unauthorized materials during exams or quizzes, plagiarizing
any part of an assignment, submitting clicker responses for an absent student, asking another student
to submit your clicker answers, taking photos of exams, etc. As exams will not be returned, you will
NOT be permitted to remove them from the classroom at any time. Doing so will be considered an act
of cheating. Any student caught cheating will receive no credit for that particular assignment (and
possibly the class) and will be reported to the office of academic affairs. Further punishment may
include expulsion from the college.
This syllabus is a guideline for the class. Material is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in
class and/or on Blackboard.
Students are responsible for dropping themselves from the course (including the lab section) according
to Golden West Colleges published deadlines. I reserve the right to drop students for excessive
absences or continual disruptive behavior.

Biol G180 Cell and Molecular Biology Lecture

Pate Spring 2016
Wk #
1

Date
2/2
2/4

Lecture Topic
Introduction: A Study of Life / Chemistry
Importance of Water and Carbon

2/9
2/11

Macromolecules of Life
Macromolecules (cont.) / Membrane

2/16
2/18

Membrane (cont.)
Bulk Transport / Tour of The Cell

2/23
2/25

Tour of The Cell (cont.)

Cell Communication

3/1
3/3

Exam #1
Introduction to Metabolism

3/8
3/10

Intro to Metab. (cont) / Cell Respiration

Cellular Respiration (cont.)

3/15
3/17

Cellular Respiration (cont.)

Photosynthesis

3/22
3/24

Cell Cycle
Exam #2

4
5

3/28-4/3
9

Chapter(s)
1, 2
3, 4

Reading
(1-15; 29-41)
(44-53; 56-64)

Due

5.1-5.2, 5.4
67-72; 75-83
5.3,5.5,7.1,7.2 72-75;84-86;124-130 Quiz #1
7.3-7.4
7.5; 6.1-6.3

130-137
137-138; 93-104

Quiz #2

6.4-6.6
11.1-11.4

104-117
210-227

Quiz #3

1-5, 6.1-6.5, 7
8.1-8.3

145-151

8.4-8.5; 9.1
9.2-9.4

151-159; 162-167
168-173

Quiz #4
HW #1

9.4-9.6
10.1-10.3

173-181
185-200

Quiz #5

12.1-12.3
6.6, 8-11

232-248

Spring Break

4/5
4/7

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

13.1-13.3
252-262
Meiosis (cont.) / Mendel & The Gene Idea 13.4; 14.1-14.2 263-265; 267-27

Quiz #6

10

4/12
4/14

Beyond Mendel
Chromosomes & Inheritance / DNA

HW #2
Quiz #7

11

4/19
4/21

DNA Replication / Gene to Protein

Exam #3

16.2; 17.1
12-16.1

318-327; 334-337

12

4/26
4/28

Gene to Protein (cont.)

Mutations / Regulation of Gene Expression

17.1-17.4
17.5; 18.1

337-353
355-357; 361-364

13

5/3
5/5

Regulation of Gene Expression (cont.)

Cancer / Biotechnology

18.2-18.4
365-383
18.5; 20.1 383-388; 408-417

14

5/10
5/12

Biotechnology (cont.)
Biotechnology (cont.) / Evolution

20.2, 20.4 417-422; 428-433 Quiz #10

20.3; 22
422-427; 462-478

15

5/17
5/19

Mechanisms of Evolution (cont.)

Mechanisms of Evolution (cont.) / Video

16

5/24
5/26

Evolution Quiz and Exam #4 Review

Exam #4

14.3-14.4
15.1-15.2; 16.1

23
24
22-24
16.2-20

276-288
292-298

480-498
500-508

Quiz #8
Quiz #9

HW #3