LIFE SCIENCE for ENGINEERS

Fall 2015 Syllabus

BIO 213-01:
BIO 213-02:
Instructor:
Office:

T 4:10pm6:00pm, Bldg. 06 (PAC), Rm. 124

R 4:10pm6:00pm, Bldg. 06 (PAC), Rm. 124

Praveen Babu, Ph.D.

Bldg. 33, Rm. 270

Email:
pbabu@calpoly.edu
Office Hours: T 3:00-4:00pm

Text
Biology: The Essentials. Marille Hoefnagels (2015), 2nd Ed., McGraw Hill with Connect
Online Access Code (ISBN: 9781259810961)
OR
Connect 1 Semester Access Card for Biology: The Essentials. Marille Hoefnagels (2015),
2nd Ed., McGraw Hill. (ISBN: 9781259294983)
Course Description
Biology 213 is a 2 unit GE Area B2 course designed to provide students a broad overview of
the field of biology. The course will examine our understanding of biology at multiple levels
of organization ranging from the chemical building blocks of life to the basic functioning of
ecosystems. Specifically, the fundamentals of energetics, cell biology, molecular and
classical genetics, microbiology, organismal biology, and ecology will be covered. A student
at the conclusion of the course should have:

Familiarity with the principles and nature of biological science and scientific inquiry in
biology or the scientific method.
Familiarity with the chemical nature of life, including a basic understanding of
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and their functions within cells.
An understanding of the cell as a structural/functional unit in biology, including the
similarity and differences among prokaryotic, plant, and animal cells, and the structure
and function of the organelles that characterize them.
An understanding of the primary metabolic processes (photosynthesis, respiration, etc.)
required for life.
An understanding of reproduction at both the cellular and organismal levels. Students
will be familiar with the role and structure of the nucleus and chromosomes, the cellular
processes of mitosis and meiosis, the role of nucleic acids in inheritance, protein
synthesis, and the expression of genes.
A basic understanding of ecological interactions including the relationship between
organisms and the environment, the structure and properties of communities, and large
scale ecological processes such as nutrient cycling.

Prerequisite: MATH 142; for engineering students only. Co-requisite: ENGR/BRAE 213.
Recommended: CHEM 124.

Grading Policy, Assessments, and Assignments

Comprehension of pertinent principles will be assessed based on the content, quality and
execution of written assignments, performance on examinations, and participation in
classroom discussions and debate.
Online Assignments
Online Quizzes
Exam 1
Exam 2 (Final Exam)

Final course grades will be based on a standard

15 %
percentage scale: A (91%-100%), B (81%25 %
88%), C (71%-78%), D (61%-68%), and F
25 %
(below 60%). Plus/minus grades will be given
35 %
for borderline scores within 1%.

Examinations: Please bring a Scantron sheet (Form No. 882-E; 50 questions per side, 100
total) and No. 2 pencil for multiple choice sections on examinations.
Online Assessments
A portion of your overall grade will be determined through
the use of an online assessment program called ConnectTM.
It is important that you enroll in the section of Dr. Babus
ConnectTM online course pertaining to your Cal Poly
section.
Getting Started
To register, you must click the link below pertaining to the section of BIO 213 in which you
are registered:

TUE

If you are in the Tuesday section (BIO 213-01), follow the link below:

https://connect.mheducation.com/class/p-babu-fall-2015-section-01-tue-410-600pm

THR If you are in the Thursday section (BIO 213-02), follow the link below:
http://connect.mheducation.com/class/p-babu-fall-2015-section-02-thu-410-600pm
For additional assistance with registering you may follow the link below:
http://bit.ly/StudentRegistration
Attendance Policy & Make-Up Assignments/Exams
1. Regular attendance is essential if you wish to do well in this course.
2. As a courtesy to your fellow students and your instructor, please arrive on time. Arriving
late to class is rude and disruptive.
3. In the event of an absence, you are responsible for having your assignments submitted on
time, obtaining new assignments, and noting any schedule changes.
4. Late assignments will not be accepted in any form to be fair to all students.
5. Make-up exams will be considered only for documented emergencies and if you contact
me prior to an absence or within 24 hours of an absence.
6. Pending a verifiable and acceptable excuse, a make-up exam may be omitted at the
instructors discretion. In this instance, the student will be graded on the remaining
points in the course. For example, if a student misses one exam and a mutually agreeable

time is not possible to administer/take a make-up exam, the students overall course grade
will be out of the total points for the course minus those pertaining to the missed exam.
Studying
Successful students study 25-35 hours per week (approximately 2 hours per unit per week).
For this class, you should expect to spend 8-12 hours per week outside of class reviewing
lecture notes, reading the textbook (particularly those concepts that arent covered during
lecture), completing assignments, and working problems from the textbook. Understanding
the problems will help you learn the material and allow you to perform well on exams.
Solutions to most of the problems can be found in the back of the textbook.
Electronic Devices
Students are expected to turn off ALL electronic devices PRIOR to the start of class. Notetaking by hand is strongly encouraged over electronically as it greatly increases learning and
comprehension. References supporting this are available to you upon request.
Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for being aware of and complying with the campus policy on
Academic Dishonesty [refer to: Campus Administrative Manual (CAM), Section 684].
Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated and carries the penalties of requiring an F
course grade, prohibiting further attendance in the course, and notification of the Coordinator
of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs. In short, please give me your best honest
effort and this course should be a rewarding experience for all.
***Policies and schedule are subject to change as deemed appropriate by the instructor.***

LIFE SCIENCE for ENGINEERS

Fall 2015 Schedule
Instructor:
Office:

Praveen Babu, Ph.D.

Bldg. 33, Rm. 270

Email:
pbabu@calpoly.edu
Office Hours: T 3:00-4:00pm

Week

Date

Lecture Topic / Assessment

Reading

9/22
9/24

Course Introduction, Using Connect

Science, Chemistry, and Cells

Chs. 1-3

9/29
10/1

Science, Chemistry, and Cells (continued)

Chs. 1-3

10/6
10/8

Cells and Energy

Chs. 4-6

10/13
10/15

Cells and Energy (continued)

Chs. 4-6

10/20
10/22

DNA Structure, Function, and Replication

Chs. 7-8

10/27
10/29

***Examination (In Class; Scantron 882-E)***

11/3
11/5

Cellular Division: Mitosis and Meiosis

Chs. 8-9

11/10
11/12

Cellular Division: Mitosis and Meiosis

Chs. 8-9

11/17
11/19

Patterns of Inheritance I

Ch. 10

10

11/24
--

Patterns of Inheritance II

Ch. 10

11

12/1
12/3

Recombinant DNA Technology

Ch. 11

12

12/10
12/11

R Final Examination (7:10-10:00pm) for T section (BIO 213-01)

F Final Examination (7:10-10:00pm) for R section (BIO 213-02)

Tentative schedule; subject to change.

You must take the final examination at the time and date specified by the University. This is
true also in the event of a schedule change from the University scheduler.