Course Description:
Explores fundamental characteristics of living matter from the molecular level to the ecological community with emphasis on general biological principles.  Introduces the diversity of living organisms, their structure, function and evolution.

Student Performance Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the basis of life's unity and diversity.
2. Identify the steps in scientific inquiry.
3. Demonstrate microscopic technique.
4. Describe energy pathways used by autotrophs and heterotrophs.
5. Match cell organelles with their functions.
6. Describe the cell cycle and distinguish between mitosis and meiosis.
7. Predict outcomes of crosses using mendelian and nonmendelian inheritance.
8. Compare and contrast DNA and RNA.
9. Discuss current DNA technology,
10. Define biological evolution.  Identify and describe the evidence for micro- and macroevolution.
11. Discuss the "Big Bang" hypothesis and some of the supporting evidence.
12. Describe the current theories for the chemical origin of life.
13. Discuss the genetic basis and subsequent development of behavior.
14. Describe adaptive behavior and current aspects of sociobiology.

 Evaluation and Requirements:
Attendance Policy: After looking over this syllabus ask yourself if you can afford to miss a single class. If you like, you may notify me in advance (e-mail is fine) if you know that you will be missing a class. I'll try and respond with another e-mail and let you know what we will be doing during your absence.  Be punctual and respect the starting time of the class by quiet, attentive behavior. Also, do not pack up books, be otherwise noisy, or leave early as this is distracting to the rest of the class and irksome to the professor.

Grading Policy: Your semester grade will be based on a 10 point scale, with:

Withdrawal:
If you must withdraw from the course it is your responsibility to complete the necessary paperwork for the withdrawal at the Admissions Office. If you stop attending lectures or labs without officially withdrawing from the course, you will receive the grade earned based on your point total (at the time you stop coming) divided by the maximum points (as if you had completed all work). This usually means a grade of F will be recorded.

Text (required):
Lecture - Biology: Life on Earth, 7^th edition (available in bookstore).
Lab - LeafLab, FlyLab BiologyLabs On-Line (available in bookstore)
Lab Procedures & Resources (available on-line on the Biology Department web site)
 

Instructional Materials:
My lectures will be primarily based on visual images from the your textbook and the Internet.  A printed version of the lecture notes can be downloaded from my web page.  The PowerPoint presentations will be posted in a campus network public folder called the  "Z drive" (Z:) or "K drive" (K:), under my computer name "brmurrj," which can be only be accessed from networked computers on campus. For more instructions about accessing my PowerPoint presentations visit Not Making the Grade and click on the appropriate folder. Use the student computer lab when you attempt this procedure. There is always someone available to answer questions. Be prepared for lecture!  If you arrive without your print out of the lecture notes you are simply unprepared.  Furthermore, it is unlikely that you will be able to fully comprehend the lecture if you fail to thoroughly read the assigned chapter(s) in advance of the lecture. 

Let us talk about tests... If you're like me, you really don't like awkward surprises.  Your test questions will come from 3 sources:  on-line lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, and the assigned reading. Don't waste your time studying something that wasn't included in one of the above sources.

Academic Dishonesty:
I will follow the written description of what constitutes academic dishonest acts described in your Student Handbook.

Class Schedule and Sequence of Instruction:  (on biology page)

In conclusion… I am attempting to provide every resource I know of to help you help yourself succeed in this course. Or as a dear friend of mine said…

Be there every time...
Be there on time...
Stay until it's over...
Be an active participant.

Be there every time.
Some material will only be available in class. We'll make assignments, give out important announcements and from time to time even have activities that will count as part of your grade. So don't miss class -- ever.
There is an important psychological advantage in coming to every class too. You'll have committed yourself to the class, affirming that you really have taken responsibility for your own learning.

Be there on time.
Class will start right on schedule. If you come even a few minutes late, you might miss the opening joke, or then again, you might miss the main point of the day or a secret for succeeding on the next class. You're bound to miss something, so if you're going to be there, be on time.

Stay until it's over.
Every minute of class is packed with things you need to know. We start on time, and we keep going until the last minute. Even if you start packing up a few minutes before we're done, you can't help but miss something. Besides, someone (maybe you!) has paid a significant amount of money for you to attend this class. It would be a shame to waste those funds.

Be an active participant.
Take careful notes that will be useful to you for future review. When you are asked to take part in a group event, be a willing and active participant. When you're asked a question, answer to the best of your ability and don't be afraid of giving the wrong answer. When you have questions, ask the instructor, either right away in class, or write them down and ask after class or at office hours. Actively wrap your brain around everything the class has to offer.

You matter to the instructors.
You may be tempted to adopt the view that you can't get help from your instructors since the number of people in lecture is large. Don't yield to that temptation -- it can be a way of avoiding your responsibility for your own learning. If you have questions -- ask. If you don't understand what caused you to do less well than you hoped on an exam -- talk about it. If you want to know how you can get further individual help -- say so. If you thought you'd signed up for Introductory Accounting -- don't just sit there, ask us to tell you where to go. We can't help if we don't know what you need.

We instructors have office hours every week so you can meet with us. We will make appointments at other hours if the office hours don't work. We have computer accounts so you can send us E-mail messages, and we anxiously check our computers each day to see what messages are there. Telephone numbers, computer addresses and office locations are listed at the beginning of this syllabus. We are in this class for you -- so come see us.
Inspired by a good friend (Walter Cronkite, Hope College, Michigan)  

Office Security: Bustus