CELLULAR
AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LAB
Spring 2005
Course # BIOL 1406 (for<!--This file created 4:47 PM 8/24/1999 by Claris Home Page version 3.0-->merly BIO 1654), Section # 008 Synonym # 20766
T
Instructor: Elizabeth A. Ramirez
Garza, B.S., M.S.
HOW TO REACH THE
INSTRUCTOR
Elizabeth A. Ramirez Garza, B.S.,
M.S.
Voice
Mail:
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 8:10 am-9:10 am Rm. 302 RGC
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:
Wednesdays
And
if necessary by appointment via voice mail or e-mail
Email: lramirez@austincc.edu
I only open mail from addresses that I recognize. In the subject be sure to
put BIOL
1406 and your name so that I will open up you e-mail.
Web site:
http://www2.austincc.edu/eramirez
General Biology course designed for science majors and students with a strong science background who desire an in-depth approach to biological topics. An introduction to the physical and chemical organization of living organisms; cell structure, function, and metabolism; classical and molecular genetics; gene regulation; genetic engineering; molecular aspects of development; and reproduction. BIOL 1406 and 1408 may not both be counted towards graduation. Fee: $24 Insurance: $3.10Skills: G Prerequisites: One year of high school chemistry or one semester of college chemistry; two years of high school algebra or MATD 0390. (BIO 1654) Students who lack the prerequisites will be dropped from the course.
This is a rigorous course that requires a solid background in mathematics (through intermediate algebra), regular class attendance, a minimum of 12 hours per week of study time outside of class, and a strong commitment to succeed. Students are responsible for all information presented in class or found in the book. There is a mandatory Biology Lab Safety Rules and Information Training at the second lab meeting. To attend and complete this course you will have to attend this meeting and sign the ACC Biology Department Safety Contract or you will be dropped from this class.
PREREQUISITES
Students must prove proficiency in the required skills
with 1) a passing score on
ACC’s
assessment test or 2) a passing score on a state-approved assessment test
or 3) completion of required developmental education for
that area or 4)
exemption from assessment or TSI. Students must have the prerequisites G+
reading, writing, math and, chemistry for the course or I
must drop them.
Students
are responsible for providing proof that they have the prerequisites.
Copies
of grade reports or transcripts are adequate proof of course prerequisites
such as college-level English Composition I. If I later find out the student lacks
the prerequisites I will withdraw the student from the
course at that time, no
matter when in the semester I discover the problem. If a student is missing the
prerequisites students should withdraw from the course
within the add-drop
period if possible.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
and SUPPLIES
Ø
Laboratory Manual for Biology 1406 Cellular and
Molecular Biology Tenth Edition by Biology 1406
Ø Scientific Calculator (TI-36X recommended)- Your calculator should be able to calculate the mean and standard deviation for a single set of numbers, as well as carry out linear regression for a paired set of numbers.
Ø 2 Laboratory Notebooks- your notebook must have a permanent binding (sewn-in) with quadrille-ruled paper. Notebooks with loose-leaf binders are not acceptable.
Ø Safety goggles (it can be purchased in bookstores and has to have Z87.1 written on them).
Ø Closed toed shoes for lab (not cloth or woven material)
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY
This course is taught in the classroom as a lecture/lab combination.
The lecture meets twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and the lab follows Tuesday lecture period depending which section you’re in. The course objectives will be emphasized. The biology lab help the kinesthetic learners assimilate the objectives better. Lab notebooks, pre-lab write ups, lab exams (fill in the blank, short answer and essay) will be used to asses the students comprehension of the course objectives.
COURSE RATIONALE
This class will give my students the ability to make educated decisions about their health and jobs (pre-med, nursing, research). Specific skills and competencies are expected of students, who successfully complete this course, including:
1 ability to observe phenomena and to record and analyze data
2 ability to infer from data
3 ability to demonstrate higher level thinking skills
4 ability to solve problems
5 ability to construct graphs from data
6 ability to obtain information from graphs
7 ability to manipulate equipment
8 ability to work effectively in a group
9 ability to work safely in a lab setting
10 ability to follow directions
Students can apply the course to their everyday life and potentially to a future career. After this course students may want to enroll in BIOL 1407 Structure and Function of Organisms or BIOL 2304 Human Anatomy Lecture, etc.
COMMON COURSE
OBJECTIVES
Common course objectives are attached. They can also be found at:
http://www2.austincc.edu/biology/ccobjectives
COURSE
OUTLINE/CALENDAR/Lab & Lecture Schedules
“Please note: schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class.”
Lab
Topics
|
January 11 |
* Introduction; Safety Training |
|
January 18 |
*Lab 1 - Measuring Weight and Volume |
|
January 25 |
*Lab 2 - Preparing Solutions |
|
February 1 |
*Lab 3 - Understanding pH and Buffers |
|
February 8 |
*Lab 4 - Using the Brightfield Microscope |
|
February 15 |
*Lab 5 - Transport Across Cell Membranes |
|
February 22 |
*FIRST LAB EXAM |
|
March 1 |
*Lab 6 - Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity |
|
March 8 |
*Lab 7 - Thin Layer Chromatography |
|
March 14-20 |
Spring Break!!!! |
|
March 22 |
*Lab 8-1 - Protein Purification |
|
March 29 |
*Lab 8-2 - Protein Determination |
|
April 5 |
*Lab 8-3 - Protein Electrophoresis |
|
April 12 |
*Lab 8-4 - Protein Characterization |
|
April 19 |
*Lab 9-1 - Recombinant DNA Technology |
|
April 26 |
*Lab 9-2 - Recombinant DNA technology |
|
May 3 |
*SECOND LAB EXAM |
GRADING
CRITERIA/GRADING SYSTEM
Your lab grade will be 25% of the final grade you get for this course. It will be based on:
50% 2 Lab Practicals
25% Pre lab reports
25% Lab notebook
Final course grades will follow the structure as follows:
A= 100-90%
B= 89-80% D= 69-60%
C= 79-70% F= 59% and below
STRUCTURE OF EXAMS
Exams will contain questions from information covered in lab manual and lab. They will have fill in the blank, short answer and Essay. No exams will be given early for any reason. You are required to take all tests at the scheduled time.
REQUIRED TESTS
Tenative
Lab Practicals will test you over procedures and information covered in lab.
1st
Lab Practical
2nd Lab Practical May 3
LAB REPORTS
You must read all assignments prior to class. You must come to lab prepared. The lab reports will consist of:
Pre-lab write up- Before lab you must write in ink legibly on the right-hand side of your bound notebook. Write the title, purpose to the lab, safety considerations, the procedure that will be followed in the bound notebook. Answer all the questions and calculations in the introduction section of the exercise in the lab manual. Graphs must be done on graph paper. The title can be word for word from the manual. The purpose is the reason for doing the lab and can be found in the manual in the reading section that precedes each lab’s procedure. “To examine the effect of temperature and pH on enzymes” is a good example of a purpose of an experiment. In your own words, write out the procedures from the manual. When you come to lab, at the beginning of lab I will check off your pre-lab write up. This is one third of your lab notebook grade, so do a good job. Turn in your pre-lab calculations and answers to questions at the beginning of lab this will be your pre-lab grade.
During the Lab class, follow all directions in the Lab Procedures section of the exercise. As you do the labs document your quantitative and qualitative results, answer all the questions in the analysis and conclusion sections in the lab notebook in ink. Write the number, question, underline it and then answer it. Drawings and diagrams can be done in pencil. Each person will write their own notes, lab reports. Document your accurate, detailed results in the lab notebook. Fill in all tables. During lab be sure to document all results carefully. I will compare your results to the rest of your group members. Do not copy each others answers to the questions. Write the names of your group members on your lab notebook results section first sheet on the top right hand corner. Write in complete sentences, using proper grammar, spelling, etc. when answering your questions. You will turn in your lab notebook at the beginning of the first and second lab exam. That will be your lab notebook grade. This will give you plenty of time to do a thorough job and to ask questions and to go for tutoring with Charlie Jones or at the tutoring lab or come ask questions during lab or during office hours. It is very important that you get each one done every week to not get behind. There are no make up labs.
Lab participation and clean-up consists of:
1 Arriving on time with your lab manual, lab notebook with pre lab done, goggles, closed toed shoes, and scientific calculator
2 Fully participate during lab and stay until your group finishes the exercise and completes all clean-up activities
3 Check-out with your instructor before leaving class so I can make sure your lab notebook is up-to date and that your lab station has been cleaned up
After lab is over, finish answering the questions in the results section, in the analysis and conclusion sections, the additional exercise section of the lab and, complete calculations if you were not able to complete them during lab. The lab notebook will be due at the beginning of the 1st and 2nd Lab exam.
COURSE POLICIES
Missed exam
policy
If you miss a test, you will receive a 0 for that test. The only exceptions are if there is a death in your family of if you are seriously ill and cannot physically come to class. In this latter instance, you must present a note from your doctor stating that you were physically unable to come to class. A cold or the flu is not an acceptable illness. Only one makeup exam will be given per student regardless of the reason. The only excuse accepted for a makeup exam is a documented note from your doctor specifying specific days that you could not come to class. If the exam was given during those specific days a makeup exam can be arranged. If the exam was given at any other time, you cannot take a makeup exam. In any case, if you are not able to come to an exam, you must inform me of that fact before the time of the exam. A phone call or an email either to me or to the departmental office is sufficient. If a make-up exam is in order, you must make plans with me for the taking of the exam within 6 days after the regularly scheduled exam. Failure to either inform me or to make plans for the make-up will result in a 0 for that exam. You can only make up 1 exam. There are no Makeup Exams for the mandatory comprehensive Exam. There are no retakes for the final exam.
When you walk in for an exam you will need to place your belongings on the floor against the wall in the front of the class. You may not talk during a test; you may not look through your bag; you may not leave the room and come back and complete the exam; you may not look on your neighbor’s answer sheet. Any student caught in any form of scholastic dishonesty shall be recommended for maximum penalty allowed by ACC policy. You may consult the student handbook for more information regarding academic dishonesty policies followed by the college.
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.
It is your responsibility to turn in the assignments on the due dates. Missed
lab activities cannot be made up. You will receive a 0 for any all lab assignments
associated with that lab (Pre lab reports, lab notebook, lab participation and clean
up) you do not participate (attend) in. You must provide me with written proof
that an emergency a serious accident, serious illness with a doctor’s note or death
of an immediate family member obituary in order to have an excused absence.
In the interest of equality and fairness, all students are required to follow the policies and deadlines described in this syllabus. Please do not ask for exceptions, as they will not be granted. The existing policies and deadlines make reasonable allowance for emergencies that may arise during the semester.
Attendance will be taken in lab. Students are ultimately responsible for dropping the class should they decide to stop attending. It is assumed that your registration for this class at this particular time precludes any conflicts with work or family responsibilities. Therefore, work schedule or family responsibilities will not be accepted as excuses for missed tests, or classes. Do not schedule doctor appointments or trips to conflict with this class. You are responsible for all assignments and information whether you are present or not. It is your responsibility to get any material or information from other students that you did not receive due to being absent.
Class Participation Expectations
Students are expected to have read the assigned reading before class and to come prepared to discuss the topic for the day. Students are expected to participate in every lab. Those who do not participate in the labs will receive zeros. There will be no make ups.
Classroom behavior:
Private, personal chats during class are not allowed. Students who persist in private conversations not pertinent to the class will be asked to leave the room. If you have specific questions about your grades you will need to come to my office hours so we can discuss them privately. No food or drink is allowed in the classroom or laboratory. Behavior during laboratory work is crucial since, students will be handling materials that are potentially harmful. Absolutely no “clowning around” will be tolerated during lab. If your instructor suspects that you might not be taking laboratory safety seriously, you will be kicked out of the lab. Cellular Phones and Pagers are to be turned off during class and lab.
Success (making good grades) in this course is highly correlated to attending class. Study groups are an excellent way for preparing for this class and exams. You need to read the assigned readings and Labs before class and come prepared to discuss the topics. Tardiness is a disruption to the class so, please be on time. You are responsible for all work you missed.
WITHDRAWALS
If
you decide to drop this class, it is your responsibility to protect your
academic record by withdrawing no later than
Be aware of the state limit about credit hours that apply to students.
Students during or after fall 1999 have state limits on the number of credit hours that a student can take before having to pay out-of-state fees. Students cannot longer drop courses repeatedly without worrying about passing that limit. If the state paid the fee for the student and the student subsequently drops the
class, it counts against that student’s total.
The limit is 1.5 x the credit required for a 2-year degree. (If we require 60 hours, their limit is 90 hours.)
REINSTATEMENT PROCEDURES
Reinstatement procedures will follow those outlined in the current ACC General
Catalog.
INCOMPLETE GRADE
POLICY
Incompletes
will not be given without satisfactory explanation and completion of at least
2/3 of the course work with a grade of C or higher. Incompletes are only given to student that
have a compelling reason for the extension and will need to provide
documentation of that reason. Students
will have to finish the course requirements on their own. Students
will get an F if they do not finish the incomplete by the required date!
STATEMENT ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
"Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.”
“Students who are requesting accommodation must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the letter of accommodation from OSD.”
If you have a disability that affects your classroom performance or your testing, please discuss your situation with your instructor during the first two weeks of the semester.
STATEMENT ON SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
"Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations; and homework.”
STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM
"Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks."
STATEMENT ON LAB SAFETY
"Health and safety are paramount values in science classrooms, laboratories and field activities. Students are expected to learn, understand and comply with environmental, health and safety (EHS) procedures and protocols, and must agree to abide by the ACC science safety policy. Students are expected to conduct themselves with appropriate professional behavior and with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending all activities. Specific safety information for each activity will be discussed at the beginning of the activity. For those activities that require specific safety training, a student who is late and misses the safety training will not be able to participate in the activity. The comprehensive science safety policy can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/sci_safe/.
Protective eyewear and closed toed shoes required for lab. Official
Biology Department Policy
Concerning Student Use of Organisms
in the
Classroom and Laboratory
|
Most
ACC biology classes, particularly those with laboratory components, use
actual organisms during instruction in addition to images and models. ACC
students generally are preparing for real-world careers requiring workers
with hands-on experience. These careers include health care, veterinary work,
horticultural and agricultural work. Other students plan to transfer to
four-year colleges and will be participating in biological research where
hands-on experience is equally important. Some
organisms are observed alive while others are dead and preserved in various
ways. Student manipulation of organisms ranges from culturing living
organisms to dissecting preserved ones. Some examples include, but are not
limited to: bacterial culturing for microbiology courses; cat, pig or rat
dissection for anatomy courses; skeleton and pelt examination for field
biology; and use of frogs in physiology experiments. |
TESTING CENTER POLICIES
http://www2.austincc.edu/testctr/
STUDENT SERVICES
The Web address for student services is: http://www.austincc.edu/resources_students/services.php
The ACC student handbook can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
The Web address for instructional services is:
http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/newsemester/pdfs2/studsvcs.pdf
then click on ”Campus Based Student Support Overview”:
http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/newsemester/pdfs2/sssover.pdf.
STUDENT INSURANCE STATEMENT
· Students enrolled in lab and field courses are covered by student insurance if they are injured as a result of the lab or field activity.
· Procedures regarding student insurance will be covered in your safety training.