BIOL1406: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Home Page (Summer, 2010)

Text/Course Description/Course Objective/Grading/Attendance/
/Laboratory/Course Help/Lecture Schedule/Lab Schedule/Lab Informaton/Links

NOTE: 

This course uses Blackboard to send information and documents to all students.  You are responsible for all items posted to Blackboard as well as all emails sent via Blackboard.  Blackboard Login: https://acconline.austincc.edu/webapps/login/

You are required to monitor your ACC email. Make sure that you check this daily!  See http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/ for info on how to forward this account.

Text:

Biology (8^th edition) by Campbell

Course description:

BIO 1406 CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (4­3­3). Biology 1406 and 1608 may not both be counted toward graduation. Designed for science majors and students with a strong science background who desire a more in­depth 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. Prerequisite: One year of high school chemistry or one semester of college chemistry; two years of high school algebra or PAR 1193.

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Course Objective:

To acquire a basic understanding of the chemical, cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the function of living organisms. To be able to use your knowledge and understanding to solve biological problems.

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Grading:

Lecture Grade:
Each of Four Tests (for a total of 75%) 18.75 %
Lab grade: 25 %
Average of quizzes, lab tests and lab book (see below)


NOTE: A student must average 70 or above in Lecture tests and in lab to receive a grade of C or higher.
The following scale will be strictly followed to determine your letter grade (I do not curve)
90-100 A
80-89.9 B
70-79.9 C
60-69,9 D
< 60 F
I do not give grades of Incomplete.
 

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I feel that it is impossible to do well (meaning D or better!!) if you do not come to class regularly. You are required to take all tests at the scheduled time (The Jed Rule).  This will be strictly enforced!!   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 due to hospitalization.  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.  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 24 hours after the regularly scheduled exam (The Martha Rule).  Failure to either inform me or to make plans for the make-up will result in a 0 for that exam.  A student will not be allowed to make up more than one exam, no matter what the reason (Paige Rule).   You have one week to submit a test for review if you feel that it was misgraded (Sarah Rule).  Lab attendance is mandatory and there are no make-up labs.  If you miss a lab, you will receive a 0 for all assignments associated with that lab.  There are no exceptions to this rule.  Finally, there may be handouts or assignments given out (or graded assignments returned) during classes.  If you miss a class, you are responsible for obtaining these items and assignments on your own.  It is your responsibility to get any material or information from other students that you did not receive due to being absent.  You are responsible for all assignments and information whether you are present or not.  I generally do not keep extra copies of handouts although most will be available on Blackboard.

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Laboratory

You must come on time to lab!! Coming late is the same as missing lab.

Lab Grade Lab Quizzes and Assignments:  There will be electronic quizzes before and after every lab.  These are to be done using Blackboard.  You are permitted to use your lab notebook, however, the quizzes will be timed so you must prepare for them.  The quizzes will only be available for a short period and you must take it during that time.  You will have only one chance to take each quiz once you start it.
Lab Notebook: You must also maintain a lab notebook. The notebook must be a bound notebook, loose-leaf or spiral notebooks are not acceptable. The lab book is meant to be a record of everything you did and everything you learned in lab. All entries must be handwritten and in ink (NO PENCIL). All information entered during lab period MUST go directly into the lab notebook – you are not to enter info into the lab manual nor onto a separate piece of paper. You may have your lab book initialed by your instructor at the end of each lab as long as the following conditions are met: 1. you were present for the entire lab; 2. Your lab book is present and used! If you forget your lab book or if you fail to enter information directly into your lab notebook, the book will not be signed for that week; 3. You use YOUR safety glasses.
Lab Exam: Finally, there will be a lab exam(s). You will be allowed to use your lab note book during these exams so it is worthwhile to make sure that you do a good job on your notebook. You should think of your lab notebook as elaborate cheat sheets.
If you miss a lab, you will receive a 0 for each part associated with that specific lab, however, you are still responsible for the information, data and analysis of that lab.
 

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Help

This is a very challenging course. It is extremely important that you not only know the material but understand it as well. BIOL 1406 has the second highest failure rate of all courses at ACC. On average, over 50 % of all students who are enrolled in this course receive either a D, an F or a W. There are many reasons for this, but there are things that you can do to increase your chances of successfully completing this course.

Come to class. Each lecture is the equivalent of three one-hour lectures, thus when missing one lecture, you are missing one weeks worth of work.

Study. Students tend to underestimate the amount of material covered in this course as well as the depth of understanding that is required. This is not high school, you cannot cram in one night. It is necessary to keep up with the material (meaning you must study it every day!!).

Read your text. All information on tests comes can be found in your text. The text has been especially selected to match the information in the lectures and reading the text will only help you understand the material.

Use all the help available. My web page has many helpful items. Your text contains a CD-ROM that has tutorials and links to content specific web sites. Use them. Come to the scheduled help sessions and come prepared with questions. Bother your instructor with incessant relevant questions. His only goal in life is to make sure you know biology.

There will be a scheduled help session that are in addition to scheduled office hours. Office hours are listed because we must. Please feel free to talk to me at any time, even using my home phone number listed. If you should feel lost or behind, do not assume that you will catch up - please make an appointment so that I can help you. This is college - no one is looking our for you so make sure that you do.

 

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Tentative Calender

Tentative Calendar for Biol 1406

Summer, 2010

Note: Tests 1, 2 and 3 are taken in the testing center.  Test 4 will be given in class on the last lecture day.

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Lab Schedule

If you miss a lab, you will receive a 0 for each part associated with that specific lab, however, you are still responsible for the information, data and analysis of that lab.       

Tentative Lab Schedule  

Lab Information:

You MUST read the appropriate link for each lab BEFORE reading the lab manual.

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Links

• Sample Test
• Other Biology Links of interest

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