\ 1. Describe the underlying principles of evolution and inclusive fitness.
\ 2. Describe the difference between a hypothesis and a theory.
\ 3. Describe the biological organizational levels from chemical aspects through the biosphere.
\ 4. Describe the scientific method and be able to generate null and alternative hypotheses.
\ 5. Demonstrate the use of simple and parametric statistics, and be able to apply the appropriate statistical test to accept and reject hypotheses, including paired and unpaired Student’s t-Test.
\ 6. Demonstrate a proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program to include graphing, table generation, and formulas for simple statistics.
\ 7. Describe the metric system and demonstrate conversions within the International System and conversion of Standard System measurements to SI.
\ 8. Discuss the characteristics of living organisms.
\ 9. Discuss basic chemistry to include: the periodic table; chemical bonding; properties of water; and properties of acids, bases, and salts.
\ 10. Describe the characteristics and functions of organic compounds essential to living systems.
\ 11. Describe the components and functions of bacteria, archean, and eukaryotic cells, and be able to contrast differences between them.
\ 12. Describe the characteristics of cellular membranes, to include membrane functions, active and passive transport mechanisms, and trans-membrane protein functions.
\ 13. Explain enzymatic energetics, to include the laws of thermodynamics, endergonic and exergonic reactions, and enzyme regulation.
\ 14. Discuss the chemistry of aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration, to include the stages and intermediates of glycolysis, Krebs' cycle, and electron transport system.
\ 15. Discuss ethanol and lactic acid fermentation and how they are utilized by living system.
\ 16. Compare and contrast photophosphorylation, substrate phosphorylation, and oxidative phosphorylation mechanisms.
\ 17. Describe the properties of the electromagnetic spectrum and the characteristics of light as related to photosynthetic pigments.
\ 18. Discuss the chemistry of photosynthesis, to include photosystem I, photosystem II, chemiosmosis, and the components of the Calvin cycle.
\ 19. Compare and contrast photorespiration, C₃, C₄, and CAM photosynthetic pathways.
\ 20. Describe the structure of DNA, RNA, chromosomes, and chromatin fibers.
\ 21. Give a description of DNA replication, to include nucleotide assembly, leading and lagging strands, replication enzymes, and telomeres.
\ 22. Give a description of RNA synthesis to include: mRNA, transcription enzymes, 5’ caps, introns, exons, and poly-A tails.
\ 23. Give a description of protein synthesis to include: ribosomal structure and function, tRNA, codons and anticodons.
\ 24. Compare and contrast the differences between bacteria and eukaryotic DNA replication, transcription, and translation mechanisms.
\ 25. Explain the process of transcription and transfection and describe how this is use in current biological research.
\ 26. Give a detailed description of gene expression and regulation pathways in both bacteria and eukaryotic organisms.
\ 27. Be able to predict the amino acid sequence of a protein which would be synthesized from a gene sequence to include, template and coding DNA strands, TATA box, promoters, start and stop codons, 5’ and 3’ orientations.
\ 28. Give an analysis of the cell cycle to include: all phases of mitosis and cell cycle regulation.
\ 29. Describe the process of meiosis and compare it to mitosis.
\ 30. Discuss the basic principles of Mendelian genetics to include the laws of: dominance, independent assortment, and segregation; and codominance, pleiotrophy, epistasis, and polygenic traits.
\ 31. Predict genetic outcome probabilities for two parents of know genotype and predict genotype of the parents from genetic outcomes.
\ 32. Describe and identify autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, sex-linked, and aneuploid genetic disorders.
\ 33. Discuss and demonstrate the procedure of polymerase chain reaction to include all reagents and there functions, temperature regiments and there functions, and how PCR is used in modern biological research.
\ 34. Demonstrate an understanding of and the use of the following equipment or techniques: micropipettors, DNA electrophoresis, DNA isolation, DNA amplification (PCR), microarrays, aseptic microbial techniques, restriction enzyme analysis, microbial transformation, microscopes, and electronic data collectors.
\ 35. Discuss current biotechnology research.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE: If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems with the instructor.  If the problem is not resolved the student may proceed to the Department of Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering Chairperson, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER.

SAFETY: "Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are stored in SCIE 110.
For any emergency contact Campus Police 371-5911

TELEPHONES/PAGERS: It is the policy of the Biology Department that cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in the silent mode in the classroom and the computer lab. If a student gets a phone call during class he/she will NOT answer it during class time unless prior approval by the instructor. Please be considerate to others.

FOOD/DRINK: Food and drink are allowed in the classroom and laboratory unless posted otherwise.

WITHDRAW: A grade of "W" will be given for drops or withdraws on or before the published official withdraw date.  You may not drop or withdraw after that date.

FINAL GRADE CHANGES: The final grade turned into the registrar office will not be changed unless approved by full time biology faculty committee. Request must be submitted in writing.

TEST RULES: Do nothing which would appear to involve cheating.  Failure to abide by the test rule will result in a grade of zero.  Cell phones ringing during a major exam will result in a zero, regardless if you answer it or not.  Once the exam has been started you may not leave the classroom for any reason.  Use the facilities prior to starting the exam.  When you turn your exam in, it is final.  You can not get it back to make changes. If you believe that a paper has been graded incorrectly, please return it with a written explanation which must include: 1) your name, 2) the number of the question(s) you wish to have reconsidered, and 3) a detailed explanation of the mistake and documentation for the correct answer (include page numbers and source).

BAD WEATHER: If classes are canceled due to inclement weather, you are responsible for reading and learning the material that would have been covered.  If an exam was scheduled and classes are canceled, the exam will be given the next class meeting. (BE PREPARED) If class is canceled the last day of class and an exam was scheduled, then the exam will be added to the Final Exam and the questions will count as the exam and as the final exam. Cancellations will be announced on the Radio by 6:30 AM or by 3:00 PM for evening classes. Also check the AC website and MyAC.

Grading Criteria

EVALUATION: Lecture and lab will count for 75 % of the course grade, and the final exam will count for 25% of the course grade.

Lecture/Laboratory Exams  - 60%
Assignments                     - 15%
Final Exam                        - 25%
                                        100%


GRADING: Grades will not be curved and NO extra credit.
89.5 - 100 = A
79.5 - 89.4 = B
69.5 - 79.4 = C
59.5 - 69.4 = D
00.0 - 59.4 = F
 

LECTURE/LABORATORY EXAMS: 60% of the total grade for the semester.
Lecture and laboratory material will be combined into five (5) exams. Each exam will have approximately 30-50 scantron questions (e.g., multiple choice, matching, etc.), and an essay component (e.g., short answer, drawings, definitions, concept questions). The majority of exam material will come from the lecture and laboratory notes and assignments, but some material can come from the text book, online assignments, and other assigned material.  One exam (may be assigned in two sub-parts) woll cover online assignments and will be taken in the Sciences Studey Center (Warren Hall 110).There are only 6 computers in the Study Center, so do not wait until the last minute to attemt the exam. This online exam will be proctored, and you may not use the book, notes, online information sources, or any other ancillary materials while taking the exam. One major exam grade will be dropped and the remaining four exam scores will be used in the grade calculation. If youMISS or COME IN LATE to an exam for any reason or if you fail to complete the online exam by the due date, a grade of zero will be assigned for that exam and that will be your drop for the semester. NO MAKE-UPS will be given for any reason. Please do not ask.
 

QUIZZES AND ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS: 15% of the total grade for the semester.

There will be quizzes and additional assignments made during the semester. In-class quizzes can be either announced or unannounced and will range from 5-20 questions.  These can be given at any time during either the lecture or the laboratory. In-class quizzes will be fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, labeling, and/or short answer. If you come in late to a quiz or miss the quiz altogether, there are no make-ups and a grade of zero will be recorded for that quiz.

You will get two attempts at the online quizzes (AC Online). The best score of the two attempts will be recorded for the grade calculation. If a problem occurs during a quiz (e.g., loss of internet connection, computer lock-up, accidently open the quiz prematurely, or you fail to submit the quiz) that will count as one attempt. Your instructor will make the final decision whether or not to reset the quiz based on conditions outside the control of the student and in which AC or the instructor has some culpability. For example, the instructor may reset the quiz if AC Online is down for the few hours immediately preceding the deadline. However, the instructor will not reset the quiz if the student’s computer crashed. As a rule of thumb, though exceptions can be made, on-line quizzes will generally be due at 11:59 p.m. the night before the class meeting time. It is the student’s responsibility to check and comply with the due dates indicated on the course calendar. Most of the online quizzes will have a time limit, and they will generally be set to automatically submit when the time limit has been reached. However, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the quiz was submitted and failure to do so can result in a grade of zero for that quiz.

Homework assignments will be made prior to the due date, and the assignment will generally be indicated on the course calendar. However, the student is responsible to turn in all assignments made in the classroom even if the instructor does not place that on the course calendar. If a student misses a class, it is the student’s responsibility to find out if any assignments were made. In order to receive full credit on assignments, students must turn in the homework on or before the due date, and must submit a hard copy directly to the instructor. Homework assignments will be accepted one class day late but 20 points will be subtracted from the grade for it being late. No homework will be accepted after it is more than one class day late. The instructor will not accept an on-line or emailed submission of homework.

All scores on homework, assignments, on-line quizzes, and in-class quizzes will be collected in a single category (referred to as Homework and Quizzes from hence forth). The two lowest scores from this category will be dropped in the final grade calculation for the course. The instructor reserves the right to drop additional Homework/Quiz grades at his discretion. No make-ups will be given for any reason on any homework assignment or quiz, so do not ask.
 

FINAL EXAM: 25% of the total grade for the semester.
The Final Exam is comprehensive and mandatory. It will cover everything from the beginning of the semester and some material will come from previous exams and the rest comes from the text or other notes.
Ranges from 100 - 200 questions. 

Attendance

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\ Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement, therefore it is the responsibility of the student to attend each class.

Calendar

Additional Information

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