Biology 202- Molecular Biology and Genetics Spring 2010 (Section 007) Dr. Kelly Hogan and Dr. Joe Kieber Lectures: 201 Coker Hall (Tues/Thurs 9:30-10:45 AM) Recitations: (you must be registered for one of the 8 sections: 701-708) (Tues. 1 and 2 PM; Wed. 3 PM; Thurs. 2, 3, or 4 PM and Fri 1 and 2 PM) Instructors: Dr. Kelly Hogan Email: [email protected] Office location: Wilson Hall 104B Office phone: 843-6047 Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:30-12:30, and Fridays 10:15-12:15 and after class any day that I lecture. You can also reach me by email to set up a phone appointment. Advising questions? You can set up an appointment with me through the academic advising website. Dr. Joe Kieber Email: [email protected] Office location: 312 Coker Phone: 962-2144 Office hours: Tues and Thurs 11:00-12:00 or by appointment. TAs: Blaire Steinwand [email protected] Chia-Yi Cheng [email protected] COURSE WEBSITE: http://blackboard.unc.edu/ (you will need your onyen to log in) This site will have postings from our lectures such as outlines, power point slides, supplemental material that we mention in lecture, and the problem sets for the 2nd half of the course. We will also post announcements on this site. It is your responsibility to check it regularly. Introduction to Genetic Analysis, 9th Edition, W.H. Freeman & Co. by Griffiths, Wessler, Lewontin, and Carroll Chapter 1 will not be assigned reading, but it is a good overview. Read through it at the beginning of the course…and use it as a great review at the end of the course. Use the website associated with the book! Web-based bioinformatics tutorials, animations, and other supplemental information can be found at http://bcs.whfreeman.com/iga9e/ COURSE GOALS: 1. To provide you with the core principles of genetics and molecular biology. The lecture and the book will provide the basic content. We will take a historical approach at times to see how famous experiments were performed. We will examine the basic “rules” of genetics that may then be altered to account for more complex situations. After this class, you will be prepared to do research in a lab on campus and to build upon this content with Biol 205 and upper level genetics courses.2. To gain higher level thinking skills that are necessary for scientists. To the right you can see the “Amended Bloom’s Taxonomy” pyramid. It was developed as a method of classifying educational goals for student performance evaluation. You should be well –equipped at remembering facts and content with good study habits. We are looking for you to apply and analyze. You are UNC students, we KNOW you can memorize! Move beyond this level of thinking. How can we achieve this? We will have in-class questions to practice this immediately and you will have homework problems to practice on your own. We will also explore classic experiments as a way of thinking through the logic of experiments and to see where the foundations of this content come from. While these may be new ways of thinking for you, practice is the most important way to gain these skills. FYI: UNC’s medical school sees this is an excellent pre-req course for medical school because it teaches students to think. 3. This course should excite you about basic science and its applications. A foundation in genetic crosses with model organisms (basic science tool) allows you to understand human genetic diseases. A foundation in making recombinant DNA constructs (basic science tool) allows you to understand how plants are modified to be herbicide resistant or how recombinant proteins can be turned into medicines. Genetics and molecular biology are the “tools” that other disciplines call upon in biological research. Plant biologists, evolutionary biologists, clinical researchers etc. all use these tools. COURSE POLICIES 1. Examination format: Three semester exams and one final exam will be given. The final examination is cumulative for the entire semester. Students are expected to take all exams and the final examination on the dates indicated during the regular class period. No make-up exams will be given. If a student must miss a semester exam for an excused reason, then the final exam will be weighted more heavily. The questions on the final exam that correspond with the missed material will become the grade for the missed exam. 2. Recitation: Attendance and participation in the recitation section is a critical component of this course and, therefore, is required. Recitation assignments correspond to the topics covered in lecture. Students are expected to work the assignments prior to recitation. Recitation will include in-class discussion of assignments and review. Your recitation grade will consist of participation in class recitation quizzes (no make-ups given on these quizzes). If you miss a recitation quiz due to an excused absence, you will not be penalized (your quiz grade will reflect the number of quizzes taken). DON’T FALL BEHIND! 3. Grading: 66% (three semester exams worth 22% each) 24% (cumulative final examination) 10% (recitation-- includes required attendance/participation and quizzes) Answers to problems on the exams will be posted after each exam, except for the final. Students must consult the key before contacting the instructor regarding grading questions. All questions pertaining to the grading of an exam must be addressed within two weeks of receiving the graded exam. All requests for a re-grade must be handed in to the TA IN WRITING. The ONLY exception will be simple errors in addition.POLL EVERYWHERE: This is a web-based tool that allows students and instructors to interact. The instructor can ask a variety of questions (multiple choice or open ended) and the class can respond immediately through the internet or through text- messaging. This is a new tool that we are trying this semester. The benefit is that it is of no cost to you. If you use a cell phone that does NOT have a text plan, you may incur charges, but your laptop would be a completely free way to go. Information about registration is posted on blackboard. Please follow the instructions, so that we can properly link each student to their answers. You will be expected to attend lecture and answer all questions in class. These questions are meant to help you apply the information you are learning immediately, review difficult concepts, interact with your peers, and give the instructor