Introductory Biology, BIO 44LSpring 2007Course overviewMWF 10:00-10:50, KS B31Instructor: Dr. Diane ThomsonOffice: Keck 103Email: [email protected] phone: 607-0029Office hours: M 4-5:30 pm, Th 1-3 pmText: Purves et al. Life: the Science of Biology.Course goals: This course is a grand and whirlwind tour of life at scales of organization bigger than cells. We will cover three main areas: 1) Evolution and phylogenetics, 2) Biodiversity and the history of life, with a bit of physiology along the way, and 3) Behavior, ecology and conservation biology. One goal of this course is to gain a basic understanding and appreciation for the kinds of questions different types of biologists ask and the major tools they use to try and answer them. A second goal is to master key concepts that are fundamental to many different branches of biology, including the basics of evolution, population genetics, the use of phylogenetic trees, physiology, and the dynamics of populations. Finally, an equally important goal is just to have fun learning about the amazing diversity of life on earth and the endlessly fascinating biological puzzles posed by that diversity.AssignmentsYou will have weekly reading assignments that include both chapters of the textbook and some additional papers or book chapters (see WebCT). See below for suggestions on how to use the readings in your learning and study. I will also hand out weekly homework assignments/reading responses. The goal of these assignments is to help you review concepts we recently covered and prepare for class in the following week. I encourage you to work with a study group or partner. Readings should be finished by Monday of the week for which they are assigned, and homework assignments will also be due at the beginning of class on Monday. Homework will be graded based only on whether you carefully completed and thought about the readings and the questions. You can use our discussion of the assignments in class and the on-line keys to "self-grade" your own responses.ExamsWe will have two midterm exams, both taking place outside of class, at 7 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 21 and Tuesday, April 3. Holding exams in the evening allows me to 1) give you all unlimited time to finish, and 2) use the previous lecture period for review.If you foresee being unable to make these times because of other conflicts, you must let me know within the first two weeks of the semester. Otherwise, I cannot reschedule exams except in the cases of a medical or family emergency.The final final will be evenly split (about 50:50) between material covered since the second midterm and material from the rest of the course. The final is scheduled for Friday, May 11 at 9 am, so make sure not to buy a plane ticket leaving town before then.Grading Lecture : Homework/reading responses: 60 points.Midterm exams (2) 125 points each. Final exam: 200 points.Lab:prelabs 9x5 = 45in lab questions 3x5 = 15homework = 40lab reports 9x25= 225participation points = 15lab total = 340Course total = 850You need to earn at least 50% of the total points (lecture and lab) and also at least 50% of the points in lecture and 50% of the points in lab to pass this class. This means you cannot "pull up" your grade to passing with points from lab if you get less than 50% of the lecture points.Late policy: Homework/reading responses handed in after the beginning of class on the due date will receive only half credit.Extra credit policy: You can earn up 5 extra credit points by doing either of the following. The total amount of extra credit any one student can receive is limited to 15 points (3 total extra credit assignments).1) Attend a science seminar on campus related to the material in this course and hand in a brief summary of what you learned and how it connects with class.2) Find a Nature or Science article from the last 5 years related to an idea we have talkedabout in class, and hand in a short summary of what you found out and how it connects with class.In both cases, I may ask you to present your findings briefly to the class- so be prepared!How to use different sources of information for this course:1) Your textbookThis text is very dense with information. You are not expected to learn or remember every detail given. Pay careful attention to the lecture outlines, readings list and homework/example questions for guidance on what material you must master from the text. I recommend that you read the chapters in their entirety first, then go back to specific points or concepts as suggested by the outlines and reading list when you study. Sections of the text labeled "Read only" on the readings list typically include detailed information on various taxonomic groups, and I do not expect you to remember all of it. However, you should not simply skip this material- read through it once, then use the lecture outlines and notes to help figure out which organisms you are meant to "know andlove", and which information you must commit to memory.2) Other assigned readingsWe will also read and discuss some fun papers and book chapters to help gain an appreciation for important unifying concepts in the class. Reading these should help yourunderstanding of the "big picture". For each reading, you will be asked to answer some questions on the homework, which we will discuss in class. Use these as guidance on what I expect you to know from the readings. These readings must be done and the homework handed in on the first class meeting (Monday) of the week for which theyare assigned.3) Lecture outlinesThese are just what the name suggests- outlines. They are not comprehensive summaries of every idea or example we will talk about in lecture, but are meant to give you an idea of which major points, terms, concepts and examples you should emphasize in your studying. They are also meant to help you keep track of which groups of organisms/ characteristic traits I expect you to know. To succeed in this course, you will need to take and study your own detailed lecture notes in addition to these outlines. If you miss class, you should get notes from someone else who attended.4) Powerpoint files from lecture.I will post online the figures and pictures that we look at on powerpoint in class (many if not most of these are also in your text). I do this so you do not need to try and copy or draw them in class, and can refer back to them if needed as you study. These powerpoints will