UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF OF NORTHNORTH CAROLINACAROLINA ATAT CHAPELCHAPEL HILLHILL BIOLOGY 202, Molecular Biology & Genetics Section #8, Spring, 2009 10:00-10:50AM MWF, 201 Coker Hall INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Elyse Lee ([email protected]), 104 Wilson Hall, Office Hrs: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM – 11:50AM Dr. Greg Matera ([email protected]), 415 Fordham Hall, Office Hrs: by appointment. TEACHING ASSISTANTS: Carrie Wilson ([email protected]) Tracy Hargiss ([email protected]) COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course emphasizes learning the basic principles of molecular biology and genetics and how to solve contemporary problems using the tools from both fields. You will be presented with real life, “open-ended” biological problems that have no single correct answer and will challenge your critical thinking and problem solving skills. As a novice scientist, you will learn to use the scientific method to develop hypotheses, design experiments, analyze results, and communicate conclusions. PREREQUISITE SKILLS: Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry as demonstrated by a C or above in Principles of Biology and Chemistry or equivalent. TEXTBOOKS: 1. Required Text: Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, Hartwell et al, 3rd Edition (2008) 2. Optional: Genes IX, Lewin et al (2007) COURSE WEBSITE: http://blackboard.unc.edu For general announcements, assignments, online quizzes, visit the Bb site for lecture: Spring 2009 Molec Biol & Genet.biol202.008. To submit take-home assignments, visit the Bb site for recitation: Spring 2009 Rec.biol202.80X EVALUATION: Grading for this course will be on a curve, using the guiding principle that roughly 40% of the grades should be A’s and B’s (including +/-). In the unlikely event that a high fraction of students earn more than 80% of the total points, we may use the following system: 90 - 100% = A 80 - 89% = B 70 - 79% = C 60 - 69% = D Below 60% = F. There is no extra credit during or after the course. There are many chances to earn your grade without extra credit. Take the time you would have used to do extra credit and use it to study and prepare properly for your quizzes, exams, and assignments. Instructors and Teaching Assistants are available during office hours for extra help. Grades will be calculated as follows: 3 MID-TERM EXAMINATIONS (16% each) 48% RECITATIONS, including homework, attendance and in-class problems 20% FINAL EXAMINATION (16% final qtr of semester, 16% comprehensive) 32% TOTAL 100% THE HONOR CODE: The tenets of the UNC Honor Code (http://honor.unc.edu/honor/index.html) will be in effect for this class. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. CLASS ATTENDANCE, ASSIGNMENTS, QUIZZES AND EXAMS: Students are required to attend all lectures and recitation sections and are expected to be on time. Excessive tardiness will be penalized. Lack of attendance will significantly impact your grade. Even though attending does NOT guarantee you will pass the course, if you do not attend at least 90% of the class meetings, it is nearly impossible to pass the course. There will be in-class assignments, take-home assignments, and online quizzes. Credit for in-class assignments are only awarded in class the day they are assigned. Take-home assignments (e.g. problem sets) will be posted on Blackboard and are due 11:59PM on the due date unless otherwise noted. Late assignments and quizzes are not accepted. Take-home assignments can be submitted via the Blackboard Dropbox for Recitation in the appropriate folder, during Recitation before the due date, or as otherwise specified by your Teaching Assistant. Be sure to include your name, section number, and assignment description in the document title and text body. For example, the document title for the first assignment can be written ElyseLee801Essay1. All students are expected to take all online quizzes and exams when they are scheduled. There will be no make-up opportunities for online quizzes. There will be no make-up exams allowed without the prior consent of the instructor. Make-up exams allowed by the instructor MUST be taken prior to the class test date, and a minimum of one week notice must be given if a student requires a make-up exam. Allowed excuses include athletic and academic events, and medical excuses, all of which require a signed note from a coach/professor/doctor. Unforeseen circumstances which require the missing of an exam will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Late problem sets will not be accepted. Except as stated above, there are no make-up opportunities for exams, quizzes, or assignments. If, for some reason, you feel an error has been made in determining an exam score, you may submit the exam for a regrade. Exams will be accepted for regrading up to and including 3 school days after they have been returned in class, with no exceptions. For an exam to be eligible for regrading, you must submit in writing your reasons for requesting a re-grade. These requests should stapled to your original exam and placed in the appropriate instructor's mailbox or given to your TA. Legitimate reasons to request a re-grade include, for example, incorrect summation of scores on individual problems and bona fide mistakes in grading a particular problem; they do not include student judgments about the amount of partial credit deserved for incorrect answers. The instructors reserve the right to re-grade the entire exam. Written responses to student requests will be returned in class.RECITATIONS: During recitation, Teaching Assistants will review questions you have about lecture material, take-home problem sets, etc. TAs will also help facilitate class discussions and provide in-class assignments designed to reinforce and deepen understanding of lecture material. Attendance to recitation is required. CLASSROOM CONDUCT AND EMAILING: We will conduct this class in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We encourage your active participation in class discussions. Each of us may have strongly differing opinions on the various topics of class discussions. The conflict of ideas is encouraged and welcome. The orderly questioning of the ideas of others, including mine, is similarly welcome. However, we will exercise our responsibility to manage the discussions so that ideas and argument can proceed in an orderly fashion. You should expect that if your conduct during class discussions
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