Biology 122 – Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, & Ecology
Fall Semester 2009
Meetings: TR 09:35 – 10:55; SH 1108
Instructor: Lawrence A. Alice, Ph.D.
Office: TCNW 218A (inside 218); 745-7029
Office Hours: WF 10:20 - 11:15; TR 11:10 - 12:05
Email: lawrence.alice@wku.edu; Homepage: http://bioweb.wku.edu/faculty/alice
Textbook: Freeman, S. 2008. Biological Science, 3rd ed.
Course Objective: Examination of evolutionary patterns and processes, diversity of life (bacteria, archaea, protists, plants, fungi, and animals), and ecological principles.
Grading Policies and Procedures: There will be four (4) semester exams each worth 20% of the total points available in the course; the remaining 20% of points may be earned through periodic quizzes (lowest score dropped and 5-10% curve to account for missed quizzes; no make-ups for quizzes). Exam questions may include multiple choice, true/false, and matching. Each student is required to have a Scantron form on the date of each exam.
Extra credit opportunities, if offered, will be available to the whole class and announced; personal requests will not be honored. Grades will be determined exclusively from the exams. Letter grades will be based on total points earned:
A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; 0-59% = F.
Class Attendance: As a student in this course, you should be regular and punctual in class attendance. **Make-up exams will ONLY be permitted (at my discretion) provided that a University approved absence is demonstrated.** STUDENTS MUST CONTACT ME PRIOR TO THE EXAM OR WITHIN 36 HOURS AFTER THE EXAM OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE A MAKE-UP EXAM.
Mobile Phone Use: All mobile phones must be silent and out of sight during class time. If you do not follow this rule, you will be asked to leave the class.
Academic Dishonesty: No form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated. A grade of 0 (F) for the entire course will be given if a student is determined to have cheated or plagiarized.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services, located in the Student Success Center in DUC; their telephone number is (270) 745-5004 V/TDD. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.
SACS Accreditation: This course fulfills the D.1. (Science/Mathematics) general education requirement. It will help you attain this general education goal and its corresponding objectives: An understanding of the scientific method and knowledge of natural science and its relevance in our lives, including 1) how scientific knowledge is created, developed, and changed through experimentation and reasoning, 2) demonstration of knowledge in one or more of the sciences, including theories, concepts, and principles that explain observations and make predictions, 3) how to locate and evaluate reliable resources to acquire information about scientific developments, and 4) the outlining of the reciprocal relationship between humans and the rest of the ecosystem.
As part of this course, you will be required to get online and attempt the module located at: https://mail.wku.edu/Redirect/bioweb.wku.edu/courses/Biol115/Wyatt/Sci_method/Sci_method1.asp
You will not be graded on your attempt nor will it affect your overall grade in the course; however it is required.
Important Date: 21 October, 2009 is the last day to drop this course with a "W".
!! GOOD LUCK !!
Tentative Lecture Schedule
Date |
Topic [pages to read; 3rd ed./ 2nd ed.] |
Evolution |
|
01 Sept. |
Class Info; Introduction to Biology |
03 Sept. |
Origin of Life; Tree of Life [Ch 1/ pp. 1-24, 46-48] |
08 Sept. |
Classification and Phylogeny [pp. 7-9, B3-B5, Ch 27/ pp. 6-7, Ch 26] |
10 Sept. |
Evolutionary Patterns & Processes [Ch 24-25/ Ch 23-24] |
15 Sept. |
Evolutionary Patterns & Processes continued |
17 Sept. |
Species & Speciation [Ch 26/ Ch 25] |
22 Sept. |
Species & Speciation continued |
24 Sept. |
Endosymbiosis, Eukaryotic Evolution [pp. 604-606/ pp. 615-617] |
29 Sept. |
EXAM 1 (01 Sept. – 24 Sept.) |
Diversity of Life |
|
01 Oct. |
Prokaryotes: Bacteria & Archaea [Ch 28/ Ch 27] |
06 Oct. |
Protists [Ch 29/ Ch 28] |
08 Oct. |
NO CLASS: FALL BREAK |
13 Oct. |
Plant Evolution & Diversity [Ch 30/ Ch 29] |
15 Oct. |
Plant Form & Function [Ch 36/ Ch 35] |
20 Oct. |
Plant Form & Function continued |
22 Oct. |
Plant Reproduction [Ch 40] |
27 Oct. |
EXAM 2 (01 Oct. – 22 Oct.) |
29 Oct. |
Fungi [Ch 31/ Ch 30] |
03 Nov. |
Animal Diversity [Ch 32-33/ Ch 31] |
05 Nov. |
Deuterostome Diversity [Ch 34/ Ch 33] |
10 Nov. |
Animal Form & Function [Ch 41-42] |
12 Nov. |
Electrical Signals & Gas Exchange [Ch 44-45] |
17 Nov. |
Animal Sensory Systems, & Movement [Ch 46] |
Ecology |
|
19 Nov. |
Nature of the Environment [Ch 50] |
24 Nov. |
EXAM 3 (29 Oct. thru 17 Nov.) |
25-29 Nov. |
NO CLASSES: THANKSGIVING BREAK |
01 Dec. |
Behavioral Ecology [Ch 51] |
03 Dec. |
Population Ecology [Ch 52] |
08 Dec. |
Community Ecology [Ch 53] |
10 Dec. |
Biodiversity, Human Impacts & Conservation [Ch 55] |
17 Dec. |
FINAL EXAM (19 Nov. thru 10 Dec.; 10:30-12:30) |