Biology 122 - Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, & Ecology
Spring 2008
Meetings: TR 02:20- 03:40p; TCNW 224
Instructor: Dr. Lawrence A. Alice
Office: TCNW 218A (inner office); 745-7029
Office Hours: TWR 1:00 - 2:00p
Email: lawrence.alice@wku.edu; Homepage: http://bioweb.wku.edu/faculty/alice
Textbook: Freeman, S. 2005. Biological Science, 2nd 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 semester exams each worth 25% of the total points available in the course. Exam questions may include multiple choice, true/false, and matching. Each student is required to have a Scantron form (882-E suggested) on the date of each exam.
There will NOT be any opportunity for extra credit. 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.
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 caught cheating or plagiarizing.
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: http://bioweb.wku.edu/courses/Biol115/Wyatt/Sci_method/Sci_method1.asp
This is our method of assessing your mastery of the above objectives. You will not be graded on your attempt nor will it affect your overall grade in the course; however it is required.
Important Date: 07 March, 2008 is the last day to drop this course with a "W" or change from credit to audit.
!! GOOD LUCK !!
Tentative Lecture Schedule
Date |
Topic (pages/chapters to read) |
Evolution |
|
22 Jan. |
Class Info; Introduction to Biology |
| 24 Jan. | Origin of Life; Tree of Life (pp. 1-24, 46-48) |
29 Jan. |
Classification and Phylogeny (pp. 6-7, Chapter 26) |
| 31 Jan. | Evolutionary Patterns & Processes (Chapters 23-24) |
| 05 Feb. | Evolutionary Patterns & Processes |
07 Feb. |
Species & Speciation (Chapter 25) |
| 12 Feb. | Endosymbiosis, Eukaryotic Evolution (pp. 615-617) |
|
Diversity of Life |
| 14 Feb. | EXAM 1 (22 Jan. - 12 Feb.) |
| 19 Feb. | Prokaryotes: Bacteria & Archaea (Chapter 27) |
21 Feb. |
Prokaryotes continued |
26 Feb. |
Protists (Chapter 28) |
28 Feb. |
Plant Evolution & Diversity (Chapter 29) |
| 04 Mar. | Plant Form & Function (Chapter 35) |
06 Mar. |
Plant Form & Function continued |
10-14 Mar. |
NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK |
18 Mar. |
Plant Reproduction (Chapter 40) |
20 Mar. |
Plant Reproduction continued |
| 25 Mar. | EXAM 2 (19 Feb. - 20 Mar.) |
| 27 Mar. | Fungi (Chapter 30) |
01 Apr. |
Animal Diversity (Chapter 31) |
| 03 Apr. | Deuterostome Diversity (Chapter 33) |
| 08 Apr. | Animal Form & Function (Chapters 41-42) |
10 Apr. |
Electrical Signals & Gas Exchange (Chapters 44-45) |
| 15 Apr. | Animal Sensory Systems, Movement, & Reproduction (Chapters 46, 48) |
| 17 Apr. | EXAM 3 (27 Mar. - 15 Apr.) |
|
Ecology |
22 Apr. |
Nature of the Environment (Chapter 50) |
| 24 Apr. | Behavioral Ecology (Chapter 51) |
29 Apr. |
Population & Community Ecology (Chapters 52-53) |
| 01 May | Biodiversity, Human Impacts & Conservation (Chapter 55) |
08 May |
EXAM 4 (22 Apr. - 01 May ); 1:00-3:00 |