Animal Biology MWF 11:00 – 11:50
BIOL 1402 Biology LH 100
Fall 2005
Course Syllabus
Instructor
Dr. Mark McGinley
Room 111 Biology Building
Required Textbook
Essential Biology with Physiology by Campbell, Reece, and Simon
Office Hours
Monday & Thursday 1:00 - 1:50 Biology Room 111
Tuesday and Thursday 10 - 12 McClelland Hall Room 213
Group Office Hours: Wednesday 5:30 - 7 room 16 Biology
You are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with me. The easiest ways to do this are (1) to talk to me either before or after class or (2) to send me an email listing some times when you are available to meet and I will let you know which time works best for me.
Grading
Lab 33%
In-class assignments 7%
First Midterm Exam (October 7th) 15%
Second Midterm Exam (November 18th) 20%
Cumulative Final Exam 25%
Exams may contain a variety of formats including True/False, fill in the blanks, multiple choice, drawing graphs, short essays, or full essays. Because it is not always possible to make grades fall out on the 90, 80, 70, etc. scale, I will let you know the grade that your score would have earned after each exam. This course is not graded on a curve, so it is possible for all, or no, students to earn a particular grade.
Fulfills the Natural Science Core Requirement.
The objective of the study of the natural sciences component of the core curriculum is to enable the students to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the basis for building and testing theories.
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangement to meet course requirements should contact the instructors as soon as possible to make the necessary accommodations. Students should present appropriate verification from Disabled Student Services, Dean of Student’s Office. No requirement exists that accommodation be made prior to this approved University process.
A student who is absent from classes for the observation of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence if, not later than the fifteenth day after the first day of the semester, the student has notified the instructor of each scheduled class that the student would be absent for a religious holy day.
Texas Tech University faculty strive to foster a spirit of complete honesty and high standards of integrity. Any attempt by students to present as their own work any work not honestly performed is regarded by faculty and administration as a most serious offence and renders offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension from the university. “Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give an unfair academic advantage to a student. A detailed list of offenses is available in the Code of Student Conduct, found in Part IX, pp. 20-21 in the current Student Handbook, available on line at:
http://www.studentaffairs.ttu.edu?publications/SA_handbook_2005-2006.pdf.
Course Outline
Animal Biology is a one-semester course designed to introduce non-science majors to the process of science, the structure, physiology, and diversity of animal life on earth, and the interactions that occur between animals and their environment.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, a fully-engaged student should be able to:
1) List the steps in the hypothesis testing protocol and apply the protocol in new circumstances.
2) Define important scientific terms.
3) Identify important biological/zoological concepts.
4) Describe important scientific processes including natural selection, “genes to phenotype”, functioning of specific organs, speciation, and interactions between species.
5) Describe important characteristics of, and evolutionary relationships between, the major animal phyla.
6) Apply the scientific method and knowledge gained in this course to draw conclusions about biology/zoology-related issues.
Methods for Assessing the Expected Learning Outcomes.
The expected learning outcomes will be assessed through exams and student participation in in-class assignments.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1. August 29 – September 2: Readings: Chapter 1, p 263 - 267
Introduction- why science, why biology, why animals?
Natural Selection
Adaptations- Mating Behavior
Week 2. September 7 – 9: Readings: Chapter 18
Organisms interact with their environment
Population regulation
Human population growth
Week 3. September 12 – 16: Readings: Chapter 19
Biotic interactions
Competition, predation, mutualisms, indirect effects
Week 4. September 19 – 23: Readings: Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4
Internal interactions
- basic chemistry
- cells- basic structure, energy use
Week 5. September 26 – 30: Readings: Chapter 5, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12
Genes to phenotype
molecular basis, gene regulation
DNA technology
Week 6. October 3 – 7, MIDTERM #1 October 7th: Readings: Chapter 8, Chapter 9
Cellular reproduction
Mitosis
Week 7. October 10 – 14: Readings: Chapter 6, Chapter 21, Chapter 22
Animal Structure and Function
Energetics
Nutrition
Circulation and respiration
Week 8. October 17 -21: Readings: Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 25, Chapter 27
Animal Structure and Function
Circulation
Body defenses
Hormones and nerves
Week 9. October 24 – 28: Readings: Chapter 8, Chapter 26
Animal Structure and Function
Reproduction
Meiosis
Week 10. October 31 – November 4: Readings: Chapter 13, Chapter 14
Evolution of animal diversity, Darwin, Speciation
Week 11. November 7 – 11: Readings: Chapter 17 p. 343 – 351
Animal Diversity
Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, Roundworms
Week 12. November 14 – 18, MIDTERM #2 November 18th: Readings: p. 351 – 360
Animal Diversity
Mollusks, Annelids, Arthropods, Echinoderms
Week 13. November 21: Readings: Chapter 17 p. 360 - 378
Animal Diversity
Chordates
Week 14. November 28 – December 2: Readings: Chapter 17 p. 350 – 378
Animal Diversity
Chordates (cont.)
Week 15. Dec. 5 – 7: Readings: Chapter 20
Biodiversity and Conservation
Final Exam Tuesday December 13- 4:30 – 7:00 PM