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BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES 31121

MASSASOIT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
31121
Leslie Lichtenstein
Office: S542 Ext. 1618   e-mail: llichtenstein@massasoit.mass.edu
Prerequisite: High school science - preferably biology
4 credits - 3 lecture hours/week 2 laboratory hours/week
Course website on Massasoit Online at http://www.massasoit.mass.edu
TEXT: BIOLOGY: Concepts & Connections, Campbell, Mitchell, Reese; Custom Edition for Massasoit Community College,
Benjamin Cummings Publishing Co., 1999.
Web Site: http://www.aw.com/loc/sci/bio
Lab Manual: MCC Custom Lab Manual
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of basic processes common to both plant and animal life. Topics include introductory organic and biochemistry, evolution, cellular & subcellular structures, control mechanisms, RNA & DNA and elementary genetic principles, mitosis and meiosis, energy production, cellular transport, and basic ecology. This course is a prerequisite for all other four-credit biology courses.
GRADING: Lecture Component (4 exams) 55%
Laboratory Component 25%
Final Exam (cumulative) 20%
The student’s percent grade is then translated into a letter grade as follows:
100 - 92.5 = A
92.4 - 89.5 = A-
89.4 - 87.5 = B+
87.4 - 83.5 = B
83.4 - 79.5 = B-
79.4 - 77.5 = C+
77.4 - 73.5 = C
73.4 - 69.5 = C-
69.4 - 67.5 = D+
67.4 - 63.5 = D
63.4 - 59.5 = D-
59.4 & below = F     (consult the College Grading System for other possible grades.)
ATTENDANCE: The student is very strongly urged to attend all lectures, missed laboratory sessions will need to be made up. (Consult the College catalog for MCC attendance requirements.)
ASSIGNMENTS: The student is expected to understand all lecture and laboratory material; if you don’t understand, ASK! I urge you to see me or a tutor in the ARC (Academic Resource Center) if you are unsure of any material.
*This is a laboratory course: you must pass the laboratory portion to pass the course.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: Throughout the lecture section of Biological Principles, the student should have a working knowledge of all the topics included in the lecture and assignment schedule. The student should develop an understanding of the application of biological principles to human life and the relation of humans to other organisms. The lecture section will stress terminology as an aid to understanding current research findings in areas such as: medicine, genetics, genetic engineering and bioengineering. The laboratory section will demonstrate some basic laboratory techniques and some fundamentals of experimental design and analysis.

TEACHING FORMAT: Biological Principles is taught with a lecture format, using blackboard, overhead projector, film clips, microscope television camera, and other audiovisual aids. Demonstrations, class discussion, and access to The Biology Place web site will be used when appropriate. Students are encouraged to bring in current news articles concerning any material in the course. Many graphics & animations used in class can be found on the CD that comes with the book. Remember, we are not passengers on spaceship Earth but crew.
BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
LECTURE, EXAMINATION, AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

TEXT: Biology - Concepts And Connections

WEEK TOPIC ASSIGNMENT

1 Scientific Study of Life *                                        1-14
* Read: How to Use this Book pp xxx - xxxiii

2 Chemical Basis of Life                                          16 - 31
3 Molecules of Cells                                                 32 - 49
4 Tour of the Cell                                                      50 - 69

5 EXAM
5 The Working Cell                                                 70 - 87

6 How Cells Harvest Energy                                  88 - 107

7 Photosynthesis                                                   108 - 124

8 EXAM
8 Cellular Basis of Reproduction                        126 - 153
9 Patterns of Inheritance                                      154 - 181
10 Molecular Biology of the Gene                      183 - 207

11 EXAM
11 Control of Gene Expression`                         201 - 229
12 DNA Technology                                             230 - 253
13     Human Genome
14 Concepts of Evolution                                   256 - 279
                                                                              780
15 EXAM
15 Biodiversity



BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
LABORATORY SCHEDULE
TEXT: MCC Custom Lab Manual

WEEK TOPIC EXERCISE

1    Scientific Methods - Cane Toads & Termites
2   Water Lab - pH 3 + handout
3    Microscope 1
4   The Cell 2
5    Diffusion & Osmosis "Egg-mosis" 4 & 5
6    Enzymes 6
7    Respiration - Fermentation 7
8    Photosynthesis - TLC 8 (p81)
9    Mitosis - Meiosis 9 & 10
10 Genetics 8(p97) + 9(p10)
11 DNA Extraction handoutand 10
12 Molecular Biology 10 cont.
13 Genetics (cont.)
14 Evolution

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