Spring Syllabus 2008

Human Genetics Online

BIS 102-070

Instructor: Urbi Ghosh

Couse objective:

• To learn the basic concepts of inheritance and variation.

• To develop an understanding about DNA and genes.

• To learn about fetal development, genetic disorders, and genetic tests.

• To develop and understanding of molecular genetics including gene expression, control of gene expression,and recombinant DNA technology.

• To understand the principles of population genetics and evolution.

• To understand more about agricultural and reproductive technologies and genomics.

Textbooks :

• Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications, by Ricki Lewis ( 7th edition edition) McGrawHill, ISBN# 0072951745 ( List price $140).

• Case Workbook in Human Genetics, by Ricki Lewis, ISBN: 0-07284606-2. This will be optional for the course.

• Biology Labs Online: Genetics Version by Michael Pallindino, (must be ordered seperately). Publisher is Addison Wesley.

• Other materials:

  • Instructor will provide additional labs for on-campus labs.

  • Instructor will also provide extra-credit and make-up material on as need basis.

  Resources for Textbook purchases: All materials can be purchased through Triton's bookstore.Also text materials can be bought throgh some Book websites : Amazon.com, Directtextbook.com, ecampus.com, or www.bestbookbuys.com

Instructor Information:

The best way to contact me is via email. I will usually get back to you within 24-48 hours. If for some reason I don't please call me at one of the numbers below.

On-Campus: Students are welcome to schedule a visit with the instructor on Campus. I am usually available on Thrusday or Friday mornings at 10am for any questions or concerns with coursework.

Course Schedule:

Grades/Assignments/Labs:

Exams:

• Each one-hour exam counts 100 points.

• Each exam will be needed to complete in the assigned time frame (7 days).

• For each student, the lowest 100-point block(one-hour exam) will be deleted automatically, leaving 300 points as the maximum final score from which the final letter grade will be derived from test scores.

• Because one block can be dropped, NO makeup exams will be given.

• FINAL Exam: Dates for Final are scheduled depnding on Triton's schedule for finals week.

• Final will cover exams 1-4 and  be comprehensive for the course. ALL students must attend their scheduled final exam. No travel plans are allowed at this time.

• Quizzes:

  • See Quizzes section for further information on quizzes and expectations there.

  • Quizzes can be taken anytime in the week of  the scheduled topic (see course calender).

  • Dates for Quizzes can be changed at anytime. I will announce this BUT it is your responsibility to keep informed.

  • I will drop (or terminate) you from class if you do not complete the quizzes and exams. 

  Case Studies: Analysis of 3 case studies will be assigned. Of the three case studies for written submission, only the two best scores will count (200 points). Each case study is worth 100 points each.

• Participation:

  Forms of Participation
  General Participation	Class Participation will come in the form of threaded discussions and general log-in logs into WebCt. Threaded discussion answers and responses.
  Case Studies	Three case studies each worth 100 points each will count toward 200 points. Only the best 2 out of three will count toward final grade. Look under WebCt "assignments" under course "Expectations" to see how the format of the Case Studies should be done.
  Threaded Discussion	Online participation in weekly class discussion topics.
  Note:	Regular online participation is necessary.

Labs:

LABORATORY:

There will be a total of 10 labs write-ups to be submitted for grading. Each lab report is worth 50 points each.

Laboratory schedule is posted along with the syllabus. Labs can be done anytime within the scheduled one week time slot.

Reports are due within one week of completion or assigned lab session date.

There will be 4 online Labs and 6 labs done in class (on the 2nd Saturday semester on Campus). On-campus lab is mandatory.

 

Grading Scale :

Summary of total course points:

If you are below a D after the first Exam you need to consider changing some study habits. Please contact me immediately.

Lab Write-up Procedures

• Lab write-ups must be computer generated on Microsoft word. The following format must be followed.

• If you do not have Microsoft word, please inform the instructor and arrangements will made to use other ways to submit the document write-ups.

FORMAT:

• PURPOSE: This section should explain the purpose for conducting the laboratory activity in the form of a question or hypothesis.

• MATERIALS: Numerically list all materials and supplies that are needed to perform the laboratory activity.

• PROCEDURE: This section shows the step-by-step procedure that you followed to perform the lab activity.

• DATA and OBSERVATIONS:  This section contains all the data and results obtained from the lab activity in an organized format. Include drawings if appropriate.

• CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion requires two separate sections. List three things that you learned from this activity. Then explain how your results proved or disproved you purpose.

• QUESTIONS: Answer all questions that are assigned for the particular laboratory activity. Point will also be assigned to each question.